Title: Across the Universe
Edition: Hardcover, 416 pages
Author(s): Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: January 11, 2010
Source: NCTE (ARC)
Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
The Summary
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A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.
My Opinion
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Beth Revis has a hit a home run with her debut novel, Across the Universe! I couldn't put this book down. I ignored everyone and everything for two days while I was reading. I liked every single thing about this book: the characters, the plot, the world; all enthralling and interesting. I haven't been this engulfed in a book since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, so that's saying something.
Each chapter pushed into the next, perpetuating the mystery fueling the entire book. The mystery within the book isn't just one single solid line; it has cracks branching off of it at every turn. The cracks converge and diverge in and out of the plot, which simply keeps the readers hooked:
Each chapter pushed into the next, perpetuating the mystery fueling the entire book. The mystery within the book isn't just one single solid line; it has cracks branching off of it at every turn. The cracks converge and diverge in and out of the plot, which simply keeps the readers hooked:
Who unfreezes Amy?
Why did they do it?
How is she connected to the other victims?
Who is Elder/Eldest?
Where are Elder's parents?
What is the plague?
What happened to the previous Elder?
Who's the man Doc and Eldest are afraid of?
See, cracks just splintered from the main mystery: Why are these people here for and what happened to Godspeed? The best part is that, while there are clues through the whole book, you don't learn the truth of Godspeed until the end. Then it, of course, continues on to the next book (which I want nownownow!).
Revis's writing is beautiful. The story is told from two alternating points of view, Elder's and Amy's. Often the reader sees snippets of the same event from each point of view with additional details added. Sometimes, while Amy is doing something, the next chapter will be at the same time, but wherever Elder is at that moment. The progression of the story can also be seen in the writing. At the beginning the voice of each character reflects their situation: Amy is frozen and her thoughts are dreamlike and philosophical. Elder is caught in a leadership role and as such his rhetoric is stark. However, as the story progresses, the two voices start to emulate each other; Elder becomes more emotional and Amy becomes more logical.
The characters and the world building are both another amazing part of the story. Revis is able to flesh out her world so well, that I feel even the slightest character is actualized. Each person has a personality, even when that person doesn't have a personality, as with the Feeders (when you read it you'll understand). The brutality which is seen in this society is perfectly constructed. I can feel it happening, but at the same time it is simply a fact of life for these people. The mix of dystopian, science fiction, and romance is one of the most amazing jobs I have seen within a book.
I recommend Across the Universe to every single person who enjoys reading. I'm not kidding. I think it has something fro everyone; the themes are endless: dystopia, sci-fi, mystery, murder, romance, coming-of-age, etc. The themes presented are for older kids, but younger kids could read it if a parent is there to help guide them and answer questions.
GO OUT AND BUY IT! LINKS TO PURCHASE ARE ABOVE.
IT CAME OUT IN STORES TODAY, 1-11-11!!! SO DON'T WAIT!
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| Taken from www.bethrevis.com Check out the EXTRAS page if you can find it! |
Final Rating
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Book Cover: 5/5
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 50/50 - A
That's right a perfect 50/50. It totally deserves it!
I came from Saturday Situation. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you loved it too! I was so blown away by this book. The premise was ingenious. I can't wait for the sequel!
The longer I look at this book, the more interested I become. And reading all these positive reviews only adds to that. Perhaps I should check this one out, even when I had my doubts about this one first.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm even more excited to listen to the audiobook now :) Thanks!
ReplyDelete