Age: 17
Title: More Than This
Author: Patrick Ness
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub Date: 09/10/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book made me upset because it could have been so much better. Some elements were very strong and compelling, such as the main character coming to terms with his past and the diverse cast of well-developed secondary characters. The plot was intriguing until it became impossible and wrote itself into a corner. If these wonderful characters had been placed in a simpler, more believable series of events without the confusing matrix-like sci-fi twist, the book would have been amazing.
Memorable or Forgettable: The characters in this story were all memorable. They surprised me and made me believe in them. The romantic interest was key to the story and also a person I would have liked to know more about; the sidekicks were a lot of fun while still having serious aspects to their personas. The reason I continued to read the book until the end even as the plot fell apart was because I was enjoying the characters so much. The plot was forgettable and even regrettable: amnesia, waking up alone in a post-apocalyptic setting, flashbacks (which were much more interesting than the present plot; the whole book could have been set then), awkward sci-fi explanation that was so impossible the characters themselves commented on it, and an invincible bad guy. The plot did not do the characters justice.
Cover: This cover is fairly bland, though the door does symbolize the main themes of the book. I like that it’s not a picture.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal
Additional Comments: I really wanted this book to be better than it was. In terms of plot, less would have been more.
tags: science fiction / post-apocalyptic / ya lit
No comments:
Post a Comment