Author: Patrick Ness
Genre: Fantasy; Young Adult
Rating: 6.5/10
What if you aren’t the chosen one?
When I first read the synopsis of the book, I was immediately hooked by the concept. I found it original and I liked how it aimed to kick down that fourth wall of novels. I was skeptical though. After all, there is a reason most books follow main characters to whom things happen to.
Having finished the book, I have some criticisms.
The setting was our world, but with a few tweaks. For one, people can be identified as either a main character (indie kid) or not. Secondly, those not dubbed “chosen ones” play witness to all the horrible but exciting things that happen to those who are. Personally, I really liked the awareness in this parallel universe. I thought it would be very useful in opening discussions on topics such as “What makes someone a main character?”, “Are they resentful that they are main characters?”, “Are others resentful that they’re not?” etc. However, besides a brief mention of how the general public was not a fan of the havoc that the indie kids wrecked, these subjects were barely brought up.
The format of the book was an interesting one. Each chapter of the book began with a short summary of what the indie kids were up to, before we return to the seemingly ordinary lives of the other characters. I really appreciated this creative approach.
As for the story itself, I found it easy and quite enjoyable to read. This was because the story does not evoke strong emotions like excitement or fear or anticipation, which in a way, fulfils the concept of the book, though I could see some finding it boring.
Though this book was pitched as a story about sideline characters, I thought that the main arc very much resembled that of a contemporary, focusing on the lives of a group of teenagers as they neared graduation. Although, this sideline view of an adventure definitely sets it apart from any book I’ve read.
Moreover, I liked our characters and the relationships they shared. I found their personalities and backgrounds distinct and interesting. The troubles they faced did tug on a heartstring or two.
Moving on to the writing. While it did not make me stop reading, I was not a fan of it. The voice is that of a teen, interactions and scenes were almost always of teenagers, and personally, I felt that it was an inaccurate representation. The book also had the narrator address us, the readers, from time to time, which I just found cheesy and unnecessary. Some of the supposed hard hitting scenes and lines just fell flat for me. The book definitely still had its moments, certain lines that resonated with me, but as a whole, I just did not enjoy the writing style.
“You always assume you're the least-wanted person there. The one everyone else could do without.”
Overall, I felt that everything could have been executed better. There was a lack of depth and development. I felt that the concept had the potential to be a revolutionary novel but had sadly missed the mark.
Reviewed by: N.G.Rainwater (1st Reading)
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