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Starters #1.5
Portrait of a Spore: The 3rd Unhidden Story
PoaS is told from two points of view - one gives us insight into the "mind" of a Spore, bioengineered to wipe out everyone in North America without the vaccine (mostly those from 18-65) leaving only children and teens (Starters) and the elderly (Enders).
The other point of view is Callie's mother. The story covers the morning and afternoon of the spores arrival in Callie's hometown. It fleshes out Callie's backstory and gives us some really great mother/daughter moments.
The other point of view is Callie's mother. The story covers the morning and afternoon of the spores arrival in Callie's hometown. It fleshes out Callie's backstory and gives us some really great mother/daughter moments.
First published May 7, 2013
5 people are currently reading
1475 people want to read
About the author
Lissa Price
15 books1,640 followersLissa Price’s debut novel STARTERS is an award-winning, international bestseller published in over thirty countries. Dean Koontz called this YA futuristic thriller “a smart, swift, inventive, altogether gripping story.” The LA Times said it is “Dystopian science-fiction at its best,” and “Readers who have been waiting for a worthy successor to ‘The Hunger Games’ will find it here.”
STARTERS was a Barnes & Noble pick of the month and one of only four debuts on the B&N Best Teen Books of 2012. It was awarded the its Eselsohr for Best YA Book in 2012, selected by a jury of teens in Germany, and was chosen as a top ten favorite book of 2012 by both French and German readers. It won the Crimezone Award for Best YA Thriller and is one of the LAPL's and Chicago Public Library's Best Teen Books of 2012.
Starters was chosen for the IRA Reading List and is the only book nominated for both the Florida Teens Read List and the SSYRA Middle School List 2013-14.
In Germany, Starters launched a brand-new YA imprint of the established Piper Verlag publisher called IVI. Audiobooks have been recorded in English and German.
See the book trailer that played in front of the Hunger Games film in selected theaters in the US and abroad at her site. The release dates for Enders will be announced by the publishers of each country, with some starting in May 2013.
If you want to contact Lissa, please do it through her website, fb, twitter or tumblr and not here. She's happy to email you back if you reach out to her that way. She thanks everyone for their support!
STARTERS was a Barnes & Noble pick of the month and one of only four debuts on the B&N Best Teen Books of 2012. It was awarded the its Eselsohr for Best YA Book in 2012, selected by a jury of teens in Germany, and was chosen as a top ten favorite book of 2012 by both French and German readers. It won the Crimezone Award for Best YA Thriller and is one of the LAPL's and Chicago Public Library's Best Teen Books of 2012.
Starters was chosen for the IRA Reading List and is the only book nominated for both the Florida Teens Read List and the SSYRA Middle School List 2013-14.
In Germany, Starters launched a brand-new YA imprint of the established Piper Verlag publisher called IVI. Audiobooks have been recorded in English and German.
See the book trailer that played in front of the Hunger Games film in selected theaters in the US and abroad at her site. The release dates for Enders will be announced by the publishers of each country, with some starting in May 2013.
If you want to contact Lissa, please do it through her website, fb, twitter or tumblr and not here. She's happy to email you back if you reach out to her that way. She thanks everyone for their support!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 20, 2024
Cuatro estrellas.
En este relato corto podemos conocer cómo empezó todo. El momento en que atacaron con las esporas.
Desde el punto de vista de una espora y desde el punto de vista de la madre de Callie, este relato corto nos mete de lleno en esos momentos de tensión previos al desastre. Callie junto a su madre, se disponen a hacer unas compras. Su madre intenta mantener la calma, aunque sabe que muy pronto todo cambiará y que es posible que sus hijos queden huérfanos, que tendrán que aprender a sobrevivir. Son los momentos de normalidad antes de que se avecine la futura separación.
Me ha parecido un buen relato, breve, pero conciso, y que mantiene la tensión.
https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
En este relato corto podemos conocer cómo empezó todo. El momento en que atacaron con las esporas.
Desde el punto de vista de una espora y desde el punto de vista de la madre de Callie, este relato corto nos mete de lleno en esos momentos de tensión previos al desastre. Callie junto a su madre, se disponen a hacer unas compras. Su madre intenta mantener la calma, aunque sabe que muy pronto todo cambiará y que es posible que sus hijos queden huérfanos, que tendrán que aprender a sobrevivir. Son los momentos de normalidad antes de que se avecine la futura separación.
Me ha parecido un buen relato, breve, pero conciso, y que mantiene la tensión.
https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
February 19, 2022
Hat mir am besten Gefallen von den drei Bonusgeschichten. Hier wird die Geschichte erzählt wie Callies Mutter von der Spore infiziert wird. Hierbei wird immer wieder aus der Sicht der Spore und Callies Mutter erzählt. Dabei erfährt man sich etwas aus der Zeit wie alles angefangen hat.
3,5 ⭐
3,5 ⭐
March 20, 2023
This novella would probably be my favorite so far if not for the terrible (and only) translation I found of this book. I cannot read German, at all, and it was the only version out there. Pity - I was interested to read more about Callie and Tyler’s mother and this spore thing, however disgusting, was better than the Starter and Marshall’s novellas. Felt more like a dystopia than the others.
January 5, 2020
I was hoping for a background on the war, at least, but nothing new was provided. You'd have already known how this would end after reading Starters, but I guess it was okay for an additional reading material.
June 27, 2024
I only give it 3 stars because of the moms story, besides that what is going on with the spore 😭
May 30, 2019
I was hoping this would give some backstory on the war but it didn’t. I kind of found this short story to be pointless since you know exactly how it ends because it is mentioned in the book starters.
January 7, 2021
It was good to see how it started, but a lot of stupid decisions were made on the day the spores were released.
February 12, 2014
Uma curta visão sobre o fim do mundo que conhecemos.
Legalzinho!
Mais um conto extra da série Starters e Enders!
Não canso de repetir o quanto sou fã de contos... então deixe-me repetir para quem não costuma ler minhas resenhas: sou super fã de contos! Desta forma, é claro que fiquei ultra feliz por Lissa Price escrever tantos contos sobre o mundo dos Starters.
Esse quarto conto Extra da série (que segundo a ordem informada pelo Goodreads deveria ter sido o terceiro a ser lido) se passa, na verdade, antes de qualquer um dos outros. Apesar disso, não indico que a leitura dele seja feita antes do leitor conhecer a história de Starters.
Retrato de um Esporo segue a nomeclatura de todos os outros contos da série.
O primeiro, Retrato de uma Starter, tem um nome que casa perfeitamente com a história que é narrada, mas os demais apenas seguem a linha de título. Não que fique completamente fora, mas não casa tão bem como no caso do primeiro.
Nesse conto, porém, o título não casa nem um pouco.
A história narrada em Retrato de um Esporo até conta com o ponto de vista de um dos esporos bacterianos responsáveis por exterminar grande parte da população humana (mas, querido leitor, não se empolgue! A autora não conta nada sobre a guerra! Apenas diz que são os países do Pacífico - sem especificar quais seriam ou seus motivos - que lançaram os esporos sobre os Estados Unidos). Mas a principal parte do conto - que é também a mais interessante - é narrada sob o ponto de vista da mãe da protagonista dos outros livros.
Na mesma linha dos demais, é uma narrativa bem curta. Uma leitura agradável e super rápida que faz com que o leitor que gosta da série sinta mais um pouquinho do mundo de Callie.
De todos os contos é, na minha opinião, o mais fraco. Principalmente porque o título me prometia mostrar mais do que mostrou. Ainda é interessante, mas eu queria mais sob o ponto de vista distópico - queria saber mais da guerra, queria mais detalhes sobre a doença... enfim, eu queria mais e não obtive, talvez por isso esse conto tenha soado para mim menos interessante do que os demais.
A Novo Conceito repetiu com esse a mesma fórmula dos outros volumes, disponibilizando o conto gratuitamente na internet (clique aqui para fazer o download).
Para quem curte a escrita de Lissa Price, é uma leitura que vale a pena!
P.S.: Como uma curiosidade geral, segundo o Goodreads, a ordem de leitura da série é:
1º Retrato de uma Starter
2º Starters
3º Retrato de um Inspetor
4º Retrato de um Esporo
5º Retrato de uma Doadora
6º Enders
Mas não precisa ler na ordem não! Eu li os três contos intermediários após a leitura do segundo livro sem que houvesse qualquer prejuízo na leitura.
Nota: 6
Leia mais resenhas no blog Nanie's World!
Legalzinho!
Mais um conto extra da série Starters e Enders!
Não canso de repetir o quanto sou fã de contos... então deixe-me repetir para quem não costuma ler minhas resenhas: sou super fã de contos! Desta forma, é claro que fiquei ultra feliz por Lissa Price escrever tantos contos sobre o mundo dos Starters.
Esse quarto conto Extra da série (que segundo a ordem informada pelo Goodreads deveria ter sido o terceiro a ser lido) se passa, na verdade, antes de qualquer um dos outros. Apesar disso, não indico que a leitura dele seja feita antes do leitor conhecer a história de Starters.
Retrato de um Esporo segue a nomeclatura de todos os outros contos da série.
O primeiro, Retrato de uma Starter, tem um nome que casa perfeitamente com a história que é narrada, mas os demais apenas seguem a linha de título. Não que fique completamente fora, mas não casa tão bem como no caso do primeiro.
Nesse conto, porém, o título não casa nem um pouco.
A história narrada em Retrato de um Esporo até conta com o ponto de vista de um dos esporos bacterianos responsáveis por exterminar grande parte da população humana (mas, querido leitor, não se empolgue! A autora não conta nada sobre a guerra! Apenas diz que são os países do Pacífico - sem especificar quais seriam ou seus motivos - que lançaram os esporos sobre os Estados Unidos). Mas a principal parte do conto - que é também a mais interessante - é narrada sob o ponto de vista da mãe da protagonista dos outros livros.
Na mesma linha dos demais, é uma narrativa bem curta. Uma leitura agradável e super rápida que faz com que o leitor que gosta da série sinta mais um pouquinho do mundo de Callie.
De todos os contos é, na minha opinião, o mais fraco. Principalmente porque o título me prometia mostrar mais do que mostrou. Ainda é interessante, mas eu queria mais sob o ponto de vista distópico - queria saber mais da guerra, queria mais detalhes sobre a doença... enfim, eu queria mais e não obtive, talvez por isso esse conto tenha soado para mim menos interessante do que os demais.
A Novo Conceito repetiu com esse a mesma fórmula dos outros volumes, disponibilizando o conto gratuitamente na internet (clique aqui para fazer o download).
Para quem curte a escrita de Lissa Price, é uma leitura que vale a pena!
P.S.: Como uma curiosidade geral, segundo o Goodreads, a ordem de leitura da série é:
1º Retrato de uma Starter
2º Starters
3º Retrato de um Inspetor
4º Retrato de um Esporo
5º Retrato de uma Doadora
6º Enders
Mas não precisa ler na ordem não! Eu li os três contos intermediários após a leitura do segundo livro sem que houvesse qualquer prejuízo na leitura.
Nota: 6
Leia mais resenhas no blog Nanie's World!
July 26, 2013
Quest'ultimo breve racconto è ambientato prima dell'arrivo delle spore, quando Callie e Tyler vivono ancora con i loro genitori. Le cose non stanno andando bene, la gente è disperata e senza cibo, molti negozi sono chiusi, non puoi fidarti di nessuno. La famiglia di Callie sta cercando di andare avanti. Tyler va con un amico in visita al museo di storia naturale. E' solo una breve gita, ma sua madre Barbara non può evitare di pensare che quella sia l'ultima volta che lo vede. I suoi figli sono stati vaccinati, sono al sicuro, ma cosa farebbero da soli? Barbara non esiterebbe ad approfittare del mercato nero per procurare un vaccino anche per se stessa e il marito, ma lui rifiuta, la sua etica glielo impedisce. Tutti sanno che un'attacco batteriologico potrebbe essere imminente, ma in fondo sperano non accada nulla e che tutto si sistemi. Purtroppo non sarà così. Stavolta abbiamo un doppio punto di vista: da una parte quello di Barbara dall'altro quello delle spore. La scelta è molto particolare. Finalmente abbiamo la possibilità di conoscere un po' meglio la madre di Callie e di vedere la loro famiglia vivere una vita quasi normale. Abbiamo modo di vedere il suo affetto per i figli, l'amore di una madre che farebbe di tutto per tenerli al sicuro. Scene di quotidianità, come madre e figlia tra le corsie di un supermercato, sono alternate da altre surreali, tra la paura delle spore e quella per i disperati pronti a tutto pur di trovare un po' di soldi o di cibo. I capitoli dedicati alle spore alla fine si intrecciano con quelli di Barbara per portarci al triste prologo che ormai conosciamo: quello di una famiglia distrutta.
January 19, 2014
PROS
-Stakes: Between her writing style in both novel and short story length, I've come to appreciate Lissa's brand of developing a crescendo. A good story, no matter how short or long, tends to involve each scene getting worse for the characters. Oh boy, does this do it.
-Upsetting: Now, that sounds bad, but its good....let me explain. The setting of this is a T-minus X countdown of the bomb that affects Callie's life. You already know what's going to happen, so the ticking time bomb element creates excellent suspense. The fantastic thing is that while the spores are the true machines of death, the villains here aren't the belligerents of the war, at least not up close. The villains rest in a society--scared out of their wits and desperate for security. Like Lord of the Flies, but interesting.
-Split Narrative: my initial impression of having a particular POV, read and you'll know what I'm speaking of, was somewhat gimmicky, but Lissa makes it all come full circle. Also, it was a very original portrayal and expertly humanized what one would say is not humanize-able :)
CONS
-hmmm, what cons? where?
OVERALL
If you are a fan of the Starters and Enders universe, then the short stories are a must. They were essential in carrying me over the time gap between installments. Also, since these stories aren't from Callie's viewpoint, you get a whole new perspective that the established POV just simply can't access. This was an excellent strategy and I wish more authors wrote short stories like these.
-Stakes: Between her writing style in both novel and short story length, I've come to appreciate Lissa's brand of developing a crescendo. A good story, no matter how short or long, tends to involve each scene getting worse for the characters. Oh boy, does this do it.
-Upsetting: Now, that sounds bad, but its good....let me explain. The setting of this is a T-minus X countdown of the bomb that affects Callie's life. You already know what's going to happen, so the ticking time bomb element creates excellent suspense. The fantastic thing is that while the spores are the true machines of death, the villains here aren't the belligerents of the war, at least not up close. The villains rest in a society--scared out of their wits and desperate for security. Like Lord of the Flies, but interesting.
-Split Narrative: my initial impression of having a particular POV, read and you'll know what I'm speaking of, was somewhat gimmicky, but Lissa makes it all come full circle. Also, it was a very original portrayal and expertly humanized what one would say is not humanize-able :)
CONS
-hmmm, what cons? where?
OVERALL
If you are a fan of the Starters and Enders universe, then the short stories are a must. They were essential in carrying me over the time gap between installments. Also, since these stories aren't from Callie's viewpoint, you get a whole new perspective that the established POV just simply can't access. This was an excellent strategy and I wish more authors wrote short stories like these.
February 10, 2017
Portrait of a Spore is a short story that takes place on the day the Spore missiles are released in the dystopian U.S. of Starters. You get two POVs in this story: the main one coming from Callie's mother and the other from a Spore itself. Readers of Starters already know that the story will end with Callie's mom being exposed to the Spore that will eventually lead to her death but it is a beautiful telling that shows the devastation and terror of the beginning of the Spore wars. This story furthers acts to give the reader a greater insight into the loss Callie and her brother Tyler must feel, showing the old life they had and how quickly everything changed and was taken away from them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2015
Portrait of a Spore is a super short story that at the end of the Starters paperback edition. It's written in two point of views: a Spore and Callie's mother, Barbara Woodland. I thought it was a bit weird for the spore to have its own thoughts and found that part of the story a bit boring. However, I did enjoy getting to know Callie's mother a bit. Like Callie, she's strong, loving and protective.
The short story takes place the day that the spores hit. We're able to see what Callie and her mom did the day of the spore attack. Although in Starters we were able to see a glimpse of what happen in Callie's point of view, but it was really interesting to see it through Barbara's eyes. I loved that I was able to feel her regret for leaving her children behind and the realness of her wanting the vaccination even though that might not have been the 'moral' thing to do.
Portrait of a Spore is a good addition between books one and two in the Starters series. Even though I thought the whole Spore being self aware and having an inner dialog was a bit weird, I thought Callie's mom point of view was really awesome. It was interesting to see the Spore Wars and even Callie through Barbara Woodland's eyes.
The short story takes place the day that the spores hit. We're able to see what Callie and her mom did the day of the spore attack. Although in Starters we were able to see a glimpse of what happen in Callie's point of view, but it was really interesting to see it through Barbara's eyes. I loved that I was able to feel her regret for leaving her children behind and the realness of her wanting the vaccination even though that might not have been the 'moral' thing to do.
Portrait of a Spore is a good addition between books one and two in the Starters series. Even though I thought the whole Spore being self aware and having an inner dialog was a bit weird, I thought Callie's mom point of view was really awesome. It was interesting to see the Spore Wars and even Callie through Barbara Woodland's eyes.
July 9, 2016
i think this story is totally unnecessary since it didn't really give any significant details explaining the situation only establish the plot in another POV. it's basically an account of what Callie and her family were doing at the time of the release of the spores. i feel like this story really didn't contribute anything to the first book (Starters) since in there we already knew the important part about what happened to Callie's parents.
the parts which were written in the POV of the spore creeps the shit out of me and makes me cringe. i also thought that it was very unnecessary in a "too much information" kind of way. i dont think reading this story made a difference to what i already knew about the plot.
the parts which were written in the POV of the spore creeps the shit out of me and makes me cringe. i also thought that it was very unnecessary in a "too much information" kind of way. i dont think reading this story made a difference to what i already knew about the plot.
July 31, 2015
Questo sì che è un prequel!
Ecco, se c'è una cosa peggiore di tagliare in due l'ultimo film di una saga, è fare dei prequel vuoti e senza senso. E ultimamente ne ho letti molti.
Eccetto quelli della Price.
In poche pagine, riesce a concentrare un mondo in grado di coinvolgere il lettore.
E devo ammettere che il doppio punto di vista di questo mi ha stupita.
Da una parte Barbara, madre che teme per il futuro dei suoi figli, e dall'altra le Spore. O meglio, la Spora. è qualcosa di strano e originale allo stesso tempo; un pò azzardato ma nell'insieme ben riuscito.
Questa scrittrice non smette mai di stupirmi.
Ecco, se c'è una cosa peggiore di tagliare in due l'ultimo film di una saga, è fare dei prequel vuoti e senza senso. E ultimamente ne ho letti molti.
Eccetto quelli della Price.
In poche pagine, riesce a concentrare un mondo in grado di coinvolgere il lettore.
E devo ammettere che il doppio punto di vista di questo mi ha stupita.
Da una parte Barbara, madre che teme per il futuro dei suoi figli, e dall'altra le Spore. O meglio, la Spora. è qualcosa di strano e originale allo stesso tempo; un pò azzardato ma nell'insieme ben riuscito.
Questa scrittrice non smette mai di stupirmi.
January 22, 2014
This short story is told from the alternating perspectives of Callie's mom, Barbara, and the spore that caused her death. It chronicles the day Barbara was contaminated by the spore.
Very sad.
It was heartbreaking to hear her thoughts on what would happen to her children in a future that seems so uncertain. Her fear is evident throughout the story, as is the desperate situation of their world. Chaos has begun and all Barbara wants to do is protect her daughter and make one more memory with her before everything goes to hell.
Perfect addition to Starters.
Very sad.
It was heartbreaking to hear her thoughts on what would happen to her children in a future that seems so uncertain. Her fear is evident throughout the story, as is the desperate situation of their world. Chaos has begun and all Barbara wants to do is protect her daughter and make one more memory with her before everything goes to hell.
Perfect addition to Starters.
April 28, 2014
Telling the Spore's side of the story, and knowing how they think, how they feel and what they know- what they do. Then we have Callie's mother too, her part of the story, and what she feels and thinks and tries to do. Number one checkpoint on your to-do list- keep your family safe. The beginning of it all, and I'm very happy it was at the end of this book, I'm glad I read this after reading the official first story. It makes it more intriguing. Very interesting, and well done!
November 28, 2013
This novella was told from the point of view of Callie's mom and in an alternating point of view of a spore. This was the best novella in the series because its set right before the spore wars happen. I enjoyed reading about Callie's relationship with her mother and the events leading up to the spores falling. 5 out of 5 stars
August 12, 2014
Short, and gave some more background to the Starters Series. I liked the little story it told and was still able to feel the same emotions I received from the first book. If you're wanting to know more that is not mentioned in the first installment, then read this! But after finishing the last book, I'm just disappointed with the whole series...
Read
May 3, 2016an interesting take on a prequel.
I liked getting to see the MC's mom and her worries before the spore outbreak and what the world was like. Her worries and how she tries to shield her kids while preparing for the future.
I'm conflicted on the view of the spore, its hard to let a bacteria have thoughts and feelings, but it was interesting.
A good novella that adds to the story
I liked getting to see the MC's mom and her worries before the spore outbreak and what the world was like. Her worries and how she tries to shield her kids while preparing for the future.
I'm conflicted on the view of the spore, its hard to let a bacteria have thoughts and feelings, but it was interesting.
A good novella that adds to the story
January 23, 2014
This book is a bit boring and I can't believe that a spore can have a POV. Wow, that's new. Well here we can see Callie's mother, Barbara Woodland's point of view before and during the accident. Like Callie, she's loving, caring and very protective. That's all. Thank you.
January 26, 2014
Simplemente me encanto esta historia corta.
Apesar de ser solo 30 paginas, Lissa Price transmitió en mi la misma sensación de starters; querer saber mas, no poder soltarlo, emoción, angustia.
Que este contado desde el punto de vista de la mamá de Callie y de una Spore, me pareció excelente.
Apesar de ser solo 30 paginas, Lissa Price transmitió en mi la misma sensación de starters; querer saber mas, no poder soltarlo, emoción, angustia.
Que este contado desde el punto de vista de la mamá de Callie y de una Spore, me pareció excelente.
September 4, 2016
Ein Blick in Callies Vergangenheit zu haben war schön und auch gleichzeitig viel zu traurig für mich :( Dennoch war es schön Callies Mama kennenzulernen und die beiden Hauptbücher weiter zu verstehen.
Want to read
February 18, 2013Must... get...
April 14, 2014
And the spore found his destiny. She was so beautiful.
DEAD WAS CALLIE'S MOTHER, BARBARA WOODLAND.
September 10, 2015
Ahh, das bringt schon ein wenig mehr Licht ins Dunkle, was die Vorgeschichte betrifft.
December 14, 2013
Man versteht jetzt wesentlich mehr, aber wie laaaaggweilig können 28 Seiten sein? :o
September 10, 2014
A nice little bonus short story from the perspective of a Spore! LOL
August 14, 2014
noooo. why did you have to tell me how she died? that's not fair! it was so close.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews