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ricksilva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The setup is perhaps a bit overcomplicated, but the author does a nice job of working through the implications of all of this stuff happening at once. There are bullies who take over, only to get displaced by yet-more-evil bullies (we know they're more evil because these are private school bullies from the local boarding school for entitled troublemakers). The bullies soon become full-on comic book villains, complete with imperilment of the heroes' friends and loved ones, scheming and infighting, and the occasional good guy proclaiming that "it's a trap!"
Reluctant hero Sam and smart-girl Astrid take a long time to decide to fight back against the bullies, and they really have a hard time getting anything resembling a win, although they do somewhat pull things together in the climactic bit. Nobody is really all that competent at what they are trying to do, which is part of the point, since they're all just a bunch of middle school kids.
Really, what saves the story are some of the minor characters who mostly stay out of the fighting, but instead work hard to make sure the younger kids are taken care of and that everyone gets fed. I'd read an entire novel about Albert, the kid who, in the midst of the vanishing of all adults and the apparent collapse of civilization, takes it upon himself to keep the town's McDonald's up and running. This guy was the real hero of this story. More Albert, please.
Which we might get, because the book ends with the initial battle over, but without all that much resolved.
Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death and Eating disorder
loz1327's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
bealittlebrave's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Excrement and Alcohol
glains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
delphic's review against another edition
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Eating disorder, Gore, Blood, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Vomit