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A review by lark2002
Variant by Robison Wells
3.0
I really hate it when I have a review mostly written and then I lose it. This time, it was because a breaker was hit that turned off half the computers in the library. Luckily, I was the only one using one. Technology is totally taking over our lives. Which would be an awesome segue into this book review, if it was a different book.
The thing that first drew me into this book was it's mention of Pittsburgh. But then it wasn't set in Pittsburgh at all. But that's okay - it made me feel warm and fuzzy anyway.
Okay, so. Benson is a foster kid who, sick of the loneliness of his life, applies for a scholarship to a private school. He gets in, and heads to New Mexico.
When he arrives at school, however, it's not what he expects - he's met by Becky, the student in charge or orientation, who tells him that Maxwell Academy isn't like other schools. There are no adults. The students, divided into three gangs, do all the work including teaching and administration. Oh yeah, and they're locked in.
Benson doesn't love this idea. He joins the Vs, who are the group most likely to attempt to escape, but nobody really seems interested in exploring the options. They do their jobs, get paid their points, and follow the rules -- if they don't, the school punishes them with detention. Nobody comes back from detention.
For the first half of the book, there's a kind of "been-there, done-that" feel. But then something happens that changes everything - and of course, I can't really tell you about thatt, because it is a MAJOR SPOILER.
Suffice it to say, the second half makes the first half worthwhile. And the cliffhanger ending is incredibly confusing and, if its purpose is to make you incredibly anxious for the sequel, it serves its purpose well.
The thing that first drew me into this book was it's mention of Pittsburgh. But then it wasn't set in Pittsburgh at all. But that's okay - it made me feel warm and fuzzy anyway.
Okay, so. Benson is a foster kid who, sick of the loneliness of his life, applies for a scholarship to a private school. He gets in, and heads to New Mexico.
When he arrives at school, however, it's not what he expects - he's met by Becky, the student in charge or orientation, who tells him that Maxwell Academy isn't like other schools. There are no adults. The students, divided into three gangs, do all the work including teaching and administration. Oh yeah, and they're locked in.
Benson doesn't love this idea. He joins the Vs, who are the group most likely to attempt to escape, but nobody really seems interested in exploring the options. They do their jobs, get paid their points, and follow the rules -- if they don't, the school punishes them with detention. Nobody comes back from detention.
For the first half of the book, there's a kind of "been-there, done-that" feel. But then something happens that changes everything - and of course, I can't really tell you about thatt, because it is a MAJOR SPOILER.
Suffice it to say, the second half makes the first half worthwhile. And the cliffhanger ending is incredibly confusing and, if its purpose is to make you incredibly anxious for the sequel, it serves its purpose well.