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The Always War
For as long as Tessa can remember, her country has been at war. When local golden boy Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal for courage, it’s a rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa’s town—until Gideon refuses the award, claims he was a coward, and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and can’t help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. But Tessa is in for more than she bargained for. Before she knows it, she has stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that rocks the foundation of everything she’s ever believed—a truth that will change the world. Is Tessa strong enough to bring it into the light?
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
68 people are currently reading
2278 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Peterson Haddix
130 books6,336 followersMargaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews
November 26, 2011
2.5 stars
"The Always War" is a very short, simple dystopian. When I began it I was under the impression it was aimed at readers of The Hunger Games, and Divergent. After actually reading it, I've come to the conclusion that its target audience must be quite a bit younger, maybe twelve or thirteen at absolute oldest. When looked at through that lens I see the Always War as a fairly well written, slightly rushed book with a message about the value of hope. Nothing too individual, but it's not awful. I think I would have been disappointed with it, even at the target age, simply because the characters are a wee bit... it's hard to explain. Weak? Maybe that's a little harsh. The heroin is supposed to be 15, the hero 17, and they have a bizarre character who was added for reasons beyond me who is at most ten. The teenagers are very immature, and the ten year old is just silly. No child, no matter how smart, is that mature and brilliant, and completely without the foibles of childhood. And I absolutely speak for the 13 year old me when I say that, while I appriciate the fact that Haddix made the decision to keep the tiny hints of romance out of the plot, something more solid would have added a lot of interest to the story. Oh course, I found the guy to be a bit of a twit, so maybe I should be thanking her for not putting us through that.
Overall, there are MUCH better books to read. If you're looking for a dystopian for this age group I would suggest "Green Angel" by Alice Hoffman, or if you're just looking for a good read for this age group I suggest "Owl in Love" by Patrice Kindl
"The Always War" is a very short, simple dystopian. When I began it I was under the impression it was aimed at readers of The Hunger Games, and Divergent. After actually reading it, I've come to the conclusion that its target audience must be quite a bit younger, maybe twelve or thirteen at absolute oldest. When looked at through that lens I see the Always War as a fairly well written, slightly rushed book with a message about the value of hope. Nothing too individual, but it's not awful. I think I would have been disappointed with it, even at the target age, simply because the characters are a wee bit... it's hard to explain. Weak? Maybe that's a little harsh. The heroin is supposed to be 15, the hero 17, and they have a bizarre character who was added for reasons beyond me who is at most ten. The teenagers are very immature, and the ten year old is just silly. No child, no matter how smart, is that mature and brilliant, and completely without the foibles of childhood. And I absolutely speak for the 13 year old me when I say that, while I appriciate the fact that Haddix made the decision to keep the tiny hints of romance out of the plot, something more solid would have added a lot of interest to the story. Oh course, I found the guy to be a bit of a twit, so maybe I should be thanking her for not putting us through that.
Overall, there are MUCH better books to read. If you're looking for a dystopian for this age group I would suggest "Green Angel" by Alice Hoffman, or if you're just looking for a good read for this age group I suggest "Owl in Love" by Patrice Kindl
June 2, 2012
Read Ender's Game or The Virtual War instead.
Advisory:
This book would definitely be rated no higher than PG, possibly G. There are no language or sex issues. And despite the title, there's no violence either.
Review:
I love a good dystopian novel. Give me a protagonist ready to break through the drab, gray malaise of her life and defy a tyrannical government and I'm usually hooked. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those times. Especially given the current state of our own society - groping TSA agents, inane terror alerts, etc. - I was excited to read a story about a society governed by the constant fear of enemy attack and mandated vigilance. Haddix does manage to capture the malaise, describing a people broken down by war weariness. Many of the scenes are, however, a little too unbelievable. To the extent that there are any adults in the story, they are unrealistically incompetent. The child protagonists are, on the other hand, far too sophisticated. Tessa and Gideon are, at best, high school aged and Dek is viewed by them as a mere child. Yet these three are much more intelligent and capable than any of the adults they encounter. There is simply no satisfactory explanation for why this should be the case. There are really no adults in the society who were as capable as the children of finding out the truth?
The characters don't really grow throughout the book either. Tessa's self-confidence does grow by the end as she begins to trust her own knowledge and abilities, but Gideon and Dek don't really grow much at all. Granted, the story occurs over a short period of time, but there just isn't a whole lot of depth to those characters.
According to the publisher's website, The Always War is aimed at those 7th grade and up. I think they've got that backwards. It should be 7th grade and below. There's nothing objectionable for younger readers and I think older readers would not find the plot credible. This could be a decent dystopian for upper elementary/ lower middle grade readers. It's similar to The Virtual War by Gloria Skurzynski or Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, though it's more tame than those books. But I would definitely choose those titles over The Always War. I'll give it three turntables. I'd rate it lower for myself, but since it's geared for a younger audience, I think it's decent for that age group.
Advisory:
This book would definitely be rated no higher than PG, possibly G. There are no language or sex issues. And despite the title, there's no violence either.
Review:
I love a good dystopian novel. Give me a protagonist ready to break through the drab, gray malaise of her life and defy a tyrannical government and I'm usually hooked. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those times. Especially given the current state of our own society - groping TSA agents, inane terror alerts, etc. - I was excited to read a story about a society governed by the constant fear of enemy attack and mandated vigilance. Haddix does manage to capture the malaise, describing a people broken down by war weariness. Many of the scenes are, however, a little too unbelievable. To the extent that there are any adults in the story, they are unrealistically incompetent. The child protagonists are, on the other hand, far too sophisticated. Tessa and Gideon are, at best, high school aged and Dek is viewed by them as a mere child. Yet these three are much more intelligent and capable than any of the adults they encounter. There is simply no satisfactory explanation for why this should be the case. There are really no adults in the society who were as capable as the children of finding out the truth?
The characters don't really grow throughout the book either. Tessa's self-confidence does grow by the end as she begins to trust her own knowledge and abilities, but Gideon and Dek don't really grow much at all. Granted, the story occurs over a short period of time, but there just isn't a whole lot of depth to those characters.
According to the publisher's website, The Always War is aimed at those 7th grade and up. I think they've got that backwards. It should be 7th grade and below. There's nothing objectionable for younger readers and I think older readers would not find the plot credible. This could be a decent dystopian for upper elementary/ lower middle grade readers. It's similar to The Virtual War by Gloria Skurzynski or Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, though it's more tame than those books. But I would definitely choose those titles over The Always War. I'll give it three turntables. I'd rate it lower for myself, but since it's geared for a younger audience, I think it's decent for that age group.
November 28, 2011
I felt it was not Haddix's best work. The premise is a war that has been going on for a least 70 years and the destruction it causes to those on the front lines and on the home front. Growing up in a physically and emotionally war ridden dystopian world leads three seemingly unlikely people, two teenagers and a child to uncover the secret of the war and their subsequent fight to bring peace. The characters, unlike Haddix's other works, are more symbolic than real. There is no real bond forming moments and I felt that the "relationship" between the two main characters never really clicked not to mention the street smart urchin who is wise beyond most adults years and whose history and persona I found difficult to reconcile. I would be more lenient with the work if it were not billed as a YA story. It might be okay as a Young Reader story - but even then it seems a bit pendantic. Overall, a bit too simplistically preachy about the evils of war. Very kumb-i-ya (spelling) ending. Kinda - "Golly gee gang why don't we all just hold hands and say 'I believe' then peace will just happen - come on, do it with me".
Read the "Found", and Among the..." series' those are Haddix at her best(good stuff). I truly wish this book, "Was among the Hidden".
Read the "Found", and Among the..." series' those are Haddix at her best(good stuff). I truly wish this book, "Was among the Hidden".
May 4, 2012
Very disappointing offering from Haddix. Pros - this book is basically a version of the movie War Games, but set way in the future but with a twist, where current place names and such have been distorted by the lack of access to real world information. I liked the idea of someone probing the folly of "thermonuclear war" again, the power of computers in our lives, especially for a new generation.
Cons - the cons outweigh that noble theme.
First - Haddix uses the question format to advance the plot. If there's one thing I hate, it's authors having characters ask themselves questions instead of creating scenes and incidents to allow the reader to formulate those questions. Now, indeed, Tessa is being exposed to things that would cause her to start questioning everything she's learned up to this point, but that doesn't have to be done on every single page in every single chapter. I consider it lazy.
Second - This is not well-defined dystopia. There are hints of how the societal structure is basically military rule, but not enough detail about the oppressiveness of it. I can't believe that Gideon is the only pilot capable of the uber tech computer skills/hacking, so there should be more involved in ferreting out the truth and setting up an underground resistance. The whole thing felt rushed, as if Haddix needed to get this done for an assignment due on Monday and she started it on Saturday night. The tension build in dystopian fiction appears only sporadically because it doesn't have enough depth.
Third - I personally hated the name of Gideon for the pilot.
Fourth - There should have been more extensive discussion about the restriction to information that Westam imposed. Tessa's the only one who has read print books, and even has a collection of print books. Haddix could have done a world of good in terms of educating younger readers about the right to read.
Fifth- An implausible moment occurs when Tessa just HAPPENS to have all the right computer parts to break out of the jail cell, allowing Gideon to save the day, bring about the downfall of the scheme. Again, it felt so fake and rushed.
While this got good reviews, I don't think kids will start a book buzz like they did with Hunger Games and other dystopian novels.
Cons - the cons outweigh that noble theme.
First - Haddix uses the question format to advance the plot. If there's one thing I hate, it's authors having characters ask themselves questions instead of creating scenes and incidents to allow the reader to formulate those questions. Now, indeed, Tessa is being exposed to things that would cause her to start questioning everything she's learned up to this point, but that doesn't have to be done on every single page in every single chapter. I consider it lazy.
Second - This is not well-defined dystopia. There are hints of how the societal structure is basically military rule, but not enough detail about the oppressiveness of it. I can't believe that Gideon is the only pilot capable of the uber tech computer skills/hacking, so there should be more involved in ferreting out the truth and setting up an underground resistance. The whole thing felt rushed, as if Haddix needed to get this done for an assignment due on Monday and she started it on Saturday night. The tension build in dystopian fiction appears only sporadically because it doesn't have enough depth.
Third - I personally hated the name of Gideon for the pilot.
Fourth - There should have been more extensive discussion about the restriction to information that Westam imposed. Tessa's the only one who has read print books, and even has a collection of print books. Haddix could have done a world of good in terms of educating younger readers about the right to read.
Fifth- An implausible moment occurs when Tessa just HAPPENS to have all the right computer parts to break out of the jail cell, allowing Gideon to save the day, bring about the downfall of the scheme. Again, it felt so fake and rushed.
While this got good reviews, I don't think kids will start a book buzz like they did with Hunger Games and other dystopian novels.
February 25, 2020
The always war was a good book I think that the book was good because there were a lot of interesting things and surprising events happing in the book.
In the book, Gideon is getting an award for courage because he was in a war and the people's lives form bad people. But he thinks that he doesn't deserve that medal because he killed people that had a life. But those people that he killed was putting them in danger. He thinks that he shouldn't get an award for killing people that had a life to live but he was just trying to save the world but he was thinking differently than what the other people were thinking because he felt like he did the wrong thing.
Tessa thinks that Gideon did the right thing, saving people's lives from danger. WEhule Gideon was up on the stage he felt guilty by getting an award for killing those people but he doesn't understand that those people were putting the world in danger and he had to do something about that. I think that Gideon could be right in a way because those people also had a life but they were putting others in danger and they didn't think about others and how their lives could be in danger.
Tessa and Gideon find out about this war that happened 80 years ago. Gideon thinks that he killed a lot of people but 80 years one hundred six hundred and thirty-two people were killed during that war. Towards the end of the book, their computer system has been fooling everyone for the past seventy-five years. now Gideon is trying to fix the computers but Tessa tells him that he cant outsmart the computers because the computer has been fooling people for the past seventy-five years. and the computers were trying to kill people. When Gideon was in that war where he killed those people the computers were getting hacked and telling them to kill others that's why the war was happening. Gideon is now understanding he had to kill those people. Gideon thinks its the end of the war but its only just the beginning.
In the book, Gideon is getting an award for courage because he was in a war and the people's lives form bad people. But he thinks that he doesn't deserve that medal because he killed people that had a life. But those people that he killed was putting them in danger. He thinks that he shouldn't get an award for killing people that had a life to live but he was just trying to save the world but he was thinking differently than what the other people were thinking because he felt like he did the wrong thing.
Tessa thinks that Gideon did the right thing, saving people's lives from danger. WEhule Gideon was up on the stage he felt guilty by getting an award for killing those people but he doesn't understand that those people were putting the world in danger and he had to do something about that. I think that Gideon could be right in a way because those people also had a life but they were putting others in danger and they didn't think about others and how their lives could be in danger.
Tessa and Gideon find out about this war that happened 80 years ago. Gideon thinks that he killed a lot of people but 80 years one hundred six hundred and thirty-two people were killed during that war. Towards the end of the book, their computer system has been fooling everyone for the past seventy-five years. now Gideon is trying to fix the computers but Tessa tells him that he cant outsmart the computers because the computer has been fooling people for the past seventy-five years. and the computers were trying to kill people. When Gideon was in that war where he killed those people the computers were getting hacked and telling them to kill others that's why the war was happening. Gideon is now understanding he had to kill those people. Gideon thinks its the end of the war but its only just the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2012
Not at all Margaret Peterson Haddix's best book. At only 197 pages, it's not at all a long book, and the story manages to feel even shorter than that mere 197 pages. It has hardly begun before it is over, and I somehow doubt that there is going to be a sequel, though there is certainly room for one if the Author ever decides to write one. In the short time the Reader gets to know the characters, I didn't bond with any of them. Tessa quickly grows annoying with her constant blaming of Gideon and her whiny attitude. Meanwhile, Gideon has no personality beyond his perfect blonde hair and self-criticism sessions. Whatever small romantic attachment there is supposed to be between Tessa and Gideon falls massively flat.
The book definitely begins with potential. The Author wastes no time in getting into the story, and normally that is a good thing. But as I said earlier, the story no sooner starts than it is over. I felt that if it had been a movie and I had blinked, I would have missed the entire thing. And then it begins to drag its feet, but starts to show promise once more by the end of Chapter 18. And then the ending comes. The "twist" is nothing new - just your average nuclear holocaust/intelligent computers/humans-destroying-the-world-and-themselves. And then, right when the "twist" is revealed, the book ends. Like that. Nothing more; doesn't even say good-bye to its Reader.
So, not the Author's best bit of work, way too emotional characters who manage to have no personality at the same time, an unsurprising twist, and a very abrupt ending. I think that this is actually a book that could have benefited from being lengthier. Give us chapters to get to know the characters. Expand the plotline.
The book definitely begins with potential. The Author wastes no time in getting into the story, and normally that is a good thing. But as I said earlier, the story no sooner starts than it is over. I felt that if it had been a movie and I had blinked, I would have missed the entire thing. And then it begins to drag its feet, but starts to show promise once more by the end of Chapter 18. And then the ending comes. The "twist" is nothing new - just your average nuclear holocaust/intelligent computers/humans-destroying-the-world-and-themselves. And then, right when the "twist" is revealed, the book ends. Like that. Nothing more; doesn't even say good-bye to its Reader.
So, not the Author's best bit of work, way too emotional characters who manage to have no personality at the same time, an unsurprising twist, and a very abrupt ending. I think that this is actually a book that could have benefited from being lengthier. Give us chapters to get to know the characters. Expand the plotline.
March 19, 2013
Ok, maybe 2 1/2 rating.
1. The characters were under developed and flat. Dek's home life was explained the most and she wasn't even the main character. Gideon was a whiney 18ish year old. Tessa was supposed to be smart because she read books but she wasn't that resourceful. Dek appears out of nowhere and is all the sudden a semi-main character. The love story between Tessa and Gideon wasn't even believable because there was no evidence of reciprocation from Gideon the entire time. Dek says that Gideon looks out for Tessa, but it was never mentioned in the book. The characters are also older which would qualify as YA but this book is very juvenile in its writing.
2. Ideas appear out if thin air. The characters are in one place at one moment and the very next sentence they are in another. The computer parts were choppy and it feels like she just made up half of what Gideon and Dek were talking about.
3. The writing was very hard to get through. It took me way longer than it should have for a 200 page book. I got so bored after a couple of chapters and had to stop.
4. It would have been nice to know how the "enemy" was living and see both sides together again.
5. The only redeeming quality for me was that this overall scenario could happen. The United States could have another Civil War. And I also like how she renamed places in the US. Shargo- Chicago, Santl-Saint Louis, Lake Mich-Lake Michigan, etc. It may get 8-10 year olds thinking about a dystopian world, but it certainly could have been written better.
1. The characters were under developed and flat. Dek's home life was explained the most and she wasn't even the main character. Gideon was a whiney 18ish year old. Tessa was supposed to be smart because she read books but she wasn't that resourceful. Dek appears out of nowhere and is all the sudden a semi-main character. The love story between Tessa and Gideon wasn't even believable because there was no evidence of reciprocation from Gideon the entire time. Dek says that Gideon looks out for Tessa, but it was never mentioned in the book. The characters are also older which would qualify as YA but this book is very juvenile in its writing.
2. Ideas appear out if thin air. The characters are in one place at one moment and the very next sentence they are in another. The computer parts were choppy and it feels like she just made up half of what Gideon and Dek were talking about.
3. The writing was very hard to get through. It took me way longer than it should have for a 200 page book. I got so bored after a couple of chapters and had to stop.
4. It would have been nice to know how the "enemy" was living and see both sides together again.
5. The only redeeming quality for me was that this overall scenario could happen. The United States could have another Civil War. And I also like how she renamed places in the US. Shargo- Chicago, Santl-Saint Louis, Lake Mich-Lake Michigan, etc. It may get 8-10 year olds thinking about a dystopian world, but it certainly could have been written better.
November 1, 2011
More reviews at http://readerpants.blogspot.com
OVERALL RATING: Recommended, 2 of 5 stars
SUMMARY: Three young people from the future accidentally enter enemy territory and discover the truth about a war that has shaped their lives and has continued for more than 75 years.
POP CULTURE COMPARISON: Isn't there a Star Trek episode where two planets are at war and people go to die by a lottery system? There is no actual war, just people selected to die to simulate the war on both sides. It's been going on forever. It seems like I remember my dad watching something like that when I was a little kid, but I can't locate the episode anywhere in my internet searches. Anyway, this book reminds me of that episode.
WHAT I LIKED: Whew, so creative! I love the place names that have changed over the years (Shargo for Chicago, Lake Mish for Lake Michigan, Santl for St. Louis)--very cool. I enjoyed trying to figure out where they were by the weird place names.
The Always War packs plenty of social commentary into its sparse 208 pages. Even though the bulk of the story takes place in less than a day, Haddix describes this strange future clearly enough for readers to draw clear parallels to our own fear-controlled world.
Though there are only three characters that matter, I really liked all three of them. Ten-year old Dek is street-smart and knows her technology; although she is bossy and thinks she's all grown up, she still acts like a little kid at times. Fifteen-year old Tessa is a dreamer who believes things to be a certain way but adapts well when she discovers things are not what they seem. She's an observant thinker who is courageous and real. Gideon, at only about 17, seems weary and tired for someone so young. Even the name Gideon reminds me of a wrinkly, old man. He's tired of war and death, and when he discovers his entire existence has been a lie, it nearly destroys him.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: I've reviewed several mediocre books in a row and am just really ready for something I can read obsessively. I thought I'd be safe with a good Margaret Peterson Haddix book, but sadly, I struggled just to finish The Always War. The pacing is slow, and there were a couple of times I thought about abandoning it altogether. Honestly, only the short length kept me going. Not much really happens beyond the characters' fear that something is going to happen. The ending felt unnatural, reminding me at times of Superman III and The Truman Show. It was just plain weird. While the character-development and world-building are superb, The Always War is not among Haddix's best.
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: It's not out for a couple more weeks, but I've already ordered it for the library. While I didn't really like it, I know I can generate excitement about this book. My students love Haddix, and the concept of an endless future war is going to make it popular with my students, particularly boys.
May 27, 2018
HNNNNNGGGGG
I wanted to love this so much.
Okay, I didn’t DISLIKE it, but it just wasn’t anything special. It just felt like I had read this story a million times (main protagonist who’s basically useless, absent parents, etc.) and I saw the plot twist coming from a mile away.
That being said, there were some original things in the book, that you don’t see in typical YA dystopian novels:
1) NO LOVE TRIANGLE HALLELUJAH
2) The main protagonist didn’t end up with the love interest at the end. (It did hint at them possibly starting something in the future, but I was glad they didn’t end up together in the end...it would’ve been too insta-lovey.
3) While the parents were pretty much absent, the adults that were in it weren’t stupid.
Anyway, I can’t really gather my thoughts on this book very well, but it was an okay book. I definitely liked it better than TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS, but it just didn’t reach CHILDREN OF EXILE or SHADOW CHILDREN standards.
Yeah.
I wanted to love this so much.
Okay, I didn’t DISLIKE it, but it just wasn’t anything special. It just felt like I had read this story a million times (main protagonist who’s basically useless, absent parents, etc.) and I saw the plot twist coming from a mile away.
That being said, there were some original things in the book, that you don’t see in typical YA dystopian novels:
1) NO LOVE TRIANGLE HALLELUJAH
2) The main protagonist didn’t end up with the love interest at the end. (It did hint at them possibly starting something in the future, but I was glad they didn’t end up together in the end...it would’ve been too insta-lovey.
3) While the parents were pretty much absent, the adults that were in it weren’t stupid.
Anyway, I can’t really gather my thoughts on this book very well, but it was an okay book. I definitely liked it better than TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS, but it just didn’t reach CHILDREN OF EXILE or SHADOW CHILDREN standards.
Yeah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2016
Originally Finished on January 25th, 2012. Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Although I wouldn’t give it the same 5 stars I did when I first visited in 2012, I definitely enjoyed this one. It has this fantastic, fast-paced feel from the very beginning, and, even though there isn’t a lot of, shooting and fighting or anything like that, the feeling of that kind of intense action carries through from beginning to end.
My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed and weird. It’s hard to explain without giving spoilers, and even then it’s still actually pretty hard, but I just felt like it maybe could’ve unfolded a bit better.
Still, it was enjoyable, and even better, completely clean. So if you’re looking for a short, clean introduction to YA dystopians, I think this would be a good choice.
Although I wouldn’t give it the same 5 stars I did when I first visited in 2012, I definitely enjoyed this one. It has this fantastic, fast-paced feel from the very beginning, and, even though there isn’t a lot of, shooting and fighting or anything like that, the feeling of that kind of intense action carries through from beginning to end.
My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed and weird. It’s hard to explain without giving spoilers, and even then it’s still actually pretty hard, but I just felt like it maybe could’ve unfolded a bit better.
Still, it was enjoyable, and even better, completely clean. So if you’re looking for a short, clean introduction to YA dystopians, I think this would be a good choice.
June 10, 2015
The book starts off in an awards banquet where a man named Gideon was receiving an award for his bravery in the war. As he was getting the award he freaks out and runs off the stage. Tessa (an old friend) follows him to make sure that he was okay. Gideon was suffering from war trauma and decided to buy a plane off of the black market so that he could fly over to the enemy and apologies. When he gets there he finds out that all of what he had learned in the military was a lie. I got this book from the library it was a short and quick read but I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anybody who likes reading about war mixed with a little bit of mystery. The book was a little stale on some bits but I would read another one of the authors’ books.
December 28, 2019
I've enjoyed many books by this author, especially Running Out of Time and The Shadow Children series. This one was a definitive miss for me. If you're looking for a great dystopian novel, this isn't it. Keep looking because there are plenty out there. I just finished Scythe, one of the best I've read in years. I would definitely recommend that one.
June 4, 2019
This book was very slow, but once it got going... IT GOT GOING! The last 50 pages were great! But I had to deduct some points because of the slowness
August 11, 2022
MPH is such a solid middle grade author. This was a quick read that I can hand to my kids and not be concerned about content.
November 1, 2011
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This was actually a mistake of mine: I downloaded Ms. Haddix's novel clearly aimed at young-adult/middle-grade novel while attempting to receive another galley. Once it was downloaded and I read the short blurb about a never-ending war with no known cause, I was interested enough to give it a try and it made for two hours of enjoyable reading. Though by no great shakes a complicated or dense novel, The Always War is action-packed, fast-paced adventure that (much) younger readers will have a great time reading. It is quite simple and thus incredibly easy to read but no less adventuresome or intriguing for its youth and simplicity. Accordingly, some of the solutions/twists Haddix offers up for her novel can be predictable and almost deux-ex-machinas, but it's easily glossed over in favor of the age group this particular novel is geared towards.
Tessa is not the most developed of characters, but since this a novel aimed at kids half my age at the most, it's easy to forgive. She's a kind, selfless girl; the kind who sees hope in a down-beaten, war-weary and repressed Eastam. This is a girl that finds beauty in a n ethereal spiderweb; a girl who won't give up. In a country that has been at war with the enemy nation of Westam for over seventy-five years, Tessa aspires to more: to be more, to do more. In a world where entering the military makes your family elite, Tessa has to struggle with the knowledge that her life will never, ever improve. Stuck in an endless cycle of school and then work, Tessa and her eagerness are easy to understand. Even her adoration of her former neighbor Gideon is understandable: in a world where war is the answer, those who kill the most are the "heroes."
Gideon, the aforementioned hero, provides a nice change from Tessa's wide-eyed dreams. While I did find the ages of all the characters to be unsettlingly and unbelievably young (Gideon is only a teenager), I doubt younger readers will have the same issues. Gideon himself is a self-tormented young man who cannot forgive himself for dropping a bomb on over 1,000 people. The only one in Eastam bothered by what he did, Gideon considers himself a murderer, a coward, a killer. While he seems to have just the right set of skills to do what he needs to, I liked Gideon's decisiveness. I didn't like his interactions with Tessa very much (I like harmonic characters rather than bickering ones) it was an accurate representation of what I think a young man would do in his situation(s). The other main character, that of Dekaterina Pratel aka "Dek", both worked for an undermined the story of The Always War. While I did find her alternatively amusing and annoying, it is completely unrealistic that this 8/9 year old would know how to disable and fly a plane ON HER OWN. It's just too much: I understand Haddix wanted this to be a novel of just youngins saving the world, but Dek is so far out there it throws off the novel. I appreciated that she grounded Tessa's optimism/dreaming with blunt honesty and that she was mature enough to not let Gideon wallow in self-pity: surely she could've been aged at 13-14 for a better representation of the character?
I did like what little the author did to establish the setting. I'm BIG on setting: place-as-character goes a long way for a novel when it's done well. Unfortunately, Haddix barely sketches out a locale for her players to operate within. Just the essential enemies "Eastam" (formerly Eastern America) and "Westam" (Western America) are supplied, along with random mentions of former landmarks. I certainly wished for much more atmosphere, but I will admit I got a chuckle of the "Santl Arch" the three adolescents use to acclimate themselves. Those less-than-subtle allusions to the modern-day United States make the war in novel even more personal and extremely relatable to a modern audience itself going through a seemingly endless War on Terrorism. I definitely recommend this to a younger audience than myself: I think ages 10-14 will love Tessa, and Dek's attitude and Gideon's plight will affect them much more than it did me. I did enjoy the final twist Ms. Haddix pulled for the war/countries: a satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable novel.
This was actually a mistake of mine: I downloaded Ms. Haddix's novel clearly aimed at young-adult/middle-grade novel while attempting to receive another galley. Once it was downloaded and I read the short blurb about a never-ending war with no known cause, I was interested enough to give it a try and it made for two hours of enjoyable reading. Though by no great shakes a complicated or dense novel, The Always War is action-packed, fast-paced adventure that (much) younger readers will have a great time reading. It is quite simple and thus incredibly easy to read but no less adventuresome or intriguing for its youth and simplicity. Accordingly, some of the solutions/twists Haddix offers up for her novel can be predictable and almost deux-ex-machinas, but it's easily glossed over in favor of the age group this particular novel is geared towards.
Tessa is not the most developed of characters, but since this a novel aimed at kids half my age at the most, it's easy to forgive. She's a kind, selfless girl; the kind who sees hope in a down-beaten, war-weary and repressed Eastam. This is a girl that finds beauty in a n ethereal spiderweb; a girl who won't give up. In a country that has been at war with the enemy nation of Westam for over seventy-five years, Tessa aspires to more: to be more, to do more. In a world where entering the military makes your family elite, Tessa has to struggle with the knowledge that her life will never, ever improve. Stuck in an endless cycle of school and then work, Tessa and her eagerness are easy to understand. Even her adoration of her former neighbor Gideon is understandable: in a world where war is the answer, those who kill the most are the "heroes."
Gideon, the aforementioned hero, provides a nice change from Tessa's wide-eyed dreams. While I did find the ages of all the characters to be unsettlingly and unbelievably young (Gideon is only a teenager), I doubt younger readers will have the same issues. Gideon himself is a self-tormented young man who cannot forgive himself for dropping a bomb on over 1,000 people. The only one in Eastam bothered by what he did, Gideon considers himself a murderer, a coward, a killer. While he seems to have just the right set of skills to do what he needs to, I liked Gideon's decisiveness. I didn't like his interactions with Tessa very much (I like harmonic characters rather than bickering ones) it was an accurate representation of what I think a young man would do in his situation(s). The other main character, that of Dekaterina Pratel aka "Dek", both worked for an undermined the story of The Always War. While I did find her alternatively amusing and annoying, it is completely unrealistic that this 8/9 year old would know how to disable and fly a plane ON HER OWN. It's just too much: I understand Haddix wanted this to be a novel of just youngins saving the world, but Dek is so far out there it throws off the novel. I appreciated that she grounded Tessa's optimism/dreaming with blunt honesty and that she was mature enough to not let Gideon wallow in self-pity: surely she could've been aged at 13-14 for a better representation of the character?
I did like what little the author did to establish the setting. I'm BIG on setting: place-as-character goes a long way for a novel when it's done well. Unfortunately, Haddix barely sketches out a locale for her players to operate within. Just the essential enemies "Eastam" (formerly Eastern America) and "Westam" (Western America) are supplied, along with random mentions of former landmarks. I certainly wished for much more atmosphere, but I will admit I got a chuckle of the "Santl Arch" the three adolescents use to acclimate themselves. Those less-than-subtle allusions to the modern-day United States make the war in novel even more personal and extremely relatable to a modern audience itself going through a seemingly endless War on Terrorism. I definitely recommend this to a younger audience than myself: I think ages 10-14 will love Tessa, and Dek's attitude and Gideon's plight will affect them much more than it did me. I did enjoy the final twist Ms. Haddix pulled for the war/countries: a satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable novel.
April 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It was different than I thought it would be, but in a good way. I was worried it was going to hang, but happily everything was wrapped up; although, it was done a little quicker than I would have liked. Everything is pretty much crammed into the last chapter, but I still really enjoyed the read.
I felt like it was geared a little lower in age range than I typically read so it didn't have the level of detail I'm used to, but I found I didn't really miss it that much. Just a nice easy story to spend the day enveloped in.
I felt like it was geared a little lower in age range than I typically read so it didn't have the level of detail I'm used to, but I found I didn't really miss it that much. Just a nice easy story to spend the day enveloped in.
July 22, 2012
As I started reading this book, fairly early on I found myself saying, "this isn't one of Margaret Haddix's better works. Her writing is usually much better than this". I even found myself wondering, so is Margaret Haddix just churning out books now to make money on her name?
But after finishing it I realize that Haddix was using the story to illustrate a point about war. A very thought provoking and germaine point. So at the end I have forgiven her somewhat for the slightly sloppy story (making huge assumptions, leaving out significant details about the protangonists, not tying story elements together very well). So having said that, I still think she could have improved the story by filling in many of the details I mentioned. That would have made the book significantly longer but with well written prose at the hand of a deft author, that wouldn't be a problem. Based on my experience of her other works, I believe Haddix is capable of that. Why she chose this approach, I do not know.
But after finishing it I realize that Haddix was using the story to illustrate a point about war. A very thought provoking and germaine point. So at the end I have forgiven her somewhat for the slightly sloppy story (making huge assumptions, leaving out significant details about the protangonists, not tying story elements together very well). So having said that, I still think she could have improved the story by filling in many of the details I mentioned. That would have made the book significantly longer but with well written prose at the hand of a deft author, that wouldn't be a problem. Based on my experience of her other works, I believe Haddix is capable of that. Why she chose this approach, I do not know.
September 7, 2017
Personal Response
I liked this book. I liked how defined the characters were. I really liked how Tessa never gave up especially when they were in prison. Comparing this book to Margaret's other books would be like comparing pizza to broccoli it's a no brainer.
Plot Summary
It was about a war torn world where there has always been a war. When Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal of courage, it's rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa's town, until Gideon refuses the award and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and can't help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. Before she knows it, she stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy Territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that rocks the foundation of everything she's ever believed.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to people around there pre-teens because its a shorter book. This book is also a easy read that is another reason why I would recommend it to these age groups. I would also suggest this book to people to who like fiction dystopias.
I liked this book. I liked how defined the characters were. I really liked how Tessa never gave up especially when they were in prison. Comparing this book to Margaret's other books would be like comparing pizza to broccoli it's a no brainer.
Plot Summary
It was about a war torn world where there has always been a war. When Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal of courage, it's rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa's town, until Gideon refuses the award and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and can't help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. Before she knows it, she stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy Territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that rocks the foundation of everything she's ever believed.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to people around there pre-teens because its a shorter book. This book is also a easy read that is another reason why I would recommend it to these age groups. I would also suggest this book to people to who like fiction dystopias.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 3, 2019I counted at least three different stories overlaid into this book: Ender's Game, the Maze Runner, and even a bit of I, Robot. These probably did not influence Haddix's plot, yet there are no surprises when there is the realization this is familiar ground. The plot had possibilities; however, lack of character development derailed the momentum. Considering Haddix is a proficient writer, this story was an overall disappointment.
June 4, 2011
I love some Margaret Peterson Haddix titles, others not so much. This is one of the not so much ones. The anti-war message was a little heavy handed and the characters not as well developed as they could be. Even so, it is a quick read and I think it will have some appeal to middle schoolers...it certainly is discussable.
November 10, 2018
This book had promise, but it just didn’t deliver. It seemed too short, and resolved too tidily. The characters weren’t well developed, and it did have more than passing similarities to classic sci-fi scenarios. I was pretty disappointed.
July 19, 2017
3/5 stars
Review to come on www.kailynkausen.com
Review to come on www.kailynkausen.com
May 17, 2022
Uh meh heh
October 20, 2018
Another recommendation from my younger daughter. It was a good book, I enjoyed the plot line and the characters, but it did have a bit of a lull in the middle where I wasn't sure what I thought about it. Reminds me a little bit of Ender's Game.
September 7, 2017
This book was good because the characters thought they were fighting a 100 year war but a main computer was faking the war from the beginning, it was a good idea from the author.
October 16, 2025
It’s wild how long ago this book was written…
January 24, 2020
the book was super good. the book had lots of action and it always kept you hooked. the book was about this retired army officer named Gideon and a 15 year old girl named Tessa they go to this military base and meet this street punk orphan named Dek. they figure out what the war really was about. this book had lots of action but was not the best book I read it had the action just not much of the emotion. the book looked good and I went to get the book I was super into the book at the beginning but the book just kept me there and let me go at the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2012
Um.
Dear Ms. Haddix,
Definitely NOT up to usual standards.
1. Underdeveloped plot. As with Haddix's many other novels, this had a very solid premise. The development of it, however, never really came to fruition. That really surprised me.
2. Gideon. I hated Gideon. Not only is the the whiniest ex-military ANYTHING since the young Luke Skywalker, but his asinine insistence on surrendering to NO ONE got really old really fast.
Dude. There's no one there. Put your hands down, you idiot.
3. Tessa. Is pretty convinced she's stupid. Yup. Doorknob. Completely accepts this and defers to the others for most of the book.
Save me, Gideon!
Wait, what? You want that whiner to save you? Gah.
Tessa needs some better role models.
Honestly...this was just disappointing.
Dear Ms. Haddix,
Definitely NOT up to usual standards.
1. Underdeveloped plot. As with Haddix's many other novels, this had a very solid premise. The development of it, however, never really came to fruition. That really surprised me.
2. Gideon. I hated Gideon. Not only is the the whiniest ex-military ANYTHING since the young Luke Skywalker, but his asinine insistence on surrendering to NO ONE got really old really fast.
Dude. There's no one there. Put your hands down, you idiot.
3. Tessa. Is pretty convinced she's stupid. Yup. Doorknob. Completely accepts this and defers to the others for most of the book.
Save me, Gideon!
Wait, what? You want that whiner to save you? Gah.
Tessa needs some better role models.
Honestly...this was just disappointing.
November 19, 2015
Teas Stifling is a 15 year old girl living in a world of fighting, despair, and pain. They are In a middle of the war that is lasting a long time. Gideon is a young pilot for the army at the time, and he was going to receive a medal of courage. But when he is up in the stage about to receive it, he says that he is a coward and that he does not deserve it. Then Tessa sneaks into Gideon room, and then Gideon confesses that he killed 2000 innocent people in his last operation, and that really gets to him. So one night, Tessa sees that Gideon is sneaking out, and she follows him, and then they go end up in his plane. But then Tessa was going to leave, but then he is stuck in the plane. So his plan was to go to the enemy base and confess all of his sins against them, and accept any penalty that would be given to him. But what they will find will surprise them. Keep reading this book to see what happens next!
I like this book, because of the end of chapter cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading. I also like it, because it is a action-packed suspense book. It also keeps you entertained throughout the book, and is never really boring at any part.
I like this book, because of the end of chapter cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading. I also like it, because it is a action-packed suspense book. It also keeps you entertained throughout the book, and is never really boring at any part.
February 28, 2014
This book is about a girl named Tessa who is living in a war filled life. He neighbor ,Gideon, is a war hero and every thing is fine but then she falls for him and trys to help him. Unfortunately she gets caught up in something big about the war she accendently get on a plane with gideon and flys out to the war zone. She finally understands war... or dose she. I would recommend this book to anyone who like si-fi and fiction.
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