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Southside #1
The Bridge
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jan 35 The City is divided. The bridges gated. In Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and desperation, waiting for a chance to overrun the residents of Cityside.
Nik is still in high school but is destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the brains behind the war. But when ISIS comes recruiting, everyone is shocked when he isn't chosen. There must be an explanation, but no one will talk about it. Then the school is bombed and the hostiles take the bridges. Buildings are burning, kids are dead, and the hostiles have kidnapped Sol. Now ISIS is hunting for Nik.
But Nik is on the run, with Sol's sister Fyffe and ISIS hot on their trail. They cross the bridge in search of Sol, and Nik finds answers to questions he had never dared to ask.
The Bridge is a gritty adventure set in a future world where fear of outsiders pervades everything. A heart-stopping novel about friendship, identity, and courage from an exciting new voice in young-adult fiction.
Nik is still in high school but is destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the brains behind the war. But when ISIS comes recruiting, everyone is shocked when he isn't chosen. There must be an explanation, but no one will talk about it. Then the school is bombed and the hostiles take the bridges. Buildings are burning, kids are dead, and the hostiles have kidnapped Sol. Now ISIS is hunting for Nik.
But Nik is on the run, with Sol's sister Fyffe and ISIS hot on their trail. They cross the bridge in search of Sol, and Nik finds answers to questions he had never dared to ask.
The Bridge is a gritty adventure set in a future world where fear of outsiders pervades everything. A heart-stopping novel about friendship, identity, and courage from an exciting new voice in young-adult fiction.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
27 people are currently reading
1294 people want to read
About the author
Jane Higgins
17 books22 followersJane was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Over the years, she has traveled away, but she returned in the 1990s; she and her husband, Paul, live there still, even though the ground now shakes at regular and unnerving intervals and has done since the earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011.
Growing up, she read a lot of classic science fiction, fantasy and myth, and was captivated by the astonishing beauty and strangeness of the universe and by the writers who explored it – in fiction and non-fiction. She tried some exploring of her own, in the company of the very cool people in the Canterbury Astronomical Society – people who made their own telescopes and tracked the patterns of the solar system from their own backyards. She watched Dr. Who (almost, but not quite, from the beginning), Star Trek (favourite episode: The Trouble with Tribbles – great, because so silly) and The Prisoner (great, because so weird), and kept reading. She went to university and completed a degree in astronomy and mathematics and thought about spending her life sitting on a mountain being an astronomer.
A trip away to Europe, post-degree, derailed those ambitions. Seeing serious poverty and serious preparations for war for the first time was a powerful experience. She came home to study social science and learn from some amazing people about its concrete expression in the world through campaigns against poverty, oppressive labour laws and racism in New Zealand and elsewhere.
She became an academic at the University of Canterbury then at Lincoln University, specializing in research with young people about their lives. She wrote a lot of non-fiction for academic journals, kept reading and finally had a go at writing a novel.
She was lucky to be part of the inaugural intake of the Hagley Writers’ Institute – more wonderful people, including tutors and fellow scribblers. In their company, The Bridge grew from a short story into something longer and more complicated.
She still works as a researcher with young people, still reads, still writes (and still watches Dr. Who).
Growing up, she read a lot of classic science fiction, fantasy and myth, and was captivated by the astonishing beauty and strangeness of the universe and by the writers who explored it – in fiction and non-fiction. She tried some exploring of her own, in the company of the very cool people in the Canterbury Astronomical Society – people who made their own telescopes and tracked the patterns of the solar system from their own backyards. She watched Dr. Who (almost, but not quite, from the beginning), Star Trek (favourite episode: The Trouble with Tribbles – great, because so silly) and The Prisoner (great, because so weird), and kept reading. She went to university and completed a degree in astronomy and mathematics and thought about spending her life sitting on a mountain being an astronomer.
A trip away to Europe, post-degree, derailed those ambitions. Seeing serious poverty and serious preparations for war for the first time was a powerful experience. She came home to study social science and learn from some amazing people about its concrete expression in the world through campaigns against poverty, oppressive labour laws and racism in New Zealand and elsewhere.
She became an academic at the University of Canterbury then at Lincoln University, specializing in research with young people about their lives. She wrote a lot of non-fiction for academic journals, kept reading and finally had a go at writing a novel.
She was lucky to be part of the inaugural intake of the Hagley Writers’ Institute – more wonderful people, including tutors and fellow scribblers. In their company, The Bridge grew from a short story into something longer and more complicated.
She still works as a researcher with young people, still reads, still writes (and still watches Dr. Who).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
November 30, 2011
3.5 stars
Why do you believe what you believe?
How much of the way you see the world is filtered through a lens built by your community, your education, the media?
The story follows Nik, a student at an elite Cityside school, who appears destined for a career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services. Cityside and Southside are divided, literally by a river, but also by the ongoing war between the Citysiders and the ‘hostiles’ on the opposite side.
Then Nik’s school is bombed.
Hostiles are advancing into Cityside.
The little brother of Nik’s best friend is abducted.
We embark upon a journey across the river with Nik, discovering along with him that all in the world is not necessarily what it seems. Accompanied by his friend Fyffe, sister of the abducted boy Sol, Nik must walk into the heart of the place he has been raised to view as enemy territory, a place rife with desperation, squalor and inter-faction unrest.
What begins as an act of single-minded determination to locate and bring home Sol becomes a complex parallel journey of discovery, both in terms of Nik’s world view, and his sense of identity.
The Bridge is not a straightforward action novel. While the plot incorporates tense action scenes and doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to brutality and violence, it is a multi-layered book that delves quite deeply into moral and ethical questions.
Higgins has written insightfully about the effects of power and politics in an environment where information is controlled and forms part of the artillery of conflict. Race and social division are unflinchingly examined. The story hypothesises on the futility of war and the vicious circle of acts of retribution that are perpetuated by fear, prejudice and propaganda.
This was not always an easy book to read. Rather than consistently adrenalin-fuelled pacing, the story packs quite some ballast in the subtext and themes. There is an almost palpable weight to the book, and while thought-provoking and complex, I hesitate to say that this book will be equally engaging for all of its target audience.
Higgins’ characters are well-fleshed out and clearly realised, shaded with flaws, prejudices and varied motivations. We uncover information along with Nik as he narrates, and at the same time experience the spectrum of emotion he passes through, at times a brutal process as he deals with grief, anger and fear.
For me, the standout character was Fyffe. I really loved her. While she made some poorly considered, even reckless, decisions - I felt that Fyffe was motivated from a good place. She was truly brave in that she still chose to act in the face of her fear. In her group of highly intelligent, indoctrinated friends – Fyffe is the empath, driven to action through love and her great capacity for sympathy and connection.
It is this ability that also enables Fyffe to see people beyond their political alignment, race or background, in a socially divided world. The weight of her shared experience with Nik, their linked grief, makes their friendship especially poignant and gives it depth and meaning beyond its roots in family and school.
There is a lot going on in this book – it has some complex and important subject matter in its sights – and I feel that Higgins' prose and plotting was tight and considered. For these factors, The Bridge is well worth attention and merit.
On an entirely personal level, however, I didn’t feel overwhelmingly connected to the story and the characters in an emotional way – which is basically the litmus test on which I base the majority of my ratings. Had I felt more strongly invested, I may have found the story more… gripping. As it happened, although I read it fairly quickly, my commitment waxed and waned. I guess, simply speaking, I didn’t feel as compelled as I thought I would. (To be fair here, I did find the latter part of the book very intense and it had good momentum and some moments of face-punching impact).
To sum up the heart of the story - I’ll paraphrase one of the characters:
Peace without justice, or peace without mercy. Which would you choose?
The trailer is amazing
Why do you believe what you believe?
How much of the way you see the world is filtered through a lens built by your community, your education, the media?
‘We rode to war in a taxi-cab’.This is the cracking opening line of The Bridge, an intensely thought-provoking novel that tackles head on the issues of war, propaganda, racism and class distinction, and the way political and religious ideology play into conflict.
The story follows Nik, a student at an elite Cityside school, who appears destined for a career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services. Cityside and Southside are divided, literally by a river, but also by the ongoing war between the Citysiders and the ‘hostiles’ on the opposite side.
Then Nik’s school is bombed.
Hostiles are advancing into Cityside.
The little brother of Nik’s best friend is abducted.
We embark upon a journey across the river with Nik, discovering along with him that all in the world is not necessarily what it seems. Accompanied by his friend Fyffe, sister of the abducted boy Sol, Nik must walk into the heart of the place he has been raised to view as enemy territory, a place rife with desperation, squalor and inter-faction unrest.
What begins as an act of single-minded determination to locate and bring home Sol becomes a complex parallel journey of discovery, both in terms of Nik’s world view, and his sense of identity.
The Bridge is not a straightforward action novel. While the plot incorporates tense action scenes and doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to brutality and violence, it is a multi-layered book that delves quite deeply into moral and ethical questions.
Higgins has written insightfully about the effects of power and politics in an environment where information is controlled and forms part of the artillery of conflict. Race and social division are unflinchingly examined. The story hypothesises on the futility of war and the vicious circle of acts of retribution that are perpetuated by fear, prejudice and propaganda.
This was not always an easy book to read. Rather than consistently adrenalin-fuelled pacing, the story packs quite some ballast in the subtext and themes. There is an almost palpable weight to the book, and while thought-provoking and complex, I hesitate to say that this book will be equally engaging for all of its target audience.
Higgins’ characters are well-fleshed out and clearly realised, shaded with flaws, prejudices and varied motivations. We uncover information along with Nik as he narrates, and at the same time experience the spectrum of emotion he passes through, at times a brutal process as he deals with grief, anger and fear.
For me, the standout character was Fyffe. I really loved her. While she made some poorly considered, even reckless, decisions - I felt that Fyffe was motivated from a good place. She was truly brave in that she still chose to act in the face of her fear. In her group of highly intelligent, indoctrinated friends – Fyffe is the empath, driven to action through love and her great capacity for sympathy and connection.
It is this ability that also enables Fyffe to see people beyond their political alignment, race or background, in a socially divided world. The weight of her shared experience with Nik, their linked grief, makes their friendship especially poignant and gives it depth and meaning beyond its roots in family and school.
There is a lot going on in this book – it has some complex and important subject matter in its sights – and I feel that Higgins' prose and plotting was tight and considered. For these factors, The Bridge is well worth attention and merit.
On an entirely personal level, however, I didn’t feel overwhelmingly connected to the story and the characters in an emotional way – which is basically the litmus test on which I base the majority of my ratings. Had I felt more strongly invested, I may have found the story more… gripping. As it happened, although I read it fairly quickly, my commitment waxed and waned. I guess, simply speaking, I didn’t feel as compelled as I thought I would. (To be fair here, I did find the latter part of the book very intense and it had good momentum and some moments of face-punching impact).
To sum up the heart of the story - I’ll paraphrase one of the characters:
Peace without justice, or peace without mercy. Which would you choose?
The trailer is amazing
December 2, 2011
Rating Clarificaiton: 4.5 Stars
The Bridge by Jane Higgins is definitely an award-worthy story in its own right. Winner of The Text Prize this intricate novel weaves heavy themes such as political power, friendship, self-identity and survival into a perfectly executed example of writing at its finest.
In this novel, Nik and his fellow classmates of Tornmoor Academy live in a world where their city is at war. There’s the Southside where the hostiles live in desperate, harsh conditions and are fighting to cross the bridge to Cityside, where ISIS controls the area and keeps the hostiles at bay. ISIS comes to Tornmoor Academy to recruit the finest for their cause and immediately after being denied by this elite command, Nik’s school is bombed and he finds himself on the run with his best friends Dash, Fyffe and her little brother Sol. As the story progresses and suddenly Sol is kidnapped by Southside, Nik and Fy infiltrate the Southside camp and uncover details about the war that Cityside has so masterfully concealed.
Nik was a flawless narrator for this novel. He makes the story shift and flow at a deliberate pace that makes you feel like you need to work for the details and answers and when they unfold, there’s a sense of fulfillment that kept me digging for more. I loved his quiet strength and constant determination; and my heart broke for him at the end when he was faulted for something that truly he didn’t deserve. Nik and Fy were the true champions in this book and I commend Jane Higgins for not clouding their story with a needless romance, but rather a genuine friendship. There are other characters that deserve a standing ovation, but for this review I’ll dedicate the stage to my favorite ones Nik and Fy.
There is so much about the ending of this story that screams for a sequel. I want to know who the Academy’s insurgent was? I have my guesses, but I want them confirmed. I want to know what will come of Fy. I fell hard for her character and really came to care for her cause and her values. I’m curious what will come of Dash and Jono despite not caring for them as much. The Bridge was great, but I feel there’s more to tell. Overall, I enjoyed every aspect of this story and I’m hoping there’s a sequel to ease my mind. Awesome book!
The Bridge by Jane Higgins is definitely an award-worthy story in its own right. Winner of The Text Prize this intricate novel weaves heavy themes such as political power, friendship, self-identity and survival into a perfectly executed example of writing at its finest.
In this novel, Nik and his fellow classmates of Tornmoor Academy live in a world where their city is at war. There’s the Southside where the hostiles live in desperate, harsh conditions and are fighting to cross the bridge to Cityside, where ISIS controls the area and keeps the hostiles at bay. ISIS comes to Tornmoor Academy to recruit the finest for their cause and immediately after being denied by this elite command, Nik’s school is bombed and he finds himself on the run with his best friends Dash, Fyffe and her little brother Sol. As the story progresses and suddenly Sol is kidnapped by Southside, Nik and Fy infiltrate the Southside camp and uncover details about the war that Cityside has so masterfully concealed.
Nik was a flawless narrator for this novel. He makes the story shift and flow at a deliberate pace that makes you feel like you need to work for the details and answers and when they unfold, there’s a sense of fulfillment that kept me digging for more. I loved his quiet strength and constant determination; and my heart broke for him at the end when he was faulted for something that truly he didn’t deserve. Nik and Fy were the true champions in this book and I commend Jane Higgins for not clouding their story with a needless romance, but rather a genuine friendship. There are other characters that deserve a standing ovation, but for this review I’ll dedicate the stage to my favorite ones Nik and Fy.
There is so much about the ending of this story that screams for a sequel. I want to know who the Academy’s insurgent was? I have my guesses, but I want them confirmed. I want to know what will come of Fy. I fell hard for her character and really came to care for her cause and her values. I’m curious what will come of Dash and Jono despite not caring for them as much. The Bridge was great, but I feel there’s more to tell. Overall, I enjoyed every aspect of this story and I’m hoping there’s a sequel to ease my mind. Awesome book!
September 29, 2011
3.5 stars
Aussie Book challenge 2011 #12
The Bridge is a ruthless, intense and heart pounding survival piece that is plunged deep within the setting of a chaotic war.
Tornmoor Academy is a school where kids go to be educated in physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, genetics and scripture in hopes to be added as an intelligence weapon for the ISIS (Internal Security and Intelligence Services), to be recruited as an elite and be apart of a team that will fight against the hostiles and find a way to put an end to this war.
Nikolai Stais is a sure thing to be picked, he's got the smarts and dedication so everyone is pretty amazed when his name never got called. What did he do wrong?
All hell breaks lose when the school gets bombed. Teachers and friends are dead and the hostiles are taking over the bridge. ISIS thinks that a spy is leaked into the academy and questions Nik. But he doesn't understand why they're so...forceful. He goes on the run along with some friends with the hostiles surrounding them. Fyffe's little brother, Sol, is kidnapped and it's up to Nik and Fy to find him, but once Nik is on the other side of this war he realized that nothing is what it seems and will have to decide where his loyalties truly belong.
You know, I had my doubts about this one at first. This book is more politics, less personal which isn't something I normally enjoy.
It's filled with conspiracy and speculation. Two sides to every coin. Half truths and constant doubt with one boy stuck in the middle between what he's always been taught and what he's witnessed with his own eyes.
With other books like The Hunger Games, Divergent and Tomorrow When The War Begins, I've always felt emotionally invested with those specific characters dilemma as they were united as a team fighting for a cause together. They were connected by friendship or family or linked by love which is something I've always favored. More personal.
With this book it's feels essentially about one character who stumbles on the truth about who he is and is conflicted about his entire life up to this point, with a war raging in the background and secondary characters around him rather then truly with him. More political. That's a lot of weight on one characters shoulders, but he pulled it off nicely and really held his own. It still felt like there was something missing and I wanted a bit more, but it never felt difficult to get lost in Nik's story and I felt completely focused and consumed.
Jane Higgins pens a remarkable story that is edgy, exciting and entertaining. This is definitely more plot driven then anything else. The world building was spot on. Very in-your-face drama that completely emerges the reader in the thick of it all. Very little romance but the heart-stopping action makes up for it. The only thing it lacked was stronger supporting characters, it needed that extra spark of intimacy for the full affect, but other then that, I really enjoyed myself with this one.
All in all, I thought this was a really good book. Very sharp, very smart. It might not have been an absolute favorite, but it was still an absorbing escape that made me loss myself for a little while, which is always a good thing.
I'm thinking, sequel? While the ending left us on a positive note there was still a bit left undone that has me wondering, so I hope a second book is in the works. I want to know what happens to Nik and the consequences that he has yet to face.
Special thanks to Nic (twinie) for touring this out ~hugs~
Aussie Book challenge 2011 #12
The Bridge is a ruthless, intense and heart pounding survival piece that is plunged deep within the setting of a chaotic war.
Tornmoor Academy is a school where kids go to be educated in physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, genetics and scripture in hopes to be added as an intelligence weapon for the ISIS (Internal Security and Intelligence Services), to be recruited as an elite and be apart of a team that will fight against the hostiles and find a way to put an end to this war.
Nikolai Stais is a sure thing to be picked, he's got the smarts and dedication so everyone is pretty amazed when his name never got called. What did he do wrong?
All hell breaks lose when the school gets bombed. Teachers and friends are dead and the hostiles are taking over the bridge. ISIS thinks that a spy is leaked into the academy and questions Nik. But he doesn't understand why they're so...forceful. He goes on the run along with some friends with the hostiles surrounding them. Fyffe's little brother, Sol, is kidnapped and it's up to Nik and Fy to find him, but once Nik is on the other side of this war he realized that nothing is what it seems and will have to decide where his loyalties truly belong.
You know, I had my doubts about this one at first. This book is more politics, less personal which isn't something I normally enjoy.
It's filled with conspiracy and speculation. Two sides to every coin. Half truths and constant doubt with one boy stuck in the middle between what he's always been taught and what he's witnessed with his own eyes.
With other books like The Hunger Games, Divergent and Tomorrow When The War Begins, I've always felt emotionally invested with those specific characters dilemma as they were united as a team fighting for a cause together. They were connected by friendship or family or linked by love which is something I've always favored. More personal.
With this book it's feels essentially about one character who stumbles on the truth about who he is and is conflicted about his entire life up to this point, with a war raging in the background and secondary characters around him rather then truly with him. More political. That's a lot of weight on one characters shoulders, but he pulled it off nicely and really held his own. It still felt like there was something missing and I wanted a bit more, but it never felt difficult to get lost in Nik's story and I felt completely focused and consumed.
Jane Higgins pens a remarkable story that is edgy, exciting and entertaining. This is definitely more plot driven then anything else. The world building was spot on. Very in-your-face drama that completely emerges the reader in the thick of it all. Very little romance but the heart-stopping action makes up for it. The only thing it lacked was stronger supporting characters, it needed that extra spark of intimacy for the full affect, but other then that, I really enjoyed myself with this one.
All in all, I thought this was a really good book. Very sharp, very smart. It might not have been an absolute favorite, but it was still an absorbing escape that made me loss myself for a little while, which is always a good thing.
I'm thinking, sequel? While the ending left us on a positive note there was still a bit left undone that has me wondering, so I hope a second book is in the works. I want to know what happens to Nik and the consequences that he has yet to face.
Special thanks to Nic (twinie) for touring this out ~hugs~
March 8, 2015
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
I went into The Bridge expecting something that involved more secret agents but what I got was an intense dystopia that did not hold back on the realities of war. I have to say, with two good dystopias on my recently read list (this being one of them), I might just be ready to give dystopia another chance. I had thought I was done but The Bridge reminded me why I had once been so thrilled by this genre, why I had sought it out so much.
The Bridge, simply put, is a phenomenal read and one more people need to know more about. It tells a tale of war and it doesn’t sugar coat the casualities. It’s fucking brutal and oh my god I cannot.
Okay. I iz done with my moment. I am back and I am thinking about pink fluffy unicorns dancing on rainbows because unicorns.
Obviously, this book isn’t perfect because it’s hard for a book to be perfect but I really appreciated that it wasn’t some watered down version of a dystopia. There are two sides to the story and while one side of the war is made out to be worse than the other, people are divided everywhere and things are not picture perfect. In fact, no one is completely brainwashed either. They may be brainwashed into believing that the other side deserves what happens but that is the case for both sides and that’s what happens in war! People who never get a chance to see the other side of the story will probably continue to believe that the other side is the one to blame for all their problems.
In this story, we also have a young boy who isn’t out to change the world, what he is out to do is bring back his best friend’s younger brother who got kidnapped by a bunch of traffickers. He isn’t out to find out that his entire life has been a lie and that there is more to the war that he has been told there was. When he finds himself amongst the resistance, the people who want something more than a war, he starts to learn more and finds himself in a situation where he trusts his supposed enemies.
Nik is a fantastic main character and before I say anything else, I just want to say that Nik is a person of color. That made me so happy because heck yeah to diversity. Nik is a fantastic character and I adored reading the book in his point of view. He is completely original and it’s fantastic to see how loyal and dedicated he is to people he cares about. I adored seeing his transformation over the course of the book and I enjoyed watching him become the young man that I loved him to be by the book.
There were times when the story was a little hard to follow because I was drifiting off but those moments were few and far in between and also happened when I was staying up late into the night to read this book (because late at night seems to be the only time I’ve had to read lately).
I think one of the big things that stood out to me in this book was that, like in The Glass Arrow, this story does not place the responsibility of an entire world on the shoulders of a 17 year old (the main character in The Glass Arrow was younger but that is beside the point). There are already people fighting for change, people who aren’t complete assholes! There may be certain weird dynamics within the group, but as a whole they are still united and fighting for a common cause -- for the betterement of the living standards of their people-- and that is beautiful.
The world is also well developed and I just really liked seeing the differences between the two different sides of the city. We get some background into why this war came to be and there are explanations! Plus, there is a map included if you ever get confused about where things are and how many bridges there are (answer= a lot).
I went into The Bridge expecting something that involved more secret agents but what I got was an intense dystopia that did not hold back on the realities of war. I have to say, with two good dystopias on my recently read list (this being one of them), I might just be ready to give dystopia another chance. I had thought I was done but The Bridge reminded me why I had once been so thrilled by this genre, why I had sought it out so much.
The Bridge, simply put, is a phenomenal read and one more people need to know more about. It tells a tale of war and it doesn’t sugar coat the casualities. It’s fucking brutal and oh my god I cannot.
Okay. I iz done with my moment. I am back and I am thinking about pink fluffy unicorns dancing on rainbows because unicorns.
Obviously, this book isn’t perfect because it’s hard for a book to be perfect but I really appreciated that it wasn’t some watered down version of a dystopia. There are two sides to the story and while one side of the war is made out to be worse than the other, people are divided everywhere and things are not picture perfect. In fact, no one is completely brainwashed either. They may be brainwashed into believing that the other side deserves what happens but that is the case for both sides and that’s what happens in war! People who never get a chance to see the other side of the story will probably continue to believe that the other side is the one to blame for all their problems.
In this story, we also have a young boy who isn’t out to change the world, what he is out to do is bring back his best friend’s younger brother who got kidnapped by a bunch of traffickers. He isn’t out to find out that his entire life has been a lie and that there is more to the war that he has been told there was. When he finds himself amongst the resistance, the people who want something more than a war, he starts to learn more and finds himself in a situation where he trusts his supposed enemies.
Nik is a fantastic main character and before I say anything else, I just want to say that Nik is a person of color. That made me so happy because heck yeah to diversity. Nik is a fantastic character and I adored reading the book in his point of view. He is completely original and it’s fantastic to see how loyal and dedicated he is to people he cares about. I adored seeing his transformation over the course of the book and I enjoyed watching him become the young man that I loved him to be by the book.
There were times when the story was a little hard to follow because I was drifiting off but those moments were few and far in between and also happened when I was staying up late into the night to read this book (because late at night seems to be the only time I’ve had to read lately).
I think one of the big things that stood out to me in this book was that, like in The Glass Arrow, this story does not place the responsibility of an entire world on the shoulders of a 17 year old (the main character in The Glass Arrow was younger but that is beside the point). There are already people fighting for change, people who aren’t complete assholes! There may be certain weird dynamics within the group, but as a whole they are still united and fighting for a common cause -- for the betterement of the living standards of their people-- and that is beautiful.
The world is also well developed and I just really liked seeing the differences between the two different sides of the city. We get some background into why this war came to be and there are explanations! Plus, there is a map included if you ever get confused about where things are and how many bridges there are (answer= a lot).
November 7, 2015
The Bridge is the first novel by New Zealand author, Jane Higgins. It is the winner of the Text Prize for YA and Children’s Writing in 2010. Since he was orphaned at the age of five, Nik Stais has lived, learned and excelled at Tornmoor Academy, hoping to be chosen by the Internal Security and Intelligence Service to use his talents in the fight that Cityside wages against the hostiles on Southside. Now seventeen, he and his friends are surprised and indignant when ISIS omits him from their intake. Soon after, Tornmoor is bombed, Nik’s best friend, Lou dies in the attack, and Lou’s eight-year-old brother, Sol is kidnapped by hostiles.
Nik is determined to cross to the Southside, determined to find Sol, and that means going over the bridge. Sol’s sister Fyffe insists on going with him. As they infiltrate the enemy, they learn that not everything they have been taught about these people, the hostiles, the Breken, is true. They find themselves in the middle of a dispute between factions, and Nik discovers some shocking truths about his own past.
Higgins has created a believable dystopia where propaganda, misinformation and indoctrination of youth maintain the status quo. She feeds the information about her world to the reader in manageable doses, not too fast to cause overload, not too slowly to incite boredom. Her characters are multi-faceted and appealing (or repugnant as required by the story), and Higgins is not afraid to kill some of them off if needed. Her plot is original, has quite a few twists, and, without the dissatisfaction of a cliff-hanger ending, allows enough scope for the story to continue. This prize-winning novel is an amazing debut and readers will be pleased to know there is a sequel, Havoc.
Nik is determined to cross to the Southside, determined to find Sol, and that means going over the bridge. Sol’s sister Fyffe insists on going with him. As they infiltrate the enemy, they learn that not everything they have been taught about these people, the hostiles, the Breken, is true. They find themselves in the middle of a dispute between factions, and Nik discovers some shocking truths about his own past.
Higgins has created a believable dystopia where propaganda, misinformation and indoctrination of youth maintain the status quo. She feeds the information about her world to the reader in manageable doses, not too fast to cause overload, not too slowly to incite boredom. Her characters are multi-faceted and appealing (or repugnant as required by the story), and Higgins is not afraid to kill some of them off if needed. Her plot is original, has quite a few twists, and, without the dissatisfaction of a cliff-hanger ending, allows enough scope for the story to continue. This prize-winning novel is an amazing debut and readers will be pleased to know there is a sequel, Havoc.
September 17, 2012
Jane Higgins is a New Zealand Author and THE BRIDGE is her first book. The location of the story is an unspecified war-torn divided city that could be located anywhere in the world; little is said about the rest of the world. The two sides of the city are Cityside and Southside and they are separated by a fast flowing river and only linked by a series of heavily defended bridges. Both sides want to be in control. After the explosive start to the book Nik and Fyffe go over the bridge to Southside and soon realise that things are not how they have been led to believe and soon they don’t know who the ‘goodies’ are and who the ‘baddies’ are from either side. The plot is very clever, constantly shifting and kept me guessing right up to the end. There are complex characters, danger aplenty, fighting, atrocities and trying to work out who is to be trusted, and who wants to kill you. Jane Higgins has plenty of themes going on through the story, the value of friendship, racism, the role of religion in politics, rule by fear, and the futility of war. THE BRIDGE was the winner of the NZ Post Children's Book Awards, Readers' Choice Award 2012.
July 22, 2015
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/03/m...
It's no secret that I absolutely adore the dystopian genre as a whole, the oppression, the revolutions and characters that rise against adversity to save the world. Every so often a book comes along that breaks the typical mould that readers expect, The Bridge is that book. More political than pure dystopian, Nik's world is divided by two classes at war, his own in which children are trained to become elite soldiers with ISIS and the war hungry and barbaric Breken who live over the bridges, or so he is lead to believe.
I loved it. It was beautifully written and incredibly engaging. Although I couldn't connect to any of the characters on a personal level, the world building was brilliant. The unrest between both societies is intense, but the political conflict brewing between the Breken adds another layer to the hostile world Nik is left to navigate. If you're looking for a new name in dystopian that isn't weighed down by an awkward romance or teen angst, The Bridge is pure entertainment.
It's no secret that I absolutely adore the dystopian genre as a whole, the oppression, the revolutions and characters that rise against adversity to save the world. Every so often a book comes along that breaks the typical mould that readers expect, The Bridge is that book. More political than pure dystopian, Nik's world is divided by two classes at war, his own in which children are trained to become elite soldiers with ISIS and the war hungry and barbaric Breken who live over the bridges, or so he is lead to believe.
I loved it. It was beautifully written and incredibly engaging. Although I couldn't connect to any of the characters on a personal level, the world building was brilliant. The unrest between both societies is intense, but the political conflict brewing between the Breken adds another layer to the hostile world Nik is left to navigate. If you're looking for a new name in dystopian that isn't weighed down by an awkward romance or teen angst, The Bridge is pure entertainment.
September 7, 2011
This is an excellent novel. It’s got everything a great YA story should have: strong characters, gripping plot, nail-biting tension, and a powerful message (in this case, the futility of war).
I love the way narrative character Nik’s view of the world is shaken – and ultimately widened – when he crosses into enemy territory to find a captured friend.
Jane Higgins does a great job of depicting how a society might respond to ongoing conflict. In The Bridge, both sides have de-humanised the other; both are committed to revenge and retribution for the daily tragedies; and groups on both sides believe there can’t be peace without the total subjugation of the other.
But this isn’t just about the futility of war; it’s also a lesson in how peace can never come without justice. War can never truly be brought to an end when one side loses its capacity for empathy for the other.
While there’s certainly some moments of heartbreak in The Bridge, there are also moments of hope, and I was so moved by Nik’s personal journey that I was a tad teary by the final page.
(An aside: While the setting and the war in question is completely fictitious, I couldn’t help but feel a strong parallel with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, given the dynamic between the two sides… which would certainly make for an interesting study topic.)
I love the way narrative character Nik’s view of the world is shaken – and ultimately widened – when he crosses into enemy territory to find a captured friend.
Jane Higgins does a great job of depicting how a society might respond to ongoing conflict. In The Bridge, both sides have de-humanised the other; both are committed to revenge and retribution for the daily tragedies; and groups on both sides believe there can’t be peace without the total subjugation of the other.
But this isn’t just about the futility of war; it’s also a lesson in how peace can never come without justice. War can never truly be brought to an end when one side loses its capacity for empathy for the other.
While there’s certainly some moments of heartbreak in The Bridge, there are also moments of hope, and I was so moved by Nik’s personal journey that I was a tad teary by the final page.
(An aside: While the setting and the war in question is completely fictitious, I couldn’t help but feel a strong parallel with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, given the dynamic between the two sides… which would certainly make for an interesting study topic.)
June 28, 2023
This ebook has been on my iPad/Kindle for over a decade, and I have just gotten round to reading it. The Bridge's premise and world building engaged me right away. Reflecting on this book, I would have to say I enjoyed the first and last thirds, but it lost me a little in the middle. Nik Stais, the main character, is sympathetic and believable. He's a top student at Tornmoor Academy and destined for a coveted role with ISIS. When he isn't selected upon graduation, Nik begins to ask questions about his privileged Southside upbringing. He wonders about his parents, who died mysteriously when he was a child. Little does Nik know that his questions--and a violent explosion and fire--will propel him across the river into unfamiliar and dangerous territory. This dystopian novel evokes comparisons with the present-day struggles of POC throughout the world. It also intrigued me enough to check out the sequel: Havoc. Trigger warning: violence.
October 6, 2011
This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.
Firstly, that's one hell of a cover. The artwork is just incredible.
Secondly, this quote:
Over the Bridge, it's dark not day
Over the Bridge, the devils play
Over the Bridge, their souls are BLACK
Go over the Bridge and you won't come BACK.
Anyway, I borrowed The Bridge from my library solely because it won the Text Prize, an award that went to the amazing This Is Shyness last year, and it definitely deserved the accolade.
The Bridge told the story of Nik, a Citysider whose whole life has led up to being recruited by ISIS. But then, he isn't recruited. And his school is bombed. His best friend dies, and another is taken hostage by Southsiders. With Fyffe in tow, he'll cross the bridge and begin to question things that he's always thought were fact.
The Bridge is Jane Higgins' debut novel, and she's made it clear that she's an author to keep an eye on. Her writing is amazing and her storytelling even better; her idea and the execution were both superb. I haven't read a book with such a realistic and raw account of war since Mockingjay.
The characters were all relatable, and understandable. The latter proved to be important in the story, it being one where we really feel restricted by the point of view and often don't know things beyond our main character. With Nik in a foreign place, we don't know much about anyone else either. I don't often feel like I'm restricted by the narration when reading, but I really should. Higgins has done a brilliant job of realistically telling a story: one where we only know what the first person narrator does. It's too often that our protagonists conveniently know too much. Being desperately curious and afraid alongside Nik helped us connect with him on such a deeper level.
Nik's cause was noble and the lengths he went to in order to fulfill it were so admirable. His character was dynamic, with his motivations and opinions constantly changing in a world full of secrets slowly revealed. But he changed as well, and his development was well-captured.
Twists arise throughout the story, and what we find about the mysterious Southside and the other side to the war is found out gradually. The acquisition of knowledge is smooth and we're learning new things until the dramatic end.
This is an incredible story, exceeding expectations in idea and execution. Text Prize recipients seem to be getting better each year, and I can't wait for both the next winner and the next novel from Jane Higgins
I give The Bridge a 5 out of 5.
Firstly, that's one hell of a cover. The artwork is just incredible.
Secondly, this quote:
Over the Bridge, it's dark not day
Over the Bridge, the devils play
Over the Bridge, their souls are BLACK
Go over the Bridge and you won't come BACK.
Anyway, I borrowed The Bridge from my library solely because it won the Text Prize, an award that went to the amazing This Is Shyness last year, and it definitely deserved the accolade.
The Bridge told the story of Nik, a Citysider whose whole life has led up to being recruited by ISIS. But then, he isn't recruited. And his school is bombed. His best friend dies, and another is taken hostage by Southsiders. With Fyffe in tow, he'll cross the bridge and begin to question things that he's always thought were fact.
The Bridge is Jane Higgins' debut novel, and she's made it clear that she's an author to keep an eye on. Her writing is amazing and her storytelling even better; her idea and the execution were both superb. I haven't read a book with such a realistic and raw account of war since Mockingjay.
The characters were all relatable, and understandable. The latter proved to be important in the story, it being one where we really feel restricted by the point of view and often don't know things beyond our main character. With Nik in a foreign place, we don't know much about anyone else either. I don't often feel like I'm restricted by the narration when reading, but I really should. Higgins has done a brilliant job of realistically telling a story: one where we only know what the first person narrator does. It's too often that our protagonists conveniently know too much. Being desperately curious and afraid alongside Nik helped us connect with him on such a deeper level.
Nik's cause was noble and the lengths he went to in order to fulfill it were so admirable. His character was dynamic, with his motivations and opinions constantly changing in a world full of secrets slowly revealed. But he changed as well, and his development was well-captured.
Twists arise throughout the story, and what we find about the mysterious Southside and the other side to the war is found out gradually. The acquisition of knowledge is smooth and we're learning new things until the dramatic end.
This is an incredible story, exceeding expectations in idea and execution. Text Prize recipients seem to be getting better each year, and I can't wait for both the next winner and the next novel from Jane Higgins
I give The Bridge a 5 out of 5.
May 31, 2015
Spoiler Alert!
In a world where the city is divided in two by many closed bridges, Nik has worked hard at his grades to become a recruit of ISIS (Internal Security and Intelligence Services). But when they come recruiting he is not chosen. No one understands it – least of all Nik. That night their boarding school is attacked – killing all the staff and many students including his best friend Lou. Nik soon discovers the bombers were the Breken – from across the river.
What’s even more upsetting is Lou’s eight year old brother Sol has been kidnapped in the raid. Nik sets out with Fyffe (Lou’s sister) to find Sol on the wrong side of the city.
But when living undercover amongst the Breken, Nik finds they aren’t the terrible people he has always been taught to believe. He has to make a decision who is wrong in the war he has grown up with. The starved, resourceful, under-priveledged Breken, or his own city people? When he learns his own father (who he thought was long dead) is high in the Breken military intelligence team, his decision is even harder.
This might sum up the plot but in no way does it give the whole shocking story. Loved it. This was a much deserved Text Prize Winner.
In a world where the city is divided in two by many closed bridges, Nik has worked hard at his grades to become a recruit of ISIS (Internal Security and Intelligence Services). But when they come recruiting he is not chosen. No one understands it – least of all Nik. That night their boarding school is attacked – killing all the staff and many students including his best friend Lou. Nik soon discovers the bombers were the Breken – from across the river.
What’s even more upsetting is Lou’s eight year old brother Sol has been kidnapped in the raid. Nik sets out with Fyffe (Lou’s sister) to find Sol on the wrong side of the city.
But when living undercover amongst the Breken, Nik finds they aren’t the terrible people he has always been taught to believe. He has to make a decision who is wrong in the war he has grown up with. The starved, resourceful, under-priveledged Breken, or his own city people? When he learns his own father (who he thought was long dead) is high in the Breken military intelligence team, his decision is even harder.
This might sum up the plot but in no way does it give the whole shocking story. Loved it. This was a much deserved Text Prize Winner.
April 10, 2011
This is the 2010 winner of the Text Prize. While I can't post a review prior to another review that I've written being published in Bookseller & Publisher. I can say that this book is amazing. Absolutely incredible.
November 29, 2011
Realized I forgot to review this one... Oops!
Hello, my name is Sarah and I'm obsessed with adding Australian YA novels that I can't get in the US to my Goodreads TBR.
Hello, my name is Sarah and I'm obsessed with adding Australian YA novels that I can't get in the US to my Goodreads TBR.
November 20, 2017
Gosh, tight and tense.
And really sad.
I hate war.
Read for a spec fic talk
And really sad.
I hate war.
Read for a spec fic talk
December 31, 2014
I don't think that I have read many better first lines, 'We rode to war in a taxi-cab.' certainly drew my attention. Nik is a scholarship student at an elite school, and at the beginning of this book he is expecting, along with his 'girl friend' Dash, to be selected as a recruit for ISIS (International Security and Intelligence Services) only, as a reader, you kind of know that he won't be chosen. And you also get the idea that he isn't really attached to Dash that very much, 'Dash and I had battled each other for top spot in our year all the way up from Junior School. She beat me at applied physics and engineering - she could take anything apart and put it back together better than it was before. I beat her at mathematics and programming. Mostly it was a close run thing either way. Which meant everyone expected us to be together. And we were. Which was also fine.' Fine? Is that foreshadowing, or just a little bit half hearted?
I guess that one of the main reasons this relationship didn't ring true for me is that Nik never really felt male. I had to keep reminding myself that he was. This could have been a fatal flaw in the story, but somehow it wasn't. Although, I did keep asking myself why Nik had to be male. A strong female protagonist, such as Ellie, in Tomorrow When the War Began, can be very believable and just as action driven - so why did Nik need to be a boy? It is a little pet hate of mine, when authors have a main character that is not their own gender, and I think it rarely works - John Marsden did OK with Ellie, Emily Perkins did OK with Tom Stone...maybe...But mostly, it just creates another level of difficulty for the reader, so there needs to be a really good plot or character driven reason.
So...on with the story...because, after all, I have given it four stars, so I must 'really like it'. And I do. Yes it is another Dystopian novel, where surprise, surprise the main character is not who he thinks he is, and where those who seem closest to him, may in fact not be. But there is something quite compelling about it. The bridge is a fantastic metaphor. It was good enough for me to read in one sitting. There was a sustainable plot, and the plot was mostly well constructed. In fact, there were some really great parts. Fyffe emerged as a character I could almost believe in, although at times she became a little too angelic. The same could be said of Lanya - in fact character description for Lanya was the most clear and consistent. Best supporting actress, I would say...
The war parts were a little confusing at times. I just felt we weren't quite well enough placed in this world. I didn't realise it was set in an actual year until I watched the trailer, although we did hear about '87 quite a bit. I also felt I would have liked a little more made of the whole code breaking thing - something a little more real and effortful, and stressed perhaps, than Nik feeling as though he was sitting an exam. Hmm...And some of the dialogue was a bit 'meh'.
'It's time for you to return to what is properly yours.'
'Speak plainly, Councillor. I can take it.'
'You take this lightly.'
'On the contrary.'
I thought these characters were supposed to be enemies. Not vulcans.
And really, it didn't end. Did it. With all of the tragedy in the middle, didn't we deserve something worthwhile at the end of it. I know we could say that that was part of the point - what is it all for? Is it really worth it? Aren't there better ways? But it really just felt bleak and hopeless, or unfinished.
I wouldn't not read another book, if this became part of a trilogy or series, but I'm a little bit tired of them at the moment. Some characters I only care enough about to meet once. Even if I have enjoyed meeting them.
Worth a read. A wonderful first book. Look forward to seeing what else the author comes up with.
I guess that one of the main reasons this relationship didn't ring true for me is that Nik never really felt male. I had to keep reminding myself that he was. This could have been a fatal flaw in the story, but somehow it wasn't. Although, I did keep asking myself why Nik had to be male. A strong female protagonist, such as Ellie, in Tomorrow When the War Began, can be very believable and just as action driven - so why did Nik need to be a boy? It is a little pet hate of mine, when authors have a main character that is not their own gender, and I think it rarely works - John Marsden did OK with Ellie, Emily Perkins did OK with Tom Stone...maybe...But mostly, it just creates another level of difficulty for the reader, so there needs to be a really good plot or character driven reason.
So...on with the story...because, after all, I have given it four stars, so I must 'really like it'. And I do. Yes it is another Dystopian novel, where surprise, surprise the main character is not who he thinks he is, and where those who seem closest to him, may in fact not be. But there is something quite compelling about it. The bridge is a fantastic metaphor. It was good enough for me to read in one sitting. There was a sustainable plot, and the plot was mostly well constructed. In fact, there were some really great parts. Fyffe emerged as a character I could almost believe in, although at times she became a little too angelic. The same could be said of Lanya - in fact character description for Lanya was the most clear and consistent. Best supporting actress, I would say...
The war parts were a little confusing at times. I just felt we weren't quite well enough placed in this world. I didn't realise it was set in an actual year until I watched the trailer, although we did hear about '87 quite a bit. I also felt I would have liked a little more made of the whole code breaking thing - something a little more real and effortful, and stressed perhaps, than Nik feeling as though he was sitting an exam. Hmm...And some of the dialogue was a bit 'meh'.
'It's time for you to return to what is properly yours.'
'Speak plainly, Councillor. I can take it.'
'You take this lightly.'
'On the contrary.'
I thought these characters were supposed to be enemies. Not vulcans.
And really, it didn't end. Did it. With all of the tragedy in the middle, didn't we deserve something worthwhile at the end of it. I know we could say that that was part of the point - what is it all for? Is it really worth it? Aren't there better ways? But it really just felt bleak and hopeless, or unfinished.
I wouldn't not read another book, if this became part of a trilogy or series, but I'm a little bit tired of them at the moment. Some characters I only care enough about to meet once. Even if I have enjoyed meeting them.
Worth a read. A wonderful first book. Look forward to seeing what else the author comes up with.
February 16, 2012
This book gave me grief; it was like staring at the sun, you know it's harmful to your eyes and yet you can't look away. It was a brutal read but try as I might, I couldn't refrain from reading. It was harsh, it tugged at my heart strings and it put my brain into some calisthenics its never been through before.
The City is at war, divided into settlements where some are living in impoverish, deplorable conditions. If you're living in the Cityside, you might be able to live decently but at a cost of your freedom. If you find yourself in the Southside, food, shelter, medicine take a backseat to weapons and arms. Not only would you be fighting the people from Cityside, you'd be fighting a futile war inside an even more divided community. Nik Stais had never known a family aside from Lou, Ffyffe, and Sol. When Lou was killed in a school bombing, he set out to take Fyffe and Sol back to their home where they would be safe. Easier said than done, especially when the road to safety is paved with ISIS soldiers hot on their tails and checkpoints guarded by soldiers against cityfolks. When the dust cleared, Nik and Fyffe crossed the bridge to Southside in search of a kidnapped Sol, taken for ransom by the Remnants - another faction in Southside who are set to destroy any hopes of peacetalks. To infiltrate the land of the hostiles is a suicide mission but they refused to stand by and watch Sol be just another victim of a senseless war.
This book does not pull any punches. It's a gritty tale of a boy who unknowingly stumbled upon his true identity set in a world so harsh that it took me several tries to finally man up and finish. It was garish story about the fundamental violence of war, its ugliness and the inevitable loss of humanity anchored by power-hungry men. But it also gave a vivid picture of optimism to some people who hasn't lost hope inspite of being exposed to everyday carnage and brutality.
I was both in awe and angry at Nik for his courage. He was an unflappable character whose only got love fuelling his steadfast resolve to rescue a little boy who's not even a blood relation. The author seemed to have written every single character with such resiliency that I sometimes find myself saying, "Are you for real?". Unwavering, unflinching, undaunted. I especially have a high regard for timid, thoughtful, wistful Fyffe. You'd think she was a weak character at first but she surprised me - how far this girl would go to save her brother and her resolute belief in Nik just made her a kick ass Mary Sue character in my book.
Reading this book is definitely not a walk in the park. The plot would take into little alleys that eventually lead into an ending that was somewhat open-ended. I'm feeling bereft. I hoped for more and hungry for a more satisfactory outcome - for everyone. I feel like there's a lot more to know about Nik's father and the woman who left him at school when he was five years old. The identity of the sniper who shot Sol and the process by which they found out was convenient - too convenient. What ever happened to Mace? I want to know who was the inside help when the school was bombed. I also found the political divisions to be a bit difficult to grasp. Overall, the violence and the successions of horrific incidents described in this book overshadowed my full appreciation for the writer's instrinsic talents.
I therefore conclude that books about war is not for me.
Thanks for the recommendation, Legs!:)
The City is at war, divided into settlements where some are living in impoverish, deplorable conditions. If you're living in the Cityside, you might be able to live decently but at a cost of your freedom. If you find yourself in the Southside, food, shelter, medicine take a backseat to weapons and arms. Not only would you be fighting the people from Cityside, you'd be fighting a futile war inside an even more divided community. Nik Stais had never known a family aside from Lou, Ffyffe, and Sol. When Lou was killed in a school bombing, he set out to take Fyffe and Sol back to their home where they would be safe. Easier said than done, especially when the road to safety is paved with ISIS soldiers hot on their tails and checkpoints guarded by soldiers against cityfolks. When the dust cleared, Nik and Fyffe crossed the bridge to Southside in search of a kidnapped Sol, taken for ransom by the Remnants - another faction in Southside who are set to destroy any hopes of peacetalks. To infiltrate the land of the hostiles is a suicide mission but they refused to stand by and watch Sol be just another victim of a senseless war.
This book does not pull any punches. It's a gritty tale of a boy who unknowingly stumbled upon his true identity set in a world so harsh that it took me several tries to finally man up and finish. It was garish story about the fundamental violence of war, its ugliness and the inevitable loss of humanity anchored by power-hungry men. But it also gave a vivid picture of optimism to some people who hasn't lost hope inspite of being exposed to everyday carnage and brutality.
I was both in awe and angry at Nik for his courage. He was an unflappable character whose only got love fuelling his steadfast resolve to rescue a little boy who's not even a blood relation. The author seemed to have written every single character with such resiliency that I sometimes find myself saying, "Are you for real?". Unwavering, unflinching, undaunted. I especially have a high regard for timid, thoughtful, wistful Fyffe. You'd think she was a weak character at first but she surprised me - how far this girl would go to save her brother and her resolute belief in Nik just made her a kick ass Mary Sue character in my book.
Reading this book is definitely not a walk in the park. The plot would take into little alleys that eventually lead into an ending that was somewhat open-ended. I'm feeling bereft. I hoped for more and hungry for a more satisfactory outcome - for everyone. I feel like there's a lot more to know about Nik's father and the woman who left him at school when he was five years old. The identity of the sniper who shot Sol and the process by which they found out was convenient - too convenient. What ever happened to Mace? I want to know who was the inside help when the school was bombed. I also found the political divisions to be a bit difficult to grasp. Overall, the violence and the successions of horrific incidents described in this book overshadowed my full appreciation for the writer's instrinsic talents.
I therefore conclude that books about war is not for me.
Thanks for the recommendation, Legs!:)
May 18, 2015
A copy of this novel was provided by Text Publishing for review.
Okay first up I’m going to say that I totally understand why The Bridge won the Text Prize back in 2010. Because it’s awesome.
Secondly: if you have ever wanted a dystopian novel that isn’t full of romance and unbelievable teenage revolutionists leading a country, then please read The Bridge because it fits the bill perfectly. That’s not to say that there wasn’t any hint of romance, or that Nik didn’t have some awesome ideas and play quite an important role in everything revolution related – but the focus of this book was the dystopia. Which was so refreshing.
I loved the way this book was written. Simply, and sarcastically. Nik was an incredibly likeable character that just went from strength to strength. He goes through a lot of tough shit in The Bridge, but he comes out on top. Not perfectly unscarred – which is believable – but he manages to solider on. I really really liked his character. From his snarky internal monologue, to how much he loves and is willing to do for his friends, to his feelings about his mother and father … to everything. I’m a huge fan of Nik all ‘round. I even teared up a little (!) when Nik started talking about his memories of his mother – and that’s when I knew that this book had stolen me.
The world was unique, and incredibly detailed (there’s even a map in the front!). I was never confused (thanks to the map) about where Nik was, or what places he was talking about. There’s a distinct difference between Cityside and Southside, and these differences were brought about through so many different ways. Language, accent, economy, skin colour, beliefs, attitudes, schooling. Southside really is the dystopian society of The Bridge.
There was a whole heap of politics in The Bridge, which I loved. There’s a clear relationship between Cityside and Southside that is really brought to light, and I was a huge fan of that. It’s very different to other dystopians where there’s usually two separate factions of simply rich and poor in the same city. There are rich and poor people in Cityside, but Cityside controls the resources available to Southside (which is pretty much poverty). I was appreciative of this completely new dynamic of a dystopian society, and one of the main reasons I liked this book so much.
The cast of characters was awesome, and everyone you meet has their own persona that completely fits in with who they are, and what they are doing. I won’t go into characters much because getting to meet them was one of the best aspects of this book.
If you’re looking for a dystopian that defines the genre in an entirely fresh way, give The Bridge a go.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
Okay first up I’m going to say that I totally understand why The Bridge won the Text Prize back in 2010. Because it’s awesome.
Secondly: if you have ever wanted a dystopian novel that isn’t full of romance and unbelievable teenage revolutionists leading a country, then please read The Bridge because it fits the bill perfectly. That’s not to say that there wasn’t any hint of romance, or that Nik didn’t have some awesome ideas and play quite an important role in everything revolution related – but the focus of this book was the dystopia. Which was so refreshing.
I loved the way this book was written. Simply, and sarcastically. Nik was an incredibly likeable character that just went from strength to strength. He goes through a lot of tough shit in The Bridge, but he comes out on top. Not perfectly unscarred – which is believable – but he manages to solider on. I really really liked his character. From his snarky internal monologue, to how much he loves and is willing to do for his friends, to his feelings about his mother and father … to everything. I’m a huge fan of Nik all ‘round. I even teared up a little (!) when Nik started talking about his memories of his mother – and that’s when I knew that this book had stolen me.
The world was unique, and incredibly detailed (there’s even a map in the front!). I was never confused (thanks to the map) about where Nik was, or what places he was talking about. There’s a distinct difference between Cityside and Southside, and these differences were brought about through so many different ways. Language, accent, economy, skin colour, beliefs, attitudes, schooling. Southside really is the dystopian society of The Bridge.
There was a whole heap of politics in The Bridge, which I loved. There’s a clear relationship between Cityside and Southside that is really brought to light, and I was a huge fan of that. It’s very different to other dystopians where there’s usually two separate factions of simply rich and poor in the same city. There are rich and poor people in Cityside, but Cityside controls the resources available to Southside (which is pretty much poverty). I was appreciative of this completely new dynamic of a dystopian society, and one of the main reasons I liked this book so much.
The cast of characters was awesome, and everyone you meet has their own persona that completely fits in with who they are, and what they are doing. I won’t go into characters much because getting to meet them was one of the best aspects of this book.
If you’re looking for a dystopian that defines the genre in an entirely fresh way, give The Bridge a go.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
August 20, 2012
"We drove to war in a taxi-cab." So the adventure begins.
In this dystopian YA novel, Higgins builds us a broken civilisation, separated by a bridge. Cityside are the haves, run with military precision by intelligence agency ISIS. Then there's Southside, with the Breken (an interesting inflection on 'broken'). They've been shut out by the citysiders, who fiercely guard their privileges against rogue attempts to cross the bridge.
Nik is a Citysider with a blank past. His parents were killed when he was very young, and he was taken to the ISIS training school, which has become his home. Though there is nothing homely about it. Information is filtered down by the ISIS agents on an as-needs basis.
Nik's been trained to be one of the best, and recruitment day's here. A spot in ISIS will secure his future, but there are only a select few spots. Rumours are rife that Southsiders are trying to take the bridge, and extra reinforcements are needed. Nik's up for the challenge.
When he isn't chosen, Nik's future possiblities crumble. He doesn't understand why he wasn't selected wnd neither do his friends. When the school is bombed by Southsiders, there is carnage and death. War becomes instantly real, as friends and teachers lie burning and still on the grass.
ISIS agents are suddenly cold and suspicious toward Nik. Cornering him, they rip from his neck the only momento from his parents that he owns. A talisman. Nik escapes with his friends, and is surprised to discover how well he remembers broken bits of Breken. They go in search of safety, but find road blocks and hostile forces.
When Fyffe's brother Sol, is abducted by Breken forces, Fyffe and Sol decide they must cross the bridge to rescue Sol.
As enemies in a land of depravity, Fyffe and Nik see how the 'have nots' are living. Without medical provision, or good food, without adequate warmth or housing. Factions in Southside are opposed to one another, but all want to broker peace with Cityside.
What Nik discovers in the spirit of the Breken is what he lacked in the oppresive regime maintained by ISIS agents. And it doesn't take long before secrets about his past collide with his future. Nik is forced to make a choice that's going to cost him everything.
Higgins weaves action and intrigue through her clever plot, and keeps the reader guessing at every point. She delves into noble issues, like the choice between luxuries with oppression, and poverty with freedom. Clues are left for the reader along the way, and Higgins respects the intelligence of the reader enough to allow us to join the dots.
Completely satisfying and a book I would happily read again.
In this dystopian YA novel, Higgins builds us a broken civilisation, separated by a bridge. Cityside are the haves, run with military precision by intelligence agency ISIS. Then there's Southside, with the Breken (an interesting inflection on 'broken'). They've been shut out by the citysiders, who fiercely guard their privileges against rogue attempts to cross the bridge.
Nik is a Citysider with a blank past. His parents were killed when he was very young, and he was taken to the ISIS training school, which has become his home. Though there is nothing homely about it. Information is filtered down by the ISIS agents on an as-needs basis.
Nik's been trained to be one of the best, and recruitment day's here. A spot in ISIS will secure his future, but there are only a select few spots. Rumours are rife that Southsiders are trying to take the bridge, and extra reinforcements are needed. Nik's up for the challenge.
When he isn't chosen, Nik's future possiblities crumble. He doesn't understand why he wasn't selected wnd neither do his friends. When the school is bombed by Southsiders, there is carnage and death. War becomes instantly real, as friends and teachers lie burning and still on the grass.
ISIS agents are suddenly cold and suspicious toward Nik. Cornering him, they rip from his neck the only momento from his parents that he owns. A talisman. Nik escapes with his friends, and is surprised to discover how well he remembers broken bits of Breken. They go in search of safety, but find road blocks and hostile forces.
When Fyffe's brother Sol, is abducted by Breken forces, Fyffe and Sol decide they must cross the bridge to rescue Sol.
As enemies in a land of depravity, Fyffe and Nik see how the 'have nots' are living. Without medical provision, or good food, without adequate warmth or housing. Factions in Southside are opposed to one another, but all want to broker peace with Cityside.
What Nik discovers in the spirit of the Breken is what he lacked in the oppresive regime maintained by ISIS agents. And it doesn't take long before secrets about his past collide with his future. Nik is forced to make a choice that's going to cost him everything.
Higgins weaves action and intrigue through her clever plot, and keeps the reader guessing at every point. She delves into noble issues, like the choice between luxuries with oppression, and poverty with freedom. Clues are left for the reader along the way, and Higgins respects the intelligence of the reader enough to allow us to join the dots.
Completely satisfying and a book I would happily read again.
October 17, 2012
I received this book from Librarything Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.
The Bridge by Jane Higgins follows Nik, who is an outsider of sorts in his prestigious boarding school. The cream of the crop become part of a secret elite group called ISIS who are the prime defenders against infiltration of the other side. Nik, for some reason, doesn't get selected even though he's top in his class. After war breaks loose, Fyffe, a good school friend of his, and Nik cross the Bridge to find Sol, her brother who has been kidnapped.
OK this blurb sounds interesting, right? The problem is, although at times the writing is lyrical and pretty, I felt like it lacked a lot of content. We move from place to place, but I never felt grounded in this world. There was a definite lack of world building. I don't understand this war that is going on, and I have no idea how the society got to where it is. Nik is likeable, but I had no deep feelings for him or any other character in the book, as the conversations are stilted and tough. I had a tough time getting through the whole thing, because honestly, it drags. I guess one of the big points of the book is that both sides are pretty similar in a lot of ways, but the whole time I was just in disbelief that they didn't realize that Nik was from the other side with his poor use of the language. REALLY?
There's a twist at the end, but for me, I was pretty disappointing slogging through all of these pages to end up... nowhere.
The ending left it open for likely a trilogy, but this is a series I definitely won't be following. Pretty cover though.
The Bridge by Jane Higgins follows Nik, who is an outsider of sorts in his prestigious boarding school. The cream of the crop become part of a secret elite group called ISIS who are the prime defenders against infiltration of the other side. Nik, for some reason, doesn't get selected even though he's top in his class. After war breaks loose, Fyffe, a good school friend of his, and Nik cross the Bridge to find Sol, her brother who has been kidnapped.
OK this blurb sounds interesting, right? The problem is, although at times the writing is lyrical and pretty, I felt like it lacked a lot of content. We move from place to place, but I never felt grounded in this world. There was a definite lack of world building. I don't understand this war that is going on, and I have no idea how the society got to where it is. Nik is likeable, but I had no deep feelings for him or any other character in the book, as the conversations are stilted and tough. I had a tough time getting through the whole thing, because honestly, it drags. I guess one of the big points of the book is that both sides are pretty similar in a lot of ways, but the whole time I was just in disbelief that they didn't realize that Nik was from the other side with his poor use of the language. REALLY?
There's a twist at the end, but for me, I was pretty disappointing slogging through all of these pages to end up... nowhere.
The ending left it open for likely a trilogy, but this is a series I definitely won't be following. Pretty cover though.
September 30, 2013
Here is something to think about: Have I ever read anything like "The Hunger Games"? Unless you have read the Bridge, you haven't.
The bridge is an action packed story about a boy, named Nikolai Stais, stuck in between a war between two people: The Citysiders and the Southsiders. Nikolai was born was raised in the Cityside This takes place in the future of America but not as futuristic as the "Hunger Games". Also in this story, there are these bridges that seperate the two places. Sense the Southside people are reffered to as the rebels and hostiles, they try, and succeed, to take over the seven total bridges. The conflict is that the two sides cannot come to a common ground, therefore, they duke it out in a very circuitous battle that can be traced back to 1987. but they come to a loss when both side find an absolutely ground-breaking fact mister Nikolai.
Jane Higgins is a very interesting. For instance, Jane uses AN apostrophe as quotation marks. This, I found very interesting. Also, she presents the exposition unclear. She does not even mention the main character until page eight. The conflict is handed to us in a general way meaning that there was not a specific problem but there were a series of problems. In this story, the antagonist and protagonist are very much like the conflict; unclear and very general. Thus the reason why Jane Higgins writing style is very interesting.
Overall, I'd give this book four stars, especially for a first time author. I recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed the Hunger Games and also because of the action, adventure, and slight love triangle...... In order to find out about that, you will just have to read the book!
The bridge is an action packed story about a boy, named Nikolai Stais, stuck in between a war between two people: The Citysiders and the Southsiders. Nikolai was born was raised in the Cityside This takes place in the future of America but not as futuristic as the "Hunger Games". Also in this story, there are these bridges that seperate the two places. Sense the Southside people are reffered to as the rebels and hostiles, they try, and succeed, to take over the seven total bridges. The conflict is that the two sides cannot come to a common ground, therefore, they duke it out in a very circuitous battle that can be traced back to 1987. but they come to a loss when both side find an absolutely ground-breaking fact mister Nikolai.
Jane Higgins is a very interesting. For instance, Jane uses AN apostrophe as quotation marks. This, I found very interesting. Also, she presents the exposition unclear. She does not even mention the main character until page eight. The conflict is handed to us in a general way meaning that there was not a specific problem but there were a series of problems. In this story, the antagonist and protagonist are very much like the conflict; unclear and very general. Thus the reason why Jane Higgins writing style is very interesting.
Overall, I'd give this book four stars, especially for a first time author. I recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed the Hunger Games and also because of the action, adventure, and slight love triangle...... In order to find out about that, you will just have to read the book!
March 31, 2018
This is a well-written, multi-layered dystopian dealing with themes of belonging, identity and betrayal. The world is a city at war: Southside is the poor, ethnic riverbank, while Cityside is whiter and privileged. But the lines aren’t clear-cut. Southside factions are divided, with some as narrow and fanatical as their Cityside adversaries. So spies and counter-spies, political plotting and misinformation, are all part of a complex landscape.
Nik has been raised on Cityside, in a school which selects the brightest and best and is basically a training ground for the elite CIA-style ISIS (presumably that name had none of its current connotations when the book was published!). Only then Nic is passed over for ISIS selection, the school is bombed, Cityside is in chaos, and he undertakes a mission to Southside to find a kidnapped child, Sol, Along with that kidnapped child’s sister Fyffe, who is a breath of fresh air in this story. She’s spiritual and deeply religious but in a personal, not indoctrinated and organized way; and is deeply empathetic, and incredibly courageous, and has a genuinely independent, free-thinking mind. She sees true, past all the lies, misinformation, blame and hate.
I was gripped from start to finish. My only reservation would be, that though I enjoyed it immensely, I’m not the target audience and this is quite a dense and thought-provoking story. I wonder if some teens might not find it fast-moving enough. But there is action, and when it happens it’s disturbing, graphically violent and very tense.
I hope it does find plenty of readers, because this is a highly relevant story.
For more of Brin's reviews go to:
http://www.brinmurray.com/
Nik has been raised on Cityside, in a school which selects the brightest and best and is basically a training ground for the elite CIA-style ISIS (presumably that name had none of its current connotations when the book was published!). Only then Nic is passed over for ISIS selection, the school is bombed, Cityside is in chaos, and he undertakes a mission to Southside to find a kidnapped child, Sol, Along with that kidnapped child’s sister Fyffe, who is a breath of fresh air in this story. She’s spiritual and deeply religious but in a personal, not indoctrinated and organized way; and is deeply empathetic, and incredibly courageous, and has a genuinely independent, free-thinking mind. She sees true, past all the lies, misinformation, blame and hate.
I was gripped from start to finish. My only reservation would be, that though I enjoyed it immensely, I’m not the target audience and this is quite a dense and thought-provoking story. I wonder if some teens might not find it fast-moving enough. But there is action, and when it happens it’s disturbing, graphically violent and very tense.
I hope it does find plenty of readers, because this is a highly relevant story.
For more of Brin's reviews go to:
http://www.brinmurray.com/
November 16, 2011
ok so i guess its only fair to say that this book was written really really well and that as soon as i began to read the first words, i was totally and completely hooked from start to finish. however having said that, i am not very happy at the ending and i'm still wondering, is this a series or what? cuz if it is, then i definitely, hands-down, totally give it all 5 stars. however if its a stand-alone novel, i'm sticking to my rating.
to all those thinking about reading it, its set in the future where the land is divided into two parts; the city people who are considered privileged etc etc and the south side, where there are apparently hostiles who are very very bad people who kidnap people and murder anyone who come within there grasp. the story is told from Nik's point of view. he is from the city side of the city and is fiercely loyal to his friends who he considers his family as he grew up never knowing his parents and with the belief that they are dead. anyway, one day, his school is bombed and his friends fyffe's brother sol is kidnapped by hostiles, this causes them to bross the bridge divided the north from the south and setting out to reclaim sol. there they slowly begin to learn more and more about the truth and i think i just stop writing now so as not to give too much of the plot away. :)
so yeh, it was written really well but, if it is a stand-alone novel and not a series, i don't recommend you read this. however, if this proves to be a series, then sure! go ahead! its awesome!
to all those thinking about reading it, its set in the future where the land is divided into two parts; the city people who are considered privileged etc etc and the south side, where there are apparently hostiles who are very very bad people who kidnap people and murder anyone who come within there grasp. the story is told from Nik's point of view. he is from the city side of the city and is fiercely loyal to his friends who he considers his family as he grew up never knowing his parents and with the belief that they are dead. anyway, one day, his school is bombed and his friends fyffe's brother sol is kidnapped by hostiles, this causes them to bross the bridge divided the north from the south and setting out to reclaim sol. there they slowly begin to learn more and more about the truth and i think i just stop writing now so as not to give too much of the plot away. :)
so yeh, it was written really well but, if it is a stand-alone novel and not a series, i don't recommend you read this. however, if this proves to be a series, then sure! go ahead! its awesome!
February 23, 2013
I absolutely love this book. Most of my books involve fast paced action and adventure that gives me a need to turn the page and does not release me until the very last sentence. This book however is not like those, its more slowly paced, much more calm. I was able to sit down and read through this book, and although it kept me turning the page, it did not choke me with so much action and adventure (which is not bad, just always need a break from it). It did have its action, and the entire book was an adventure, and it was entertaining at all parts. The main plot takes you through a society which is split up between two lands, and throughout it you find out that the main characters live in the place where it is supposed to be the best, which btw is not that original of a plot but still well written. After a while you find things out here and there (trying to be as ambiguous as possible) and in the end you have a cliff hanger (at least to me) which has no apparent sequel. I really enjoyed sitting down in my calm peace and reading this book, i know many people will say that it is dull,and that the characters dont have any personality or anything about them to make them appealing, i still loved it, and the characters where decent. All in all it was a great book at the time i read it, i needed a break from everything i was normally used to reading, and this book provided a great break. Id recommend it to those who are looking for a slower paced book that will allow you to stay calm but not bore you.
September 6, 2011
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blurb: The City is divided. The bridges gated. In Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and desperation, waiting for a chance to overrun the residents of Cityside.
Nik is still in high school but destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the brains behind the war. But when ISIS comes recruiting, everyone is shocked when he isn’t chosen. There must be an explanation, but no one will talk about it. Then the school is bombed and the hostiles take the bridges. Buildings are burning, kids are dead, and the hostiles have kidnapped Sol. Now ISIS is hunting for Nik.
But Nik is on the run, with Sol’s sister Fyffe and ISIS hot on their trail. They cross the bridge in search of Sol, and Nik finds answers to questions he’d never dared to ask.
The Bridge is a gritty adventure set in a future world where fear of outsiders pervades everything. A heart-stopping novel about friendship, identity and courage from an exciting new voice in young-adult fiction. (from publishers site)
trailer and publishers site: http://textpublishing.com.au/books-an...
blurb: The City is divided. The bridges gated. In Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and desperation, waiting for a chance to overrun the residents of Cityside.
Nik is still in high school but destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the brains behind the war. But when ISIS comes recruiting, everyone is shocked when he isn’t chosen. There must be an explanation, but no one will talk about it. Then the school is bombed and the hostiles take the bridges. Buildings are burning, kids are dead, and the hostiles have kidnapped Sol. Now ISIS is hunting for Nik.
But Nik is on the run, with Sol’s sister Fyffe and ISIS hot on their trail. They cross the bridge in search of Sol, and Nik finds answers to questions he’d never dared to ask.
The Bridge is a gritty adventure set in a future world where fear of outsiders pervades everything. A heart-stopping novel about friendship, identity and courage from an exciting new voice in young-adult fiction. (from publishers site)
trailer and publishers site: http://textpublishing.com.au/books-an...
April 19, 2024
Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Military violence and war themes, explosion
Score: Six out of ten.
I own this book.
Now that I look back this was one of the books my library decided to give away either because it was too old or no one read it at all, even though this was part of a duology and now they only have the second book but I have the first. That being said this was an interesting novel but I doubt that I would read this again but I'd like to see what happens in the next book. It starts off with the main character Nik about to be chosen for a career at an organisation called ISIS which stands for Internal Security and Intelligence Services and not the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria but anyways he wasn't chosen and then the school was bombed by who knows. After that he and some other people discuss why the school was bombed and who did it and it turns out that the other side called Cityside had declared war on them for whatever reason, the hostages have kidnapped Sol to probably use him against him and now they and Southside are fighting against each other; life is a lot harder for Nik now. A few hundred pages later he escapes the war by going across a bridge to Cityside and that ends the book on a high note.
Trigger warnings: Military violence and war themes, explosion
Score: Six out of ten.
I own this book.
Now that I look back this was one of the books my library decided to give away either because it was too old or no one read it at all, even though this was part of a duology and now they only have the second book but I have the first. That being said this was an interesting novel but I doubt that I would read this again but I'd like to see what happens in the next book. It starts off with the main character Nik about to be chosen for a career at an organisation called ISIS which stands for Internal Security and Intelligence Services and not the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria but anyways he wasn't chosen and then the school was bombed by who knows. After that he and some other people discuss why the school was bombed and who did it and it turns out that the other side called Cityside had declared war on them for whatever reason, the hostages have kidnapped Sol to probably use him against him and now they and Southside are fighting against each other; life is a lot harder for Nik now. A few hundred pages later he escapes the war by going across a bridge to Cityside and that ends the book on a high note.
December 22, 2021
"We went to war in a taxi-cab" is the first sentence of this dystopian novel. Nikolai Stais, the 17 year old narrator, is devastated when he is overlooked for a prestigious appointment to ISIS, the intelligence agency charged with protecting Cityside. Things only get worse when the enemy Southsiders bomb his school, kill his best friend, and kidnap his best friend's 8 yr. old brother. Because Nik speaks Breken, he decides to sneak across the bridge and rescue Sol. What he finds on the other side completely shakes his world view. Which side has committed atrocities? Which side wants peace? Which side is telling the truth? Are there "very fine people on both sides"? This one should make you think and evaluate.
April 17, 2015
I really don't know why I keep trying dystopia. They are so... repetitive. In the years I've been reading them, I've come to know their lines, plot, and endings by heart. The only thing that changes are the names, but we will always have a country diveded in two... or into many camps/districts.
So The Bridge is another mass produced/written YA dystopia that bored me within the first pages.
ZZZZZ going to sleep now.
So The Bridge is another mass produced/written YA dystopia that bored me within the first pages.
ZZZZZ going to sleep now.
August 3, 2011
Appeal to teens who enjoyed Tomorrow When the War Began series.
July 24, 2016
Extract read aloud page 36 to 37
July 27, 2019
This is young adult fiction set in a dystopian future: an unnamed city at some point in the not-too-distant future which has become divided along lines of class, race and religion. The city is intersected by a great river with the 'Citysiders' on the north and the 'Southsiders' on the south. The Citysiders speak English, are affluent and well-armed, with an elite 'security and intelligence service' which seems to keep a tight control on information, leaving their trusting citizenry somewhat naive. The Southsiders are ethnically and religiously diverse, seemingly migrant people who have come to the city for a better life, and speak a dialect of broken English called 'Breken'. When they rose up against exploitation as a cheap labour force, they were pushed back to the south side of the river. From there they have been fighting for years: against the Citysiders but also amongst themselves, with powerful factions vying for control.
Into this mix we have an orphan teenage hero, Nik, gifted and brilliant whose past is shrouded in mystery but has somehow been educated in an elite school on the Cityside. He longs to join the secret service but is overlooked for selection despite his evident suitability. A surprise attack leaves his world in tatters and he sets off on a quest to save a friend and in so doing, solve the mysteries of his life and world.
I read this book because it has been prescribed for one of my students. I haven't read Jane Higgins' work before. It is a good first novel, but it joins a highly competitive sub-genre: the teen-hero dystopia, crowded with the likes of The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Maze Runner. Amongst these, The Bridge doesn't sparkle, although it has some well-written moments and interesting ideas. It seems to anticipate a rise of fundamentalism in a future world where mass economic migration has filled the cities with cultural and racial diversity and caused people to retreat to their corners and fight for their patch. Religion is pervasive and only our hero claims to not pray to anyone. The rising under-class is divided too between conservative fundamentalists and liberals.
Interesting. If you enjoy the genre, you may enjoy this book too.
Into this mix we have an orphan teenage hero, Nik, gifted and brilliant whose past is shrouded in mystery but has somehow been educated in an elite school on the Cityside. He longs to join the secret service but is overlooked for selection despite his evident suitability. A surprise attack leaves his world in tatters and he sets off on a quest to save a friend and in so doing, solve the mysteries of his life and world.
I read this book because it has been prescribed for one of my students. I haven't read Jane Higgins' work before. It is a good first novel, but it joins a highly competitive sub-genre: the teen-hero dystopia, crowded with the likes of The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Maze Runner. Amongst these, The Bridge doesn't sparkle, although it has some well-written moments and interesting ideas. It seems to anticipate a rise of fundamentalism in a future world where mass economic migration has filled the cities with cultural and racial diversity and caused people to retreat to their corners and fight for their patch. Religion is pervasive and only our hero claims to not pray to anyone. The rising under-class is divided too between conservative fundamentalists and liberals.
Interesting. If you enjoy the genre, you may enjoy this book too.
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