Title: Panic
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Synopsis:
Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.
Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.
Review:
When I first decided to read this book, I saw a lot of people on social media
saying that they couldn't understand how it was going to be a stand
alone book from the description that was provided, but Panic is definitely a standalone novel. I was probably one of the few people who liked the idea of it being a standalone, and it made me even more excited to read this book from Ms. Oliver.
If you're looking for a complex YA heroine, Heather really isn't it. She's not very complicated, and I liked her for that. I feel like she represents the average teenager of today. She and her sister have a tough life. She's just trying to find her way through life after graduating high school, just like most teens do. She realizes that everything will change when her when her friends, Bishop and Nat, move away and she remains stuck in Carp. Dealing with friends moving away is something that teens, especially economically disadvantaged teens, deal with all the time. On top of feeling sad about losing her friends, she also has to deal with some relationship problems. She's a very realistic YA character.
The pacing of the plot in this novel is great. I never felt like things were being rushed or included just for the sake of trying to get readers. Oliver's descriptions of events in the book are almost perfect; she makes you feel like you're actually watching everything. I like the details that Oliver includes in the challenges of Panic. I could actually tell that she took the time to think of a big game like Panic, but she also put a great deal of time and thought into making the game seem like it's real with the many different challenges and rules.
Although I was able to correctly predict a lot of events and plot details in this book, I'd definitely recommend it to fans of contemporary YA fiction. I'd also recommend it to readers who like mysteries and thrillers. I think it would appeal to readers of those genres and even introduce them to the others if they haven't read them yet because it is a perfect blend of thriller and contemporary.
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I havent read any yet ^hides* but this one, PANIC, is the one i want to read the most! Thanks for this chance!
ReplyDeletePanic is so good! If you ever get the chance to read it, I highly recommend it!
DeleteYou're welcome! Good luck! :)
I've read Panic and loved it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, Christina! :)
DeleteGood to hear that this is a realistic heroine, this will be read by me soon!!
ReplyDeleteAnd she makes her fair share of mistakes, too. Heather is probably my favorite Lauren Oliver character and one of my favorite YA characters.
DeleteYou'll have to let me know what you think of it when you read it! :)
Lovely review, I have this on my Kindle to read but have been a bit wary of it after reading other reviews. Thanks for putting my mind at ease over it a little.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Thea!
DeleteI did see some of the bad reviews, and I mostly think people just didn't like Heather. Yeah... there were times when I didn't like her, but at the end of the book, I could tell that she grew.
You'll have to let me know what you think of it when you get around to reading it. :)
I haven't read any of Lauren Oliver's books, and have neglected reading Delirium from what I believe is pure laziness xD But I will at some point! Maybe I will start with this one though, because although predictable, the main character seems nice and it seems like an ideal YA read.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend Panic or Before I Fall if you want to start reading Lauren Oliver. I also loved the Delirium trilogy, but standalones are always a great way to introduce yourself to a new author.
DeleteIf you ever read anything by her, let me know. We can chat! :)
I have no clue why I haven't read more of her work! I really enjoyed her writing in Delirium, but I've had yet to pick up anything else. It need to get it together!
ReplyDeleteToo many books. Too little time.
DeleteBut in all honestly, she's pretty great. I can't wait to read Rooms. I want to see how she is at writing adult fiction.
I think I'm going to read Rooms in January. There's noway I can start it in December lol
DeleteOMG. I don't even know if I'll get to it then. I have two review copies set up for January already. lol
DeleteI read before I fall, and it was absolutely brilliant!
ReplyDeleteIt was! I absolutely loved it!
Delete