Authors: Emmy Laybourne
Publication Date: June 5th 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 294
Link to Goodreads: Here
Part of a Series: Book 1 of Monument 14
Plot:Your mother hollers that you're going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don't stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don't thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not-you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.
Only, if it's the last time you'll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you'd stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.
But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.
Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.
“Laybourne’s debut ably turns what could have been yet another post apocalyptic YA novel into a tense, claustrophobic, and fast-paced thriller.” (Publishers Weekly)
When Dean raced out the door to catch the school bus, he didn’t realize it would be the last time he’d ever see his mom. After a freak hailstorm sends the bus crashing into a superstore, Dean and a group of students of all ages are left to fend for themselves.
They soon realize the hailstorm and the crash are the least of their worries. After seeing a series of environmental and chemical disasters ravage the outside world, they realize they’re trapped inside the store.
Unable to communicate with the ones they love, the group attempts to cobble together a new existence. As they struggle to survive, Dean and the others must decide which risk is greater: leaving… or staying.
Monument 14 is a post-apocalyptic YA novel that transcends age barriers. If you like heart-stopping suspense, realistic characters, and new takes on survival novels, then you’ll love the first book in Emmy Laybourne’s Monument 14 series.
Reading period: May 1, 2017 - May 6, 2017
Review
With the number of post- apocalyptic books I’ve been reading recently I’ll probably have the means to survive… at least for a few days. LOL!!!
Monument 14 was slightly different from the other post- apocalyptic books I’ve read. For example, Ashfall was more focused on surviving in very harsh conditions, Monument 14 is more about the characters and the psychological effects of a group of kids trapped inside a building.
After their school buses are hit by a big hailstorm, a group of kids find refuge in a mall. Fourteen kids of different ages, different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses need to work together to survive.
It’s a very fast paced book. I love when a book is mostly dialogue, it makes you feel like you are part of the story. And the use of the first point of view was a great idea too. And I really liked the character of Dean, it was great following the dynamics through his eyes.
They aren’t a lot of YA books with small children, so that was different too. The teenagers really stepped up to take care of the little ones.
The only part I didn’t enjoy was the toxic cloud and the different effect it had on people based on blood type. With everything else going on I think it was too much, but I get why: it gave them another reason not to try adventure outside.
A warning: there’s some violence in the book, including sexual themes.
But in conclusion: if you like this genre and you want something different to read, more character based, this one is for you.
The ending was great and I can’t wait to continue the story in the second book!
RATING
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