Kk This book was fun! Great premise. About 1/4 of the way Imin I got bored, set it down, and didn’t return for years.

By then I had forgotten there were four different perspectives. It was a bit of a jolt to get back on the train. However, once ai did I remembered why I had set it down in the first place.

The characters are shallow. It’s almost as if the author is trying to hard to make them “real”, but fails in trying so hard. The characters are unrealistic, lame and VERY stereotypical. “Cabin in the Woods” stereotypical. Cringe-worthy.

That being said, if you can get past that, read a little faster and just enjoy the ride…it’s fun! You know the animatronics in Disneyland will never truly attack you, so you pretend and scream for fun. Treat this book like that and you can enjoy it.

I did. ( )

[July 19, 2012] This novel is basically a variation on "isolate everyone under dire circumstances and watch society break down." I could comment on the implausibility of the story, or the lack of a satisfying resolution, but my main problem with this novel has to do with how the story is presented to its intended audience - teenagers.

Most stories of this type are very clear in what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior by the characters and what drives them to take matters in their own hands. The best stories of this type depict the regret and remorse of those whose actions don't truly reflect their true nature. In this novel, however, while the dire circumstances under which people find themselves is shown to influence their behavior, the inappropriate behavior by the adolescents in the story (for example, bullying, sexual innuendo, shoplifting, disrespect for authority) is glossed over as if "that's just the way kids are these days." While this may or may not reflect teenagers in real life, the lack of consequences for unacceptable behavior suggests that this behavior is "okay." Even aside from consequences, the very descriptions of these actions suggest no ethical standards.

The purpose of the novel may not be to moralize, but should we suggest, by not drawing a line between right and wrong, that "anything goes"? The bottom line is, I'm a pretty liberal-thinking adult, but I wouldn't want my teenage kids reading this. There are so many better YA novels for them to read, none of which is marred as I feel this novel is. ( )

I liked the idea so it gets one star. That's all I liked. So so implausible. The fact that each of the characters stories lasted about 10 pages each day they were locked in amazed me. So much more would have been happening with their days and yet we just get a short glimpse. This book takes place over 7 days yet it could have been condensed into 2 days with all the same action and plot points. Maybe stretch it to 3 days. It would have been much better paced then, slightly more believable. Also the characters and style of writing... Just didn't like it. Sorry. Will probably not ever get around to reading the rest of the trilogy. ( )

I liked the idea so it gets one star. That's all I liked. So so implausible. The fact that each of the characters stories lasted about 10 pages each day they were locked in amazed me. So much more would have been happening with their days and yet we just get a short glimpse. This book takes place over 7 days yet it could have been condensed into 2 days with all the same action and plot points. Maybe stretch it to 3 days. It would have been much better paced then, slightly more believable. Also the characters and style of writing... Just didn't like it. Sorry. Will probably not ever get around to reading the rest of the trilogy. ( )

Amber already wrote exactly what I would say so ill just say You Go girl- awful writing - I read thru a lot of crappy books because I hate not finishing but this one I just couldn't bear to keep reading. ( )