Wow! This book might have made my mouth drop open a number of times. There were no slow parts of the book, and it kept moving at a rapid pace without feeling rushed. It had a lot of violence in it due to the subject matter, but it also had a lot of Christian content that I really enjoyed. Many times the characters relied on God to help them through a seemingly hopeless situation.
At the beginning I was not sure what to make of this book, but it got better and better. I really enjoyed seeing Palmer and Nikki grow as characters. I am disappointed that there is not a sequel.
This book is definitely for anyone who is looking for an action/adventure book and loves a thrilling tale. ( )

At least they should have gotten to say goodbye. ( )

Thanks to Goodreads for sending this First Reads book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

I tried to read another book by Klavan last year (The Last Thing I Remember) and found it extremely heavy on the "God front". I'm not athiest by any means and believe in prayer, however, it was in your face during that book. This one was on the edge, and thankfully stayed more palpable. The fact that the main character prayed was mentioned more than it needed to be, but it didn't detract from the action or the story line like Klavan has done before.

This was a thriller/action book and the intensity was there from very early on to the last few pages. It kept me interested in the story and kept me turning the pages. It was never boring. Just the kind of story I would have thrived on as a young teen, which is the intended audience. The writing is from a teen boy's point of view which had me unsure at the beginning, but it didn't take long to get into and relate to the character, so it became almost endearing as the story went along.

If I could give it 3.5, that's what I would do, but I'll push it up to 4 in this case. I don't need to own this one, but I am likely to recommend it to my young teen friends or anyone else who wants a fun, lively read. ( )

I received this via First Reads and greatly appreciated the opportunity to experience Klavan's work. I'm a litle conflicted about this book.

The only character I really like or connect to in this story is the narrator. My first instinct was to feel this was a result of bad character development. But upon reflection, I'm not so sure. I think the characters are developed via the worldview and perspective of the teenager who is telling us his story.

In the beginning the characters all seem a little cliche and two dimensional; but they acquire at least a little depth as the story climaxes and rolls toward its conclusion. I wonder if this isn't a purposeful tool used by the author to make the narrator more realistic.

After all, the narrator is 16 years old. It stands to reason that he might just view his experiences, at least initially, via his media riddled and cliche laden worldview. The narrator himself becomes less shallow and more introspective as the story develops.

Although I enjoyed the introspection, I think the "God" talk in the book was overdone. I think the messages would have been more profoundly received without the heavy hand.

My favorite scene involves a gun, a waterfall and a maneating reptile.

( )

Thrilling Adventure for Teens

This is an excellent choice for students who have been on mission trips or know of people who have been on mission trips. If you have been in a third world country, it is easy to see how easily a small number of people could stage a take over. Though I enjoyed it thoroughly, it probably plays better to teens, and is safe for all ages, though there is some violence. School libraries and homeschoolers alike will enjoy the wild ride, and make them think about what it would be like to be in similar situations. It will definitely make an exciting addition to all libraries. ( )