Sheila's Books Read

Sheila's bookshelf: read

The Best Intentions
Scotland's Melody
The Secret Society of Salzburg
Secret of the Sonnets
20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have
Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild
Secret Santa Claus Club: A Tool to Help Parents Unwrap the Secret of Santa
Mr. Pudgins
Revenge Never Rests
The Best Mistake
Meriden Park
More Inspirational Stories for Young Women
The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable
To Capture His Heart
The Call of the Sea
Esperance
Livvy and the Enchanted Woodland
Come, Gentle Night
The Bad Boy Theory
Guide To Smart Wedding Planning: What You want to know and everything you haven't thought of yet.


Sheila's favorite books »

2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Sheila has read 4 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Friday, November 4, 2011

Review of VARIANT by Robison Wells

Product Details:

  • Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (October 4, 2011)
  • ISBN-10: 0062026089


Book Description:

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

My Review:
Benson Fisher is looking for a brand new start at a brand new school. He is not prepared for what awaits him when he gets there. Strange happenings are occurring at Maxfield Academy where the students are running the school, with no adults in sight. From the very beginning you realize that Variant is not going to be like other books out there. I found I was drawn in from the minute he pulls up to the front doors of the school. Students standing at the windows are screaming at him, making this a very strange welcome to a new school. Oh yes, later Benson finds out it had been a warning for him to run while he had the chance. On the front cover of the book it says, "Trust No One" and in Benson's case it is good advice.

From this point on it is such a wild ride. Every day, Benson finds more and more weird things about the school. They are not doing regular school work where the kids teach the classes,and they "earn" points so as to buy new clothes, snacks and paintball gear. He also plans every day how he is going to escape.This bothers many of the other students who don't want to see Benson in detention. Once you go to detention you are not heard of again.The people that he thinks he can trust, he finds their friendship is all a facade. 

Variant leaves you guessing through the whole book. I can guarantee you, that you will not guess about nor believe some of the things that are revealed. The end IS as shocking as everyone has been saying. This book is such a great mix of a dystopian theme and a surprising dash of sci-fi.  The writing is clean and the characters are distinct. I can’t wait to find out where the story will go from here. It all reminds me of mice in a cage running through tubes, they never realize that they are not getting anywhere. Is this what Benson is going to find out? If you are curious as to what I mean…well, you are just going to have to read the book. It is a five star, totally fantastic YA book that I will read again, and again.

If you need even more enticement to read Variant, watch these three book trailers to seal the deal. 











You can purchase your own copy of Variant here at Amazon.com

To learn more about Robison Wells, please visit his website here   

**I was given a review copy of Variant, in no way did this influence the 
review that was given**





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