Spring is definitely around the corner. Yes, there's still a layer of snow on the ground, but I have seen my first robin, a sure sign of better weather to come.
Meanwhile, I have been reading up a storm, and am excited to share with you a novel called Variant by Robison Wells.
AUTHOR ROBISON WELLS:
Robison Wells is an American author. Variant is a YA science fiction thriller for teens. Variant has been named by Publishers Weekly as one of the best books for 2011. His novel has also been selected by YALSA picks for reluctant readers.
VARIANT
REVIEW:
Benson has spent most of his childhood
bouncing from one foster home to another. He longingly wants to settle, find a
place where he can call home.
Benson’s life is about to change in more
ways than he could ever imagine. Thrilled, he learns of his acceptance to
Mayfield Academy, a private school located across the country. He dreams of
what awaits him, a new beginning, belonging and acceptance.
Benson is somewhat surprised by the
state of the school protected more like a fortress or prison, vacant of
students other than two outside. This along should have been a warning to flee,
but his excitement overshadows all else.
Benson enters the school only to
discover that there is no adult supervision, no teachers, principal, guidance
attendants or caretakers. The students
alone run the school, their every move monitored by cameras, their every word
picked up by microphones.
It isn’t long before Benson discovers
there is no escape, and those who’ve tried before him have failed.
George Orwell covered the subject of "big brother in his novel 1984. Likewise, Robison Wells has done the same in his novel Variant. A work of fiction, but insightful bringing forth some pertinent questions. With the advancement in
technology and social media, how much of our lives are still private?
Satellites monitor our every move, cameras taking our pictures on the road, in
the malls and elevators. Even in our homes, we’re not completely shielded,
exposed to outside monitoring every time we boot up our computers. Only those
living off the grid can maintain a somewhat private existence.
Like a house of cards, social structure and order is fragile in Robison Well’s novel Variant.
Breakdown of society is not a new
concept, one well depicted in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. A common
thread shared in both novels.
Variant is unpredictable with many surprises
and unexpected events. A fun fast read that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I would recommend Variant for ages 12+
Novels by Robison Wells:
Happy reading,
Bye
Rosalyne
