5th Wave by Rick Yancey [Joint Review!]

5 out of 5 Robots!

  

The 5th Wave by  Rick Yancey

Series: The 5th Wave #1
Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi
Release: May 7, 2013
Hardcover: 457 Pages
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Rex and Shannon
Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:

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.

Julia and Shannon's Thoughts: 
1.  What was your favorite part? 
Julia: I think I enjoyed how each character's lives intertwined and how we slowly figure that out by reading each of their points of view. And for whatever reason, I really loved getting to see Evan and Cassie get to know each other.

Shannon: I really enjoyed that too.  At first I was like "who are all these people?" but then as they slowly started to make their way towards each other, I started to get really excited.  I also really liked how intense the book got.  I was hyperventilating by the end!  I tore through the last half of the book like nobody's business.

2. What was your least favorite part?

Julia: The throwbacks.... but at the same time, they were fascinating. I was itching to see how each of Cassie's family members died, but then I was also like come onnnn what happens next! Really, this was hard for me to even pick something out though because I loved this story and how the author wrote each character. I loved Cassie's voice!

Shannon: My least favorite was the middle.  There is a part when the POV switches and I found it a little confusing.  First, because I didn't realize the POV was going to shift (but now everyone knows!), but also because I wasn't sure who was narrating or why.  The confusion didn't last long and it sorted itself out soon after.  But I wish the transition was a little...smoother.

 

3. What surprised you?  Did you find anything unsurprising or cliched? 

Julia: For whatever reason, I didn't find it predictable or cliched. Probably because I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading and was super into it. I honestly did not realize who Zombie was going to be for awhile, I mean, until they said his name. I was like come on, that's too coincidental. But then I'm like, well duuuh then the story wouldn't be so awesome. haha. And it kind of reminded me of my favorite alien movies so I don't even care. Uh- so yea, the most surprising part of this novel is just how obsessed with the story I was when I finished reading. ;)

Shannon: I am not generally a huge "alien" fan.  I don't tend to pick up books if they are explicitly about aliens.  But after I saw the excellent reviews pouring in, I wanted to give this book a go.  I've said this before, but you know it is a good book when the subject matter almost doesn't matter.  If the book is well written enough, I will enjoy just about any subject matter.  That was the case here.  Yes, it was about an alien invasion, but really it was so much more than that.  And even though there are some minor head scratchers and some well worn alien troupes...basically?  I didn't care about that.  I was happy to be swept away in the story and that really surprised me. 

 

4. Who was your favorite character? 

Julia: Evan. Evan. Evan. Evan. Evan. I liked Cassie too, honestly. She's bad ass but then still has her cute/trite teenage insecurities and attitude. Those things don't disappear just because aliens are taking over. Oh and I liked Zombie too, but was disappointed in him at the end... and happy too. Can't discuss, spoiler.

Shannon: Oh man.  All of them?  I do have a major soft spot for Evan, though, too.  Even more so once you find out more about his past.  I felt very protective towards him.  The main characters are all so well written and felt very real.

5. What did you think of the changing POVs?

Julia: I love the changing point of views because I feel like I'm getting more of the story. Some authors just can't do this and it ruins the story... Rick Yancy is a genius and pulls it off flawlessly.

 

Shannon: As I mentioned above, when the POV first shifts I felt a little disorientated.  But once I started to understand who was narrating, I really started to like it.  Because you get so much more of big picture.  Especially with Zombie because it is a whole other side to what is happening.  And I felt you really got to know and understand the characters so much better. 

 

6. Who would you recommend this book to? 

Julia: Everyone and their mother.

Shannon: I'm recommending this to my husband, who read approximately one book a read on vacation.    

 

7. What did you think of this book overall? 

Julia: Brilliant. Addictive. Action-packed. Fascinating. I want to see this as a movie. Now. I think this would make for a more entertaining movie than The Hunger Games.

 

Shannon: Loved it.  LOVED it.  Definitely one the top books I read in 2013.  I want to see this as a movie too!!  I can't wait until the next book comes out.  I will have to work on my patience.