Detention Land

by Susan Orion

Roger is on the verge of a mental breakdown. Unable to fit in at school or at home, this teen genius ends up in detention indefinitely, where the only human interaction he has is with the voice of a woman behind the wall.

This is Detention Land. Trapped in a room of clever lies, unlikely confessions, and a whole lotta lip, the only way to escape is by uncovering the truth. Four walls, two voices, one chance. Who is the woman behind the wall? Solve the puzzle. Save the boy.

With access to the private journals of a disturbed teen genius, the reader is transported into the secret world of teenage psychology, experiencing the detention room unravel, brick by brick, piece by piece. Inspired by bizarre true events, Detention Land is a masterfully written novel that seamlessly weaves humour, suspense, and observations on life. A true work of genius.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2016

Reviews

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

This ain't no ordinary high school. Trapped in a room of clever lies, unlikely confessions, and a whole lotta lip, the only way to escape is by uncovering the truth. Four walls, two voices, one chance. Who is the woman behind the wall? Solve the puzzle. Save the boy. This is Detention Land.

With access to Roger's private journals, the reader is transported into the detention room, watching as it unravels, brick by brick, piece by piece. Inspired by true events, Detention Land is a contemporary classic that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Don't skip the blurb but go up there and read it again... (I'll wait!) ... ... It probably took you a couple times to figure out why in the world I would try to read this! First off this was NOT the cover, nor did the title contain "Lip Service" at the time otherwise I would have KNOWN not to request this book. I really liked the idea that this was a male POV and that there were private journals! Plus there is supposed to be a twisty puzzle of some sort through a detentionland... pretty sound reasons, right?! (PLEASE SAY YOU AGREE!! This book sent my picker all haywire...)

So yeah, I DNFed this at 26% then I went and read the last 10% so I could understand about the twist...

#1 - There was NO TWIST that I could intuit.
Now you are probably thinking that I didn't read 65% of the book so it was probably in there... but NO... (see #2-5)

#2 - The stream of consciousness writing was EVERYTHING!
Let me TRY to explain... It's not hard to string the words together to form sentences but this guys energy was OFF THE CHARTS... You NEVER got a break from it either... his mouth ran on and on and on and on some more. Every thing ran through this narrative style and it was exhausting. You knew this kid wouldn't learn (because he didn't see reality for what it is) and you frankly didn't care what had happened or was going to happen! You just wanted to ESCAPE!

"Now don’t go judging me. Lying is a part of my DNA. It’s part of everyone’s, actually. It is a remnant of our survival mechanisms, one could say, if you are an evolutionist. Or perhaps remnants of the Garden of Good and Evil otherwise. For me, though, I embrace my God-given survival mechanisms. I didn’t choose this mechanism; it’s ingrained in my genetic makeup. So, you can’t blame me; I was born a liar."

Now read this on loop for 25 minutes as fast as you can and you will get a sense of what it felt like to read the book!

#3 - NOTHING actually happened! (i.e. NO plot!)
So you're probably thinking I exaggerate when I say nothing happens... But we get no parameters about where he is or what’s happening... he’s basically locked in a cellar talking to an intercom. That's it!! They talk about things he's done but you NEVER get to experience it except to hear his rationalizations why he acted crazy... you aren't even sure WHAT he did!! Sometimes it isn't even stated out!

#4 - You actually FEEL INSIDE Roger's head...
Yes, you would think this would be a good thing... BUT NO, HELL NO (and I don't normally curse!) Double and triple HELL NO! First off he's manic, can't stop his energy. Second he's unreliable and delusional. Third it feels like you are in prison with him in that room, because you are stuck getting ALL the info about everything from his head. It's CRAZY TORTURE!

#5 - The journals were NO DIFFERENT from the room chats...
Personally I don't want to read something that feels like SOMEONE IS YELLING AT ME AND JUST WON'T SHUT UP AND JUST STREAMING EVERY LITTLE THOUGHT THAT RUNS THROUGH HIS HEAD! i DON'T CARE IF THIS GUY IS A GENIUS AND IF I READ HIS BOOK i WILL GET A MILLION DOLLARS, i REFUSE TO DO IT! I WILL DO WATER TORTURE RATHER THAN READ THIS.

Do you get the idea? I know I'm being pedantic about this book but yeah, I DO NOT DNF lightly and especially when it is about mental health. There is no twist reveals... there is NO payoff to enduring this torture.

Here is the absolute worst thing about this book...
The writing is SOOOOOOOOOO EXCELLENT! Like I've said... you feel inside this guys brain! The personality is TOO strong but its there in spades. The mental illness is off the charts, it just wasn't framed in a way that I could derive anything from it... You can actually understand and FOLLOW a stream of consciousness narrative SUCCESSFULLY! Yeah that is some talent there... but the storytelling just wasn't there... I've got to be able to grasp salient points in order for the story to be understood.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Premise & World Building
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Cover & Title
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Development & Storycraft
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing & Narrative
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Relationships
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Feelings

BOTTOM LINE: I would give a different book by the same author a chance if I liked the blurb, etc. but this writing experiment was a FAIL!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Detention Land" by Susan Orion is definitely an unusual book. There is a lot of potential but I found I could not quite grasp it. Roger is a 15 year old boy who seems be constantly in trouble at school and ends up in endless detentions where he is in a dialogue with a nameless voice through a speaker. The story alternates between when he is in detention and his journal. I definitely got the impression that Roger is very troubled and there is something going on emotionally and mentally. There were times when it seemed he either had delusions of grandeur or used his imagination to cope with his real life. At points, it seemed like his parents with possibly neglectful and abusive but the "voice" constantly downplayed that possibility so it was hard to know truth from fiction. I also got the impression that Roger was bullied. There were times when I could see the parallels to my own teenage daughter but it was not clear. All in all, I found the book a bit confusing but I am hoping that it will become more clear in the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A view weeks ago I was approached to read ‘Detention Land: Lip Service’ by Susan Orion. I hadn’t heard about this book before, but it was said to be a YA Thriller and I was fascinated. The reviews I read about this book were all very different, so I definitely needed to read this one for myself.

‘Detention Land: Lip Service’ is definitely a different read. It’s honestly unlike any other book I’ve read. In ‘Detention Land: Lip Service’ we read about Roger. Roger is a teen who is in detention a lot. And detention for him is sitting in a chair in a closet size room with an intercom who talks to him. Roger things of himself as kind of a genius, and he believes to be unjustly treated. Roger tells us all about his ‘strange’ life and his schools.

Well.. Where to start. This book was very unusual.. and I still don’t really know what to think of it. One thing the author was very good in, was the way she made me want to keep on reading because I just really wanted to know what was going on. Even when at moments I thought this book was a little bit too slow. Roger was talking a lot about why he thought why he was unjustly treated, when it was obvious that he deserved to be in detention. I mean, he did some strange stuff. And I just didn’t really get it, until the end of the book obviously.

I don’t really think about this book as a YA Thriller, but I honestly wouldn’t know what genre to fit it in otherwise. And the book definitely had a huge surprise in the end. And it ended rather abruptly I think. But it did fit the book.

When I finished reading this book yesterday I wanted to give this book 2 stars, because I just didn’t really like it and felt like it was a definitely to slow at times. Now that I’ve thought about it a little more, I’ll go for 3 stars. This book is unusual, keeps you guessing and keeps you want to keep on reading till you know what’s going on. But it’s not really the book for me.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*

Detention Land was a very interesting read. I found that it really challenged me as I was reading it, trying to figure out what was read and what was created inside the main characters head.
The narrative style was unique and interesting, which I really enjoyed. I love books which veer away from a traditional style.
While I didn't necessarily feel the suspense promised in the synopsis, I did see the humor and it was definitely interesting and I did keep turning the pages.
What you get with this book, is something new, that will make you question the main character's reality and pull you into his world. It was well written, with good pacing and an interesting story. One smaller negative is merely cosmetic. Simply that I don't really understand what the cover has to do with the book. I do however feel like this is a really enjoyable novel and I would definitely recommend it.

[Valery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Roger is stuck in detention forever. At least it feels that way to Roger in the book, Detention Land (Book One 1) by Susan Orion. Orion is a skilled writer, writing a mix of the morbid, mundane, and humorous; that takes a special gift. She has the ability to get into the heads of children and writes them realistically. When Roger creates havoc once again, this time drawing a nude picture of his teacher, he is sent to the detention closet. There, a disembodied voice speaks to him through the wall. This voice is both demanding and mean, full of threats, yet seems like a shrink. Roger certainly doesn't know who the woman is or what she wants. Orion skillfully combines two different perspectives, that of Roger in the closet, and the voice of Roger through his writing in his journal. In this way, we get to know and understand his character on a deeper level. A fun book that mixes dry humor with growing up teenage angst.

[Atlas · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Please answer my questions without lip service. This is detention, not conversation circle"

*
1 / 5


I'm not even sure what I read. I'm not really sure what I was expecting to read, but judging from the synopsis some kind of mystery/thriller novel centred around a "locked in the room" scenario. Which is sort of what Detention Land ended up being.

There are three characters in this novel: our main character, Roger, who is constantly in detention which seemingly takes place in a locked room in the school basement; Roger's mother; the mysterious lady who speaks over the intercom during detentions, asking Roger increasing personal questions and who he has a lot of sexual thoughts about. Mixed between the detention interrogations are excerpts of Roger's journals.

"Even as a kid, I knew I came into this world with a noble purpose: to rid the world of mediocrity. People ask for miracles all the time and when they are blessed with benediction, they turn their heads away without the slightest recognition of the awesomeness set before them"

Roger is a typical unreliable narrator who seems entirely unhinged. He's exceedingly unlikeable and flips between crying and peeing himself and shouting about how he's a genius with an IQ of 200+. The narrative was entirely stream-of-consciousness and Roger's mind was incredibly tiring. But mostly, nothing really happened and the ending didn't make much sense.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book

Read this review and more on: http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com

[Beagle Lover (Avid Reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely 2 stars

The sheer number of editing flaws this book contains is beyond staggering. Whoever "edited" this brutal assault upon descent grammatical skills should be put in a smaller detention box than Roger was forced to endure, with no contact with the outside world and no light for a year, minimum.

Missing words, excessive punctuation errors, inconsistent line spacing, misplaced words, misspelled words, consistently misplaced quotation marks and an inordinate amount of seemingly purposeful plot flow interruptions are but a few of the detractors from this otherwise "could have been" brilliant book.

I shall not demean myself by attempting to parse the story for unfortunate future readers...it would surely give me heart palpitations and nausea to do so. I had such high expectations for this book and had them thoroughly obliterated. Only read this book if you love to see the English language mauled into the sixth dimension and are a practicing masochist.

[Harker]

Rating: DNF

This book sounded like it would be really engaging. I've read books before where the reader is given bits of the same puzzle the characters are trying to solve, to see if they could solve it first. When the summary for Detention Land gave hints that it would be very much like this, trying to figure out why the main character Roger is locked in a barbaric detention room, I thought I'd give it a try.

I had to DNF this book at 43% because it was so frustratingly boring. Roger was an aggravating character. I would've understood if this was a reaction to being in the detention room, but then there were journal entries that just made me dislike him more. In the detention room scenes I got the feeling that Roger might be a bully on the outside, though there were a couple of sentences that offered a glimmer of redemption for him. However, these were once again countered by the journal entries were he revealed a manipulative personality that I disliked reading intensely. 

I'm all for unlikable characters (Joe from You, The Darkling from the Shadow & Bone series) but there also has to be something about them that makes me want to know what happens next to them, to find out more about their story. Roger is nowhere near either of  these characters and I did not care to read to the end to find out one more iota of information about him.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue Alieva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5
Главите, в които главният герой беше в стаята за наказания ми бяха доста интересни, но главите, в които той си припомняше отмниали неща ми бяха леко скучни. Но мисля, че историята има потенциал да се доразвие, понеже идеята наистина е интересна.

[Martine Louise Skulstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I've received this book to review it*

From page one you can see that Roger, the main character, is a troubled kid with something constantly nagging on him, if it is just the fact that "rules break when I (he) am around and then get framed for it", which makes him constantly winding up in detention or if it's the relations at home that doesn't seem like the best environment to grow up in. Detention feels like a cold and dark little box room with no windows and nothing but the little light hanging from the roof and the intercom where a woman's voice appears. We get quite a few imaginative descriptions of the woman, but we never really get to see her or experience her. Most times during the book I feel like she might be more of a voice in Roger's head than a strict authority figure based on how she's speaking and acting towards the kid. The book holds a very dark mood, with few light moments or anything that could be interpreted as happy. But though however how tragic the story is, there lies a sense of humour in the book, though a bit of a morbid one. I guess Roger has to do whatever to survive his every day.

At first I didn't really like the third person's point of view. It was only during the journal sections that I felt like I really got to know Roger because it was his own voice, and I felt like that could have continued throughout the book to make it even more personal. It would also made the good parts even better, and the humour even more hilarious. I liked how we got to know Roger better as a character further into the story, but I didn't really get much of a sense of him before way later on in the book. I think if the book was a bit longer and more descriptive I would have enjoyed it more than I did, as I like a bit of character development and some time to really get the mood and scenes set, but this is just my personal opinion. I also feel like there could have been a lot more time talking about why he got into detention, like we got to experience the actions that got him there instead of hearing it from the woman in the intercom.
I also wish we got to experience a lot more of Roger's life than we do in the journaling bits, as again, that would build a bit more on the story and maybe get me more into it. I also feel like if he just listened to the voice and the people around him and thought for a minute about his actions he wouldn't be spending the majority of his time in detention, but rather learn and see that there will be consequences to his actions.
I do however feel like this is a book that a lot of middle school kids might be able to relate to, especially those who feel like school isn't their strong point in whatever way that is. I also think it gives these children a voice, letting us know that they do have their own opinions and views on the world, and that they are entitled to their experienced of the world around them, and the world they are actively in, such as school. Maybe it could also give kids a little pin point on what not to do?
All in all it was a quick and easy read that didn't take me too long, and it was easy to keep up with what was going on as it was very scene based and everything happened within a few minutes, and I enjoyed that. It'll be exciting to see what the next book comes with, and if it is similar or maybe a bit more descriptive.

Merged review:

*I've received this book to review it*

From page one you can see that Roger, the main character, is a troubled kid with something constantly nagging on him, if it is just the fact that "rules break when I (he) am around and then get framed for it", which makes him constantly winding up in detention or if it's the relations at home that doesn't seem like the best environment to grow up in. Detention feels like a cold and dark little box room with no windows and nothing but the little light hanging from the roof and the intercom where a woman's voice appears. We get quite a few imaginative descriptions of the woman, but we never really get to see her or experience her. Most times during the book I feel like she might be more of a voice in Roger's head than a strict authority figure based on how she's speaking and acting towards the kid. The book holds a very dark mood, with few light moments or anything that could be interpreted as happy. But though however how tragic the story is, there lies a sense of humour in the book, though a bit of a morbid one. I guess Roger has to do whatever to survive his every day.

At first I didn't really like the third person's point of view. It was only during the journal sections that I felt like I really got to know Roger because it was his own voice, and I felt like that could have continued throughout the book to make it even more personal. It would also made the good parts even better, and the humour even more hilarious. I liked how we got to know Roger better as a character further into the story, but I didn't really get much of a sense of him before way later on in the book. I think if the book was a bit longer and more descriptive I would have enjoyed it more than I did, as I like a bit of character development and some time to really get the mood and scenes set, but this is just my personal opinion. I also feel like there could have been a lot more time talking about why he got into detention, like we got to experience the actions that got him there instead of hearing it from the woman in the intercom.
I also wish we got to experience a lot more of Roger's life than we do in the journaling bits, as again, that would build a bit more on the story and maybe get me more into it. I also feel like if he just listened to the voice and the people around him and thought for a minute about his actions he wouldn't be spending the majority of his time in detention, but rather learn and see that there will be consequences to his actions.
I do however feel like this is a book that a lot of middle school kids might be able to relate to, especially those who feel like school isn't their strong point in whatever way that is. I also think it gives these children a voice, letting us know that they do have their own opinions and views on the world, and that they are entitled to their experienced of the world around them, and the world they are actively in, such as school. Maybe it could also give kids a little pin point on what not to do?
All in all it was a quick and easy read that didn't take me too long, and it was easy to keep up with what was going on as it was very scene based and everything happened within a few minutes, and I enjoyed that. It'll be exciting to see what the next book comes with, and if it is similar or maybe a bit more descriptive.

[Mrs. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was only a semi-enjoyable book. I am just glad that I figured out how to do the text to speech app on my phone, or I may not have finished it. It isn't very long, but it is super monotonous, with no clear point to the chatter. (The author indicates that it is about--and meant to educate about--mental illness, however, it is portrayed in wuch a way that it mainly just comes across muddled.)
Something that bothered me early on was the flip-flopping of the point of view--one paragraph or chapter it was "he" and the next it was "I".
Even though it was not very long, it was still a chore to finish. There is no real beginning or end, it is just a chunk of time described by a kid--from the afflicted's perspective--which would have to be difficult to attempt, and I have no idea how to improve on it, but I am certain that it does not have the author's desired outcome. (I think the goal was to provide a snapshot into the mind of mental illness...which just came across as a monologue.) The author writes interestingly enough as a story teller. I may be willing to read something lighter by this author. Possibly.

[Janet McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Detention Land" by Susan Orion can only be described as an unusual read.

The story had potential but it lacked appeal for me, sorry to say. You may enjoy it as I think that we all like different stories for different reasons.

Roger is a 15 year old boy, who appears to be constantly in trouble, which causes him to be placed in endless detentions, where he is in dialogue with an anonymous person via an intercom system.

The story alternates between when he is in detention and him writing in his journal. The impression I received form this story was that Roger was a very troubled youth, both emotionally and psychologically. I think that it showed that he used his imagination to cope with the reality of his troubled life.

It sounded like his parents were possibly neglectful and abusive but this was seemingly downplayed by the anonymous speaker so I was left wondering about this. Was Roger being bullied?

I’m hoping that some of the confusion I felt in reading this book will be clarified in the next book in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

This book warrants 3 stars.

[Bea Turvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a little while to work out what the book was actually about, apart from a boy who manages to land himself in detention time and time again. The initial visit appears to have been a mistake, but the ones following... well, he did himself no favours.
I couldn't make myself like Roger and not just because he was so completely self-absorbed.
The detention room was more of a concrete prison cell and I don't understand how a school could get away with incarcerating children like that.
The voice that speaks to him - his counsellor - while he is detained comes across as a cruel, single-minded, terrorising, manipulative, passive-aggressive officer.

The whole book, from roger, his mother, his therapist, teachers, etc, was a real mind-blender (not quite the word I wanted to use, but I'm trying to keep it clean).

In a word, the book is psycopathic.
Read it at your own risk and keep the valium handy.

[Bethanyarmstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is described as a YA Lit psychological thriller. The premise is that it's about a teenage boy genius who continually ends up in Detention.

Sadly, the entire book, Roger (the main character) is crying out for help and NO ONE sees him for who he is - a hurting kid. The absence of love is neglect. This is Roger's life. He has no one in his corner cheering for him. So he remains in a vicious cycle of desperately trying to gain attention/favor from teachers and parents.

Kids who hurt others are hurting themselves. There would be less Rogers in the world if people took the time to invest and care.

[Jo McKenna-Aspell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've tried. I promise.

I've tried three times to read this book. I swear that each time I had good intentions to finish it. I'm sorry that I didn't because I understand it is a massive undertaking and emotional commitment for any writer. I admire all writers.

With this novel, I didn't care about the characters and I didn't like the writing style or tone. This combination meant I found it a battle rather than a pleasure. It's quite possible that these were deliberate actions on the part of the writer but they didn't work for me.

I believe there are people out there who will enjoy this book but I am the wrong reader for it.

[Kelly Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book in return for an honest review**
This was a strange read! As a reader we follow Roger Prism, a highly intellected teenager teetering on the edge of sanity. The book jumps between his many detentions and extracts from his journal. Also jumping from first person narrative to third person narrative. Although you know that Roger is not quite right, he is difficult to like or empathise with. He is arrogant and self centered, his opinions wild.
The further into the book you go the more you start to question what is happening. Almost like you're losing your sanity. Is he really in detention? Is he imagining all this? Who is the woman behind the wall? etc.
Overall this is an interesting look at a child prodigy and the dangers that come with high intellect in teenagers. A solid 4 star read!

[Jimmy Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detention Land is a very good read. I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the story. imagine being in a room, trapped and alone. You have no idea why you are there and have no contact with the real world. Stuck in the room you must try to discover why you are there and find a way to get out. The only contact is with the disembodied voice of the female behind the wall. Our story teller does a great job of keeping us on the edge of our seats and excitedly turning the pages to find out how this story plays out. I would definetly reccomend this book to my fellow readers.

[Lovely Loveday · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character Roger manages to create havoc once again, this time drawing a nude picture of his teacher, he is sent to the detention closet. Poor Roger is stuck in detention forever, at least it feels that way to Roger in the book. While Roger is in the closet he hears a disembodied voice speak to him through the wall. This chance encounter makes the book even more fun to read. I found this a very funny read that made me laugh a lot through out. I really enjoyed reading this book

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird in a good strange way

This story is a bit strange, but it's very likeable. It reads more like a book for children rather than young adults, but that doesn't matter. The author lends great insight into the characters and their own perspective. It's humorous and entertaining, and a unique perspective and premise of the story. It was very witty and clever.

[Tiger Oma · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teacher, I was immediately drawn into this book. As a reader, I had to stay. It was one I did not want to put down. I was impressed with Susan Orion’s gift of recreating the mind of a disturbed boy genius. Bravo, Susan! The journal entries were written so well they were outright creepy. Following Roger’s thought process throughout the book was an adventure. His twisted mind and perplexing actions kept me on my toes. Orion also did a great job of incorporating Roger’s mom and dad. Their actions further complicate Roger and make him more believable. The complexity of all the characters pose the question environment vs. genetics? By the end of the book, I thought I understood Roger but did I really?

This book would be a great read in a high school psychology class (does include some language). It could be read as a whole or single chapters. The cover is inviting and begs to be used in a prediction activity. It would be a perfect starting point for deep discussion. It will appeal to both young men and women.

[Denise Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detention Land (book 1) written by Susan Orion is a wonderfully light and humorous story about a thirteen year old boy named Roger who finds himself stuck in detention “forever”. Susan Orion’s writing is clear, detailed and humour is shown throughout the book. It is obvious that the author is able to really get into the mind of a child/teen as her portrayal of a young boy of age thirteen was very believable and relatable. Roger’s thoughts and actions throughout the novel are reflective of the way children actually behave and think. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found it really hard to put down. Roger is thrown into detention constantly for his mischievous antics. I found the mysterious disembodied voice speaking to Roger through the wall was a mystery I could not wait to solve. Although this novel is about a thirteen year old boy, and I am a 27 year old female, I found it fun and enjoyable to read and highly recommend it.

[RR.Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most unique and original novels I have ever come across. The premise, plot, writing style and the characters were all so original and fresh, not to mention funny, that I found myself turning the pages very quickly. I found this a very entertaining book to read and the whole concept of the book really gelled with me. I definitely wanted to find out where the story was heading next. The main character of Roger was intriguing. He definitely feels like a thirteen year old boy, even if he is not a typical one. If he is going to be stuck in detention forever, then we certainly enjoy hearing his point of view and watching the story unfold in front of us. The writing style is excellent and I found myself all too easily engrossed within the story. The author has a real flair for storytelling, that is for sure.

[Jacinta Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This entire story is told through a never-ending internal dialogue between the main character and maybe some woman behind a wall who speaks through an intercom. I don't know; she might just be a figment of his imagination. The main character, Roger, spends every day after school in detention to make up for his bad behavior in class. Except, he denies all wrongdoing. The way the story is told, you're not sure if it's the story of a screwed-up kid who is abused, neglected, and harassed by literally every person in his life, or if he's just a jerk who needs to get it together. The story was disjointed and nothing ever really happened other than Roger complaining about how he's so much smarter and better than everyone else and he should be worshiped as a genius.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book about school. Finally a book about real experiences. It was so nice to read something new and exciting! Although the main character is a bit strange, he was really funny and I felt sorry for him because he reminds me of my cousin who was too smart for his own good. I loved that the author used journal entries. Roger is the funniest genius I have ever read about. i loved his crazy ideas. i just wished that he actually didn't mess up all the time. And I thought it was so cool that there is a mystery woman. I wanna know who she is and why she is so mean. I am so looking forward to book 2.

[BookLionQueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent this book to review by Netgalley
All opinions are my own.

I was reading this book and wasn't really getting into it.I was thoroughly confused throughout the book. It was a 2 star read up until about 80% of the way through the book. As I continued through it I got more and more confused as time went on. After 80% the plot started to make an appearance. Once it did though I was surprised. What really got me was the last 5% of the book. The last lines were what bumped this rating up from a 2 to a 2.75 star read for me. I was so shocked. However, I was left wanting closure at the end. It was too open-ended for my taste.

[LyndaVee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book holds a mirror up to teenage life in America in all its glory and what we see is not very edifying. The hero is Roger, who has a very unhappy home life and questions everything around him especially these put in authority over him. He spends most of the book in the detention closet, arguing his case to a voice behind the wall, who keeps asking him probing questions. She reminded me of Mrs Thatcher – I could just picture her wearing one of her trademark blouses with a pussycat bow. Roger is very anti-establishment and this may well appeal to teenage readers.

[Deborah Sastroredjo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review and here goes:

I finished this book just because I felt I needed to.
The main character is not likable. I get the sense he had some issues, but alas it is not really explained in the book. He came over as troubled and snotty and it was not really clear if he really did the things he was accused of or if he was really misunderstood.

Also the ending was really open, so there is nothing to give you closure.

[Andreda · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF a little close to being halfway through it. I was just confused on why he was in detention and what that had to with what was going on at home. I guess I just couldn't relate to Roger and just couldn't figure out what was really the deal with him. Don't even get me started on this so called "detention" area.

[Loredana Vega · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book has made me think a lot about the society this days and how kids are treated...I found in Detention land some things like the over dramatic way of the parents and the selfcenterness of Roger at least for the most length of the book..however I quite liked it..it sticks to our days attitude

[Danielle Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review)

Okay, so, upfront and honest: I did not like this book. However, I have rated it 4-stars because it “does what it does” with purpose and style. Even though that style wasn’t to my liking, I could easily imagine my students enjoying this novel. It’s weird and loose and dystopian, and feels a little like Fight Club and you spend most of the novel unsure of what’s going on.

Roger is our dashing hero/unreliable narrator and we have access to the story through 3rd-person scenes as well as journal entries. Roger is in detention, despite being the top of class (according to him), and spends hours and hours there, taunting by a woman’s voice.

I am not a fan of unreliable narrators for the most part, which is why I didn’t like this book. It becomes clear very early on that Roger has a warped view of reality (he constantly calls himself a victim, whereas he readily admits to having pranked various teachers or vandalized parts of the school), and the reader struggles to discern fiction from reality. I know that many, many readers enjoy this sort of experience, so I’m sure they will find a home here. :)

I would have liked more information about his parents – they were in and out of the novel and Roger had strong feelings on them, but it was unclear what the reality of the relationship was. (Again, I get that this is probably the point…)

There you go: well-written and probably engaging to other readers.