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Boy 23
Boy 23 isn't in My Place any more. He can't see The Screen, he can't hear The Voice. Boy 23 is alone.
One dark night, Boy 23 is thrown in the back of the van and driven out of My Place - the only home he has ever known. He is abandoned in a forest with a rucksack containing the bare essentials for survival. Before the van drives away, a voice tells him he must run as far as he can. His life depends on it. Boy 23 has never known another human. Boy 23 has never even been outside. So who is he? Why do people want to kill him? And more to the point, who is the voice that wants to save him?
A hugely fast-paced dystopian page-turner which by the end will leave you in a state of shock. For fans of Chaos Walking and Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror.
One dark night, Boy 23 is thrown in the back of the van and driven out of My Place - the only home he has ever known. He is abandoned in a forest with a rucksack containing the bare essentials for survival. Before the van drives away, a voice tells him he must run as far as he can. His life depends on it. Boy 23 has never known another human. Boy 23 has never even been outside. So who is he? Why do people want to kill him? And more to the point, who is the voice that wants to save him?
A hugely fast-paced dystopian page-turner which by the end will leave you in a state of shock. For fans of Chaos Walking and Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror.
337 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2015
7 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 23, 2016
Boy 23, or Jesper, has never seen another person before. His whole life has been spent in a controlled environment. His meals arrive on trays, The Voice gives him educational tasks to complete, and as a reward he gets to watch things on The Screen.
Then, blindfolded, abducted and abandoned in a forest, Boy 23 is told to run as far as he can and fight for his life. But who is he? Why do people want him dead? And more to the point, who is The Voice, and why does he want to save him?
Boy 23 presented an interesting premise; a boy raised away from people, suddenly thrust out into the world to fend for himself. He has no experience of what is normal, so he doesn’t realise that he heals unnaturally fast, or that the language he speaks isn’t the only language that exists, until he finds himself around people who communicate in sounds he doesn’t understand, and he’s the odd one out.
There was a virus many years ago that wiped out the majority of the population, and there are rumours of a new strain. There’s a religion-centric children’s home, and priests with questionable motives. There’s a corporation that wants to stop anyone from finding out that Jesper exists. And there are conspiracy theories.
It had the potential to be great, but it got stuck somewhere along the way, in between middle grade and young adult.
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
Then, blindfolded, abducted and abandoned in a forest, Boy 23 is told to run as far as he can and fight for his life. But who is he? Why do people want him dead? And more to the point, who is The Voice, and why does he want to save him?
The room lurches. Everything swirls, nothing staying still. I close my eyes to try to stop it moving, but that doesn’t work, does it? The whole world spins. And my thoughts spin with it and I’m thinking about the tray and that it needs to be picked up, and how my hands feel strange, like my fingers are too big and too sensitive. And the walls – I’m suddenly thinking about how they’re white and I’m wondering if they were always white or did they used to be grey, and I’m wondering who changed them if they did.
Boy 23 presented an interesting premise; a boy raised away from people, suddenly thrust out into the world to fend for himself. He has no experience of what is normal, so he doesn’t realise that he heals unnaturally fast, or that the language he speaks isn’t the only language that exists, until he finds himself around people who communicate in sounds he doesn’t understand, and he’s the odd one out.
There was a virus many years ago that wiped out the majority of the population, and there are rumours of a new strain. There’s a religion-centric children’s home, and priests with questionable motives. There’s a corporation that wants to stop anyone from finding out that Jesper exists. And there are conspiracy theories.
It had the potential to be great, but it got stuck somewhere along the way, in between middle grade and young adult.
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
December 22, 2015
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. It had great pacing, a unique storyline, and interesting characters. There were only a couple of things that stopped me from giving it 5 stars.
I found the language that Jesper (aka "Boy 23) used to be a little annoying - "squizz" instead of look, "yomp" instead of walk, "squawk" instead of bird, etc... I get that it differentiates him from the regular populace, but it felt a little tacky. It didn't really seem necessary as "The Voice" spoke regular English, so there was no obvious reason for Jesper to speak the way he did.
I also found the information drop at the end to be rather odd. All the details about Jesper that were thrown upon the reader, with very little hinting to it throughout the rest of the book, felt quite jarring. The revealing of information throughout the novel could have been spread out a little better, so there weren't all these details coming to light at the very end.
Other than those couple of things, this was quite a good read. I really liked the character of Carina, as she seemed very authentic in her kindness. I loved that she wasn't a "special snowflake" and was only given the opportunities she received due to her being kind to the one person that no one else would go near.
As far as the actual story goes, I found it to be quite original and interesting. I would have liked a little more detail about the overall setting, but that says more about me as a reader, than the book. In actual fact, the setting was described subtly, and in a way that didn't distract from the plot.
For most of the story, it felt like a stand alone, but the ending was left very open. I'm not sure if there is going to be a sequel, or if that's that. Either way, this was a great book, and I recommend it for people who like dystopias, but are a little tired of the standard tropes.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I found the language that Jesper (aka "Boy 23) used to be a little annoying - "squizz" instead of look, "yomp" instead of walk, "squawk" instead of bird, etc... I get that it differentiates him from the regular populace, but it felt a little tacky. It didn't really seem necessary as "The Voice" spoke regular English, so there was no obvious reason for Jesper to speak the way he did.
I also found the information drop at the end to be rather odd. All the details about Jesper that were thrown upon the reader, with very little hinting to it throughout the rest of the book, felt quite jarring. The revealing of information throughout the novel could have been spread out a little better, so there weren't all these details coming to light at the very end.
Other than those couple of things, this was quite a good read. I really liked the character of Carina, as she seemed very authentic in her kindness. I loved that she wasn't a "special snowflake" and was only given the opportunities she received due to her being kind to the one person that no one else would go near.
As far as the actual story goes, I found it to be quite original and interesting. I would have liked a little more detail about the overall setting, but that says more about me as a reader, than the book. In actual fact, the setting was described subtly, and in a way that didn't distract from the plot.
For most of the story, it felt like a stand alone, but the ending was left very open. I'm not sure if there is going to be a sequel, or if that's that. Either way, this was a great book, and I recommend it for people who like dystopias, but are a little tired of the standard tropes.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
March 31, 2018
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I think this was one of the very first books that I requested on Netgalley and I can’t even remember why I requested it, it’s not really something that I would go for. However I requested and finally read it and now reviewing :). This is a science-fiction/dystopian Young adult book, it is hard to categorise as it felt like several genres. We follow this boy and he is known as Boy 23 and lives in ‘My Place’ he doesn’t have any human contact and has no idea of the outside world, he communicates with ‘The voice’ who tells him his schedule and is a role model of such.One night Boy 23 is bundled in to the boot of a car and dumped into the woods with a backpack and ‘the voice’ telling him to run as far away as possible. With never being outside before he doesn’t know foe from friend. Someone is out to get him but he needs to let the right people know that he exists before he is captured. This book was OK! It was fast paced with an air of mystery, however it took a long time for the big reveal and I was getting a little bored to be honest. The writing was not the greatest and the use of ‘Squizz’ and ‘yomping’ was way too much and started irritating the hell out of me. The world building was pretty non-existent, we knew that it was set in Germany but we didn’t get much more than that.
I rated this 2.75/5 stars.
I think this was one of the very first books that I requested on Netgalley and I can’t even remember why I requested it, it’s not really something that I would go for. However I requested and finally read it and now reviewing :). This is a science-fiction/dystopian Young adult book, it is hard to categorise as it felt like several genres. We follow this boy and he is known as Boy 23 and lives in ‘My Place’ he doesn’t have any human contact and has no idea of the outside world, he communicates with ‘The voice’ who tells him his schedule and is a role model of such.One night Boy 23 is bundled in to the boot of a car and dumped into the woods with a backpack and ‘the voice’ telling him to run as far away as possible. With never being outside before he doesn’t know foe from friend. Someone is out to get him but he needs to let the right people know that he exists before he is captured. This book was OK! It was fast paced with an air of mystery, however it took a long time for the big reveal and I was getting a little bored to be honest. The writing was not the greatest and the use of ‘Squizz’ and ‘yomping’ was way too much and started irritating the hell out of me. The world building was pretty non-existent, we knew that it was set in Germany but we didn’t get much more than that.
I rated this 2.75/5 stars.
September 19, 2015
A brilliant read... Boy 23 is very well written, with an excellent storyline that hooks you from the very first page.
September 28, 2015
This review is also posted at Fiddler Blue
Note: I received a copy of Boy 23 in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing and Net Galley for the copy.
Boy 23 grew up alone in a place he simply called My Place. His only companion was his pet Feathers and The Voice, who spoke to him via a computer. His life was routinary, safe, and predictable. Until one night when he was taken away from My Place and left in the forest, told to run away and that people were hunting him to kill him.
For the first time in his life, Boy 23 traveled the world he only saw on a viewing screen and he met people he never knew existed. People who looked at him with wonder, with horror, and with hatred. For Boy 23 was no ordinary boy. He held the key to unravel the secret of the phenomenon that occurred many years ago, and it was necessary that his existence must be kept away from public knowledge. But why do they want to hide him away? What danger awaits Boy 23 on his travel? Who is hunting him? And most importantly, who is he?
Boy 23 has a balanced list of pros and cons. It’s light, fast paced, and there was a lot of action going on. Everything about Boy 23 and the organization and even the children’s home were shrouded in mystery. But at the same time, the mystery reveal took so long; I was 74% done with the novel before the first clue about the organization was given, and then at 94% everything was finally explained by Blake. So it felt that the climax was just about to begin after I learn who Boy 23 was, only to realize that I was very near the end. I wished that the revelations were spaced out and given a bit early in the story to keep the reader engaged and have a bit of understanding to what’s going on.
Boy 23 is written in a first person perspective, told by Jesper, Carina, and Blake. Jesper’s language can be a bit confusing and took a while for me to get used to. He uses words such as yomping, squizz, gawping to say walk, look or stare, respectively. I think it gave Jesper a sense of identity to have him speak differently compared to Carina, but he was taught by an English teacher so it might be a bit unnecessary? And Carina also claimed to only know a little bit of English, but there was a point when she tutored him and said she was fluent with it? Just a little bit inconsistent.
I like how hesitant and unsure Jesper was when he was thrown out to survive on his own. I thought he adapted realistically. I mean, he was sheltered all his life so it was understandable he’ll be a wreck, especially among other humans. I like how Carina describes him as someone who resembles a wild animal, because that was exactly how I also pictured him in my head.
Carina was a great balance and became Jesper’s strong, dependable side kick. She also has her own back story, which was terrible, and she has such a strong personality it was impossible not to root for her. I thought the adults were a bit flat, including Blake. The priests doesn’t act like priests, and were probably just priests by name. The people from the Huber organization sucks REALLY BAD with security! How many times did Blake accomplished his plans under their watchful eye? How many times did he successfully send messages to Boy 23 right under their noses?! Seriously? I thought that would be Blake’s downfall and he will be caught for sure, but they never even found out. The New Dawn soldiers were just as bad, they can’t even capture two teenagers – one wounded and another who was totally out of his element. It was ridiculous how ineffective they were with their jobs.
Finally, I think the greatest thing missing from the novel was a setting. I know it was set sometime in the future, and there were hints of a catastrophe that happened. But other than that, I have no idea just how different their world was from the present. In one conversation, it was revealed that there was not enough electricity in the city, why is that? And how advanced is the Huber corporation? Why didn’t they put a microchip on Boy 23 so they could monitor him and track him wherever he goes? Why can’t they hack Blake’s Screen to read his messages? Oh and time stamps are important too. A chapter ends with Jesper staring anxiously at the boy across him, then next chapter Jesper is doing something else. It’s even more confusing in Blake’s perspective, so maybe an opening of The next day or A few hours later would be good to give the reader an idea of how much time has passed.
Overall, I thought Boy 23 was a good read and quite original. I was certainly interested to learn about Jesper’s history and when it was revealed, I couldn’t believe it! I thought it was pretty good. The ending hinted on a second book so maybe this is going to be a series too?
Note: I received a copy of Boy 23 in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing and Net Galley for the copy.
Boy 23 grew up alone in a place he simply called My Place. His only companion was his pet Feathers and The Voice, who spoke to him via a computer. His life was routinary, safe, and predictable. Until one night when he was taken away from My Place and left in the forest, told to run away and that people were hunting him to kill him.
For the first time in his life, Boy 23 traveled the world he only saw on a viewing screen and he met people he never knew existed. People who looked at him with wonder, with horror, and with hatred. For Boy 23 was no ordinary boy. He held the key to unravel the secret of the phenomenon that occurred many years ago, and it was necessary that his existence must be kept away from public knowledge. But why do they want to hide him away? What danger awaits Boy 23 on his travel? Who is hunting him? And most importantly, who is he?
Boy 23 has a balanced list of pros and cons. It’s light, fast paced, and there was a lot of action going on. Everything about Boy 23 and the organization and even the children’s home were shrouded in mystery. But at the same time, the mystery reveal took so long; I was 74% done with the novel before the first clue about the organization was given, and then at 94% everything was finally explained by Blake. So it felt that the climax was just about to begin after I learn who Boy 23 was, only to realize that I was very near the end. I wished that the revelations were spaced out and given a bit early in the story to keep the reader engaged and have a bit of understanding to what’s going on.
Boy 23 is written in a first person perspective, told by Jesper, Carina, and Blake. Jesper’s language can be a bit confusing and took a while for me to get used to. He uses words such as yomping, squizz, gawping to say walk, look or stare, respectively. I think it gave Jesper a sense of identity to have him speak differently compared to Carina, but he was taught by an English teacher so it might be a bit unnecessary? And Carina also claimed to only know a little bit of English, but there was a point when she tutored him and said she was fluent with it? Just a little bit inconsistent.
I like how hesitant and unsure Jesper was when he was thrown out to survive on his own. I thought he adapted realistically. I mean, he was sheltered all his life so it was understandable he’ll be a wreck, especially among other humans. I like how Carina describes him as someone who resembles a wild animal, because that was exactly how I also pictured him in my head.
Carina was a great balance and became Jesper’s strong, dependable side kick. She also has her own back story, which was terrible, and she has such a strong personality it was impossible not to root for her. I thought the adults were a bit flat, including Blake. The priests doesn’t act like priests, and were probably just priests by name. The people from the Huber organization sucks REALLY BAD with security! How many times did Blake accomplished his plans under their watchful eye? How many times did he successfully send messages to Boy 23 right under their noses?! Seriously? I thought that would be Blake’s downfall and he will be caught for sure, but they never even found out. The New Dawn soldiers were just as bad, they can’t even capture two teenagers – one wounded and another who was totally out of his element. It was ridiculous how ineffective they were with their jobs.
Finally, I think the greatest thing missing from the novel was a setting. I know it was set sometime in the future, and there were hints of a catastrophe that happened. But other than that, I have no idea just how different their world was from the present. In one conversation, it was revealed that there was not enough electricity in the city, why is that? And how advanced is the Huber corporation? Why didn’t they put a microchip on Boy 23 so they could monitor him and track him wherever he goes? Why can’t they hack Blake’s Screen to read his messages? Oh and time stamps are important too. A chapter ends with Jesper staring anxiously at the boy across him, then next chapter Jesper is doing something else. It’s even more confusing in Blake’s perspective, so maybe an opening of The next day or A few hours later would be good to give the reader an idea of how much time has passed.
Overall, I thought Boy 23 was a good read and quite original. I was certainly interested to learn about Jesper’s history and when it was revealed, I couldn’t believe it! I thought it was pretty good. The ending hinted on a second book so maybe this is going to be a series too?
September 30, 2015
Boy 23 is dumped in the forest with only a backpack of tools for basic survival and a set of instructions by The Voice instructing him where to go. Boy 23 is both fascinated and frightened of the outside world as he navigates his way through the forest using the knowledge he gained from The Screen while he stayed at My Place. This book started off really mysterious and just like Boy 23 I didn't know what was in store! Boy 23 stumbles across a Children's Home and reveals himself to be special. The caretakers want to use him for their own agenda whilst people from My Place are determined to get him back.
Boy 23 was quite slow-paced from the beginning and it wasn't very exciting reading about his trek through the forest, hunting and making fires. But once more characters were introduced, things picked up. It wasn't until the end though, where the action took me by surprise and revelations were made about the origins of Boy 23 and the reason why people were after him.
Unfortunately, I didn't grow to like any of the characters. I think the main reason was because Boy 23 was kind of emotionless though I guess it is understandable since he wasn't brought up as a normal child. Carina, an orphan at the children's home was kind and she had a terrible backstory, but I felt quite distant from her too.
Overall I thought Boy 23 had the basic dystopian storyline; a main group in charge, a resistance group against them and the main character seeking to become a rebel. The book didn't really bring anything mind-blowing to the genre but it was a pretty good read with some interesting ideas.
Note: I received an advanced reader's copy from Bloomsbury Publishing Plc via NetGalley to review. This review is my honest opinion.
Boy 23 was quite slow-paced from the beginning and it wasn't very exciting reading about his trek through the forest, hunting and making fires. But once more characters were introduced, things picked up. It wasn't until the end though, where the action took me by surprise and revelations were made about the origins of Boy 23 and the reason why people were after him.
Unfortunately, I didn't grow to like any of the characters. I think the main reason was because Boy 23 was kind of emotionless though I guess it is understandable since he wasn't brought up as a normal child. Carina, an orphan at the children's home was kind and she had a terrible backstory, but I felt quite distant from her too.
Overall I thought Boy 23 had the basic dystopian storyline; a main group in charge, a resistance group against them and the main character seeking to become a rebel. The book didn't really bring anything mind-blowing to the genre but it was a pretty good read with some interesting ideas.
Note: I received an advanced reader's copy from Bloomsbury Publishing Plc via NetGalley to review. This review is my honest opinion.
March 2, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley
One dark night, Boy 23 is thrown in the back of the van and driven out of My Place - the only home he has ever known. He is abandoned in a forest with a rucksack containing the bare essentials for survival. Before the van drives away, a voice tells him he must run as far as he can. His life depends on it. Boy 23 has never known another human. Boy 23 has never even been outside. So who is he? Why do people want to kill him? And more to the point, who is the voice that wants to save him?
2.5 stars
Oops, I just realised I never reviewed this.
I wanted to like this so much but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
Can I just say, that cover is fantastic! So ominous just like the book. The problem with Boy 23 is that most of the book seems to be made up of filler pages. I really rooted for Boy 23 in all his wildness and innocent glory but I could care less about every other character. Also I was not a fan of the narrative as a whole. It might have just been me but I was confused for a wee while there.
There are some really good reviews out there for this book so if it sounds like your cup of tea, I suggest reading some of those.
One dark night, Boy 23 is thrown in the back of the van and driven out of My Place - the only home he has ever known. He is abandoned in a forest with a rucksack containing the bare essentials for survival. Before the van drives away, a voice tells him he must run as far as he can. His life depends on it. Boy 23 has never known another human. Boy 23 has never even been outside. So who is he? Why do people want to kill him? And more to the point, who is the voice that wants to save him?
2.5 stars
Oops, I just realised I never reviewed this.
I wanted to like this so much but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
Can I just say, that cover is fantastic! So ominous just like the book. The problem with Boy 23 is that most of the book seems to be made up of filler pages. I really rooted for Boy 23 in all his wildness and innocent glory but I could care less about every other character. Also I was not a fan of the narrative as a whole. It might have just been me but I was confused for a wee while there.
There are some really good reviews out there for this book so if it sounds like your cup of tea, I suggest reading some of those.
June 23, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book.*
Oh.
I.Loved. liked liked liked it a whole lot.
OK, so I'm used to dystopian adventures, I could easily say I've read my share and I'm starting to get over it. Yet I've read this super fast, got super into it, and will probably read it again, only to see how will I feel about it when I already know the ending.
There's a quote in the book that describes exactly the way I felt for the most half of the book: "I stand exactly where I am, gawping, pulse racing, brain struggling to work out what's going on." This is a perfect quote regarding my feelings. It was kind of weird: I got into it kinda hard, but when things started to make sense and I could figure out things, it started to get better.
It gave me the same vibe as The Book Thief did, but it's probably only because the plot takes place in some German speaking place. Because can you believe it??? A dystopian novel that DOES NOT take place in the US!!! Bonus points for that. (Or predicts the Germans taking over THE US???)
The book is written from 3 POV: Jesper, Blake and Carina, and I liked it that way because I could easily assemble the story. There are short chapters and it wast a bit annoying in the beginning, only to realize after a while that the chapters are like puzzle pieces, and it is a good way to put it all together.
This book is about a boy named Boy 23, who is suddenly in a strange place with a survival kit, not knowing what to do. Boy 23 has never even been outside. Him being outside kind of befuddled me: he was barely impressed by nature. Yes, I know that he's seen it on The Screen, yet he was hardly touched by the enviroment- the grass, trees, THE SKY - only reminded me of Tangled's Rapunzel and how happy she was by only being outside:
Maybe he was abandoned in an dead forest, all chopped and deserted, but I still would have been impressed.
Also, somewhere in the book he starts feeling angry. Well, as a person that only read/was informed about feelings, how come he is not amazed of the feelings he's feeling? I figure he had no reasons to feel angry in My Place yet when he's feeling angry outside he knows exactly to describe the way he feels. I call plot hole because it would've been interesting to have Jesper describe feelings.
He's literally out of his/My Place, and the only thing he knows is that he has to run, to avoid buildings and other people. Sounds kinda intriguing, isn't it? Yes, it was. Of course he is not doing what's been told and of course he finds trouble. OH, AND PLEASE TAKE NOTE that along the way there are some graphic/disturbing scenes in this book and it is not for everyone.
The thing that I found to be very confusing is Boy 23's age. Well, not confusing, but certainly not certain. I usually need my characters to have, if not a specific set of facial traits, at least a height and a way of talking (like a 12 y/o talks different than a 15 y/o or a 18 y/o, respectively). And I was confused by most part of the book regarding Jesper's age: was he 13-or-so (as everybody referred him as "boy" and the way he related what we was going through) or was he a 17 year old, somehow close to Carina's age (as she recounts events from 10 years ago, when she was only 7), yet strange of social acceptable behaviour.
I loved how there was no romance in this novel. I am super tired of romance implication on the edge of danger, so yes, this is a Heaven sent: there is no romance, there is only purpose and actual plot. Bonus points for that.
Also, bonus points for not planning to destroy the government (just yet), as all dystopian heroes do. The ending was open, left up to personal interpretation. It could be left alone, YET I won't mind if there would be a sequel, only because I am curious about the author's perspective.
It's a 4,5/5 for me, because it has unique elements that made it enjoyable, now and probably on a second read on paper.
Oh.
I.
OK, so I'm used to dystopian adventures, I could easily say I've read my share and I'm starting to get over it. Yet I've read this super fast, got super into it, and will probably read it again, only to see how will I feel about it when I already know the ending.
There's a quote in the book that describes exactly the way I felt for the most half of the book: "I stand exactly where I am, gawping, pulse racing, brain struggling to work out what's going on." This is a perfect quote regarding my feelings. It was kind of weird: I got into it kinda hard, but when things started to make sense and I could figure out things, it started to get better.
It gave me the same vibe as The Book Thief did, but it's probably only because the plot takes place in some German speaking place. Because can you believe it??? A dystopian novel that DOES NOT take place in the US!!! Bonus points for that. (Or predicts the Germans taking over THE US???)
The book is written from 3 POV: Jesper, Blake and Carina, and I liked it that way because I could easily assemble the story. There are short chapters and it wast a bit annoying in the beginning, only to realize after a while that the chapters are like puzzle pieces, and it is a good way to put it all together.
This book is about a boy named Boy 23, who is suddenly in a strange place with a survival kit, not knowing what to do. Boy 23 has never even been outside. Him being outside kind of befuddled me: he was barely impressed by nature. Yes, I know that he's seen it on The Screen, yet he was hardly touched by the enviroment- the grass, trees, THE SKY - only reminded me of Tangled's Rapunzel and how happy she was by only being outside:
Maybe he was abandoned in an dead forest, all chopped and deserted, but I still would have been impressed.
Also, somewhere in the book he starts feeling angry. Well, as a person that only read/was informed about feelings, how come he is not amazed of the feelings he's feeling? I figure he had no reasons to feel angry in My Place yet when he's feeling angry outside he knows exactly to describe the way he feels. I call plot hole because it would've been interesting to have Jesper describe feelings.
He's literally out of his/My Place, and the only thing he knows is that he has to run, to avoid buildings and other people. Sounds kinda intriguing, isn't it? Yes, it was. Of course he is not doing what's been told and of course he finds trouble. OH, AND PLEASE TAKE NOTE that along the way there are some graphic/disturbing scenes in this book and it is not for everyone.
The thing that I found to be very confusing is Boy 23's age. Well, not confusing, but certainly not certain. I usually need my characters to have, if not a specific set of facial traits, at least a height and a way of talking (like a 12 y/o talks different than a 15 y/o or a 18 y/o, respectively). And I was confused by most part of the book regarding Jesper's age: was he 13-or-so (as everybody referred him as "boy" and the way he related what we was going through) or was he a 17 year old, somehow close to Carina's age (as she recounts events from 10 years ago, when she was only 7), yet strange of social acceptable behaviour.
I loved how there was no romance in this novel. I am super tired of romance implication on the edge of danger, so yes, this is a Heaven sent: there is no romance, there is only purpose and actual plot. Bonus points for that.
Also, bonus points for not planning to destroy the government (just yet), as all dystopian heroes do. The ending was open, left up to personal interpretation. It could be left alone, YET I won't mind if there would be a sequel, only because I am curious about the author's perspective.
It's a 4,5/5 for me, because it has unique elements that made it enjoyable, now and probably on a second read on paper.
January 11, 2016
I tried hard not to "reveal" anything. I do not talk specifically about the plot or twists/reveals, but even still some may feel that this review contains spoilers, so read at your own risk!
-------------------------------------------
Ok, now that I have had time to sit and think about how this book made me feel I am ready to try and assemble my thoughts so I can give you a review that will hopefully make sense... I'd have to say that this book is a 1.5 to 2 stars.
I was VERY disappointed. I really wanted to love this book. The synopsis grabbed me right in and I was ready for a fast-paced amazing ride. But sadly that is not what I found once I started reading.
This story had soooo much potential. I was really enjoying it. Then I hit about 65 pages in and the story just stalls. There is too much "filler time" in the middle of this book. It seems to be building and building... but it really goes no where. I didn't feel like the ending was a conclusion at all. It was very unsatisfying. It didn't really even feel like a cliffhanger to me. It was just blah! The characters are still... "floundering about" with no real definition... when the story comes to a close. Sure some questions are answered (very few), but many others still hang in the air. Based on the ending I feel like there will be a sequel.
Honestly I was surprised to see that I finished it. I contemplated DNF'ing the book around 65% in, but I pushed myself hoping it would redeem itself.
And the characters... a few were done ...decently. But most of the others where hollow, empty and flat. I felt they could have been fleshed out much better than they were.
The writing was ok, simple to follow, decently fast-paced through about 50% of the book. (the first 25% and the last 25%) But I did have issue with the writing too. Specifically the author's choice to modify parts of the English language, ONLY for the main character. My problem was simple... IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE!! The words the author changed were poorly chosen and felt haphazard and lazy, in my opinion!
Let me explain... I would have completely understood making a hybrid language of sorts based on the fact that this was a dystopian world. (Which was also confusing, more on that in a minute.) So having a hybrid English language to pit against the German language (also used in the book... but in a strange way too) would have been fine. And done properly, it would have added so much to the feel of the world and story... but the author only changes like... 5 or 6 words! And there is NO apparent reason for these language changes. Everyone else speaks normally (in either german or english) So, for me it was distracting and irritating and it took me out of the story. A nice idea, but very poorly executed!
As for the world... It needed to be explained A LOT more. I felt the author was confused and not really sure what sort of world they really wanted this story to be in. Dystopian?... Fantasy?...Paranormal? SciFi?? They tried to use elements from a few places and they didn't blend well.
Parts of this world seemed to imply a virus killed off 80% of the population... Maybe that happened 200 years ago? Maybe 25 years ago?? Other parts felt more like a HUGE world war took place, destroying large portions of the world and that an evil government was now in charge.... and those aspects felt clumsy and like they didn't fit together the way they were written.
Additionally there was several things left very unexplained about the main character that bothered me. I wanted to know... what, how, and why and just more! And I didn't get that... not even close.
If there is a sequel I will most likely NOT be reading it. I have so many other books that I want to read, so I doubt I will waste any more of my time on this series.
-------------------------------------------
Ok, now that I have had time to sit and think about how this book made me feel I am ready to try and assemble my thoughts so I can give you a review that will hopefully make sense... I'd have to say that this book is a 1.5 to 2 stars.
I was VERY disappointed. I really wanted to love this book. The synopsis grabbed me right in and I was ready for a fast-paced amazing ride. But sadly that is not what I found once I started reading.
This story had soooo much potential. I was really enjoying it. Then I hit about 65 pages in and the story just stalls. There is too much "filler time" in the middle of this book. It seems to be building and building... but it really goes no where. I didn't feel like the ending was a conclusion at all. It was very unsatisfying. It didn't really even feel like a cliffhanger to me. It was just blah! The characters are still... "floundering about" with no real definition... when the story comes to a close. Sure some questions are answered (very few), but many others still hang in the air. Based on the ending I feel like there will be a sequel.
Honestly I was surprised to see that I finished it. I contemplated DNF'ing the book around 65% in, but I pushed myself hoping it would redeem itself.
And the characters... a few were done ...decently. But most of the others where hollow, empty and flat. I felt they could have been fleshed out much better than they were.
The writing was ok, simple to follow, decently fast-paced through about 50% of the book. (the first 25% and the last 25%) But I did have issue with the writing too. Specifically the author's choice to modify parts of the English language, ONLY for the main character. My problem was simple... IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE!! The words the author changed were poorly chosen and felt haphazard and lazy, in my opinion!
Let me explain... I would have completely understood making a hybrid language of sorts based on the fact that this was a dystopian world. (Which was also confusing, more on that in a minute.) So having a hybrid English language to pit against the German language (also used in the book... but in a strange way too) would have been fine. And done properly, it would have added so much to the feel of the world and story... but the author only changes like... 5 or 6 words! And there is NO apparent reason for these language changes. Everyone else speaks normally (in either german or english) So, for me it was distracting and irritating and it took me out of the story. A nice idea, but very poorly executed!
As for the world... It needed to be explained A LOT more. I felt the author was confused and not really sure what sort of world they really wanted this story to be in. Dystopian?... Fantasy?...Paranormal? SciFi?? They tried to use elements from a few places and they didn't blend well.
Parts of this world seemed to imply a virus killed off 80% of the population... Maybe that happened 200 years ago? Maybe 25 years ago?? Other parts felt more like a HUGE world war took place, destroying large portions of the world and that an evil government was now in charge.... and those aspects felt clumsy and like they didn't fit together the way they were written.
Additionally there was several things left very unexplained about the main character that bothered me. I wanted to know... what, how, and why and just more! And I didn't get that... not even close.
If there is a sequel I will most likely NOT be reading it. I have so many other books that I want to read, so I doubt I will waste any more of my time on this series.
October 19, 2015
Jesper (aka Boy 23) finds himself in the woods, with just a minimal survival kit, his PDA and the instructions given to him by The Voice. The Voice is planning to meet him soon, and told him which way to head since helping him to escape what he refers to as My Place - one room that is all he has ever known.
However, on his way to the rendez-vous, Jesper is supposed to avoid contact with any other people - dangerous especially as everyone is mistrustful of strangers due to the disease that has wiped so many out.
There was much to like about the book - a different kind of dystopian YA fiction that wasn't immediately obvious - some great characters in Blake and Carina and that nagging feeling that something big was about to be revealed. It was also quite light and fun to read.
However, there was plenty NOT to like too - Jesper's way of talking, which felt stilted and jarred with me - always saying "yomp" instead of walk, "squizz" instead of look etc. The way that much was hinted at throughout the book, but nothing was explained until right at the end when there was an almighty dump of story! also, considering they are such a hugely technologically advanced organisation, the Huber corporation found it very hard to keep track of one of their highly important subjects, which felt unrealistic.
I am assuming that there is going to be another book in the series, which wasn't what I expected until quite near the end, and I would be interested in finding out Jesper's fate. If I could score 3.5 stars, I would, but it's certainly not a 4 star for me!
However, on his way to the rendez-vous, Jesper is supposed to avoid contact with any other people - dangerous especially as everyone is mistrustful of strangers due to the disease that has wiped so many out.
There was much to like about the book - a different kind of dystopian YA fiction that wasn't immediately obvious - some great characters in Blake and Carina and that nagging feeling that something big was about to be revealed. It was also quite light and fun to read.
However, there was plenty NOT to like too - Jesper's way of talking, which felt stilted and jarred with me - always saying "yomp" instead of walk, "squizz" instead of look etc. The way that much was hinted at throughout the book, but nothing was explained until right at the end when there was an almighty dump of story! also, considering they are such a hugely technologically advanced organisation, the Huber corporation found it very hard to keep track of one of their highly important subjects, which felt unrealistic.
I am assuming that there is going to be another book in the series, which wasn't what I expected until quite near the end, and I would be interested in finding out Jesper's fate. If I could score 3.5 stars, I would, but it's certainly not a 4 star for me!
December 1, 2015
3.5 stars
I love it when you just get thrown into a story, which works really well with a dystopian. You get to feel the same confusion as the main characters, making it so easy to get in the right mindset.
Though the confusion doesn’t last too long, as the story is told from three different point of views. Soon we know more about what is going on than Boy 23, making it a bit less exciting.
The main plot is Boy 23 is trying to reach the resistance, and stay out of the hands of the bad guys, while figuring out what is going on. I really liked the fact that the further we got into the story, the more the pace picked up. This giving you that feeling of urgency and danger.
An excellent start of a new dystopian series. I liked the characters well enough, and there were a couple of twists that took me by surprise, making the story more interesting for me. While it ends with a cliffhanger, it doesn’t leave you with a “I need the next book now!!!”-feeling, though enough to leave you wanting more.
*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I love it when you just get thrown into a story, which works really well with a dystopian. You get to feel the same confusion as the main characters, making it so easy to get in the right mindset.
Though the confusion doesn’t last too long, as the story is told from three different point of views. Soon we know more about what is going on than Boy 23, making it a bit less exciting.
The main plot is Boy 23 is trying to reach the resistance, and stay out of the hands of the bad guys, while figuring out what is going on. I really liked the fact that the further we got into the story, the more the pace picked up. This giving you that feeling of urgency and danger.
An excellent start of a new dystopian series. I liked the characters well enough, and there were a couple of twists that took me by surprise, making the story more interesting for me. While it ends with a cliffhanger, it doesn’t leave you with a “I need the next book now!!!”-feeling, though enough to leave you wanting more.
*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 30, 2021
It started off very mysteriously, which made me want to read it and it had an interesting and intriguing storyline. It was also in 3 different point of views which helped to keep the reader captivated, but the ending and explanation seemed really dumb and out of place. I didn't start reading this book expecting it to be sort of science fiction so the ending seemed very unexpected, but not like a twist, it just seemed out of place and sort of dumb.
January 11, 2017
great action with a twist at the end as well as others throughout.
January 19, 2022
Hi everyone, Its Christopher the reader here and the book we are here to talk about tonight is Boy 23. For me this is a Re-read, I read this book again in January and it took me a day to finish reading. I am now going to talk about some of the book details. It was first published on the 19th of November in 2015. It was told using first person with it being in Carina's, Jasper's and Blake's point of view. All together the book had 336 pages.
- I liked the pacing, It felt a little slow to start off but I felt the further we got into the story, the more the pace picked up. I liked the action that the book had and that it also had unusual use of slang, it was a bit odd at first but after a while you do get used to it. I was happy that the book had flashbacks within the story so that we wasn't just told about everything and that when we did get a flashback/dream that the words were written using a different font text so that the words didn't blend in with the rest of the book. I did find the chapters a bit annoying as they were pretty short. Am more of a long chapter person. I did find it a bit confusing at first. I kept wondering how all the different point of views were all going to work and fit together in the story. With this book it was really that each chapter was like a piece of a puzzle which slowly came together as the book went on. After a while I did start to like the mystery side of it all. I also liked that it was like the first book of the maze runner series, this one also didn't have any romance which I think is nice as it lets us focus on the story itself.
I do feel like the layout of the text in the book could have been a bit better, I just felt like the text went a bit to near the edge of the page which made some of the words hard to read if you don't want to damage the book. I had to read the book in a way which made the cover wrinkly so that I didn't have to brake the spine. I did find it a bit challenging when trying to picture the characters fully as it doesn't really mention much detail really at all and we were still getting filled a bit more detail at the very end of the story of what some of the characters looked like. We also didn't get an age range of the characters in the book. I would have liked for the book to have dived a little deeper into Jasper's character and his experience with the world for the first time as that part felt a bit lacking. Like all he know was what he would call my place for his whole life and only seeing the outside world through screens. I would have liked to have read his feelings and how it was like for him to experience all of it for the first time. Them parts in the story for me felt a little rushed. Some of the words that side-characters used were in German, parts of the book tells us what was said in English but not all the time so if you want to know every little thing that was said make sure you have access to google translate near you.
-After reading the book it does feel like a stand-alone but it also feels like the ending was left open. So there maybe be a sequel sometime in the future. I hope there is one, I just want to read about what happens next and learn a bit more of what the rest of the world is like as this book really takes place inside buildings most of the time. I loved that this book was turned into an audible book as personally when I listen and read along I find that I gain a deeper experience with the book. I would like it if this book gets turned into a TV Show, If it ever does I would probably go and watch it.
For each book that I read, I rate it out of 10, so for this I'm going to give it 9.2. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
- I liked the pacing, It felt a little slow to start off but I felt the further we got into the story, the more the pace picked up. I liked the action that the book had and that it also had unusual use of slang, it was a bit odd at first but after a while you do get used to it. I was happy that the book had flashbacks within the story so that we wasn't just told about everything and that when we did get a flashback/dream that the words were written using a different font text so that the words didn't blend in with the rest of the book. I did find the chapters a bit annoying as they were pretty short. Am more of a long chapter person. I did find it a bit confusing at first. I kept wondering how all the different point of views were all going to work and fit together in the story. With this book it was really that each chapter was like a piece of a puzzle which slowly came together as the book went on. After a while I did start to like the mystery side of it all. I also liked that it was like the first book of the maze runner series, this one also didn't have any romance which I think is nice as it lets us focus on the story itself.
I do feel like the layout of the text in the book could have been a bit better, I just felt like the text went a bit to near the edge of the page which made some of the words hard to read if you don't want to damage the book. I had to read the book in a way which made the cover wrinkly so that I didn't have to brake the spine. I did find it a bit challenging when trying to picture the characters fully as it doesn't really mention much detail really at all and we were still getting filled a bit more detail at the very end of the story of what some of the characters looked like. We also didn't get an age range of the characters in the book. I would have liked for the book to have dived a little deeper into Jasper's character and his experience with the world for the first time as that part felt a bit lacking. Like all he know was what he would call my place for his whole life and only seeing the outside world through screens. I would have liked to have read his feelings and how it was like for him to experience all of it for the first time. Them parts in the story for me felt a little rushed. Some of the words that side-characters used were in German, parts of the book tells us what was said in English but not all the time so if you want to know every little thing that was said make sure you have access to google translate near you.
-After reading the book it does feel like a stand-alone but it also feels like the ending was left open. So there maybe be a sequel sometime in the future. I hope there is one, I just want to read about what happens next and learn a bit more of what the rest of the world is like as this book really takes place inside buildings most of the time. I loved that this book was turned into an audible book as personally when I listen and read along I find that I gain a deeper experience with the book. I would like it if this book gets turned into a TV Show, If it ever does I would probably go and watch it.
For each book that I read, I rate it out of 10, so for this I'm going to give it 9.2. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
December 30, 2025
Boy 23 is a highly effective genre piece. It doesn't aim to redefine dystopian literature but to execute a specific, tense, and paranoid thriller within that framework with impressive efficiency. Its comparative titles, Chaos Walking for the disoriented protagonist in a hostile world, Black Mirror for its bleak, tech-adjacent premise, are apt. Recommended for readers who love a fast-paced, unputdownable mystery-thriller, for teachers looking for a high-interest, accessible dystopian text to engage reluctant readers, and for anyone who enjoys a story that starts at a sprint and never slows down.
November 7, 2018
It was pretty good but there were a few aspects that bugged me, for example he would replace normal words with something weird and it took me a while to work out what he meat, also the amount of questions boy 23 asks himself! It ruins the flow of the book and are completely pointless! In addition to all this there is a lack of explanation about what is going on, I feel he could have given us a little detail of what has happened. This aside I really love this book, the plot is intriguing and with suspense on every page a must read for anyone who likes mystery and adventure.
June 18, 2018
it was fine. Too many points of view too soon I think. would've been more of a mystery to keep it close a while longer.
Read
April 11, 2020DNF @ 54%. Just can’t vibe with the writing style
May 24, 2025
Read for Book Bingo at the local library.
January 26, 2016
I received this book from Bloomsbury Australia and didn't know a thing about it. But I liked the cover right away, and decided to look it up on Goodreads. There seemed to be a mixed reaction, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Still, I was intrigued enough to give it a go.
After reading a few chapters, I was hooked. You get thrown right into the middle of the story in a way that keeps you glued to the pages until you find out more.
Jesper--aka Boy 23--has lived his whole life in My Place. A room where his only companion is a bird and The Voice. Throughout his life he was set tasks, learned how to solve complicated problems, watched videos on a screen to enhance his learning, and was kept fed and clothed. He even knows the basics about how to survive in the wild.
So when The Voice drops him off in the middle of nowhere with a backpack full of supplies, tells him to head north-west, and stay away from other humans... he does as instructed. Jesper trusts The Voice because he's never given him reason not to. Even though he has a lot of questions and the landscape around him is mostly fallen buildings and empty villages, he enjoys the freedom and isolation.
His only connection to The Voice is a handheld device (a scroll) which he eventually loses after he's rundown. When Jesper wakes up in an orphanage run by priests preaching religion and making kids work for their keep, all he wants to do is escape. Not to mention that he can't understand their language (most people speak German) and he's constantly getting bullied. It's during one of these incidents that the priest in charge finds out a fascinating secret about Jesper and is suddenly very interested in parading him around.
While most kids choose to keep their distance, there is one girl called Carina who is willing to speak and befriend him. And it's with Carina and a helpful hand from The Voice that Jesper might find his freedom, get some answers and find out what really happened in this broken world.
O. M. G. This book was such an awesome surprise! Like I mentioned above, I didn't know what to expect when I set on this journey, but I found myself on a cat and mouse chase that took me over a desolate version of Europe and slowly revealed the many reasons why everything was now devastated.
This action adventure story is told in the alternating POVs of Jesper (Boy 23), Carina (an orphan with a heart-breaking story) and Blake (an official with a personal interest in the situation). Each one has their own secrets and the longer we spend with each character the more we realise just how scary, dangerous and controlled the world they live in happens to be. There are some very cool revelations and secrets that only enhance the experience.
Boy 23 is an amazing and very clever YA dystopian/sci-fi thriller. As soon as you strap in, this story hooks you in and doesn't let go while the characters try to escape one terrible situation after another. As soon as I started all I wanted to do was keep reading to find out more. It really is a thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
I loved it! Can't wait to find out what happens next to Jesper and Carina...
Thank you Bloomsbury, for sending me such a fantastic book. :)
After reading a few chapters, I was hooked. You get thrown right into the middle of the story in a way that keeps you glued to the pages until you find out more.
Jesper--aka Boy 23--has lived his whole life in My Place. A room where his only companion is a bird and The Voice. Throughout his life he was set tasks, learned how to solve complicated problems, watched videos on a screen to enhance his learning, and was kept fed and clothed. He even knows the basics about how to survive in the wild.
So when The Voice drops him off in the middle of nowhere with a backpack full of supplies, tells him to head north-west, and stay away from other humans... he does as instructed. Jesper trusts The Voice because he's never given him reason not to. Even though he has a lot of questions and the landscape around him is mostly fallen buildings and empty villages, he enjoys the freedom and isolation.
His only connection to The Voice is a handheld device (a scroll) which he eventually loses after he's rundown. When Jesper wakes up in an orphanage run by priests preaching religion and making kids work for their keep, all he wants to do is escape. Not to mention that he can't understand their language (most people speak German) and he's constantly getting bullied. It's during one of these incidents that the priest in charge finds out a fascinating secret about Jesper and is suddenly very interested in parading him around.
While most kids choose to keep their distance, there is one girl called Carina who is willing to speak and befriend him. And it's with Carina and a helpful hand from The Voice that Jesper might find his freedom, get some answers and find out what really happened in this broken world.
O. M. G. This book was such an awesome surprise! Like I mentioned above, I didn't know what to expect when I set on this journey, but I found myself on a cat and mouse chase that took me over a desolate version of Europe and slowly revealed the many reasons why everything was now devastated.
This action adventure story is told in the alternating POVs of Jesper (Boy 23), Carina (an orphan with a heart-breaking story) and Blake (an official with a personal interest in the situation). Each one has their own secrets and the longer we spend with each character the more we realise just how scary, dangerous and controlled the world they live in happens to be. There are some very cool revelations and secrets that only enhance the experience.
Boy 23 is an amazing and very clever YA dystopian/sci-fi thriller. As soon as you strap in, this story hooks you in and doesn't let go while the characters try to escape one terrible situation after another. As soon as I started all I wanted to do was keep reading to find out more. It really is a thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
I loved it! Can't wait to find out what happens next to Jesper and Carina...
Thank you Bloomsbury, for sending me such a fantastic book. :)
December 28, 2015
Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
______________________
I knew next to nothing about this book when I first saw it, but I was super excited to pick it up and read it. I like going into a book knowing almost nothing about it and the cover was enough to grip my initial interest.
Boy 23 – or Jesper – has been kept in a facility known as My Place for his entire life. He’s lived in his own room with no interaction with other people other than occasional messages from The Voice. Then one night, he’s taken outside My Place and left in a forest with nothing but a message from The Voice telling him to head in a certain direction and a bag full of supplies.
Jesper doesn’t understand how the world outside of My Place works and his curiosity gets the better of him, ending up with him being captured and taken to a home run by priests who discover his unique ability and use it to their own advantage.
I found it hard to get into this book just because it was quite slow to begin with. I found it tedious after a while to continue to see Jesper questioning everything around him and not really progressing very far. The alternate chapters with the other characters were only slightly better, but they made the story feel very disjointed in the beginning with wondering how these other people fit into the story.
The language of Jesper was difficult to follow at times too, with words like ‘yomp’ and ‘squizz’ thrown around like we’re supposed to understand them straight away.
However, as the story progressed and the characters’ plots lined up, I found myself completely engrossed in what was going on and I flew through the end of the book. Jesper doesn’t realise that he’s different from everyone else – particularly in the way that his body heals itself almost immediately – and his continual surprise at their shock to this fact was mildly amusing.
The action that dominates the latter part of the story was very edge-of-your-seat reading and I found myself desperate to know what would happen next. I got rather attached to the characters the longer they were together.
The thing that really saved this story for me was the mystery surrounding Jesper’s life: why had he lived in a room by himself for his whole life? why was he able to heal himself so easily? why was the company who had held him for so long trying to kill him now?
The answers to these questions was not what I had expected, but looking back on it, it didn’t surprise me that it turned out the way it did. It was a great twist that made me go ‘huh’ out loud, in that I-had-not-expected-this kind of way.
An intriguing story that keeps you guessing.
______________________
I knew next to nothing about this book when I first saw it, but I was super excited to pick it up and read it. I like going into a book knowing almost nothing about it and the cover was enough to grip my initial interest.
Boy 23 – or Jesper – has been kept in a facility known as My Place for his entire life. He’s lived in his own room with no interaction with other people other than occasional messages from The Voice. Then one night, he’s taken outside My Place and left in a forest with nothing but a message from The Voice telling him to head in a certain direction and a bag full of supplies.
Jesper doesn’t understand how the world outside of My Place works and his curiosity gets the better of him, ending up with him being captured and taken to a home run by priests who discover his unique ability and use it to their own advantage.
I found it hard to get into this book just because it was quite slow to begin with. I found it tedious after a while to continue to see Jesper questioning everything around him and not really progressing very far. The alternate chapters with the other characters were only slightly better, but they made the story feel very disjointed in the beginning with wondering how these other people fit into the story.
The language of Jesper was difficult to follow at times too, with words like ‘yomp’ and ‘squizz’ thrown around like we’re supposed to understand them straight away.
However, as the story progressed and the characters’ plots lined up, I found myself completely engrossed in what was going on and I flew through the end of the book. Jesper doesn’t realise that he’s different from everyone else – particularly in the way that his body heals itself almost immediately – and his continual surprise at their shock to this fact was mildly amusing.
The action that dominates the latter part of the story was very edge-of-your-seat reading and I found myself desperate to know what would happen next. I got rather attached to the characters the longer they were together.
The thing that really saved this story for me was the mystery surrounding Jesper’s life: why had he lived in a room by himself for his whole life? why was he able to heal himself so easily? why was the company who had held him for so long trying to kill him now?
The answers to these questions was not what I had expected, but looking back on it, it didn’t surprise me that it turned out the way it did. It was a great twist that made me go ‘huh’ out loud, in that I-had-not-expected-this kind of way.
An intriguing story that keeps you guessing.
November 16, 2015
From the cover till the end, this book had me totally hooked!
I loved the way the story was told. Jim Carrington did a magnificent job in making this book intellectually engaging. The first few pages had me hooked and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I was curious and wanted to know immediately what happened.
One thing that I particularly notice was how the boy speaks and the way his sentences always ended with a tag question. Just from the way he talked you could tell he was different but it was a mystery why he is. The other character, Carina was also an inspiring one from the strength of her personality to the backstory that developed her character. These two and the other characters are very individual you could easily distinguish who is who even without mentioning names like they are real people. Jim Carrington not only wrote about these characters, he gave them life.
I like how the main character was so innocent yet also very smart. A total opposite of the other character, Carina who's seen a lot at a young age and was strengthen by it. While the other character Marcus was such a bully and a total opposite of the two of them combined. I think the author has captured an act of bullying here really well and hopefully it shed some light to the readers as to how to prevent it.
This book also had me wondering if some of the things that happens around us is also a by product of wanting power and riches as does the main villains of this book. So somehow, for me it also gives a glimpse of how political power and battles actually worked.
I really enjoyed the story and as this is YA, I think children on it's age bracket will enjoy reading this book as well. After all, this is the kind of story curious minds like to dig in. I only hope that the author will release the next book the soonest possible time. That cliffhanger was really something.
More reviews at: http://versusthewriter.wordpress.com
I loved the way the story was told. Jim Carrington did a magnificent job in making this book intellectually engaging. The first few pages had me hooked and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I was curious and wanted to know immediately what happened.
One thing that I particularly notice was how the boy speaks and the way his sentences always ended with a tag question. Just from the way he talked you could tell he was different but it was a mystery why he is. The other character, Carina was also an inspiring one from the strength of her personality to the backstory that developed her character. These two and the other characters are very individual you could easily distinguish who is who even without mentioning names like they are real people. Jim Carrington not only wrote about these characters, he gave them life.
I like how the main character was so innocent yet also very smart. A total opposite of the other character, Carina who's seen a lot at a young age and was strengthen by it. While the other character Marcus was such a bully and a total opposite of the two of them combined. I think the author has captured an act of bullying here really well and hopefully it shed some light to the readers as to how to prevent it.
This book also had me wondering if some of the things that happens around us is also a by product of wanting power and riches as does the main villains of this book. So somehow, for me it also gives a glimpse of how political power and battles actually worked.
I really enjoyed the story and as this is YA, I think children on it's age bracket will enjoy reading this book as well. After all, this is the kind of story curious minds like to dig in. I only hope that the author will release the next book the soonest possible time. That cliffhanger was really something.
More reviews at: http://versusthewriter.wordpress.com
January 8, 2016
This review first appeared on my blog Bart's Bookshelf.
A couple of years ago, I read Jim Carrington’s Drive By, and Boy 23 sounded so different to that one, that I knew I just had to read it. It was obviously meant to be, as just a few days after requesting it on Netgalley, a copy also dropped through my letterbox!
The set up in the blurb, promises a breathless chase; as our main character Jesper aka Boy 23 attempts to evade capture, and try to survive in a world he’s never been part of… however, and there’s no real way of discussing this without spoilers, so look away now, if you want to avoid them… Not that long after being left alone, that chase comes to an abrupt end, as events conspire to means Jesper stays in one place for a good section of the novel.
That is not to say, the story grinds to a halt, it just changes pace for a bit, and so isn’t the mad scramble all the way though I was expecting. (the Chaos Walking comparison is likely the main culprit behind me expectations!) There is plenty going on though, connections to make and information to uncover. It’s here that he meets Carina, a girl who is also staying at the same place he ends up, and who has an interesting story to tell as well.
And then… the accelerator is slammed down and doesn’t let up, until the end of the book. So yes, it was as I thought, a totally different feel to Drive By, and while it wasn’t quite the story I was expecting, it was one I really did enjoy, and was also I felt a fresh take on a YA dystopian world.
My copy of Boy 23 by Jim Carrington was provided the publisher for review purposes.
A couple of years ago, I read Jim Carrington’s Drive By, and Boy 23 sounded so different to that one, that I knew I just had to read it. It was obviously meant to be, as just a few days after requesting it on Netgalley, a copy also dropped through my letterbox!
The set up in the blurb, promises a breathless chase; as our main character Jesper aka Boy 23 attempts to evade capture, and try to survive in a world he’s never been part of… however, and there’s no real way of discussing this without spoilers, so look away now, if you want to avoid them… Not that long after being left alone, that chase comes to an abrupt end, as events conspire to means Jesper stays in one place for a good section of the novel.
That is not to say, the story grinds to a halt, it just changes pace for a bit, and so isn’t the mad scramble all the way though I was expecting. (the Chaos Walking comparison is likely the main culprit behind me expectations!) There is plenty going on though, connections to make and information to uncover. It’s here that he meets Carina, a girl who is also staying at the same place he ends up, and who has an interesting story to tell as well.
And then… the accelerator is slammed down and doesn’t let up, until the end of the book. So yes, it was as I thought, a totally different feel to Drive By, and while it wasn’t quite the story I was expecting, it was one I really did enjoy, and was also I felt a fresh take on a YA dystopian world.
My copy of Boy 23 by Jim Carrington was provided the publisher for review purposes.
February 22, 2016
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Boy23 is released into the wild with instructions to run. The problem is that he has never been outside before, and has never seen another human. He doesn’t know that other humans might die from coming in contact with him, or that they might want to kill him. All he can do is follow the instructions of The Voice and hope for the best.
The changes between the different perspectives were clear between adults and children, but the two kids, Jesper and Carina, their voices weren’t well defined. I could read one, and because what they saw overlapped, I got confused about how many things had happened.
The idea is interesting, but not unique. I was really looking forward to it, but was left underwhelmed. I am certain I have read other novels of the ‘left outside to fend for yourself’ genre. Not that their names come to mind at the moment. I did at least get all the way through this book in one sitting, which is more than what I can see for the other couple I have been reading (and not yet finished for reviewing).
The ending left me underwhelmed. There was no sign of actual conclusions, and as far as I can see, there is no sequel planned. Now normally that would be ok, but the ending isn’t really a satisfying wrap up of the novel here.
I’ll give it 3 stars – ok, but it’s ok to give this one a miss. There are other novels out there that are equally good or better.
Boy23 is released into the wild with instructions to run. The problem is that he has never been outside before, and has never seen another human. He doesn’t know that other humans might die from coming in contact with him, or that they might want to kill him. All he can do is follow the instructions of The Voice and hope for the best.
The changes between the different perspectives were clear between adults and children, but the two kids, Jesper and Carina, their voices weren’t well defined. I could read one, and because what they saw overlapped, I got confused about how many things had happened.
The idea is interesting, but not unique. I was really looking forward to it, but was left underwhelmed. I am certain I have read other novels of the ‘left outside to fend for yourself’ genre. Not that their names come to mind at the moment. I did at least get all the way through this book in one sitting, which is more than what I can see for the other couple I have been reading (and not yet finished for reviewing).
The ending left me underwhelmed. There was no sign of actual conclusions, and as far as I can see, there is no sequel planned. Now normally that would be ok, but the ending isn’t really a satisfying wrap up of the novel here.
I’ll give it 3 stars – ok, but it’s ok to give this one a miss. There are other novels out there that are equally good or better.
March 8, 2016
Boy 23 has an intriguing style to it that I really like. Jim Carrington sets up the image of some alienated boy (who doesn't even know proper English) that's been dumped out in the wild to fend for himself. He elaborates on this, and I don't want to go into too much detail on this because it'd spoil the story and is hard to explain briefly. The way that he has no chapters in the book makes it twice as hard to put down as there's no set spot to stop; you just want to keep on reading. The only kind of divider it has is when it changes perspective from one character to another. I personally like that Carrington has done this as the reader get's the same insight into each character's mind as in ordinary first person except with more characters. I really do think Boy 23 is an awesome book.
November 1, 2017
Okay, this book really had a lot of twists. At first, I thought the main character was artificial intelligence, then a ghoul, then a vampire. . . and it was nothing close!!!
So many stuff I didn't expect that blew my mind. It contains mostly just questions through the whole story making you think up plot and answers yourself which was frustrating to me as reader but kept me reading ;)
Also, stuff I didn't like. . . how old is boy23? how old is Carina? how old is Blake? how old is anybody in this book??? the only person I know their age is the OLD MAN, guess how old is he? OLD! This's a serious mistake and needs to be corrected. . . please! just tell me how old are these people!
And, what does anyone look like???? hair colour??? nothing! just at the last page we get (eye colour and high cheekbones) for the main character. . . helped loads MR writer. . .
The characters where amazingly developed! loved Carina, loved boy23, loved Blake. AMAZING character traits, just as if they are real!
And for the first time in my life, I read the author note. . . I can't believe were this book came from! I thought the author must have been making it up but I googled and found it was true. . . I'm amazed!
Totally deserves a read.
So many stuff I didn't expect that blew my mind. It contains mostly just questions through the whole story making you think up plot and answers yourself which was frustrating to me as reader but kept me reading ;)
Also, stuff I didn't like. . . how old is boy23? how old is Carina? how old is Blake? how old is anybody in this book??? the only person I know their age is the OLD MAN, guess how old is he? OLD! This's a serious mistake and needs to be corrected. . . please! just tell me how old are these people!
And, what does anyone look like???? hair colour??? nothing! just at the last page we get (eye colour and high cheekbones) for the main character. . . helped loads MR writer. . .
The characters where amazingly developed! loved Carina, loved boy23, loved Blake. AMAZING character traits, just as if they are real!
And for the first time in my life, I read the author note. . . I can't believe were this book came from! I thought the author must have been making it up but I googled and found it was true. . . I'm amazed!
Totally deserves a read.
April 6, 2016
Thank you to Bloomsbury UK for the advanced proof via Netgalley.
This is a dystopian/sci-fi mystery with some excellent family and friendship themes.
I've given this four stars based on my rating scale - 1. Well defined plot/backstory 2. Range/intensity of emotions experienced by reader 3. Character development 4. Couldn't put down/wait to read more/kept thinking about 5. Cover design (as a bookseller I know a book has 10 seconds to grab your attention, so it's very important).
I gave it four stars because I personally don't like the cover. I feel it gives the book a younger feel than the story works for. Having said that, it is bold and eye-catching.
I don't wish to give too much plot away as the action kicks-off straight away but I particularly enjoyed exploring the world alongside Boy23 as he finds himself catapulted from apparent safety into the unknown.
There's Marsh Flu wiping out civilisation, a Far Right regime in power and everyone seems to have an agenda that can't be trusted. I was reminded a bit of Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner whilst reading this. The ending suggests a sequel.
This is a dystopian/sci-fi mystery with some excellent family and friendship themes.
I've given this four stars based on my rating scale - 1. Well defined plot/backstory 2. Range/intensity of emotions experienced by reader 3. Character development 4. Couldn't put down/wait to read more/kept thinking about 5. Cover design (as a bookseller I know a book has 10 seconds to grab your attention, so it's very important).
I gave it four stars because I personally don't like the cover. I feel it gives the book a younger feel than the story works for. Having said that, it is bold and eye-catching.
I don't wish to give too much plot away as the action kicks-off straight away but I particularly enjoyed exploring the world alongside Boy23 as he finds himself catapulted from apparent safety into the unknown.
There's Marsh Flu wiping out civilisation, a Far Right regime in power and everyone seems to have an agenda that can't be trusted. I was reminded a bit of Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner whilst reading this. The ending suggests a sequel.
November 6, 2015
Brilliant stuff - give us more!
Jim Carrington's latest novel is far darker than his earlier ones, a dystopian novel with a boy whose past is mysterious and his future bleak. The experience of Boy 23 himself is unsettling for the reader because aspects of it are very familiar and at the same time alien to us and such a nightmare. The author very cleverly expresses this through Boy 23's vocabulary, which is often different from ours, but perfectly understandable. He's become acclimatised to an inhuman regime, and at the beginning, this - 'My Place' is all he knows. Escaping from that, his life is no better, and when it becomes clear that he's different from others, we are constantly on edge, waiting for the next awful situation to occur. It's tense and it's heart-breaking, a sci-fi novel which reflects our own experience and our worst fears.
Please, please write a sequel!
Jim Carrington's latest novel is far darker than his earlier ones, a dystopian novel with a boy whose past is mysterious and his future bleak. The experience of Boy 23 himself is unsettling for the reader because aspects of it are very familiar and at the same time alien to us and such a nightmare. The author very cleverly expresses this through Boy 23's vocabulary, which is often different from ours, but perfectly understandable. He's become acclimatised to an inhuman regime, and at the beginning, this - 'My Place' is all he knows. Escaping from that, his life is no better, and when it becomes clear that he's different from others, we are constantly on edge, waiting for the next awful situation to occur. It's tense and it's heart-breaking, a sci-fi novel which reflects our own experience and our worst fears.
Please, please write a sequel!
January 24, 2016
This was a very interesting book first of all it is British, so the vocabulary is different than what I am use to, second you do not learn till the end that there is an alien element to the story. Jasper has grown up in a room, that he has never left, had never seen another human, and is taken care of by "the voice". The Voice gives him tasks to do on a computer, makes sure there are clothes and food for him when he wakes up, but one day The Voice drops him in a forest and tells him to run, he is in danger. This is the beginning of Jasper's adventure, that has him befriending a homeless person, running from New Dawn, and ending up in an orphanage. The Voice tries to help him along the way as does a girl from the orphanage. What he learns at the end of the book, will have you saying, "What?". Then asking how long do I have to wait for the next one.
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