Variant by Robison Wells
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 384
Summary: Benson Fisher thought 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 Thoughts: I want to point out I don't read many books from a male POV. I never really can connect to them and usually I just don't like it. I started reading Variant and instantly connected with Benson.
We meet Benson who is a teenager who has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. He's been in so many the parents usually don't even get to know him. He's even been in one for less than a day. He's used to it by now. He wishes he could have stability but nobody wants to keep him around very long. This is the way of some foster homes.
He applies for a scholarship at a school, he figures what the heck, should at least try it. He gets accepted and we are bounced right into his life going to the school. Maxfield Academy is so different from regular schools. There are no teachers and no real homework, doesn't that sound amazing? The students also all the the jobs around the school. They do the maintenance, the cooking, and even the punishment (kinda). The students basically run the school but nobody really knows why. They also realize that nobody ever gets to leave and if they do, the student just disappears. You also must follow all the rules or else you will get sent to detention. The buzz kill: nobody ever comes back from detention.
From day one, Benson wants out. He doesn't like being trapped in this school. He doesn't understand anything and wants to get away. He also joins the V's. There are a bunch of groups (or gangs) that people stick too for safety. If you stick with your own, they will protect you.
They also are set out to do tasks. One day in class they are learning one thing, another night they end up being locked out of the school with only 10 sleeping bags between 70ish students, and another playing paintball. You never knew what was going to happen.
Benson realizes there isn't a way out, nobody knows what is beyond the wall but he knows he needs to escape. He also meets a girl named Jane and gets to know her.
Maxfield Academy is such a different school than anything I've ever read about it. It's mysterious, it's controlled by cameras, it's WEIRD!
I really enjoyed reading Variant. Some people are classifying it as dystopian. I think its more science fiction than dystopian though. I loved Benson's character, I loved how driven he is. I also loved all the other characters we got to know throughout the book.
All I can really say about Variant is, it's like nothing I've read before. It was so good. There were so many twists that I didn't see any of them coming.
Do Benson and his friends finally get out of the school? Do they all survive? Who doesn't make it? Who gets sent to detention? Want to find out, pick up a copy now!
Overall: Really really liked this one! It was a really awesome book! Definitely a debut to read this year. But you should be warned, there was a major cliffhanger that will leave you wanting to know what happens next! I sat there speechless for a few minutes before I wanted to throw the book at the wall! NO! LOL
Cover: I like it. I like the blue color and the boy and girl on the front. It's interesting.
Summary: Benson Fisher thought 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 Thoughts: I want to point out I don't read many books from a male POV. I never really can connect to them and usually I just don't like it. I started reading Variant and instantly connected with Benson.
We meet Benson who is a teenager who has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. He's been in so many the parents usually don't even get to know him. He's even been in one for less than a day. He's used to it by now. He wishes he could have stability but nobody wants to keep him around very long. This is the way of some foster homes.
He applies for a scholarship at a school, he figures what the heck, should at least try it. He gets accepted and we are bounced right into his life going to the school. Maxfield Academy is so different from regular schools. There are no teachers and no real homework, doesn't that sound amazing? The students also all the the jobs around the school. They do the maintenance, the cooking, and even the punishment (kinda). The students basically run the school but nobody really knows why. They also realize that nobody ever gets to leave and if they do, the student just disappears. You also must follow all the rules or else you will get sent to detention. The buzz kill: nobody ever comes back from detention.
From day one, Benson wants out. He doesn't like being trapped in this school. He doesn't understand anything and wants to get away. He also joins the V's. There are a bunch of groups (or gangs) that people stick too for safety. If you stick with your own, they will protect you.
They also are set out to do tasks. One day in class they are learning one thing, another night they end up being locked out of the school with only 10 sleeping bags between 70ish students, and another playing paintball. You never knew what was going to happen.
Benson realizes there isn't a way out, nobody knows what is beyond the wall but he knows he needs to escape. He also meets a girl named Jane and gets to know her.
Maxfield Academy is such a different school than anything I've ever read about it. It's mysterious, it's controlled by cameras, it's WEIRD!
I really enjoyed reading Variant. Some people are classifying it as dystopian. I think its more science fiction than dystopian though. I loved Benson's character, I loved how driven he is. I also loved all the other characters we got to know throughout the book.
All I can really say about Variant is, it's like nothing I've read before. It was so good. There were so many twists that I didn't see any of them coming.
Do Benson and his friends finally get out of the school? Do they all survive? Who doesn't make it? Who gets sent to detention? Want to find out, pick up a copy now!
Overall: Really really liked this one! It was a really awesome book! Definitely a debut to read this year. But you should be warned, there was a major cliffhanger that will leave you wanting to know what happens next! I sat there speechless for a few minutes before I wanted to throw the book at the wall! NO! LOL
Cover: I like it. I like the blue color and the boy and girl on the front. It's interesting.
What I'd Give It:
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1 comment:
I too hardly ever enjoy books with males as the main character. But I enjoyed this one!
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