Book Review by Macon Chiles, Dunwoody High School Junior
I usually pride myself in being able to, for the most part, outsmart the books I read. Harry Potter was great, but I usually knew what was coming. The Hunger Games? Them, too. However, The 5th Wave was a totally different story. Now, I’m not the biggest Chloe Grace Moretz fan, so when I saw her on the cover, I began to dread picking up the book and getting attached to anyone she played. Curiosity won out eventually, though, and I’m definitely glad it did, because I finally found a book that kept me guessing until the very last page.
In fact, I’m still guessing. UPS, move faster please, I would really like my sequel to show up now.
Being thrown for a loop has never been more entertaining. Dual narrators Cassie, the feisty female lead that will stop at nothing to save her little brother, and Zombie, the popular-jock-turned-Sergeant that keeps an entire squadron alive and in check while still finding the time to fall for Ringer (another feisty female lead, who I hope gets plenty of exploration in the sequel- still looking at you, UPS,) both manage to make you fall in love with them, while at the same time make you wonder if they’re really on the right side.
Moreover, when you add in author Rick Yancey providing an aura of fear and suspense that only science fiction writers can provide, keeping readers on the edge of their seats even when everything seems calm, and the nagging doubt lingering in the readers’ minds about who the enemy really is? I certainly didn’t mind having to spend my time guessing at what would happen next.
Despite my original CGM-centric doubts, The 5th Wave is more than worth the read. If you’re on a hunt for quality, lovable (albeit somewhat questionable) characters, a few hundred pages that will all leave you wanting answers, a seriously suspenseful atmosphere, and a child’s teddy bear that somehow manages to survive all the insanity of four waves of the alien apocalypse, The 5th Wave is for you.
7 thoughts on “Book of the Week: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey”
Macon, I love reading your reviews, you are such a talented writer. I purchased the “Raven Boys” series as a gift for someone (shhhh) and cannot wait to read them myself! Your side eye to Chloe Grace cracked me up. I have no doubt that someday we’ll all be reading the latest from Macon Chiles!
Love your review Macon!! I’ll be ordering from Amazon tonight. I am looking forward to future reviews
Such a lovely, thoughtful review! You know it is a great job when you don’t want it to end! Thank you!
Great review..more importantly, I’m impressed w/her sentence structure,creative writing & ability to entice the reader!!
Macon that was a really good review! Makes me want to go out and get the book tomorrow. xoxo
Great review! I love your description of the characters, Macon! Your review prompted me to write down the name of the book – and I usually don’t read a lot of Science Fiction! Hope UPS comes through for you soon!
What a great review! It definitely makes me want to go get the book. Keep ’em comin’, Macon!
Macon, I love reading your reviews, you are such a talented writer. I purchased the “Raven Boys” series as a gift for someone (shhhh) and cannot wait to read them myself! Your side eye to Chloe Grace cracked me up. I have no doubt that someday we’ll all be reading the latest from Macon Chiles!
Love your review Macon!! I’ll be ordering from Amazon tonight. I am looking forward to future reviews
Such a lovely, thoughtful review! You know it is a great job when you don’t want it to end! Thank you!
Great review..more importantly, I’m impressed w/her sentence structure,creative writing & ability to entice the reader!!
Macon that was a really good review! Makes me want to go out and get the book tomorrow. xoxo
Great review! I love your description of the characters, Macon! Your review prompted me to write down the name of the book – and I usually don’t read a lot of Science Fiction! Hope UPS comes through for you soon!
What a great review! It definitely makes me want to go get the book. Keep ’em comin’, Macon!