April 9, 2013

Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon

Release Date: April 9, 2013
Publisher: Soho Teen
Pages: 288
Series: n/a
Review Source: Netgalley


Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…

17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…

17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving.

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life.

My Thoughts:
‘Strangelets’ has a really intense start that gets your attention right away. Our main characters are at the moment of death or near-death, and they are suddenly transported elsewhere. It’s so interesting, and it definitely makes you want to read on and figure out what the heck has gone on.

This book has an eerie post-apocalyptic setting that, at first, keeps you on the edge of your seat. Unfortunately this tone isn't retained, and things become a bit drawn out after the half way point. This was exacerbated by the fact that I didn’t care for the characters that much. There were two that I empathized with quite a bit, but even they were put into an insta-love type of situation, which got a bit annoying.

I really like the way this world was presented, and I think that the setting was really the strongest part of the book. I did get a bit lost with some of the scientific explanations, though, which lessened my enjoyment for the book. The reveal to explain the whole scenario was a bit anti-climactic as well. So much of this book was intriguing and fresh, so the ending really came as a disappointment. It wasn’t quite a deus ex machina, but it seemed like way too simple a fix for a problem that had such high stakes.

While I disliked the ending and found it hard to get through the last part of this book, the beginning entertained me enough for it to warrant 3 stars. I can see other people liking it even more, especially if they haven't read other similar titles.

The Cover:
Decent, but I wish it was more eye catching.

Rating:
[3/5]

Find Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

10 comments:

  1. The world set up sounds great but creepy

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  2. I wasn't really fond of Gagnon's writing in Don't Turn Around, but this sounds more like my kind of book. I am a sucker for creepy, atmospheric reads, and since the setting here was so strong, I suppose I'll have to give it a chance.
    Great review.

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    1. I haven't read anything else by her... it'll be interesting to see comparisons by people who have.

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  3. I posted my review of Strangelets today also, and felt much the same as you. Liked the world -- didn't really connect with the characters and thought the plot had some flaws. I think younger kids would like it more than "experienced" readers.

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    1. I would agree with this. If you hadn't read anything in the genre and it felt totally new? That would be a fabulous reading experience.

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  4. Hmm, I'll probably pass on this one, Ashley. I get annoyed when the plot starts dragging. It's also too bad that you found the ending anti-climactic and couldn't care about the characters. Great review, though!

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  5. So the 3 teens wake up in a hospital with 3 other teens?? I dont know about this one. I'm getting confused about the book summary already.

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    Replies
    1. Yessum, there is the 6 of them, although the three mentioned at the beginning are the very main characters.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment; I appreciate each one!

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