By James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
Published By Century
Summary (Goodreads): The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?
Dislikes: I was hoping for more from this book. There was never any real world or character building. It jumped right into the action, Whit and Wisty being taken from their home for being a witch and wizard. It seems pretty unbelievable that the New Order has taken over all parts of the government and the country and yet no one knows anything about it. Kids have been disappearing, including Whit's girlfriend, and at no point do their parents feel the need to warn them about what is going on and how what they really are is putting them in danger.
Likes: I liked Wisty, her character seemed more capable in the environment they were thrust into. She was quick to accept what she was and try to get better at being a witch so she could help not only herself but all the other kids that were being held by the N.O.
Overall: It was a well paced book and made for a quick read. I would have liked this book much more if it had been the second or third book in a series instead of the first. Since you are not as familiar with the characters, when there were twists they didn't have the impact they should have because you had no vested interest in characters.
Rating: 3
I have never read anything by James Patterson, how strange is that? I've been interested in trying his YA books, but haven't gotten there yet. I can definitely see how he would be more about the action than the character building though, and characters are always the vital part for me. Thanks for your honest thoughts Kristina!
ReplyDeleteOh Lord. This was my worst read of 2010. I gave it a 1, and I was generous. There is NO way I'll read the sequel. I'm glad you at least found redeeming value in Wisty's character! Great review :)
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