koshpeli's review against another edition
4.0
For quite some time, I've been meaning to re-read this book and the whole trilogy. Every now and then it pops into my head and then I am unable to find the books. Well, I finally located them online and have begun rereading them and they have certainly stood the test of time (I first read them when I was maybe 14 or 1). The White Mountains is not action-packed by today's standards. In fact, they might be seen as rather boring. But I love the slowness and the depth. I love the way our current cities and technology are described. I love the way the mystery surrounding the Tripods is not resolved in this book and yet is not sustained through authorial tricks. A really quick and enjoyable read that presents a wonderfully well-designed world, action, and a character that develops through a series of physical and moral challenges!
burialshroud's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
kilcannon's review against another edition
3.0
Written for a younger audience than I was expecting, this is a good introduction to a range of dystopian and sci-fi concepts, with a pleasantly anti-authoritarian bent. I wish I'd known about these when I was younger.
The protagonist is a bit of a whiny brat, but many kids are, and I'm sure it'll be a coming of age story in which he stops being so useless by the end of the third book.
It is a little light on incident, and I could see how some would find it boring, but it's a charming little adventure so far.
The protagonist is a bit of a whiny brat, but many kids are, and I'm sure it'll be a coming of age story in which he stops being so useless by the end of the third book.
It is a little light on incident, and I could see how some would find it boring, but it's a charming little adventure so far.
raloveridge's review against another edition
4.0
Badass. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it ends rather abruptly, but that's mostly because it's the first of a trilogy (Tripods--three books? COINCIDENCE? I think not!). Excellent.
angelofthe0dd's review against another edition
4.0
I first read this story as a serialized comic in Boys Life magazine back in the 1980s. Many years later, I was attempting to describe the story to a friend of mine at college. I described the tripods and the "Capping" process. He immediately knew the book and gave me the information. I just recently finished the book (bought it on my Nook), and it's a good story for the most part. I thought the ending was a bit weak. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
pptphile's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
mary_r_m's review against another edition
2.0
It was ok. Not really as interesting to me as other sci-fi novels I've read.
jimmypat's review against another edition
3.0
I first became aware of John Christopher’s thrilling Tripods series when it was serialized as a comic strip in Boys’ Life magazine. I was in absolute agony and suspense waiting each month for the magazine to arrive. I went on to see the UK TV adaptation and read the books as well.
Recently, I’ve been trying to get my young teenagers to read the series to no avail. So, I went ahead and decided to reread it. Pretty solid stuff for a YA novel. Quick paced and exciting, I remembered quite a few details. It’s not perfect, but The White Mountains proves that, sometimes, you can indeed go home again.
Recently, I’ve been trying to get my young teenagers to read the series to no avail. So, I went ahead and decided to reread it. Pretty solid stuff for a YA novel. Quick paced and exciting, I remembered quite a few details. It’s not perfect, but The White Mountains proves that, sometimes, you can indeed go home again.
elegantmechanic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Read for nostalgic purposes (mainly for the TV show) but as I'm now multiple decades past the target audience it didn't do a huge amount for me. Gets a bit plodding in the middle but the ending is well paced and exciting.