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Pass/Fail
Jake's senior year of high school is shaping up pretty well, until his guidance counselor takes him aside to put him in a special program. "You're on a Pass/Fail basis now. If you pass enough tests you'll graduate with honors and I'll shake your hand. If you fail three tests, I'll personally take you behind the gymnasium and put a bullet in your head."
Now Jake's navigating a crazy maze of diabolic puzzles and impossible moral choices. And he's already failed his first test...
Now Jake's navigating a crazy maze of diabolic puzzles and impossible moral choices. And he's already failed his first test...
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2012
9 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
David Wellington
74 books1,153 followersDavid Wellington is a contemporary American horror author, best known for his Zombie trilogy as well as his Vampire series and Werewolf series. His books have been translated into eleven languages and are a global phenomenon.
His career began in 2004 when he started serializing his horror fiction online, posting short chapters of a novel three times a week on a friend’s blog. Response to the project was so great that in 2004 Thunder’s Mouth Press approached David Wellington about publishing Monster Island as a print book. His novels have been featured in Rue Morgue, Fangoria, and the New York Times.
He also made his debut as a comic book writer in 2009 with Marvel Zombies Return:Iron Man.
Wellington attended Syracuse University and received an MFA in creative writing from Penn State. He also holds a masters degree in Library Science from Pratt Institute.
He now lives in New York City with his dog Mary Shelley and wife Elisabeth who, in her wedding vows, promised to “kick serious zombie ass” for him.
His career began in 2004 when he started serializing his horror fiction online, posting short chapters of a novel three times a week on a friend’s blog. Response to the project was so great that in 2004 Thunder’s Mouth Press approached David Wellington about publishing Monster Island as a print book. His novels have been featured in Rue Morgue, Fangoria, and the New York Times.
He also made his debut as a comic book writer in 2009 with Marvel Zombies Return:Iron Man.
Wellington attended Syracuse University and received an MFA in creative writing from Penn State. He also holds a masters degree in Library Science from Pratt Institute.
He now lives in New York City with his dog Mary Shelley and wife Elisabeth who, in her wedding vows, promised to “kick serious zombie ass” for him.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 11, 2025
it was okay
November 17, 2025
I enjoyed the fast pace, the refreshing content and the horrible idea (what could go wrong...), but I was left with a few questions. Some of the characters were not wrapped up. I don't mean closure, I literally mean where did they go...what happened to the character....I feel I need answers. LOL This is definitely Twilight Zone in the making.
October 24, 2013
"Pass/Fail" by David Wellington is a fascinating, if bizarre, concept for a YA fiction; or any other age group, too. A High School Senior, Jake McCartney, is awakened by the sound of a car crashing into his house in the middle of the night. Jumping out of bed, he runs to the front door, where his father is watching the car start to burn. Jake, without thinking, runs to the car and manages to get the door open, burning himself in the process. Inside is a young girl about his age, who has already passed out and is very close to dying from either smoke inhalation or burning up. Jake frees her from her seatbelt, lifts her from the car, and carries her to safety. After an ambulance trip to the hospital, she is well on her way to a full recovery, as is Jake.
But when Jake returns home, he finds a blue envelope on his bedroom floor. Inside is a paper that simply says, "Pass". Thus begins perhaps the most unusual test ever undertaken by a human of any age. The twists and turns in this story are absolutely not anything you might expect. Virtually every page has another revelation on it, further compounding an already complex tale. Wellington has an incredibly convoluted mind, with secret bits of imagination hiding behind every convolution.
"Pass/Fail" is one enticing book you have just got to read soon. Every time you think you've got something figured out, the next page will prove you wrong. It features long-standing friendship, budding romance, mystery, intrigue, collusion, secret passages galore, conspiracy, murder, and a whole heaping helping of power-mad insanity. This is an excellent story! Read it now, before the sequel comes out, so you'll be ready for that sequel as soon as it's published.
But when Jake returns home, he finds a blue envelope on his bedroom floor. Inside is a paper that simply says, "Pass". Thus begins perhaps the most unusual test ever undertaken by a human of any age. The twists and turns in this story are absolutely not anything you might expect. Virtually every page has another revelation on it, further compounding an already complex tale. Wellington has an incredibly convoluted mind, with secret bits of imagination hiding behind every convolution.
"Pass/Fail" is one enticing book you have just got to read soon. Every time you think you've got something figured out, the next page will prove you wrong. It features long-standing friendship, budding romance, mystery, intrigue, collusion, secret passages galore, conspiracy, murder, and a whole heaping helping of power-mad insanity. This is an excellent story! Read it now, before the sequel comes out, so you'll be ready for that sequel as soon as it's published.
February 27, 2014
This was a YA thriller for the younger crowd. The night before his senior year, Jake McCartney saves a girl from a car accident. When he wakes up the next morning, a blue envelope is shoved underneath his door. Inside of it is just a card that says PASS. He's later told by a guidance counselor that he's been chosen for a special pass/fail program. If he passes the tests, he'll have a successful future. If he fails three of these tests, then he'll be killed. Jake has to use his wits and courage to get through the increasingly difficult tests in order to graduate and live.
This would be a perfect book for a reluctant reader since it has so much action from the first page and the tension was high throughout the entire story. It might frustrate some readers since it doesn't have a clear ending, but I enjoyed it. It's one of those books where you have to decide what was true or not.
SPOILER-ISH INFO AHEAD.....
(I think I figured out the point of the tests, and that makes the ending more obvious to me, but it can certainly be argued. I think of it as one of those Lady and Tiger kind of stories. The fun is in trying to figure out what the protagonist ultimately chose in the end.)
This would be a perfect book for a reluctant reader since it has so much action from the first page and the tension was high throughout the entire story. It might frustrate some readers since it doesn't have a clear ending, but I enjoyed it. It's one of those books where you have to decide what was true or not.
SPOILER-ISH INFO AHEAD.....
(I think I figured out the point of the tests, and that makes the ending more obvious to me, but it can certainly be argued. I think of it as one of those Lady and Tiger kind of stories. The fun is in trying to figure out what the protagonist ultimately chose in the end.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2012
This novel is a bit different then most of David Wellington's work, though similar to some of his short stories that i have read.
I really enjoyed PASS/FAIL from beginning to end. I read through it pretty quickly and hardly wanted to put it down. I enjoyed the main character Jake and the whole Pass/Fail curriculum thing. The plot was interesting and I like some of the inventiveness of some of the tests.
Only thing I was slightly disappointed with was the motivation for putting Jake through the tests. I was expecting something grander i guess, but what it turned out to be worked ok too.
Overall a great story and the open ending worked pretty well (though I really would like to see what happens next, but oh well).
I really enjoyed PASS/FAIL from beginning to end. I read through it pretty quickly and hardly wanted to put it down. I enjoyed the main character Jake and the whole Pass/Fail curriculum thing. The plot was interesting and I like some of the inventiveness of some of the tests.
Only thing I was slightly disappointed with was the motivation for putting Jake through the tests. I was expecting something grander i guess, but what it turned out to be worked ok too.
Overall a great story and the open ending worked pretty well (though I really would like to see what happens next, but oh well).
August 21, 2013
Very fast moving and multi layered story that has many twists that were pleasantly refreshing. The action moves along, and while it seems it may be geared toward young adults, it is a very satisfying read for genre lovers. While the book leaves the door open for a sequel, it has an ending that is satisfying as well. This is the first book by wellington I have read, and I downloaded another one at the same time. He definitely has picked up a new reader.
August 5, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. and would definitely recommend. I was worried at first I might be out of the age range this was meant for. however the book sucked me in. I read it in 24hrs it was so good. more than anything it was completely different from anything I've read and I'm an avid reader of suspense and paranormal pleasure books.
June 7, 2016
What a great book full of suspense. This was my first time reading a book like this, it reminded me of a movie kind of like a psychological thriller. Now it's driving me crazy wondering what choice he made in the very end.
November 8, 2012
Cool concept, page turner like the rest of David's stuff.
May 10, 2013
Wellington starts with a good scifi/horror premise but the ending is largely unsatisfying.
March 29, 2013
Loved how it made you thin outside of the box t answer the puzzles. Hubby and I tried to figure it out before the kid did it. Had lots of suspense and really enjoyed it.
September 15, 2013
Great book. Had it partially figured out. But.... I HATE BOOKS THAT DON'T END PROPERLY!
January 30, 2014
Adrenaline filled and fun for a teen, but the lack of any follow-up titles detracts a little. Still, had me intrigued, and I enjoyed some of the puzzels
April 20, 2014
Good book
Good book but not a good ending . No sequel that I can t e 'll but there should be.
Good book but not a good ending . No sequel that I can t e 'll but there should be.
July 28, 2014
a good idea that is muddled in places, and also suffers from numerous spelling and a few grammar errors.
March 13, 2015
I think I was more intrigued before I found out what was really going on. I did enjoy the book though. What is going on is interesting as well, but I think I was expecting something different. :)
August 12, 2015
Yhis book was great until the ending. Why would the author just stop the book with no conclusion.
Want to read
January 22, 2013Kindle freebie, 1/22/13
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews