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The Classmate Lib/E
Ben’s parents send him to a special camp for gifted students, but the camp rules are very strange and one of his classmates is so weird he wonders if she’s from another planet.
Audio CD
First published June 21, 2022
36 people want to read
About the author
Will McIntosh
79 books449 followersWill McIntosh is a Hugo Award-winning science fiction author, and a winner or finalist of many other awards. His alien invasion novel Defenders, is currently optioned for a feature film, while his Middle Grades novel The Classmate has been optioned for a TV series by Disney/ABC.
Along with ten novels that have been translated into nine different languages, Will has published over sixty short stories in magazines such as Asimov's Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, and Lightspeed.
Will was a psychology professor before turning to writing full time. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, and is the father of twins. You can follow him on Twitter @willmcintoshSF.
Along with ten novels that have been translated into nine different languages, Will has published over sixty short stories in magazines such as Asimov's Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, and Lightspeed.
Will was a psychology professor before turning to writing full time. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, and is the father of twins. You can follow him on Twitter @willmcintoshSF.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 20, 2022
📚The Classmate By Will McIntosh📚
Hi everyone, Its Christopher the reader here, The book we are here to talk about tonight is The Classmate. This was my first read of Will McIntosh's work. I would love to read more from him. I do have a copy of one of his other books which is called: 'The Future Will Be BS-Free'. I've had my eye on that book to add to my TBR pile for a while now so I might add it to the pile after reading the books that are on there at the moment. I want to say a huge thank you to NetGalley for a copy of 'The Classmate' in return for an honest review. I first started reading this book in June of this year (2022) to be honest it did take me quite a while to finish reading as I was reading multiple books at once. This book was rated for reading ages of 9 - 12 years. The Classmate was first published on the 21st of June in 2022. The book was told using first person with it being in Benjamin's point of view. All together it had 170 pages.
- I found the storyline interesting. I thought that this book had some good place and character detail. I found it easy to imagine what all of the characters looked like. I also think that it had some good world building in there as well. I liked that it didn't feel too wordy. Overall I did think that it was written pretty well. I do think that this book had good character development but I would have liked for there to have been a bit more. When reading for me the pacing of the story felt a little slow at times. Personally I did find some of the twists a bit predictable. When reading I did also notice a few mistakes.
The book had some action scenes which I liked, as well as some funny and also some heart-warming moments. There was a scene within the book that made me cry a little when reading. Personally I liked the bit of technology that the book included, also I liked that real songs and TV Shows where mentioned in the story which you can go and experience for yourself if you wanted to. I think that I would have loved this book as a kid. After reading The Classmate I can say that it did remind me a bit of a TV Show called: House of Anubis. Which was something that I enjoyed watching when I was younger.
- I thought that it was pretty easy to get to know the characters within the story. I liked that the characters that was within the story wasn't perfect and that they did make a few mistakes along the way. I also liked how we were slowly introduced to Eve's character and that we got to discover a bit about her past and also more about her character as the book went on.
- I liked that we got to find out what Eve was and why she was really there before the end of the book and that, that part wasn't left open, I hope that there will be a second book to this one. This book did leave me wanting more especially as it left on a cliff-hanger. I would love it if this story gets turned into an audible book as personally when I listen while reading along, I find that I gain a deeper experience with the story and also I would love for this book to get a TV Show. I would definitely go and watch it. After reading this book I plan to buy a physical copy sometime soon.
For each Book that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 7. Remember this was what I thought about the BOOK personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
Hi everyone, Its Christopher the reader here, The book we are here to talk about tonight is The Classmate. This was my first read of Will McIntosh's work. I would love to read more from him. I do have a copy of one of his other books which is called: 'The Future Will Be BS-Free'. I've had my eye on that book to add to my TBR pile for a while now so I might add it to the pile after reading the books that are on there at the moment. I want to say a huge thank you to NetGalley for a copy of 'The Classmate' in return for an honest review. I first started reading this book in June of this year (2022) to be honest it did take me quite a while to finish reading as I was reading multiple books at once. This book was rated for reading ages of 9 - 12 years. The Classmate was first published on the 21st of June in 2022. The book was told using first person with it being in Benjamin's point of view. All together it had 170 pages.
- I found the storyline interesting. I thought that this book had some good place and character detail. I found it easy to imagine what all of the characters looked like. I also think that it had some good world building in there as well. I liked that it didn't feel too wordy. Overall I did think that it was written pretty well. I do think that this book had good character development but I would have liked for there to have been a bit more. When reading for me the pacing of the story felt a little slow at times. Personally I did find some of the twists a bit predictable. When reading I did also notice a few mistakes.
The book had some action scenes which I liked, as well as some funny and also some heart-warming moments. There was a scene within the book that made me cry a little when reading. Personally I liked the bit of technology that the book included, also I liked that real songs and TV Shows where mentioned in the story which you can go and experience for yourself if you wanted to. I think that I would have loved this book as a kid. After reading The Classmate I can say that it did remind me a bit of a TV Show called: House of Anubis. Which was something that I enjoyed watching when I was younger.
- I thought that it was pretty easy to get to know the characters within the story. I liked that the characters that was within the story wasn't perfect and that they did make a few mistakes along the way. I also liked how we were slowly introduced to Eve's character and that we got to discover a bit about her past and also more about her character as the book went on.
- I liked that we got to find out what Eve was and why she was really there before the end of the book and that, that part wasn't left open, I hope that there will be a second book to this one. This book did leave me wanting more especially as it left on a cliff-hanger. I would love it if this story gets turned into an audible book as personally when I listen while reading along, I find that I gain a deeper experience with the story and also I would love for this book to get a TV Show. I would definitely go and watch it. After reading this book I plan to buy a physical copy sometime soon.
For each Book that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 7. Remember this was what I thought about the BOOK personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
May 29, 2022
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Middle grade reads are not my usual fare, but I do enjoy them from time to time. I was definitely drawn to the premise of this one... kid plucked from his home to go to some secret boarding school with... a monster? Yes.
This was a quick read, but it took me a while to get into it. I liked the main character and his two new friends, but wanted more personality from them. It was about 1/4 of the way through before it started grabbing my attention.
Understanding I am not the key demographic for this book, a younger reader may not have the same feelings.
I thought this was interesting and imaginative. The story has heart and adventure. It deals with real-world themes in a fantasy-adjacent setting. I definitely think young readers will find this worth reading.
Middle grade reads are not my usual fare, but I do enjoy them from time to time. I was definitely drawn to the premise of this one... kid plucked from his home to go to some secret boarding school with... a monster? Yes.
This was a quick read, but it took me a while to get into it. I liked the main character and his two new friends, but wanted more personality from them. It was about 1/4 of the way through before it started grabbing my attention.
Understanding I am not the key demographic for this book, a younger reader may not have the same feelings.
I thought this was interesting and imaginative. The story has heart and adventure. It deals with real-world themes in a fantasy-adjacent setting. I definitely think young readers will find this worth reading.
August 22, 2022
I am a huge fan of Hugo Award winning science fiction Will McIntosh who is equally skilled writing for adults as he is kids and young teens. His 2014 novel Defenders is easily one of my favourite ever SF novels and involves (in a roundabout way, as it’s complex and highly original) the destruction of Earth after an alien invasion. The level of brutality on show in this mesmerising novel tops most horror novels and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Burning Midnight (2016) is my favourite of his kids books and it is incredibly popular in my school library with everybody searching for mysterious orbs which give different (and unpredictable) special powers. If you have a reluctant reader who might enjoy a blend of science fiction, fantasy and action Burning Midnight is an essential top tip. In recent years Will has been concentrating on his kids fiction with Watchdog (2017) The Future Will Be BS-Free (2018) also worth investigating.
The Classmate was a terrific little book and I am not ashamed to say I shed a few tears at the end! Thirteen-year-old Ben is selected to take part in a special school program for gifted children and is sent to a remote boarding school. He quickly realises that this is not a normal school as there is an angry spiky and dangerous looking creature in the class who the teachers also treat as a pupil. Bizarrely, all pupils are fed instructions through an earbud, much of which involve how to interact with the creature, who is called Evie. Will it be possible to become friends with Evie? Go to the cinema with her or do other normal stuff? Ben is an anxious boy and he finds himself becoming friends with her, without knowing the much bigger complex picture, which might just involve the end of the world. This was a terrific book about friendship, acceptance, overcoming fears and has some really great sequences along the way. It finishes on a cliff-hanger and I really hope everything goes well for Evie. I totally loved this easy read but wonderfully engaging book which is absolutely perfect for reluctant readers with its effortless blend of genres and the fantastic. AGE RANGE 9-13.
The Classmate was a terrific little book and I am not ashamed to say I shed a few tears at the end! Thirteen-year-old Ben is selected to take part in a special school program for gifted children and is sent to a remote boarding school. He quickly realises that this is not a normal school as there is an angry spiky and dangerous looking creature in the class who the teachers also treat as a pupil. Bizarrely, all pupils are fed instructions through an earbud, much of which involve how to interact with the creature, who is called Evie. Will it be possible to become friends with Evie? Go to the cinema with her or do other normal stuff? Ben is an anxious boy and he finds himself becoming friends with her, without knowing the much bigger complex picture, which might just involve the end of the world. This was a terrific book about friendship, acceptance, overcoming fears and has some really great sequences along the way. It finishes on a cliff-hanger and I really hope everything goes well for Evie. I totally loved this easy read but wonderfully engaging book which is absolutely perfect for reluctant readers with its effortless blend of genres and the fantastic. AGE RANGE 9-13.
December 26, 2021
I don't often read middle grade, so I'm really pleased when I find one that is a home run. This is a strange and wonderful story about an anxious 13-year-old, Benjamin, who has been sent to a mysterious super-secret boarding school where all the children are constantly fed instructions via earbud as they are led to interact with Eve, an angry, large, definitely-not-human classmate. At school, Benjamin makes real friends for the first time, and as they band together to find out what the adults are up to, they also start to forge a tentative bond with Eve. Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial/Future House Publishing for this digital review copy.
March 25, 2023
This middle-grade novel is an expansion of Will McIntosh's 2018 novelette "What is Eve?" Middle-grade and YA books aren't normally my thing, but I really enjoyed this story when it was first published in Lightspeed, and I generally find McIntosh's writing engaging and funny, and he is skilled in making thoughtful and succinct points about society and culture through a speculative lens.
Much of what was enjoyable in "What is Eve?" remains in this short novel. It is the story of Benjamin, an eigth grader who is unceremoniously pulled from his school and sent to a "special" boarding school for mysterious reasons. When he arrives, he and the other students are given earpieces, through which they are told they must exactly follow the instructions relayed to them. Ben and the others are then taken to their classroom where they learn they have a "special" classmate - a hideous, purple-skinned monster with deadly spikes all over its body called Eve. Ben is supposed to obey the voice in his head and make the creature feel "included", but he soon learns that Eve has developed a finely-honed BS detector and he starts ignoring his handlers in a genuine attempt to befriend Eve. The first half of the novel is propelled by both the absurdity of Ben's circumstances and the hilarious (and somewhat terrifying) interactions between Eve and her fellow student, while the back half of the novel is more of a thriller, as Ben learns the truth about what Eve is and why her successful integration in school is vital to no less than the future of the human race.
I can't ignore that my response to this book is colored by my preference for the story it is based on, which is more tightly paced. Mcintosh expands the narrative with set pieces (such as a cafeteria food fight) that are clearly meant to appeal to its target audience of tweens but seem more like space fillers than integral parts of the plot. Also, in spending more time in Benjamin's head, the character comes off as far wiser and world-wearier than one would expect from a 13-year-old. I still enjoyed it enough to give it a passing grade, though I am certain younger readers (whom I doubt are regular readers of Lightspeed) will find it even more to their liking.
Much of what was enjoyable in "What is Eve?" remains in this short novel. It is the story of Benjamin, an eigth grader who is unceremoniously pulled from his school and sent to a "special" boarding school for mysterious reasons. When he arrives, he and the other students are given earpieces, through which they are told they must exactly follow the instructions relayed to them. Ben and the others are then taken to their classroom where they learn they have a "special" classmate - a hideous, purple-skinned monster with deadly spikes all over its body called Eve. Ben is supposed to obey the voice in his head and make the creature feel "included", but he soon learns that Eve has developed a finely-honed BS detector and he starts ignoring his handlers in a genuine attempt to befriend Eve. The first half of the novel is propelled by both the absurdity of Ben's circumstances and the hilarious (and somewhat terrifying) interactions between Eve and her fellow student, while the back half of the novel is more of a thriller, as Ben learns the truth about what Eve is and why her successful integration in school is vital to no less than the future of the human race.
I can't ignore that my response to this book is colored by my preference for the story it is based on, which is more tightly paced. Mcintosh expands the narrative with set pieces (such as a cafeteria food fight) that are clearly meant to appeal to its target audience of tweens but seem more like space fillers than integral parts of the plot. Also, in spending more time in Benjamin's head, the character comes off as far wiser and world-wearier than one would expect from a 13-year-old. I still enjoyed it enough to give it a passing grade, though I am certain younger readers (whom I doubt are regular readers of Lightspeed) will find it even more to their liking.
July 12, 2022
With only two day's notice, Ben was told he was transferring from school to an elite program that would make a huge difference in his future. At 13, he was skeptical. For good reason. On the first day of class, he was seated next to Eve, and her temper was almost as scary as her expression. There was more about this special classmate the kids hadn't experienced yet, and Ben was specifically told to befriend her. But he has a chronic hyper-anxiety disorder. Was this a big mistake?
As Ben and his friends learn more about the school and the reason for it, they note the odd curriculum and dangers. Plus, they feel some unexpected sympathy for Eve.
This story is a mystery, adventure, middle-grade friendship comedy drama with a touch of one or two other things. They all mesh together with a reluctant hero who might be perfect for this. If he lives long enough.
I recommend this book to any reader who has made mistakes or doubted themselves, or
felt that anxiety was too big to get beyond.
4/5 Stars
Thanks to BooksGoSocial, Future House Publishing, and NetGalley, for the preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.
#TheClassmate #NetGalley
#Will McIntosh #WillMcIntoshAuth
#BooksGoSocial
#FutureHousePublishing
#ChildrensFictionSciFiandFantasy
#MiddleSchoolFictionSciFiandFantasy
#MiddleSchoolFirstContact
#MiddleSchoolAmbassador
#ChildrenseBooksKindleStore
#MiddleSchooleBooksKindleStore
#KindleeBooks
#MiddleSchoolMonsterComedyDrama
#MiddleSchoolHumorous
#MiddleSchoolReluctantHero
#MiddleSchoolFittingIn
#MiddleSchoolMakingMistakes
As Ben and his friends learn more about the school and the reason for it, they note the odd curriculum and dangers. Plus, they feel some unexpected sympathy for Eve.
This story is a mystery, adventure, middle-grade friendship comedy drama with a touch of one or two other things. They all mesh together with a reluctant hero who might be perfect for this. If he lives long enough.
I recommend this book to any reader who has made mistakes or doubted themselves, or
felt that anxiety was too big to get beyond.
4/5 Stars
Thanks to BooksGoSocial, Future House Publishing, and NetGalley, for the preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.
#TheClassmate #NetGalley
#Will McIntosh #WillMcIntoshAuth
#BooksGoSocial
#FutureHousePublishing
#ChildrensFictionSciFiandFantasy
#MiddleSchoolFictionSciFiandFantasy
#MiddleSchoolFirstContact
#MiddleSchoolAmbassador
#ChildrenseBooksKindleStore
#MiddleSchooleBooksKindleStore
#KindleeBooks
#MiddleSchoolMonsterComedyDrama
#MiddleSchoolHumorous
#MiddleSchoolReluctantHero
#MiddleSchoolFittingIn
#MiddleSchoolMakingMistakes
January 31, 2022
The book's blurb is more engaging than the book. Benjamin is an anxiety-riddled twelve-year-old (though later he states he's 13) who is sent to a private boarding school with other well-behaved students. Lorena and Persephone quickly become his friends and then we meet Eve. I would love to say that the characters were individuals and engaging, but they're not--they're stereotypes (even the brief descriptions of side characters are stereotypical). From start to finish, the characters remain stagnant despite the momentary breaks in the monotony of the classroom (and there is a lot of daily activity shown in this book). Overall, the plot is okay but not that unique. There are a lot of unanswered questions and "adults being dumb for the sake of the story" but that plays into the stereotypical character development. The ending is more of a cliffhanger than a wrapped package. The story just felt blah and uninspired.
Thank you NetGalley and Future House Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
Thank you NetGalley and Future House Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
June 9, 2022
*3.5*
*I was sent an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Book: The Classmate
Author: Will Mcintosh
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Pages: 170
Genre: Middle Grade, Sci-Fi
This story gives a message of acceptance. As it is for middle-grade readers, accepting everyone is very important and this book covered that. It also talked about anxiety disorder which I felt that could have been gelled into the story naturally but it was mentioned separately. As it is set in a fantasy world, it was interesting to read about the topics covered.
Coming to the plot line, it could have been more developed, although the world-building was done well, the story plot wasn't in-depth. At first, it went slow, but it was a quick read as I went into the story. There could have been more character development as well. Overall it is a good story about friendship, adventure, and acceptance.
As this was a middle-grade book, It is good for them as they will like the characters and the story's world! They will learn a lot of values with some interesting adventures!
*I was sent an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Book: The Classmate
Author: Will Mcintosh
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Pages: 170
Genre: Middle Grade, Sci-Fi
This story gives a message of acceptance. As it is for middle-grade readers, accepting everyone is very important and this book covered that. It also talked about anxiety disorder which I felt that could have been gelled into the story naturally but it was mentioned separately. As it is set in a fantasy world, it was interesting to read about the topics covered.
Coming to the plot line, it could have been more developed, although the world-building was done well, the story plot wasn't in-depth. At first, it went slow, but it was a quick read as I went into the story. There could have been more character development as well. Overall it is a good story about friendship, adventure, and acceptance.
As this was a middle-grade book, It is good for them as they will like the characters and the story's world! They will learn a lot of values with some interesting adventures!
December 21, 2025
This book is a masterclass in page-turning sci-fi for young readers. THRILLING, HEARTFOUND, AND DEEPLY ORIGINAL.
It follows thirteen-year-old Benjamin, who is sent to a mysterious boarding school where he's thrown into etiquette classes with Eve—a spike-covered, purple-dress-wearing, and deeply dangerous creature. The setup is instantly compelling, and Hugo-winner Will McIntosh never lets the tension drop. Benjamin's journey to uncover the truth about Eve and the school's secret agenda is a perfect blend of mystery, friendship, and high-stakes adventure.
The dynamic between Benjamin, his friends Lorena and Persephone, and the terrifying-yet-complex Eve is the heart of the story. It explores trust, anxiety, and what it means to be "other" in a way that's both accessible and profound for a middle-grade audience. The world-building is clever, and the plot twists will keep readers hooked until the very last page. A brilliant, must-read new novel from a fantastic author.
It follows thirteen-year-old Benjamin, who is sent to a mysterious boarding school where he's thrown into etiquette classes with Eve—a spike-covered, purple-dress-wearing, and deeply dangerous creature. The setup is instantly compelling, and Hugo-winner Will McIntosh never lets the tension drop. Benjamin's journey to uncover the truth about Eve and the school's secret agenda is a perfect blend of mystery, friendship, and high-stakes adventure.
The dynamic between Benjamin, his friends Lorena and Persephone, and the terrifying-yet-complex Eve is the heart of the story. It explores trust, anxiety, and what it means to be "other" in a way that's both accessible and profound for a middle-grade audience. The world-building is clever, and the plot twists will keep readers hooked until the very last page. A brilliant, must-read new novel from a fantastic author.
April 11, 2022
thanks to NetGalley and Future House Publishing for providing me with an early copy of this wonderfully strange little book!
where do i even start with this? this was a super fun combination of Stranger Things and E.T. and it was such a fun ride that i read it in two sittings! this is one of the better middle grade sci-fi novels ive read for sure.
it starts off as a mysterious, unsettling head-first dive into an off-putting and way too secure boarding school and turns into a wonderful story of friendship, body image, and self-worth that kids of any age with really enjoy. i might recommend this to the kids who’ve read all the goosebumps books and want to move on to something more complex and bigger than those.
this was ridiculously fun and made me feel all warm and fuzzy. highly recommend.
where do i even start with this? this was a super fun combination of Stranger Things and E.T. and it was such a fun ride that i read it in two sittings! this is one of the better middle grade sci-fi novels ive read for sure.
it starts off as a mysterious, unsettling head-first dive into an off-putting and way too secure boarding school and turns into a wonderful story of friendship, body image, and self-worth that kids of any age with really enjoy. i might recommend this to the kids who’ve read all the goosebumps books and want to move on to something more complex and bigger than those.
this was ridiculously fun and made me feel all warm and fuzzy. highly recommend.
June 20, 2022
The Classmate is my first read from Will McIntosh and I am really happy with my decision to go blind without read the burb. I started this sci-fi middle grade without expectation and ended with full excitements to all revealed twists and turn.
Our MC Ben is relatable hero who conquered his own anxiety disorder and open mind to accept his "different" classmate, Eve. The fast pace of the plot successfully gripped my attention with suspension. I adore synergy between Ben, Lorena and Persephone to make Eve feel safe and happy. This book is short but filled with meaningful messages about trust, acceptance and friendship. Would love to recommend it to friends!
Thank you Netgalley, the author and Future House Publishing for providing me with this copy. I am grateful but my thoughts are my own.
Our MC Ben is relatable hero who conquered his own anxiety disorder and open mind to accept his "different" classmate, Eve. The fast pace of the plot successfully gripped my attention with suspension. I adore synergy between Ben, Lorena and Persephone to make Eve feel safe and happy. This book is short but filled with meaningful messages about trust, acceptance and friendship. Would love to recommend it to friends!
Thank you Netgalley, the author and Future House Publishing for providing me with this copy. I am grateful but my thoughts are my own.
December 9, 2025
Being a successful author is clearly hard. It is not enough to write well. It is not enough to have brilliant ideas. If it were easier, everyone I know who reads science fiction would know this author.
This is kind of a fluff book. It is not even ya, its middle grade. And yet it has a well done non-trite non-boring original enough alien contact story. And there's even some shades of gray, though most everything is black and white ish.
If you trip over this book, I hope you hunt others by this author. This was my 9th and it took an interlibrary loan, thanks to the Arapahoe Library District, Centennial, Colorado.
And I guess it is time for me to just buy these all, because I'l regret it when they become unavailable.
4.5 of 5
This is kind of a fluff book. It is not even ya, its middle grade. And yet it has a well done non-trite non-boring original enough alien contact story. And there's even some shades of gray, though most everything is black and white ish.
If you trip over this book, I hope you hunt others by this author. This was my 9th and it took an interlibrary loan, thanks to the Arapahoe Library District, Centennial, Colorado.
And I guess it is time for me to just buy these all, because I'l regret it when they become unavailable.
4.5 of 5
July 6, 2022
The Classmate is a great middle-grade read about a boy named Ben who gets sent to a secretive school. There he finds the classes odd and one fellow student super scary. Eve, as she is known, does not look to be human but nobody will say precisely what Eve is, and asking is out of the question because she gets violent. As time goes on we find out a lot more about Eve and this strange school. I think this story really hits all the marks of a story that kids will love. It has great characters and a solid mystery. It is very well-written and I really hope that we get a second book to expand the story a bit.
June 2, 2022
The Classmate was a fun read and I strongly recommend it to people who want a quick light read. The character's where fun, diverse, and the plot was definitely interesting. If the author where to write a sequel, I certainly will pick it up. I strongly recommend this to people of all ages.
For my full review please read here!
Please note in an exchange for an honest review, I received an advance reader copy (ARC) from the publisher. Thank you!
For my full review please read here!
Please note in an exchange for an honest review, I received an advance reader copy (ARC) from the publisher. Thank you!
December 25, 2022
Always wonderful to include and read a middle grade book as a palate cleanser in between dense books and this is an equally enjoying and a tense free read.
A story of friendship, mystery and intrigue written in fast pace and good quality, and really good fun and short enough to just sit and read in a day. Will keep an eye out for the next one in this series.
A story of friendship, mystery and intrigue written in fast pace and good quality, and really good fun and short enough to just sit and read in a day. Will keep an eye out for the next one in this series.
February 17, 2022
Despite a few awkward moments early on and some shoehorned diversity, this book was a fast-paced read, a mixture of Close Encounters and ET that worked right up to the ending. I would have liked less of a cookie cutter villain but a solid tale:
July 1, 2022
As a YA story this was light reading, but I love McIntosh's characters. this was really good, and it'll be going on my own child's pile of books to choose from. the message is of course the important thihng, but the action and the humour were real, too. very well done indeed.
April 13, 2022
My daughter enjoyed this book. It kept her interest and she said it was easy to read. She liked the characters.
July 10, 2022
A fun read to kill a few hours.
September 11, 2022
Cute story about a boy who is sent to boarding school with a mysterious classmate and how telling the truth, even when it is hard, turns out to be the best solution to a problem.
January 1, 2023
The best thing going for this story is that you discover most of the plot as the characters do. It's not one that you try to guess the outcome, but rather, it's fun going along for the ride.
October 24, 2022
There are some close calls with Eve - and Ben is given the task to figure things out as he goes along, since none of the authority figures knows what actually makes Eve tick, and what will make her want to and willing to work with others.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Classmate
Author: Will McIntosh
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: MC with Anxiety Disorder
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, sci-fi
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Age Relevance: 12+ (gore, violence, some scary moments)
Explanation of Above: There is slight blood in the book and some violence, including scary moments.
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Pages: 170
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Benjamin is pulled from his old life and forced to attend a special boarding school in the middle of nowhere. That's confusing enough. Then, he's fed instructions through an earbud and thrown into etiquette classes alongside an angry, spike-covered creature. Despite wearing purple dresses and having the unassuming name of Eve, the creature is horrifying and, as Eve quickly demonstrates, dangerous.
With the help of his new friends Lorena and Persephone, Ben must overcome his own anxieties and uncover the truth about Eve’s origin. But he learns that the school's agenda is much bigger than he ever thought possible. Ben needs to earn Eve’s trust, and fast. The fate of the world depends on it.
Review: For the most part the book was pretty good. It has an interesting concept and I think that if it was developed a bit more it would be amazing. The book had fairly well developed characters and the world building was fair too. The book also has a good message about acceptance.
However, there were some parts of this book that were icky to me. There are real life events where teens are taken from their parents under false pretenses for “camp” where they are starved and tortured and the book, how it was worded, started to give me those vibes. I’m glad it was just a government thing, but for younger readers parents might want to read the book first so they can judge if this would be appropriate for their children.
Verdict: It was ok!
Book: The Classmate
Author: Will McIntosh
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: MC with Anxiety Disorder
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, sci-fi
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Age Relevance: 12+ (gore, violence, some scary moments)
Explanation of Above: There is slight blood in the book and some violence, including scary moments.
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Pages: 170
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Benjamin is pulled from his old life and forced to attend a special boarding school in the middle of nowhere. That's confusing enough. Then, he's fed instructions through an earbud and thrown into etiquette classes alongside an angry, spike-covered creature. Despite wearing purple dresses and having the unassuming name of Eve, the creature is horrifying and, as Eve quickly demonstrates, dangerous.
With the help of his new friends Lorena and Persephone, Ben must overcome his own anxieties and uncover the truth about Eve’s origin. But he learns that the school's agenda is much bigger than he ever thought possible. Ben needs to earn Eve’s trust, and fast. The fate of the world depends on it.
Review: For the most part the book was pretty good. It has an interesting concept and I think that if it was developed a bit more it would be amazing. The book had fairly well developed characters and the world building was fair too. The book also has a good message about acceptance.
However, there were some parts of this book that were icky to me. There are real life events where teens are taken from their parents under false pretenses for “camp” where they are starved and tortured and the book, how it was worded, started to give me those vibes. I’m glad it was just a government thing, but for younger readers parents might want to read the book first so they can judge if this would be appropriate for their children.
Verdict: It was ok!
April 16, 2022
I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher, Future House Publishing.
This middle grade novel is based almost entirely around one question: who or what is the titular Classmate Eve, and what is her significance (I guess that's two questions). The main character, Benjamin, and his two friends Persephone and Lorena, throw out some early possibilities. If the author had answered that question "incorrectly," I think readers would've been disappointed.
Fortunately, the author NAILED IT, with an interesting and unique origin that in and of itself makes the book worth reading!
Just to say the book is all about Eve would be taking away from the other characters, particularly Benjamin, the PoV character. He clearly has anxiety, so sitting him in class next to "the Classmate" is exactly what had to happen! He makes a lot of "wrong" decisions from the adults' point of view, but they're always rooted in the right reasons.
There were only two points that really took away from the book for me. The first one, middle grade readers probably won't notice, but there is a bit of passive voice throughout that weakened the writing in my opinion.
The more important one is the setting of a vital scene (spoilers ahead):
Other than that, you have a fast-paced read that keeps the reader going mainly to figure out about Eve. The ending is satisfying (though maybe I would've like just a few more pages!), the twist is well-executed.
Overall, I would recommend this book for any middle graders interested in extra-terrestrial or other worldly beings. Readers of Bruce Coville's novels in particular will enjoy it!
This middle grade novel is based almost entirely around one question: who or what is the titular Classmate Eve, and what is her significance (I guess that's two questions). The main character, Benjamin, and his two friends Persephone and Lorena, throw out some early possibilities. If the author had answered that question "incorrectly," I think readers would've been disappointed.
Fortunately, the author NAILED IT, with an interesting and unique origin that in and of itself makes the book worth reading!
Just to say the book is all about Eve would be taking away from the other characters, particularly Benjamin, the PoV character. He clearly has anxiety, so sitting him in class next to "the Classmate" is exactly what had to happen! He makes a lot of "wrong" decisions from the adults' point of view, but they're always rooted in the right reasons.
There were only two points that really took away from the book for me. The first one, middle grade readers probably won't notice, but there is a bit of passive voice throughout that weakened the writing in my opinion.
The more important one is the setting of a vital scene (spoilers ahead):
Other than that, you have a fast-paced read that keeps the reader going mainly to figure out about Eve. The ending is satisfying (though maybe I would've like just a few more pages!), the twist is well-executed.
Overall, I would recommend this book for any middle graders interested in extra-terrestrial or other worldly beings. Readers of Bruce Coville's novels in particular will enjoy it!
May 28, 2022
For an anxious boy like Benjamin, being shipped off to a top secret boarding school with practically no notice is not the best thing his mother has ever done to him. Luckily, on the bus ride there, Lorena decides they are going to be friends so at least he's not alone.
The school is nothing like he was expecting. It is definitely very suspicious that all these kids have suddenly been sent to this school, even stranger is the curriculum, which really doesn't appear to by the kind of thing the brightest kids of the country would be studying! They soon discover something even stranger about the school...
I really wasn't expecting it, but this book actually made me tear up! I loved the growing friendship between Benjamin and the other kids. While I really wanted to carry on reading and find out what would happen next, I actually loved the ending. The writing was gripping and I hope there will be more from this author.
The school is nothing like he was expecting. It is definitely very suspicious that all these kids have suddenly been sent to this school, even stranger is the curriculum, which really doesn't appear to by the kind of thing the brightest kids of the country would be studying! They soon discover something even stranger about the school...
I really wasn't expecting it, but this book actually made me tear up! I loved the growing friendship between Benjamin and the other kids. While I really wanted to carry on reading and find out what would happen next, I actually loved the ending. The writing was gripping and I hope there will be more from this author.
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