Author: Rick Yancey |
Website | Twitter |
Publication Date: May 7th, 2013 |
Publisher: Putnum Juevenile |
My Interest: Sci-Fi month, Hype |
Source: Library|
Age Group | Genre: YA| Sci-Fi |
Series: Yes | The Fifth Wave
Pages: 457 |
What. The. Heck.
Firstly, this story. I have no words.
No words for why I waited so long to read this.
And, how did I just discover (as in literally as I was collecting info from the Goodreads page) that this is a series?
I checked out a copy from my local library. I was not compensated in any way for my words (cross my heart) nor did I promise a good rating. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.
The Story
“After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. “
-via Goodreads
My Thoughts
So. We finally meet Story That Will Blow My Mind.
Or at least that’s what I’m dubbing The 5th Wave.
Here’s the thing with me and YA. Apparently, I like to wait until a story has been around for about a year before I decide to give it a go. You know, let all the hype die down, pick up the book when it’s no longer “hot,” and then proceed to FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.
The 5th Wave has definitely made it on my list of “read and reread again” which I find interesting because I am not a fan of alien stories. Usually, alien stories drive me crazy or annoy me because I just don’t find them believable–unless they are the little, three-eyed, green Martians found in a claw game or eating Reese’s Pieces and phoning home. Then I love them.
So you can see why I have been hesitant to pick up this book even though there was a huge marketing campaign last year, and it seemed as if everywhere I turned the book was on someone else’s blog. Jumping out of the genre box has been really good for me so far this year. I’m discovering some great reads I might not have picked up otherwise, and you guys, I am so glad I picked up The 5th Wave.
I connected with Cassie a lot. Here’s this girl who has seemingly lost everyone she loves, and might just possibly be the last human on a planet invaded by aliens. She struggles hardcore which makes her completely real in my perspective. I love how she is a typical post-apocalyptic strong heroine, yet there are times she breaks and her vulnerability shows through. It makes her human which is probably a really good thing in this story. (Plus her name is short for Cassiopeia which is only my favorite constellation ever!)
But let’s talk about the non-humans because really, I know that’s what you’re dying to know about. As I said before, I have a hard time believing in alien stories. So many times they are violent, oppressive, and just want to eradicate humans. I mean, really? Aren’t there any good aliens out there? (Perhaps just one, and it’s because he has two hearts.) As much as I love fantasy stories, I would much rather escape to a medieval-like kingdom than gallivant off to space with weird creatures. In that instance, I really like how The 5th Wave is set on Earth even if it is a new and strange Earth. I also like how there’s something different about the aliens. (If I say more, I’ll spoil it.) I feel as if Yancey is giving a little different perspective on the ‘ole alien tale, and that’s what made the story exciting for me.
I will admit there were a few things I figured out early on–this was not a book of surprises for me–but the story was so action packed that I really did not want to put it down. I found myself absorbing it in two days and talking it up to my students who all thought I was a huge Geek by my second day in the classroom because I was so absorbed in an alien story. But now we’re writing about aliens and they are loving it, so who’s laughing now?
I can tell you I wasn’t a huge fan of how the romance played out in this book only because it seemed very unbelievable at times. However, after finishing the book and letting my mind settle around it several of the romance issues began to make sense. I was still a bit torn with the way they played out, but seeing as how I just discovered this is a series perhaps there will be redemption.
Even if you don’t typically like alien stories, I highly recommend this book–not only for Sci-Fi month–but to just read. Yancey’s writing is fabulous, full of action, description, and mind blowing moments. He’ll take you on an adventure with The 5th Wave and leave you having for whatever wave is going to hit next.
Pick this read up if you like…
Aliens, Apocalypse stories, post-apocalyptic worlds, kick-butt heroines, military, having your mind blown, survival stories,
Then when you’re finished, try….
The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
The Ward by Jordana Frankel
Book Talk: Have you read The 5th Wave yet? Um–did you find it crazy and action packed like me? Were you curious around every corner? Or were you fed up with the storyline?
My current {not} read this week is
thehopefulheroine 