The Wager

Reader: David L
Age: 16
Title: The Wager
Author: Donna Jo Napoli
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Pub Date: 04/27/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teen’s Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: It is an interesting, creative myth put into modern English and written in an exciting, tantalizing manner.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The very idea of a wager with the Devil is enticing, but I think the most compelling aspect of the book is its basis in a myth that we've all heard mentioned.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I was a little disappointed with the ending--I've almost, believe it or not, come to expect sad endings, and the way that the book just came to an abrupt, happy end left me floundering in the water, unsated. It also felt as if the book lacked a good final conflict. The Wager simply trailed off at the end, with no greater suspense than the first few chapters of the book.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: The cover certainly tempted me to pick the book up, but I don't think it reflected the contents of the book very well. The red, "devilish" cover was enough to tempt a slightly irreverent teenage boy to pick it up, but the book itself does not seem very... red. The pictures of Sicily that were described in the book were pictures of springtime and life, dirt and riches--the red of the cover did not portray this well. On the other hand, the little drawings do a good job of showing things in the novel without giving them away.
Age Range: 14-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal