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Full Tilt
Full of roller-coaster twists and turns, Neal Shusterman's page-turner is an Orpheus-like adventure into one boy's psyche.Sixteen-year-old Blake and his younger brother, Quinn, are exact opposites. Blake is the responsible member of the family. He constantly has to keep an eye on the fearless Quinn, whose thrill-seeking sometimes goes too far. But the stakes get higher when Blake has to chase Quinn into a bizarre phantom carnival that traps its customers forever. In order to escape, Blake must survive seven deadly rides by dawn, each of which represents a deep, personal fear--from a carousel of stampeding animals to a hall of mirrors that changes people into their deformed reflections. Blake ultimately has to face up to a horrible secret from his own past to save himself and his brother--that is, if the carnival doesn't claim their souls first!
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2003
318 people are currently reading
7920 people want to read
About the author
Neal Shusterman
92 books30.3k followersAward-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,100 reviews
July 31, 2015
What happens when you are suddenly pulled away from the real world, and plunged into a carnival where your soul can be claimed? Blake needs to decide between his own safety, or his brother's. Every decision counts, as the carnival awaits for his defeat.
Most YA horror are formulaic, and this novel proved no different. A guy has to save someone in a world full of his fears. I honestly didn't care about his fears and the not-so-scary carnival rides, but the characters, or at least some of them, were really well developed. Blake and Quinn are brothers who don't get along all the time because of their differences, but they're brothers nonetheless. I liked how the author worked on their relationship as brothers and ended up making me feel a sense of connection between one of the two.
If you're looking for a YA novel with a very good plot, then steer away from this. On the other hand, if you're looking for one with very good character development and decent writing, then this is the novel for you. Speaking of the writing, all I can say is that I can't really complain much on it. This was obviously aimed for younger audiences, so that means that the author had to dumb things down a little. A lot of things shouldn't have been emphasized on but the author expounded on those.
A few months ago I used to grab a YA book with a ready feeling of hatred toward it. I'm turning 20, so I'm more of an adult than a teenager. I don't like things dumbed down because it makes the plot shallow. Recently I learned not to expect much on any book, especially YA ones. They're not naturally bad, but one's perception plays a huge role in the overall enjoyment. I could've easily hated this for being too YA, but I didn't, and I won't. It had a decent plot so I honestly won't hate on it just because it didn't give me much of a scare. I'm sure that younger readers would've been terrified with the premise alone, more so with the plot. All I can say is that keep an open mind when it comes to novels that aren't intended for your age, but don't get me wrong though because I know a lot of adults who love to read middle grade and YA. It differs from person to person, but keeping an open mind will surely help, in my case.
What made me aware of the existence of this novel would be Buzzfeed. I'm subscribed to their few-times-a-week emails of books that you should read, and this was #1 in their 23 Underrated Books Every Horror Fan Needs To Read ASAP so the book was added to my TBR instantly because the premise was great. A few days later, I was strolling around the bookstore and suddenly saw this book, so I bought it in an instant. I even read it right away because I couldn't choose what book to read next. Conclusion would be, don't trust Buzzfeed, or at least lower down your expectations.
3/5 stars. Cheap thrill but a good comfy read. A great pick if you're in a reading slump. I'm excited to read more of Shusterman's work in the future.
Most YA horror are formulaic, and this novel proved no different. A guy has to save someone in a world full of his fears. I honestly didn't care about his fears and the not-so-scary carnival rides, but the characters, or at least some of them, were really well developed. Blake and Quinn are brothers who don't get along all the time because of their differences, but they're brothers nonetheless. I liked how the author worked on their relationship as brothers and ended up making me feel a sense of connection between one of the two.
If you're looking for a YA novel with a very good plot, then steer away from this. On the other hand, if you're looking for one with very good character development and decent writing, then this is the novel for you. Speaking of the writing, all I can say is that I can't really complain much on it. This was obviously aimed for younger audiences, so that means that the author had to dumb things down a little. A lot of things shouldn't have been emphasized on but the author expounded on those.
A few months ago I used to grab a YA book with a ready feeling of hatred toward it. I'm turning 20, so I'm more of an adult than a teenager. I don't like things dumbed down because it makes the plot shallow. Recently I learned not to expect much on any book, especially YA ones. They're not naturally bad, but one's perception plays a huge role in the overall enjoyment. I could've easily hated this for being too YA, but I didn't, and I won't. It had a decent plot so I honestly won't hate on it just because it didn't give me much of a scare. I'm sure that younger readers would've been terrified with the premise alone, more so with the plot. All I can say is that keep an open mind when it comes to novels that aren't intended for your age, but don't get me wrong though because I know a lot of adults who love to read middle grade and YA. It differs from person to person, but keeping an open mind will surely help, in my case.
What made me aware of the existence of this novel would be Buzzfeed. I'm subscribed to their few-times-a-week emails of books that you should read, and this was #1 in their 23 Underrated Books Every Horror Fan Needs To Read ASAP so the book was added to my TBR instantly because the premise was great. A few days later, I was strolling around the bookstore and suddenly saw this book, so I bought it in an instant. I even read it right away because I couldn't choose what book to read next. Conclusion would be, don't trust Buzzfeed, or at least lower down your expectations.
3/5 stars. Cheap thrill but a good comfy read. A great pick if you're in a reading slump. I'm excited to read more of Shusterman's work in the future.
January 3, 2022
What happens when you are pulled into a bizarre phantom carnival? Blake must survive seven deadly rides by dawn, each of which represents a deep, personal fear. If he fails his soul is lost forever. Spooky carnivals are my jam. There are so many directions you can go. Shusterman brings on the horror. No slow burn. Just one wild, crazy ride.
Once clowns are thrown out there my soul would be lost. I do not do clowns.....ever.
🤡🤡🤡🤡
Once clowns are thrown out there my soul would be lost. I do not do clowns.....ever.
🤡🤡🤡🤡
May 20, 2019
This clearly just wasn’t for me. I felt like there was a lot of potential, with the setting being a creepy/haunted carnival, but unfortunately everything just fell flat. Nothing was scary, or even remotely creepy, and with the book being so short, all of the characters felt underdeveloped.
October 29, 2020
"To be completely helpless in the face of life-- powerless to do a single thing-- that's what I'd always feared more than anything."
3.5
Neal Shusterman is my favorite author and I promised myself I will read all his books (even his earlier novels) as long as I can find a copy. Fult Tilt is one of his earlier novels and my 12th book of him.
The time I started the book and it was in an amusement park and this is a suspense-thriller of sort, I thought this will be something like Final Destination, but it wasn't. Anyway, it's okay since after finishing the novel I was satisfied on what this book made me feel.
Basically, this is a bizarre, life-or-death story of Blake and his struggles to face his fears and deepest, horrible secrets in a carnival. Yep, a twisted carnival owned by a bewitched, peculiar girl named Cassandra. The thing is, Blake and his friends should do 7 rides before dawn or they will be stucked and be part of the carnival forever.
Blake is an interesting character. He is not fearless, but he can do things he need to do out of fear. The thing is, there is something about him why Cassandra chose him to give an invitation to her carnival. And that's for you to find out.
Full Tilt is a well-paced, page-turner book that creeped me out, psychologically. This book made me feel the feeling of guilt, desperation and brotherly love. It showed that fears are there to hinder you but there is always a way out out of these fears. A compelling story of breath-taking adventure in a bizarre world of your own thoughts and fears designed to succumb you forever.
Nonetheless, Cassandra's character hasn't been delved into but I thought sometimes, something needs to remain as a mystery.
October 5, 2015
Final rating: 4/5 stars
I love Neal Shusterman.
Especially after reading Bruiser, Unwind and UnWholly (i really need to find time to read his other books-especially skinjacker :D). I love that his works are always deep and quite psychological. Full Tilt didn't disappoint.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This is a story about trauma, despair, guilt and much more. It's a ride through the fears of all people who get stuck in that carnival.
Like i said, it is quite psychological, because characters are faced with their worst fears, and they don't know how to beat them.
That carnival is a definition of creepy as well.
Although the characters were the best part of the book, i found that story had it's flaws. Till the end it remained a mystery about Carnival and Cassandra, the one behind the scenes. I was too obsessed with characters and story to not notice the background one. The rides were quite interesting. The way it connected was kind of unusual, and with each ride, they were becoming far more scary.
And don't expect a love story, because this book definitely isn't one.
____________________________________________
CHARACTERS :
____________________________________________
So we have two brothers, Blake and Quinn who are not in best type of relationship; and we have a couple, Maggie and Russ.
♦ Blake :
The narrator of this story is Blake, and while whole book was from his POV, i liked everything about it. Blake will always think then react before he does something, unlike other three in the story. I found that he is quite interesting and likeable character with own depth.
♦ Quinn :
Quinn on the other hand is quite reckless, doesn't care if he will live or die the next day-he lives his life to the fullest. Being that type, he doesn't understand why Blake is always retreating, why Blake doesn't take chances at doing what he wants. He considers Blake a coward, and Blake himself thinks the same. But none of them were actually being honest to each other.
♦ Maggie and Riss :
As for Maggie and Riss, they thought their love was true, but...
____________________________________________
OVERALL :
____________________________________________
Very very interesting, beautifully written and a fast page turner. Do not expect this book to actually be 100% explained - some things are better off with being a mystery. (Although i wish it could have been longer =.=)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
I love Neal Shusterman.
Especially after reading Bruiser, Unwind and UnWholly (i really need to find time to read his other books-especially skinjacker :D). I love that his works are always deep and quite psychological. Full Tilt didn't disappoint.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This is a story about trauma, despair, guilt and much more. It's a ride through the fears of all people who get stuck in that carnival.
Like i said, it is quite psychological, because characters are faced with their worst fears, and they don't know how to beat them.
That carnival is a definition of creepy as well.
Although the characters were the best part of the book, i found that story had it's flaws. Till the end it remained a mystery about Carnival and Cassandra, the one behind the scenes. I was too obsessed with characters and story to not notice the background one. The rides were quite interesting. The way it connected was kind of unusual, and with each ride, they were becoming far more scary.
And don't expect a love story, because this book definitely isn't one.
“They say you never know who's the real hero and who's the real coward until you're looking death in the face. I've always been afraid of plenty of things, but fear isn't what makes you a coward. It's how depraved your heart becomes when fear gets pumped through it.”
____________________________________________
CHARACTERS :
____________________________________________
So we have two brothers, Blake and Quinn who are not in best type of relationship; and we have a couple, Maggie and Russ.
♦ Blake :
The narrator of this story is Blake, and while whole book was from his POV, i liked everything about it. Blake will always think then react before he does something, unlike other three in the story. I found that he is quite interesting and likeable character with own depth.
♦ Quinn :
Quinn on the other hand is quite reckless, doesn't care if he will live or die the next day-he lives his life to the fullest. Being that type, he doesn't understand why Blake is always retreating, why Blake doesn't take chances at doing what he wants. He considers Blake a coward, and Blake himself thinks the same. But none of them were actually being honest to each other.
♦ Maggie and Riss :
As for Maggie and Riss, they thought their love was true, but...
____________________________________________
OVERALL :
____________________________________________
Very very interesting, beautifully written and a fast page turner. Do not expect this book to actually be 100% explained - some things are better off with being a mystery. (Although i wish it could have been longer =.=)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
August 25, 2011
YAAAAAAY! CARNIVALS ARE FUN!
Except when they're trying to steal your soul.
Neal, Neal, Neal. How I love you. Yes, in the creepiest way possible. As in, I want to stalk you to get your autograph.
Seriously, though. This is the ... 9th book by Shusterman that I've read, I believe. None of his books have disappointed me. They're all amazing. If you haven't read any of his books, I suggest you read Unwind, Bruiser, and the Skinjacker Trilogy (Everlost, Everwild, and Everfound) above all. But even though I didn't love Full Tilt as much as those books, I still think it's worthy of the 5-star rating.
Here's the story:
Teenage brothers Blake and Quinn are polar opposites. Blake is the more responsible one, the one who gets good grades and is about to go off to Columbia University. Quinn is the risk-taker, the kid with a million piercings in his face, the one who is always putting himself in danger. One night, the pair of brothers and their friends Russ and Maggie go to a carnival, where Blake meets Cassandra––a beautiful and mysterious girl who hands him an index card with a strange symbol on it. Later that night, Quinn is found comatose in his bedroom. Blake, Russ, and Maggie soon figure out that Quinn's soul is being held captive in a phantom carnival. And the only way to get out is to get through seven rides. Easy, right? Well, except for that these are no normal rides ... they turn your deepest fears against you and will do anything to make you give up. And if you give up, you stay forever. Blake must endure the seven rides in order to save his brother, and ultimately he must come to terms with a traumatic accident he's been struggling with for years.
What I thought:
Despite my undying love for Neal Shusterman, I stayed away from this book for a long time. I am not a fan of horror, and I thought this sounded like the typical scary movie plot. And yes, the idea of a creepy carnival is still clichéd. But this is no slasher-movie type story. As far as I recall, there weren't even any scary clowns in it (thank God)! Don't get me wrong, this book still has quite the creepy edge to it. But it's scarier on a more psychological level than I expected. (And why I feared a Shusterman book would not be deep, I don't know. I'm a fool.)
Anyway, this book is no gore fest or anything. Blake's fears are more complicated than scary clowns. Most haunting of all is the "survivor guilt" he's been dealing with, ever since he survived a bus crash in which everyone else was killed.
Like all Shusterman's characters, all the characters in this book are fascinating. Blake, Quinn, Russ, and Maggie are an interesting set of protagonists, all with different motives and fears that make them believable characters. Cassandra, the evil spirit who runs the carnival, is delightfully creepy in her obsession to keep all the souls trapped in her world.
Side note: If you've read/seen Coraline, she kind of reminded me of the Other Mother ... *shudders*
This is more than just a horror story. It's about trauma. It's about guilt. It's about obsession. It throws characters into a desperate situation, where they'll do anything to get out. That's the type of story I love! Plus, it's told with Shusterman's great writing, realistic characters, and over-all pure brilliance.
This is a really well-crafted book that kept me on the edge of my seat. So, like, read it dudes.
May 4, 2008
WOW! This was my first time reading Neal Shusterman, and I was not disappointed!
The main plot revolves around a kid named Blake, who is going off to college at an Ivy League school. When he goes out with his friends, he meets an irresistable girl named Cassandra, who promises great thrills at her theme park. Strangely enough, one of Blake's friends says that the park appears to never be in the same location twice. He finds when he enters the park that he must ride seven rides that represent his greatest fears (in several hours, no less) in order to escape the park alive. Will he pull through?
Definitely one of my favorite books! A must read!
The main plot revolves around a kid named Blake, who is going off to college at an Ivy League school. When he goes out with his friends, he meets an irresistable girl named Cassandra, who promises great thrills at her theme park. Strangely enough, one of Blake's friends says that the park appears to never be in the same location twice. He finds when he enters the park that he must ride seven rides that represent his greatest fears (in several hours, no less) in order to escape the park alive. Will he pull through?
Definitely one of my favorite books! A must read!
June 24, 2019
Full Tilt was a strange book that centered on a brilliant teen's night of self-analyzation and self-discovery. I love this author, but this story—with its interesting synopsis—was just "meh".
June 13, 2016
[3.5 Stars] I really liked the messages as I always do with Neal Shusterman books. I think he addresses some of them better in some of his other books though like self image and confronting your past, and I think it was too short to fully pull me into the story and make me feel for the characters. I liked Blake, but he'd forget about his friends and brother a lot which I found weird since his brother is the whole reason he's there in the first place. Overall I'm still happy I read it and I think people can definitely pull some important themes away from this. I'd recommend it if you haven't read a lot of his other stuff or if you're a die hard Shusterman fan like myself.
January 7, 2017
"They say you never know who's the real hero and who's the real coward until you're looking death in the face. I've always been afraid of plenty of things, but fear isn't what makes you a coward. It's how depraved your heart becomes when fear gets pumped through it."
As usual, Neal Shusterman novels don’t just entertain you with their creative worlds or realistic characters. They also make you question some aspect of your life or your world. This one handles fear and the ways it can change people. For such a tiny novel (it’s only 201 pages), it packs quite the emotional punch.
In Full Tilt, the main character, Blake, goes to a mysterious amusement park in the middle of the night to rescue his younger brother, Quinn, who is essentially trouble personified. However, this isn’t any ordinary amusement park; this park creates rides based on your biggest fears. In order to get out, you have to ride six of the rides before dawn. It was just as creepy and fantastic as it sounds.
Also; the spirit of the park’s name was Cassandra. Finally; a novel with my name in it. Plus, I was a badass spirit who fed off of fear. Can it get any cooler than that? I’m pleased.
Besides the action packed plot, and fascinating concept, I also really enjoyed the relationship development between Blake and Quinn. So many YA fantasy novels make the main focus a romance, and as always, I can appreciate that this one was a platonic relationship and not some dreary love triangle or even just a cliché romance. I loved that about it.
To avoid any spoilers, I’m going to conclude this review with this is a perfect read for anyone looking for a adventurous tale with paranormal/fantasy elements, or even just a fan of any of Neal Shusterman’s other works. Fantastic YA stand alone that will raise all kinds of questions about who your friends and family truly are, and most importantly, who you are.
As usual, Neal Shusterman novels don’t just entertain you with their creative worlds or realistic characters. They also make you question some aspect of your life or your world. This one handles fear and the ways it can change people. For such a tiny novel (it’s only 201 pages), it packs quite the emotional punch.
In Full Tilt, the main character, Blake, goes to a mysterious amusement park in the middle of the night to rescue his younger brother, Quinn, who is essentially trouble personified. However, this isn’t any ordinary amusement park; this park creates rides based on your biggest fears. In order to get out, you have to ride six of the rides before dawn. It was just as creepy and fantastic as it sounds.
Also; the spirit of the park’s name was Cassandra. Finally; a novel with my name in it. Plus, I was a badass spirit who fed off of fear. Can it get any cooler than that? I’m pleased.
Besides the action packed plot, and fascinating concept, I also really enjoyed the relationship development between Blake and Quinn. So many YA fantasy novels make the main focus a romance, and as always, I can appreciate that this one was a platonic relationship and not some dreary love triangle or even just a cliché romance. I loved that about it.
To avoid any spoilers, I’m going to conclude this review with this is a perfect read for anyone looking for a adventurous tale with paranormal/fantasy elements, or even just a fan of any of Neal Shusterman’s other works. Fantastic YA stand alone that will raise all kinds of questions about who your friends and family truly are, and most importantly, who you are.
August 15, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
Amusement park horror is one of my absolute favorite horror subgenres - so when I heard that Full Tilt has been out for well over a decade and I still haven't read it, I immediately picked it up. While we follow young adult aged characters in this book, Shusterman did a fantastic job of incorporating psychological elements of trauma and fears into each chapter that tackled some very adult themes. The visualizations of some of these scenes going on in my brain were absolutely insane and I would love to see this twisty read adapted to the big screen, I'd be first in line to buy a ticket.
This was my first by Shusterman and definitely will not be my last! I am even more so looking forward to picking up Unwind and Scythe soon, which have been on my shelves for a while.
Amusement park horror is one of my absolute favorite horror subgenres - so when I heard that Full Tilt has been out for well over a decade and I still haven't read it, I immediately picked it up. While we follow young adult aged characters in this book, Shusterman did a fantastic job of incorporating psychological elements of trauma and fears into each chapter that tackled some very adult themes. The visualizations of some of these scenes going on in my brain were absolutely insane and I would love to see this twisty read adapted to the big screen, I'd be first in line to buy a ticket.
This was my first by Shusterman and definitely will not be my last! I am even more so looking forward to picking up Unwind and Scythe soon, which have been on my shelves for a while.
September 15, 2019
I really enjoyed the theme park setting of this book, and the idea that surviving rides at this theme park would take you to another dimension and another reality. I was glad at the ending Neal Shusterman is a great young adult fantasy writer.
January 10, 2026
تدور الرواية حول مجموعة من الشباب يقررون زيارة مدينة ملاهٍ مهجورة يُشاع أنها مسكونة بالأرواح، بعد اختفاء عدد من الأشخاص فيها في ظروف غامضة. في البداية يبدو الأمر مجرد مغامرة لإثبات الشجاعة، لكن سرعان ما تتحول الرحلة إلى كابوس حقيقي.
يكتشف الأبطال أن الملاهي تخفي تاريخًا مظلمًا مرتبطًا بجريمة قديمة ومأساة لم تُحل، وأن الأرواح العالقة هناك تبحث عن الانتقام أو الخلاص.
تمت
٧ يناير ٢٠٢٦
يكتشف الأبطال أن الملاهي تخفي تاريخًا مظلمًا مرتبطًا بجريمة قديمة ومأساة لم تُحل، وأن الأرواح العالقة هناك تبحث عن الانتقام أو الخلاص.
تمت
٧ يناير ٢٠٢٦
January 24, 2008
Full Tilt is about a boy named Blake who is headed in the right direction. Seems like everyone in his life is off-track including his 'living-for-the-thrill' brother and his boyfriend hopping mother. But not him, Blake's going to college, has his life mapped out and is basically someone you can depend on. He seems perfect really. The only problem is he's hiding a dark secret...nothing evil or haunting, but its a secret he keeps from everyone. He holds the guilt of being the lone survivor of a horrific bus accident. He holds the memory of seeing his teachers face on the bus as it teetered and toppled over the side of a bridge. He holds the guilt of believing he could have done something to save the others.
If he can just keep careful control, then life wont throw anymore curve balls at him.
His plan goes awry when he gets talked into going to an amusement park with his friends...they love the roller coasters especially his wild edged little brother Quinn--but he doesn't. He's white-knuckling it and back on the bus ...and this time he's going over.
After hating life on one ride, he can't be convinced to go on another, not matter how hard his friends try and convince him. Even when a mysterious chick, that looks like she could teach him a few things, hands him a personal invitation to a private amusment park, he's too spooked to go. He tosses the invite on his dresser when he gets home and crashes.
But it turns out his little brother isn't afraid and is dying to go. In the middle of the night, Blake wakes to the screams of his mother. She's bent over the comatose body of Quinn...Blake looks down at his brother...but when he looks into his eyes, he sees Ferris wheels spinning. His brother is trapped and only Blake can get him out.
What follows is the worst night of Blake's life...he makes a deal with a devil and has to survive the park and ride seven rides before dawn to save his brother. The problem is, every ride is tailored to your worst fears and every ride can kill you.
It doesn't help to know that no-one has survived and the price of admission is your soul.
If he can just keep careful control, then life wont throw anymore curve balls at him.
His plan goes awry when he gets talked into going to an amusement park with his friends...they love the roller coasters especially his wild edged little brother Quinn--but he doesn't. He's white-knuckling it and back on the bus ...and this time he's going over.
After hating life on one ride, he can't be convinced to go on another, not matter how hard his friends try and convince him. Even when a mysterious chick, that looks like she could teach him a few things, hands him a personal invitation to a private amusment park, he's too spooked to go. He tosses the invite on his dresser when he gets home and crashes.
But it turns out his little brother isn't afraid and is dying to go. In the middle of the night, Blake wakes to the screams of his mother. She's bent over the comatose body of Quinn...Blake looks down at his brother...but when he looks into his eyes, he sees Ferris wheels spinning. His brother is trapped and only Blake can get him out.
What follows is the worst night of Blake's life...he makes a deal with a devil and has to survive the park and ride seven rides before dawn to save his brother. The problem is, every ride is tailored to your worst fears and every ride can kill you.
It doesn't help to know that no-one has survived and the price of admission is your soul.
June 11, 2017
4 / 5
a bit shorter than my usual read, but it managed to find a really great fast pace and stay really entertaining. bumped up a star bc i'm always a slut for creepy carnivals :)
full review for this and all the other books i've got waiting for reviews to come next month (hopefully irl stuff will be less hectic then)
a bit shorter than my usual read, but it managed to find a really great fast pace and stay really entertaining. bumped up a star bc i'm always a slut for creepy carnivals :)
full review for this and all the other books i've got waiting for reviews to come next month (hopefully irl stuff will be less hectic then)
April 17, 2021
I think a legitimate argument can be made that Full Tilt is the point where Neal Shusterman really began "putting it all together" as an author, melding the fascinating metaphysical nature of some of his earlier material (The Eyes of Kid Midas, for example) with the powerful emotional impact of his first novel, The Shadow Club, to create a ride like nothing else before in the history of young-adult literature. Once Neal Shusterman really found his groove, he became awesome on a whole new level, quickly catapulting ahead of most of the rest of the pack to become one of the finest writers of his generation. In Full Tilt, we see the beginning of that transformation from very good to legendary, the start of a journey that would produce several of the greatest books I've ever read: Unwind, Everwild, Everfound, Bruiser... It's hard to find anything, anywhere, that rises to the astounding heights of artistic achievement reached by these books, because Neal Shusterman has elevated the art of writing to heights met only rarely, if ever, in the history of the English language. That is what I'm talking about when I say that Neal Shusterman has changed the face of literature. His books are masterpieces of innovative human thought and the sides of our shared experiences that it may never have even occurred to us to take a closer look at, and if Full Tilt was the party to celebrate the arrival of this new, even more brilliant Neal Shusterman, then all I can say is that I'm privileged to have been invited.
Full Tilt truly sets a new standard for itself, defying comparison to any other book or writing style. If you think you've got a hold on what's happening, then think again, because you never know for sure what's really up when it's a Neal Shusterman book you're reading. The crazy energy of the story zaps out in a hundred directions at once, all of them capable of throwing your mind for a loop. What might surprise readers who are new to Neal Shusterman, though, are the philosophical brick walls that seem to crop up out of nowhere as one reads, appearing so fast that it's easy to run smack into them if you're not watching. No matter how far out the story becomes, or what crazy worlds of paranormal weirdness swallow the characters, everything they encounter circles back to truths that we all can understand about real life, whether or not we're able to articulate them as convincingly as Neal Shusterman. This is, in my opinion, the greatest strength of Full Tilt, and serves to rein in all the wild action so that it never completely detaches from our comprehension. We're able to identify with the characters because their realistic struggles, not the outside dangers from a world of paranormal death, tether our lives closely together. Ultimately, the hellish carnival and deadly traps in it that have been set for Blake, Quinn and his friends are not the focal point of the story, but rather the key to unlocking our minds and letting us see a part of ourselves that we've never known, because fear and moments of pure shock tend to open us up in a way that doesn't normally occur. In our fear, and in theirs, we see the darkness of humanity, but also the light that emanates from the decision to remain true to one's ideals and not degenerate into the shadowy depths of depravity when the going gets rough and personal character is stretched to the breaking point. This, more than anything else, is Full Tilt at its very best.
"To be completely helpless in the face of life―powerless to do a single thing―that's what I'd always feared more than anything. It was like I'd been keeping all the edges of my life neat and clean, pretending the neatness was all that mattered, pretending life could somehow be controlled."
―Full Tilt, PP. 108-109
“The rides are different for everyone. I'm convinced of that now. I mean, sure, there are some we ride together. Either we find ourselves drawn to some common experience, or maybe we're pulled in by the people we care about. Our friends, our families can drag us onto coasters and Tilt-A-Whirls that are really meant for them. But in the end, no matter whose rides we find ourselves on, the experience is all our own.”
―Full Tilt, P. 93
Sixteen-year-old Blake and his thirteen-year-old brother, Quinn, are opposite in almost every obvious way. It doesn't take more than the first few pages of Full Tilt to see that this is the case, as the two of them, along with Blake's friend Russ and Russ's girlfriend, Maggie, go adventuring at a theme park near their home. The rides at the park are screwy, loud and have more than a slight off-the-wall feel to them, perfect for three teenagers raring to attack an amusement park that's not going to be just like every other entertainment venue they've experienced. The Kamikaze seems to be the wildest ride that the park has to offer, but Blake isn't hot on the idea of doing battle with the huge roller coaster. He has an aversion to rolling, spinning, screaming machinery that hurtles through thin air at high speeds, understandable when one finds out that there's a much darker secret than fear of roller coasters tugging at the fabric of his mind. Blake may have no desire to "Die on the Kamikaze", but his friends wouldn't miss it, so he reluctantly joins the group standing in line.
But what if Blake knew that the Kamikaze he sees isn't the only one? What if he knew that the greatest threat he could face on this night would be far more deadly than the squeamish sensation of a few stomach plunges and sharp turns on the twisting metal track of the super coaster? There's another dimension to Blake's world, commanded by an entity with far more on its mind than showing Blake a good time at an amusement park. Blake's demons are all lined up neatly, made all the easier to exploit for his natural ability to shuffle them to the back of the deck when they creep up a little too close to the front. To save himself, Blake will have to finally do battle with these demons that have scared him from the outer limits of his consciousness since he was a very young kid, and he'll have to do it in a timely fashion if he's to have any hope of saving Quinn, too. Sometimes our darkest demons can take hostages even of the people around us, people who didn't deserve to get caught up in the tangled mess of our psyche but do, anyway, for no other reason than that they care enough to be in proximity to us. But our worst demons have to be defeated by no one but ourselves. If we're to finally destroy them―not just beat them down, but utterly destroy them―then we'll have to figure out how to do it on our own, even if we have all the support and love in the world at our backs.
"No mirrors in the real world had the ability to reach inside you the way these did. You could tell yourself that the mirrors were simply telling lies, but you'd be wrong. They took tiny truths, swelling them out of proportion―and the fact that there was a kernel of truth in what they reflected made the effect devastating."
―Full Tilt, P. 97
"I guess we all can't help peeking at our own imperfections, just like we can't help scratching a scab that keeps itching. When those imperfections are pasted across your face like that, exaggerated and magnified, it's hard to find all those good thoughts you have about yourself. If you believe those distorted reflections too deeply, you'll never get out of the maze."
―Full Tilt, P. 97
These are just a few of the brilliant paragraphs that make Full Tilt what it is, a spine-tingling and soul-searching examination of ourselves that lays bare our most personal thoughts to the realization that others have felt the same things, even if they're really good at hiding it. As far as that first quote above taken from page 97 goes, it's a perfect description of the way that we often see ourselves in actual mirrors as well as the "mirrors" of the people around us, and of what it means to tell a story that really affects people. A book like Unwind, for example, has a really "out there" premise, but what brings the terror home to us so that it's unforgettable is the kernel of truth that gives the story its impetus. It's all about taking "tiny truths" and "swelling them out of proportion"; then, "the fact that there was a kernel of truth in what they reflected made the effect devastating." It's as if Neal Shusterman has laid out for us the essential elements of the entire storytelling process here, giving us the basic blueprint for writing a story that has the potential to be as powerful and timeless as Unwind, or any of his other luminescent works of genius.
If I were to pick a focal point for Full Tilt, it would have to be the horrifying expedition through the hall of mirrors, from which I took the two quotes on page 97. It is here, I think, that Blake begins to get a handle on what his descent into the bowels of fear really means, that it's about a whole lot more than just trying to survive seven souped-up carnival rides until dawn. There's no way that he's going to make it out of all seven rides alive unless he has the courage to confront his own dark side, and the hall of mirrors shows him the worst parts of himself as no other ride could ever do. Blake sees that there's no good in just dismissing the darkness inside of oneself, pretending that it doesn't exist as it rears its head to bite. One can realize that it's a distortion of the truth to say that the darkness is all there is, though, or even the most important part, and steel oneself against believing the distorted reflections for what they claim to be. Believe what others say about you and you'll never find your way out of the maze, because they can never know you as well as you know yourself. Holding onto the real image of who you are, good mixed with bad as you know it to actually be, prevents the distortions from ever becoming reality. This, ultimately, is what Blake must do to survive the night, and he discovers it, ironically, in the hall of mirrors, the place designed more than any other to distort the truth and give incorrect perspective.
"I hadn't lived a real life―I'd had just a model of a life. Everything I did, everything I thought, was suspended safely by strings, too high up for anyone to damage. Zero contact, zero risk. Now those strings had been cut and I was going to die, never having had a chance to live without them."
―Full Tilt, P. 115
"They say you never know who's the real hero and who's the real coward until you're looking death in the face. I've always been afraid of plenty of things, but fear isn't what makes you a coward. It's how depraved your heart becomes when fear gets pumped through it."
―Full Tilt, P. 125
There's so much to be said about Full Tilt that the Goodreads limit of twenty thousand characters would never be enough to hold it all if I were to unpack every worthy bit of fascinating discourse to look at more closely in this review. In fact, that has been the case for more than one Neal Shusterman book I've read, though I think that I've actually made more of an attempt at examining and discussing the worthy thoughts that act as scaffolding for Full Tilt than I have for most of the author's novels. In the end, this is a book that actually has to be read for one to come across all of its many revelations, so many personal epiphanies waiting to be discovered that it's hard to think back on exactly how one felt about these matters before reading Full Tilt. So come let the master Storyman lead you, if you're daring enough to give over control of the ride to him for a little while. This book can be a real life-changer, and undoubtedly will leave an indelible impression upon whomever reads it. There's no doubt that I would give the complete three-star rating to Full Tilt.
Full Tilt truly sets a new standard for itself, defying comparison to any other book or writing style. If you think you've got a hold on what's happening, then think again, because you never know for sure what's really up when it's a Neal Shusterman book you're reading. The crazy energy of the story zaps out in a hundred directions at once, all of them capable of throwing your mind for a loop. What might surprise readers who are new to Neal Shusterman, though, are the philosophical brick walls that seem to crop up out of nowhere as one reads, appearing so fast that it's easy to run smack into them if you're not watching. No matter how far out the story becomes, or what crazy worlds of paranormal weirdness swallow the characters, everything they encounter circles back to truths that we all can understand about real life, whether or not we're able to articulate them as convincingly as Neal Shusterman. This is, in my opinion, the greatest strength of Full Tilt, and serves to rein in all the wild action so that it never completely detaches from our comprehension. We're able to identify with the characters because their realistic struggles, not the outside dangers from a world of paranormal death, tether our lives closely together. Ultimately, the hellish carnival and deadly traps in it that have been set for Blake, Quinn and his friends are not the focal point of the story, but rather the key to unlocking our minds and letting us see a part of ourselves that we've never known, because fear and moments of pure shock tend to open us up in a way that doesn't normally occur. In our fear, and in theirs, we see the darkness of humanity, but also the light that emanates from the decision to remain true to one's ideals and not degenerate into the shadowy depths of depravity when the going gets rough and personal character is stretched to the breaking point. This, more than anything else, is Full Tilt at its very best.
"To be completely helpless in the face of life―powerless to do a single thing―that's what I'd always feared more than anything. It was like I'd been keeping all the edges of my life neat and clean, pretending the neatness was all that mattered, pretending life could somehow be controlled."
―Full Tilt, PP. 108-109
“The rides are different for everyone. I'm convinced of that now. I mean, sure, there are some we ride together. Either we find ourselves drawn to some common experience, or maybe we're pulled in by the people we care about. Our friends, our families can drag us onto coasters and Tilt-A-Whirls that are really meant for them. But in the end, no matter whose rides we find ourselves on, the experience is all our own.”
―Full Tilt, P. 93
Sixteen-year-old Blake and his thirteen-year-old brother, Quinn, are opposite in almost every obvious way. It doesn't take more than the first few pages of Full Tilt to see that this is the case, as the two of them, along with Blake's friend Russ and Russ's girlfriend, Maggie, go adventuring at a theme park near their home. The rides at the park are screwy, loud and have more than a slight off-the-wall feel to them, perfect for three teenagers raring to attack an amusement park that's not going to be just like every other entertainment venue they've experienced. The Kamikaze seems to be the wildest ride that the park has to offer, but Blake isn't hot on the idea of doing battle with the huge roller coaster. He has an aversion to rolling, spinning, screaming machinery that hurtles through thin air at high speeds, understandable when one finds out that there's a much darker secret than fear of roller coasters tugging at the fabric of his mind. Blake may have no desire to "Die on the Kamikaze", but his friends wouldn't miss it, so he reluctantly joins the group standing in line.
But what if Blake knew that the Kamikaze he sees isn't the only one? What if he knew that the greatest threat he could face on this night would be far more deadly than the squeamish sensation of a few stomach plunges and sharp turns on the twisting metal track of the super coaster? There's another dimension to Blake's world, commanded by an entity with far more on its mind than showing Blake a good time at an amusement park. Blake's demons are all lined up neatly, made all the easier to exploit for his natural ability to shuffle them to the back of the deck when they creep up a little too close to the front. To save himself, Blake will have to finally do battle with these demons that have scared him from the outer limits of his consciousness since he was a very young kid, and he'll have to do it in a timely fashion if he's to have any hope of saving Quinn, too. Sometimes our darkest demons can take hostages even of the people around us, people who didn't deserve to get caught up in the tangled mess of our psyche but do, anyway, for no other reason than that they care enough to be in proximity to us. But our worst demons have to be defeated by no one but ourselves. If we're to finally destroy them―not just beat them down, but utterly destroy them―then we'll have to figure out how to do it on our own, even if we have all the support and love in the world at our backs.
"No mirrors in the real world had the ability to reach inside you the way these did. You could tell yourself that the mirrors were simply telling lies, but you'd be wrong. They took tiny truths, swelling them out of proportion―and the fact that there was a kernel of truth in what they reflected made the effect devastating."
―Full Tilt, P. 97
"I guess we all can't help peeking at our own imperfections, just like we can't help scratching a scab that keeps itching. When those imperfections are pasted across your face like that, exaggerated and magnified, it's hard to find all those good thoughts you have about yourself. If you believe those distorted reflections too deeply, you'll never get out of the maze."
―Full Tilt, P. 97
These are just a few of the brilliant paragraphs that make Full Tilt what it is, a spine-tingling and soul-searching examination of ourselves that lays bare our most personal thoughts to the realization that others have felt the same things, even if they're really good at hiding it. As far as that first quote above taken from page 97 goes, it's a perfect description of the way that we often see ourselves in actual mirrors as well as the "mirrors" of the people around us, and of what it means to tell a story that really affects people. A book like Unwind, for example, has a really "out there" premise, but what brings the terror home to us so that it's unforgettable is the kernel of truth that gives the story its impetus. It's all about taking "tiny truths" and "swelling them out of proportion"; then, "the fact that there was a kernel of truth in what they reflected made the effect devastating." It's as if Neal Shusterman has laid out for us the essential elements of the entire storytelling process here, giving us the basic blueprint for writing a story that has the potential to be as powerful and timeless as Unwind, or any of his other luminescent works of genius.
If I were to pick a focal point for Full Tilt, it would have to be the horrifying expedition through the hall of mirrors, from which I took the two quotes on page 97. It is here, I think, that Blake begins to get a handle on what his descent into the bowels of fear really means, that it's about a whole lot more than just trying to survive seven souped-up carnival rides until dawn. There's no way that he's going to make it out of all seven rides alive unless he has the courage to confront his own dark side, and the hall of mirrors shows him the worst parts of himself as no other ride could ever do. Blake sees that there's no good in just dismissing the darkness inside of oneself, pretending that it doesn't exist as it rears its head to bite. One can realize that it's a distortion of the truth to say that the darkness is all there is, though, or even the most important part, and steel oneself against believing the distorted reflections for what they claim to be. Believe what others say about you and you'll never find your way out of the maze, because they can never know you as well as you know yourself. Holding onto the real image of who you are, good mixed with bad as you know it to actually be, prevents the distortions from ever becoming reality. This, ultimately, is what Blake must do to survive the night, and he discovers it, ironically, in the hall of mirrors, the place designed more than any other to distort the truth and give incorrect perspective.
"I hadn't lived a real life―I'd had just a model of a life. Everything I did, everything I thought, was suspended safely by strings, too high up for anyone to damage. Zero contact, zero risk. Now those strings had been cut and I was going to die, never having had a chance to live without them."
―Full Tilt, P. 115
"They say you never know who's the real hero and who's the real coward until you're looking death in the face. I've always been afraid of plenty of things, but fear isn't what makes you a coward. It's how depraved your heart becomes when fear gets pumped through it."
―Full Tilt, P. 125
There's so much to be said about Full Tilt that the Goodreads limit of twenty thousand characters would never be enough to hold it all if I were to unpack every worthy bit of fascinating discourse to look at more closely in this review. In fact, that has been the case for more than one Neal Shusterman book I've read, though I think that I've actually made more of an attempt at examining and discussing the worthy thoughts that act as scaffolding for Full Tilt than I have for most of the author's novels. In the end, this is a book that actually has to be read for one to come across all of its many revelations, so many personal epiphanies waiting to be discovered that it's hard to think back on exactly how one felt about these matters before reading Full Tilt. So come let the master Storyman lead you, if you're daring enough to give over control of the ride to him for a little while. This book can be a real life-changer, and undoubtedly will leave an indelible impression upon whomever reads it. There's no doubt that I would give the complete three-star rating to Full Tilt.
November 27, 2021
3.5 rounded up
March 8, 2010
Mind = blown.
Okay, so maybe I'm a little biased because of my obsession with Neal Shusterman, but this book is amazing! I read this book during a reading slump ... in one sitting. So you know it had to have been good. The one thing that I kept thinking about during the whole book was "This book would make a great video game!" And it would. It could be almost like Dante's Inferno, only not with the whole Deadly Sins thing, but with the seven rides.
I found there wasn't much character development, but I think it worked well with this book. It didn't distract you from the edge-of-your-seat / in-your-face kind of action.
Marry me, Neal?
Okay, so maybe I'm a little biased because of my obsession with Neal Shusterman, but this book is amazing! I read this book during a reading slump ... in one sitting. So you know it had to have been good. The one thing that I kept thinking about during the whole book was "This book would make a great video game!" And it would. It could be almost like Dante's Inferno, only not with the whole Deadly Sins thing, but with the seven rides.
I found there wasn't much character development, but I think it worked well with this book. It didn't distract you from the edge-of-your-seat / in-your-face kind of action.
Marry me, Neal?
October 3, 2022
What an adventure themed coming of age story! I've always loved dark / scary carnival themed stories and this one did not disappoint.
This is my second book by Shusterman and I have to admit I really like his writing style and how he can twist a story into something that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The creativity to come up with the rides in this twisted carnival was pretty impressive and I had a hard time putting it down wondering what could possibly happen next.
An easy 5 / 5 star haunted carnival read.
This is my second book by Shusterman and I have to admit I really like his writing style and how he can twist a story into something that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The creativity to come up with the rides in this twisted carnival was pretty impressive and I had a hard time putting it down wondering what could possibly happen next.
An easy 5 / 5 star haunted carnival read.
June 1, 2019
I picked up this book from the library after my boyfriend expressed his love for this book. It was a fun little book that had an interesting premise. I will be definitely be checking out more from Neal Shusterman.
Read
November 10, 2023Good story overall and would recommend it, but I’m just not into the Science-Fiction aspect.
March 23, 2024
I remember reading this many years ago and being totally hooked on it - and it's even better now. The story not only features an insane supernatural amusement park with the most freaky rides ever but it also has a powerful message in here: that you need to live your life and not let your fears control you.
And this park knows exactly what you're scared of. It can read your mind. And once you go into that park (which is located at the bottom of a deep canyon where no park should even be) the only way to ever leave again is by surviving seven rides. And each ride will indeed try to kill you in different ways. Many involve your fears or your interests. And then these things come back to bite you.
But Blake is not your average thrill seeker. He only goes there to try and rescue his younger brother named Quinn. And Quinn is one totally out of control kid. He is empty inside so he does the most insane things in an attempt to feel something. He never seems to stop to think if doing these things is dangerous. I do vaguely recall Quinn from my first time reading this years ago ( maybe in 2004) but I was shocked by his actions at the beginning of the book...
Blake seems to have a good head on his shoulders. I like him and I can relate to him. He likes to play it safe and he suffers from PTSD (or survivors guilt). He also has a lot of self control so he doesn't go crazy like the other thrill seekers. And that allows him to go up against the owner of this supernatural park. And Blake means to win if he can. But the clock is ticking.
I found this story to be absolutely thrilling and scary. It's a fun read. And even though its like twenty years old now it hasn't suffered at all, probably because the heart of the story is just so powerful.
The best piece of wisdom in here is probably that the fear and anxiety that we suffer controls us like puppets. And then we are scared to do the things we really want to do and so life passes us by. And so we are just surviving and not actually living.
Such a great fun book! Glad I now have my own copy as that copy I read so long ago was a library book.
And this park knows exactly what you're scared of. It can read your mind. And once you go into that park (which is located at the bottom of a deep canyon where no park should even be) the only way to ever leave again is by surviving seven rides. And each ride will indeed try to kill you in different ways. Many involve your fears or your interests. And then these things come back to bite you.
But Blake is not your average thrill seeker. He only goes there to try and rescue his younger brother named Quinn. And Quinn is one totally out of control kid. He is empty inside so he does the most insane things in an attempt to feel something. He never seems to stop to think if doing these things is dangerous. I do vaguely recall Quinn from my first time reading this years ago ( maybe in 2004) but I was shocked by his actions at the beginning of the book...
Blake seems to have a good head on his shoulders. I like him and I can relate to him. He likes to play it safe and he suffers from PTSD (or survivors guilt). He also has a lot of self control so he doesn't go crazy like the other thrill seekers. And that allows him to go up against the owner of this supernatural park. And Blake means to win if he can. But the clock is ticking.
I found this story to be absolutely thrilling and scary. It's a fun read. And even though its like twenty years old now it hasn't suffered at all, probably because the heart of the story is just so powerful.
The best piece of wisdom in here is probably that the fear and anxiety that we suffer controls us like puppets. And then we are scared to do the things we really want to do and so life passes us by. And so we are just surviving and not actually living.
Such a great fun book! Glad I now have my own copy as that copy I read so long ago was a library book.
April 20, 2024
3,5*
Give me horror in fun parks and carnivals any time!
Even though this book does go a bit more into the fantasy realm I think it had interesting horror elements almost like a Goosebumps episode.
Two brothers go to a carnival together. Quinn loves the thrill of the rollercoasters and Blake is afraid of them.
When Quinn gets himself in trouble, Blake will need to survive seven deadly rides by dawn to save him.
Overall I really enjoyed how creative and fun the carnival was as well as the people working there and the different rides that Blake needs to survive.
Neal Shusterman has such an interesting take on morality, justice and human relationships. This supernatural carnival had many lessons to teach us.
It is a fun and thrilling story for young readers that will definitely be a wild ride but also has a lot of heart.
Give me horror in fun parks and carnivals any time!
Even though this book does go a bit more into the fantasy realm I think it had interesting horror elements almost like a Goosebumps episode.
Two brothers go to a carnival together. Quinn loves the thrill of the rollercoasters and Blake is afraid of them.
When Quinn gets himself in trouble, Blake will need to survive seven deadly rides by dawn to save him.
Overall I really enjoyed how creative and fun the carnival was as well as the people working there and the different rides that Blake needs to survive.
Neal Shusterman has such an interesting take on morality, justice and human relationships. This supernatural carnival had many lessons to teach us.
It is a fun and thrilling story for young readers that will definitely be a wild ride but also has a lot of heart.
February 16, 2025
It was really fun to read an older book by one of my favorite authors. You can definitely tell that this was published 22 years ago, but I still enjoyed it.
This was really different to the author's dystopian books, but it still had many elements that I love about the author's books, like his writing and well-built characters. For a horror, this was pretty mild, but the overall plot was very interesting, and I flew through this in just two hours.
This was really different to the author's dystopian books, but it still had many elements that I love about the author's books, like his writing and well-built characters. For a horror, this was pretty mild, but the overall plot was very interesting, and I flew through this in just two hours.
nope-dnf
January 19, 2026While I read this two weeks ago I remember N O T H I N G ...re-marking as a DNF
reading notes:
"You've put two and two together and come up with pi" - thats funny
I love the creativity of the rides and the park. Sounds very cool but of course life threatening and dangerous LOL.
Im thinking a 3 star.
reading notes:
"You've put two and two together and come up with pi" - thats funny
I love the creativity of the rides and the park. Sounds very cool but of course life threatening and dangerous LOL.
Im thinking a 3 star.
March 31, 2011
Unwind was supposed to be the book I’m reading first from Neal Shusterman, but when I saw this in our bookstore here in my place, I immediately grabbed this undoubtedly since I was told before by a reader that Shusterman is such an amazing author. So who do you think can resist of searching for his books after hearing such a word?
Blake fears something and he fears to admit that it’s the rides he fears to get in. Some are meant to be survivors, some are not. And some are meant to be a single survivor out of tens, twenties or thirties unfortunately die in an accident. Being the only one survivor of the bus accident when he was a child, it gives him creeps no matter how old he’s now.
Since before, Blake has been Quinn’s—his brother-- butt-savior. Quinn travels to places he sometimes doesn’t know why. One month to go, Blake is going off to college and it obviously mean that he’s leaving Quinn to live with their mom and her new boyfriend. One night Quinn’s gone, left their house but physically in coma, only to find out that his soul is in an amusement park. Would Blake continue to save his younger brother even if it means, riding seven rides before dawn in full tilt?
So far, this is better than the last book of the same author I’ve read. But amazingly these two books have originals concepts. However, this book has gotten my taste more than the other one. I’m very much lucky to notice this book in our bookstore.
I admit that I’m really impressed of this book. The book has what it takes to be a real YA fantasy nowadays. This book has a non-stop full tilt of adventure. Every chapter gives different kinds of excitement and thrills. As if in just reading this book, you have ridden the rides by yourself already. It was an unimaginable thrill of less than twenty-four hours of adventure.
The relationship of Blake and Quinn is normal as any other siblings do with each other—saving the butt of the younger ones, the arguments and even the teasing with each other. However, this book has, in one way or another, added more odd habits and spice to every character to have stronger personalities. The only problem I found out in this book is Shusterman gives no justice at the ending of this book. The story as if hangs in midair, as if halted instantly while in a rush speed of motion. This book needs an additional page or chapter. Nevertheless, this is really great book that I couldn’t put down.
Blake fears something and he fears to admit that it’s the rides he fears to get in. Some are meant to be survivors, some are not. And some are meant to be a single survivor out of tens, twenties or thirties unfortunately die in an accident. Being the only one survivor of the bus accident when he was a child, it gives him creeps no matter how old he’s now.
Since before, Blake has been Quinn’s—his brother-- butt-savior. Quinn travels to places he sometimes doesn’t know why. One month to go, Blake is going off to college and it obviously mean that he’s leaving Quinn to live with their mom and her new boyfriend. One night Quinn’s gone, left their house but physically in coma, only to find out that his soul is in an amusement park. Would Blake continue to save his younger brother even if it means, riding seven rides before dawn in full tilt?
So far, this is better than the last book of the same author I’ve read. But amazingly these two books have originals concepts. However, this book has gotten my taste more than the other one. I’m very much lucky to notice this book in our bookstore.
I admit that I’m really impressed of this book. The book has what it takes to be a real YA fantasy nowadays. This book has a non-stop full tilt of adventure. Every chapter gives different kinds of excitement and thrills. As if in just reading this book, you have ridden the rides by yourself already. It was an unimaginable thrill of less than twenty-four hours of adventure.
The relationship of Blake and Quinn is normal as any other siblings do with each other—saving the butt of the younger ones, the arguments and even the teasing with each other. However, this book has, in one way or another, added more odd habits and spice to every character to have stronger personalities. The only problem I found out in this book is Shusterman gives no justice at the ending of this book. The story as if hangs in midair, as if halted instantly while in a rush speed of motion. This book needs an additional page or chapter. Nevertheless, this is really great book that I couldn’t put down.
July 28, 2018
3.0 Stars
This was a fast-paced action packed YA horror novel. I didn't love it as much as I hoped, but it had an interesting premise.
This was a fast-paced action packed YA horror novel. I didn't love it as much as I hoped, but it had an interesting premise.
April 10, 2008
Full tilt, an adventure filled, rollercoaster ride of a book. Packed with twist turns ups and down loops and thrills, kept me reading the book. I rarely read books but from the title catching my eye and its extreme back ground of colors, it’s really an awesome book. The book had me on the edge every time I picked it up, not wanting to put it down. It’s filled with the excitement and themes to keep me wanting to know what’s going to happen next. I happen to like the book so much that I had put my self in side, the ride of what I read.
Full tilt is about 16 year old, name Blake, who is at the begging a chump or self conscious. He’s very smart and is on his way to college. He has a brother who lives life on the edge not caring about the rules. He brings along to friends Maggie and Russ who are boy friend and girl friend and is a wired couple. Well they are at six flags and Blake is scared of big type rides. And he finally gets on a ride which changes his fate. After he gets off, he is called by a game personal to play for free. And in his luck he wins. Without asking she gives him a bear which hold an invitation to the ride of his life.
His brother is found on the ground laying in a coma and the smart Blake realizes what’s going on. He checks the bear that hold the invitation and finds it gone, and that’s where his adventure begins. A must read book very interesting and will catch your mind in the great adventure it holds.
Full tilt is about 16 year old, name Blake, who is at the begging a chump or self conscious. He’s very smart and is on his way to college. He has a brother who lives life on the edge not caring about the rules. He brings along to friends Maggie and Russ who are boy friend and girl friend and is a wired couple. Well they are at six flags and Blake is scared of big type rides. And he finally gets on a ride which changes his fate. After he gets off, he is called by a game personal to play for free. And in his luck he wins. Without asking she gives him a bear which hold an invitation to the ride of his life.
His brother is found on the ground laying in a coma and the smart Blake realizes what’s going on. He checks the bear that hold the invitation and finds it gone, and that’s where his adventure begins. A must read book very interesting and will catch your mind in the great adventure it holds.
October 30, 2021
At first, I didn't find much interest in this book, however, as I kept reading I got more and more engaged with this book. I liked the book, but I do think there could've been more details or events added to make the book more interesting.
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