Wonder

The Books of Marvella #2

by Travis Thrasher

As the town of Appleton is rocked by the death of a teenager, the high school year begins under a dark shadow. Brandon continues to pursue Marvel while trying to discover what she believes will happen to her. It’s easy to fall more in love with her. It’s easy to forget she thinks God told her she will have to sacrifice herself to save others. But Brandon can’t forget about the shapeless evil that seems to watch him around corners and seep through the streets of his town. Strange things start to occur to Brandon. He starts looking for clues about the dead student, thinking this might be related to whatever evil Marvel is talking about. He also continues to battle against the guys picking on a nerdy senior named Seth Belcher. Marvel falls in love with Brandon, and he truly accepts her faith even though he doesn’t understand what to make of it. Something is growing in the darkness. Something is coming. Will Brandon be able to stand up against the malice that draws ever closer? Will he be able to save Marvel from the horrors to come?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Christian Fiction

Paperback

First published December 18, 2014

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over 75 books, from fiction in a variety of genres to memoirs and children’s books. He has collaborated with filmmakers, musicians, athletes, comedians and pastors. Travis lives with his wife and three daughters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Reviews

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reseña en español completa

I'M OFFICIALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES!



Travis Thrasher is one of those rare authors who can write a lot of genres and do it astonishingly well, but with this series he's just made it!

I loved Marvelous and I was quite sure that this book would be even better and I was so right! The narrative was incredible great and I love how Brandon tells the story and I could feel his feelings and get into his mind, wich is pretty unusual, but I'm so into the story that I can't stop thinking about what will happen next.

Something that I really loved too, was the important topics covered in this book. it's not only a GOOD book to hang out with but a novel that makes you think about life and makes you more aware of things that sometimes we think are important, when maybe they are not.

I'll definitely buy more books of this author because he has captivated me completely.

I recieved a free eBook from NetGalley but this fact didn't influence the review.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down. I love how Marvella brings out the best in Brandon and how he is willing to stand up for others. Suspenseful, creepy, and excellent.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never read Travis Thrasher's novels, he pretty much has a novel written to meet every interest but for me, nothing is more thrilling than to find Christian authors who know how to keep you glued to their novels, add the element of suspense and things that go bump in the dark, and you have me on their waiting list for the next one!

In the coming of age series geared more for the young adult or teen fans, The Books of Marvella have struck a cord in this book lover's heart! To say that there is something evil coming in the town of Appleton, earmarks what you will find when you enter the life of Brandon Jeffrey, a senior struggling to make his way in a difficult world marked by two unsolved murders involving teens that have happened in his town.

To say that the town is on edge is an understatement. Parents are concerned that their teens don't go out at night or alone until the person or persons responsible are caught. There is something brewing with an elderly man known as Otis who owns the quarry. Late at night he can be seen burying things in the back of his house but no one knows what is is. Now it seems he has formed a following when Brandon's best friend Devon, takes up watching his nightly activities believing he is behind the sinister evil building in town. Brandon doesn't want anything to do with stalking people at night especially when he is dealing with his own abusive alcoholic father who almost killed him in a car accident, watching over his younger brothers, keeping the secrets of the abuse from his mother, and trying to win the girl of his dreams.

Sounds like the typical life for a senior teen living in Appleton right? Now that school is back in session, all those summer escapades have not been forgotten. Brandon's intervention with the school's bullies, who also happen to be on the football team, have not gone unnoticed. Brandon's ex girlfriend, Taryn is stirring up trouble for Marvel on Social Media sites and Marvel still believes she will die doing something for God's glory and it will happen sooner than everyone believes. So just what is hiding in the shadows of Appleton? Only time will tell.

I received Wonder by Travis Thrasher compliments of NavPress, a division of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. The best part of this entire series, is the tension that Travis is building but not sharing what is really going on. He is keeping that just beyond what the reader can see, but the suspense element that keeps coming from each of this novels is growing. Evil is slowly showing itself in the unexplained and just who is the hippie older man, Phil who shows up just when Brandon seems to be willing to take unexpected risks? We know he works at the record store with Brandon, but is there a spiritual element here at work as well? All I can tell you is that I can't wait for the next novel and poor Travis Thrasher can't write fast enough for me. This one hits it out of the park again with a stellar 5 out of 5 stars! Suspense fans looking for a bit of the creep factor, pick this entire series and Solitary Tales as well. This is the second novel in The Books of Marvella series with Marvelous being the first. Start there before reading Wonder or it simply won't make sense.

[Stoney Setzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character Development with a Cliffhanger

In Book 2 of Travis Thrasher's "Books of Marvella" series, the murder mystery set up in Book 1 continues to cast a shadow over Brandon, Marvel, and company as they begin their senior year of high school. However, it seems to be more in the background here, with most of the author's attention going toward character development, particularly in regards to Brandon's relationship with Marvel...at least until the cliffhanger ending. Fortunately, Thrasher is skilled enough at character development that I still kept turning pages. My only quibble is that it was fairly easy to guess what the cliffhanger would be...including who the next apparent murder victim is. However, I was not disappointed and am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

[Cookielover · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me more than a year to finish this book because it lost my interest. I did not like it as much as the previous story, which I adored. However, I'll probably read the sequel because of that horrible cliffhanger.

[Patrick Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really liking this series. I thought i had the whole series but I am missing book 3.

I have no idea where Travis is going with this story and the impending doom that seems that be on it's way.

The second book in the four-part Books of Marvella series centers around the love story of Brandon and Marvel and the darkness that surrounds them.

As the town of Appleton is rocked by the death of a teenager, the high school year begins under a dark shadow. Brandon continues to pursue Marvel while trying to discover what she believes will happen to her. It’s easy to fall more in love with her. It’s easy to forget she thinks God told her she will have to sacrifice herself to save others. But Brandon can’t forget about the shapeless evil that seems to watch him around corners and seep through the streets of his town.

Strange things start to occur to Brandon. He starts looking for clues about the dead student, thinking this might be related to whatever evil Marvel is talking about. He also continues to battle against the guys picking on a nerdy senior named Seth Belcher.

Marvel falls in love with Brandon, and he truly accepts her faith even though he doesn’t understand what to make of it.

Something is growing in the darkness. Something is coming. Will Brandon be able to stand up against the malice that draws ever closer? Will he be able to save Marvel from the horrors to come?

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can somebody explain to me why this book is so amazing? I haven't read the first book yet, but judging by this one, I want to. Thrasher does a great job. I can't wait to read more of his work.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying that I did not know that this book was part of a series until halfway through; the fact that it was a sequel didn't keep me from enjoying it, but I probably would have liked it more if I had read the first.

So what is good about this book? First of all, there is a lot going on - lots of characters with storylines and problems and tension. Often times books fail to keep me engaged because they're too simple, but the author did a great job of weaving different stories together. There was enough of the unknown involved that I kept wanting to figure out what was going on. This book reminded me of the TV show Veronica Mars - both because of the high school setting and because of the way Thrasher included so many [somehow] interconnected elements. It is a Christian book, and the lead female character is a Christian - but it avoids the typical pitfalls of Christian books where Christian = pretty moral. I liked the realism of the Christian characters.

Why didn't I give it 5 stars? Well, for two reasons. First, the main male character is not a Christian - and although this is a YA book so it has to be appropriate, I'm not sure I can believe [as an adult] that all he thinks about this girl is just about her personality. There was a quote that made me laugh out loud about how when Brandon saw Marvel his day was instantly better - but not because he was looking at her body, but because he was looking at the curves of her smile. Yeah, yeah, yeah - he really likes her as a whole person, but it seemed like the author was trying to hit me over the head with the fact that this was not. at. all. sexual.

Second, Marvel has a little bit lot of Maniac Pixie Dream Girl trope in her. Although I enjoyed how she was wrestling with God about dating Brandon and ultimately didn't just obey like a perfect Christian, she was just a little typical to me. If you have never heard of MPDG, think of Natalie Portman's character in Garden State or Zooey Deschanel in 500 Days of Summer. She's unique! Not like other girls! Desired by everyone, but especially by our male protaganist! And through time with her he is transformed - she exists to develop his character alone. I found this character a little flat in that sense.

Overall, the book is enjoyable, though you need to be warned that as a middle book in a series it does end with a cliffhanger. Although I probably won't get the first book to read what happened before, I do look forward to the next one - I want to know what happens, and I think you will too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Joana Felício · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THE ORIGINAL REVIEW ON MY BLOG: http://thebookaddictsblog.blogspot.pt...

I got this ebook from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc through Netgalley in return of an honest review.

So, first of all, I didn't realise this was the second book in a series. But, although I am kind of bummed about the fact that I skipped book 1, Marvelous, that doesn't mean that I could enjoy this one. And, boy, did I!
So, this was a YA contemporary-ish, mystery-ish book, yet, to me, it read like a fantasy book, mostly because of the writing and the setting.
It had an aura of, well, wonder and magic constantly cast upon it and I couldn't help but expect some kind of magical revelation or miraculous ending. It was honestly something like a real-life fairytale-esque story.
I absolutely loved the set of characters Travis Thrasher created. Marvel was the flawed yet perfect girl, the one we can only hope will accept her place in the world in the future, and I loved her for that. Also, Brandon was our main character, the one we can't help but root for because he was such a good guy, trying to save his friends and himself from uncertain futures. I really liked the development of their relationship between these two characters in this book, and I would have absolutely loved to have seen the way it all started in the previous volume.
All of the other characters were very well developed and most of them were incredibly hateful and dislikable, anywhere from high school mean girl to murderous drug-dealers.
Another thing I wasn't expecting and that really contributed to how much I liked it was the diversity. You can just tell this comes from a man who is used to writing multiple genres, very different from each other. Wonder was mixture of magical romantic moments under the stars and murder investigations, obsessed mean ex-girlfriends and fight clubs.
All I have left to say is that this completely grabbed me from the first page and my heart was racing until the end, to the point where I stayed up until 4 a.m. to finish the book.
I need the next one in my hands now... that ending didn't give me the closure I was hoping for... in a good way. I might die until the next one, just wondering what will become of Marvel and Brandon and Devon and Artie and Carlos and even the record store...
This is an author I really want to support, so I will buy his books as soon as it is humanly possible for me to do so.

[Jessica Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

*I was given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So yeah, maybe this will be the rest of our lives. Pot roast and Diet Cokes and my parents making eyes at each other. As for those slaps and punches and hateful words, we'll just sweep those under the rug or wherever they can go. ~Brandon

First off: I AM SO NOT HAPPY WITH THE ENDING! *clutches chest*

Whew! Mr. Thrasher took it up a notch in WONDER, book two of the Books of Marvella. Where Marvelous set up the series plot theme, setting, backstory, and gave you the whole, Brandon-and-Marvel-connection-thing, WONDER throws you into the midst of all of this and school (now in session) and the mysteries stemming from MARVELOUS.

Characters hinted about in book one come to the forefront in book two. Resolutions hoped for aren't always the resolutions we get to see in book two. Tensions rise, and wow-ee are there a horrible couple of scenes where you just want to reach into the book and deck people because they're so evil and rude! (Rude is totally an understatement, but it's the most polite word I can use.) Fans of Brandon and Marvel and their banter/relationship/conversational exchanges are going to love WONDER!

Ultimately, WONDER is still full of mystery and has its own bit of vagueness along the way (when exactly are we going to find out what happened to those kids???), but because of the good set up of MARVELOUS and great pacing, and character elaboration, it's a better, faster read.

I'm not sure I'm ready to rejoice, and I'm not quite ready to pray.

The cool thing is that Marvel knows this. She knows this and doesn't seem to mind. ~Brandon

Brandon is still questioning who God is and if he needs Him at all, Marvel continues to struggle with what she's supposed to be doing and what her heart feels (am I the only one who thinks she could have both?), there's more set-up with additional characters, and all of the characters just seem real. And crazy. There's some pretty crazy people in this series. Oh, and if you're curious, there's also two playlists at the end (as with MARVELOUS), but there's a slight change in them (don't want to ruin anything).

There are so many things I want answers to. Really enjoying the series so far. I am totally looking forward to AWE.

Note: I'd say this is definitely upper YA due to underage drinking, drug references, and violence.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

22807748Wonder: Book Two of the Marvella Series. Travis Thrasher. NavPress: 2014.

The story continues from Marvelous as Brandon starts his senior year of high school with his new friend "not-my-girlfriend-because-it's-complicated" Marvel. The mystery of Archie's body that was found in the river continues and Brandon's friend Devon is not about to let it go. Devon’s desperation to solve Archie's murder will make him give up more than he might have been willing to give. Not to mention Brandon has made new enemies with the football jocks over his friendship with Seth Belcher.

The suspense in the second book has really improved from the previous book which has made this series more appealing. Characters are pushed to their limits, some even close to death, and all the while the Brandon goes from being a frustrating teenager to the readers hero. The dialogue also seemed a little more humorous and less forced. Wonder has really portrayed how the authors writing has improved.

One of the things that stuck out the most in this book that I was aware of in the first book but not as concerned about was the use of texting. With the plot line making a dramatic improvement I began to notice more of the writers style and realized the dialogue between text messages didn't represent teenage texting. Most teenagers in today's society text with emoticons and abbreviations. It was also frustrating to read the exchanged texts since they were only written in bold text but no tags. In some cases it was hard to keep track of who's texts were who's and a little bit distracting between characters. Some distinct personality in the characters voice in the dialogue would have helped.

Although I wasn't a fan of the first book, I took a chance with the second and am glad I did. I enjoyed the second and since the author does an excellent job of reminding the reader of important details from the first book, I would recommend readers that are unsure about reading a series to skip the first book and dive right into Wonder. If you find yourself interested in a more detailed version of the back story, you can always go back.

Reader’s Note: I received this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonder by Travis Thrasher is the sequel to Marvelous.

Brandon is a senior in high school and he has a big crush on the new girl Marvella Garcia; she has a dark past; she believes God told her she is going to die trying to save someone. She works at a record store and that is where they meet. This book is about faith, all the teenage baggage, dysfunctional families and potentially deadly relationships.

Coming into this book, the story felt a bit flat and uninteresting. Towards the end of the book,the writing improved as well as the story in itself; at the beginning the writing was okay but it didn't really capture interest, which I believe is especially important in the first few chapters. It became more fast paced and relatable as well as more balanced in terms of the problems that were happening to the characters.

One of the major things I found irritating was the way Brandon acted when he was around Marvel; he was too clingy and desperate. It felt like he thought she could do no wrong. Don't get me wrong, Brandon is a well created character-though he is flawed like we all are-he is kind, sweet and protective, which are all great qualities, it just felt as if his feelings for Marvel were too unrealistic. Marvel on the other hand is portrait as this interesting girl, (which is not really true) she is different but her character could sometimes come of as flat. She was also presented in a way that seems as if she were perfect, and this might have something to do with the way Brandon thinks about her, but it really irritates me because Christians are not perfect. I think it would had been a better story if she was shown in a more realistic, relatable light. The other characters in this story were the ones that had me asking more questions; they were the ones I found intriguing but I didn't get to see much of them in this book (which is quite sad to me because I genuinely thought they would be a big part of this story).

Moving on, what I really enjoyed about this book is the open way in which Marvel talks about God and how Brandon, even though he doesn't understand, still respects it and doesn't cut her off. Another thing I enjoyed about this book were the last chapters when things pick up speed and were more intriguing and mysterious.

[Lauraelisabeth (fashion-by-the-book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchanged for a honest review. In no way did the author or publishing company influence my review. For all my reviews, see my blog fashion-by-the-book.tumblr.com

I liked how sweet Brandon was. He was always worried about Marvel and was willing to go slow for her and I just think that's amazing. Marvel was lovely; I really liked her style. To be honest, none of the side characters were very interesting to me. I think the book would have been better if it focused purely on Brandon and Marvel. I just couldn't bother to care about any of Brandon's friends, who were lame and boring.
Maybe it's because I didn't read the first, but I felt like Thrasher should have done more explaining, or at least did a little summary like most authors do in sequels. I was really lost sometimes; he would mention something from the first book but not explain it at all. I like books that make it ok if you didn't read the first, or if it has been a long time since you've read it. Is that weird? Probably.
For the most part, the writing was nothing special. It wasn't beautiful or thought-provoking. It was just simple and straight to the point.
The plot wasn't great. I think if Thrasher had forgotten about the drug/weirdness/fight club sub plot he had going on, and focused on writing a really great love story, he could have had a Eleanor and Park thing going on. I can't help but wonder what the point of the first book was, since all the romance that could have happened, happened in this book. I did like that he worked at a music store, and I liked the playlist that were included on the back.
Another thing that was weird, though? It didn't really explain, well, anything. Like what was the fight club all about? Or the weird lights he saw at the drug dealer's house?

So, my main thoughts on this book are that if they focused on Marvel and Brandon's love and life stories, it could have been so much better.

Thank you Tydale Publishing for providing this book for my review!

[Brian Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoooo boy, this one's a doozy. High school was enough of a roller coaster for me back in the day, but it was nothing like what Brandon and Marvella go through in this book. As a pall looms over a small Chicago suburb from a couple of unsolved murders of teens in the area, Brandon is doing his best to win Marvella's heart, which is tricky because she seems to want to reciprocate his feelings, but there's something getting in the way and...it's complicated.

Thrasher paints even more magical, picturesque scenes in this book, especially whenever Brandon and Marvella are together--whether at the record store they work at, when they're at school, when Marvella takes Brandon on a surprise trip to the city. The tension of going back to school and seeing how Brandon's life pre-Marvella is about to collide with the present, combined with one of his friends making increasingly dangerous choices and an outsider at school Brandon continues to need to rescue as he gets bullied, all give the book a solid level of stakes.

As with the first book in the series, Thrasher really is at his best when he is focusing on Brandon and Marvella and their (thankfully) non-contrived will-they-or-won't-they scenario, especially when it gradually morphs into how-can-they-and-how-long-can-they given the obstacles they face. You root for these two, big time, and not just from a relationship standpoint, but because they have so much crap to deal with, and so much evil to overcome, that you want them to be freed from their demons, so to speak.

Another solid entry in the series. I can't wait to read the next one!

[Kelly Klepfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this one a five star rating. Travis Thrasher can write tight, tense and deep and I had a difficult time putting this second book in the series down. However, there is just enough creepy unknown going on that I did put the book away because my husband was gone from home for a few days. And I did NOT want to hear a thump in the dark after staying up till one a.m. binge reading this book.

Brandon is a classically troubled youth with a little bit of a savior complex. He saves the misfit Seth from the brutally full-of-himself class jock who also happens to be a son of local law enforcement. Brandon sticks around home to save his brothers from his fathers' drunken rages. He meets Marvella with the haunted eyes and spontaneously addictive grace and joy and begins to try to save her. She shares a secret with him in book one that compels him to try even harder. Marvella is bright light surrounded by pitch black darkness. She is doing everything in her power to hold onto that light and God's promises and blessings.

All around them strange things are happening. Missing teens, mysterious lights, odd people spouting warnings and predictions. Marvel's uncle threatens Brandon. The raging jock has it in for him and will not be satisfied until both Brandon and Seth are toe jam. And Brandon's dad is building up a head of steam that only a severe Brandon beating is going to fix. It's going to be a miracle if Brandon survives his enemies. And what Marvel is predicting, and Brandon's flashes of vision are telling him is that a price on his head is mere child's play compared to what's coming. I can hardly wait to finish this series.

[Alex Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I originally got Wonder as a book for review off of NetGalley after I requested it for review from Tyndale. In my little knowledge of the book I decided to read the book without knowing the it was part of a series. That seemed to work pretty well. The book would be great as a stand alone book, but I am also really glad that there’s a series for it.

The book left me with a few questions dealing with the ending and what happened. Overall, I thought it was a beautifully written book. The concept of the book was terrific and I haven’t read much Christian fiction, but I can definitely say that I love the idea behind this book series. It reminds me of how Jesus came to save everyone but in the end would have to die for us, and I think that’s really awesome.

Layout wise, I loved the cover. It was really pretty. I also loved how the numbers of the chapters were presented as well. It was such a beautiful looking book, and I love when books are pretty cover wise as well as story wise. Overall, I’d recommend it to anyone who loves Christian fiction, or just anyone who likes fiction. It’s an interesting concept and I loved it! I’d give it 4.5/5 stars but there’s no .5 of a star on here.

I GOT THIS BOOK FOR REVIEW FROM NETGALLEY AND TYNDALE PUBLISHERS BUT THAT IN NO WAY AFFECTS MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ON THE BOOK.

[Michelle Griep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love cliffhangers? Like dangling off a five mile sheer rock edge by your fingernails? Oh yeah, and there's a gorilla jumping down on your fingertips, just trying to get you to plummet to your death? Yeah. Well, if that gets your heart racing in anticipation, then this is the book for you. Sheesh. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THE NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES! YES, I AM SHOUTING.

Okay, now that my adrenaline rush has leaked out all over you, let's talk Wonder. This is the second book in the Marvella series and whoa, baby. The building action. The tension. The sweet relationship developments. It's got it all and it's even better than the first book, Marvelous.

As always, Thrasher turns some sweet phrases and makes the reader see the mundane in new and fresh ways. Yes, it's creepy in parts and you won't want to read it in the dark on Halloween, but that's the allure of Wonder. Do it. Buy it. Read it. You know you want to.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books, Thrasher does something really unique with each of his YA series that makes them stand apart from every other series I ever read. It's the feeling,it makes me feel nostalgic. He mixes the old and new together in a perfect blend. He also includes a playlist at the end of every book that introduces the new generation to music like, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, and The Cure.

Wonder was at its core a love story, but one with multiple obstacles and problems. Darkness is creeping in on Brandon's life, and he clings to the light and hope he find's with Marvel and God. I was hoping for more information or at least searching on Brandon's part for clues about Artie's murder.Considering the turn the end took, I don't think I will have to wait to much longer. A page turner and a must read for anyone who is a fan of love story's with dark edges.

[Yo Leo Ficción Cristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

Copy provided by Netgalley.

[Jt]

Travis is one of my favorite fictional writers. Each chapter makes me want to keep reading and then when I get to the end of the book, I'm mad.

[Zachary Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next book!