Puck

Twisted Lit #4

by Kim Askew, Amy Helmes

Life isn’t always fair, and no one knows that better than fifteen-year-old Puck. When she’s unceremoniously booted from yet another foster home, this city kid lands at DreamRoads, a rehabilitation wilderness camp for juvies. Her fellow campers include a famous pop star with a diva attitude, a geeky, “fish out of water” math whiz, and a surly gang-banger with a chip on his shoulder. The program’s steely director aims to break Puck, but she knows that every adult has a breaking point, too. Determined to defy this realm of agonizing nature hikes and soul-sucking psychobabble — even if that means manipulating four lovestruck camp counselors and the director’s dim-witted second-in-command — Puck ultimately gets much more than she bargains for in this “wondrous strange” outdoor odyssey inspired by The Bard’s most beguiling comedy.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Retellings, Fiction

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2016

About the author

Kim Askew is co-author of the Twisted Lit novels, critically-acclaimed, Shakespeare inspired young adult fiction, published by Simon & Schuster.

Kim's writing has appeared in newspapers, literary journals, and other publications, including the Wall Street Journal, SoMa Literary Review, and Elle Magazine, as well as the anthology The May Queen.

She wrote her Master's thesis, on Henry James, at Mount St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, and she's also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children in Los Angeles county.

Kim and her co-author, Amy Helmes, are managed by Jennifer Au of Untitled Entertainment and represented by Hannah Brown Gordon of Foundry Literary + Media.

Reviews

[Inge · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t have very high expectations for Puck. When I requested it, I was simply looking for an entertaining read about a “troubled child” going into some kind of detention centre from hell. It wasn’t until I started reading it that I realised it was a A Midsummer Night’s Dream retelling. Not that that changed anything for me, because I remembered jack shit about A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Okay, let me just respond to those of you who are clasping your monocles and turtlenecks in shock. I have never read Shakespeare. I KNOW, I'M SORRY, OKAY? I am a cultural barbarian. 'Tis true. I grew up in Belgium and the guy wasn't even mentioned in English class, okay? I think we sat through a play of AMND in high school once, but who the hell cares about Shakespeare at the age of 14, and I have banned all memories of high school from my brain anyway.

So when I realised this was a retelling, I tried to think of everything I remember from the play.
Okay.
Here's what I remember from A Midsummer's Night Dream:
- There was a character named Puck. He liked mischief. But I couldn't have told you if he was a pixie or a goose or a magical toaster.
- "Eh, something about a queen turning into a donkey?" (Do I get half-points for that?)
- A love triangle? Love square? Love shambles?
Yep, that's it. Mind-blowing, I know.

So I read it as a regular contemporary and looked up the connections later, and found it was actually very cleverly done.

As a regular contemporary story, it’s perfectly enjoyable as well. I fell in love with Puck’s character from the very first page, as she reminded me a lot of Lex from Croak. Puck was feisty with a lot of spirit, and I always find those characters to be a lot more interesting. You’re never quite sure what they’re going to do, and they always surprise you pleasantly.

It also made me root for her more throughout the story. This detention centre turns out to be some kind of wilderness survival camp, and her band of misfits consist of a popstar princess and a pyromaniac among others. In short: not ideal. Nevertheless, she makes the most of the experience in her own unique and badass way, but we also find a lot of depth in her.

The novel reinterprets some of the most comic scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (the scene with the flower potion being the most important one, I think), while also turning it into a story about friendship and forgiveness and all the cheesy clichés about looking inside yourself without absorbing the cheese itself.

For me, Puck was exactly what I expected – an entertaining story – but it also became so much more. A short and sweet ride, and definitely one I’d recommend. (Especially if you’re into badass main characters.)

Thank you NetGalley / Doublet Press for providing me with a copy

[*haily* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, like a lot. though I'm not going to deem it as a five star omg I loved it so much, I really did like this story. The plot was very interesting and I loved the fact that we as the readers got a little inside scoop on the problems and obstacles each of the teens faced (I'm snoopy okay??) I thought each of the characters were very very funny, and I thought that even though puck was such a little shit sometimes, it played out fair when realizing all the torment she had been through. I liked the writing a lot, it was fast paced and enjoyable to read, and I really did admire the ending; the fact that puck did not instantly transform into a new human being but still has room to grow; it's real. there's not much more I can say about this book, but I did really really like reading it.

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puck by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes definitely was one of the big surprises of 2016 for me. I really liked all the previous Twisted Lit books but I loved Puck even more. It was a quick read that I had such a hard time to put down. If I could've I probably would have read it in one sitting.

Puck is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. This happens to be one of my favorites of his work so I really liked all the similarities. The main characters of this story is Puck, a fifteen-year-old girl, who gets send to a rehabilitation camp for juvies by her foster mother. I loved her character. The way she was written felt like a real teenager who's having a tough time in life. The kids she ends up with a this camp were are very different and interesting in their own way so this made for a unqiue cast of characters.

I don't know what it was about this book but it made me emotional. I teared up a few times, which speaks for how good this book was. I guess I saw myself a little in some of the kids in the book and I'm sure other people will be feeling the same thing.

The book is not just emotional though. It's also quite hilarious at times and made me smile and laugh out loud. So I would say it isn't a too heavy book because of how funny some things were in it but it does make you feel things. At least I did.

I would very highly recommend recommend Puck to anyone. I've only spend about three days reading it but it's already feels like a special book to me that I adore. So I would suggest everyone to go buy this book and start reading it right away. You definitely won't be disappointed!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puck’s life wasn’t easy or fair riding the not-so-merry-go-round of the foster system. Filled with attitude, a complete lack of trust and a feeling that no one will ever truly love her or want her, her latest foster parent is sending her off to a troubled youth boot camp in the wilderness where, once again, she will attempt to do all she can to be tossed from the program, confirming her own sense of no real self-worth. Will Puck prove more powerful than the highly qualified leaders? Will the rather comical little romances between the young camp counselors give her more fodder for her antics? After all, who could resist the entangled soap opera playing out around her?

Amy Helmes and Kim Askew are back with Puck’s story, not as a mischievous elf, but as a troubled young girl desperately seeking love and acceptance while keeping her own lies and past misdeeds secret. Follow Puck as she fights with everything she has to repel any sense of closeness or discovery among her peers. Witness her rebellious nature, and the tiny steps she begins to take toward learning to trust and achieve a sense of accomplishment in the wild where electronics, fast food joints and modern plumbing are non-existent and only teamwork will keep these kids alive.

Filled with wry humor, heart-wrenching revelations and the inner thoughts of a child in distress, this wonderfully written tale contains a delightfully realistic cast, true human errors and dialogue that is spot on! From start to finish, this YA read has heart, humor and more heart, as well as a few snakes, and probably too many insects to count!

I received this copy from Doublet Press in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Twisted Lit
Publisher: Doublet Press; 1 edition (November 15, 2016)
Publication Date: November 15, 2016
ISBN-10: 0998161306
ISBN-13: 978-0998161303
Genre: YA Literature with a Twist
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Dayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy via the authors in exchange for an honest review.

I first had the honour of reading one of Amy Helmes and Kim Askews' Twisted Lit adaptations a few years ago. I remember devouring each book and thinking, holy crap, this is so inventive and fun! Their latest novel, Puck, embodies that same cleverness. Unlike their other books, however, I'm not as familiar with A Midsummer Night's Dream, since I think I've only read it once. I do remember Puck's troublemaking tendencies, but since I wasn't as familiar with the story, some of the allusions were lost on me.

While there were a few things I found I didn't enjoy about Puck, there were a few I did enjoy. For example, the relationships and life lessons found within this story were heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking. Puck hasn't lived an easy life, but she is shown the power of redemption and hope. Ironically enough, her learning curve comes from the very thing she has shunned for most of her life: human relationships. I will admit, various times where Puck was forced to face her situation almost made me cry because dammit, this child has gone through so much.

I loved the secondary characters. To be honest, if there was a book for a couple of the characters, I'm pretty sure I'd read them. They're all so complex and one of the issues I had was how some of these characters aren't really given much of a story. Sure, we see their redemptions and briefly hear their stories. But even their redemptions felt so rushed in places. For supposedly charging an arm and a leg, this program sure decides to release the kids in a very quick manner. I think this is one of those instances where a book could have strongly benefited from multiple perspectives. Some of their stories were so sad, I really wish I could have had more.

While the story was engaging at various points, I did find that the pacing dragged sometimes, while ironically being rushed in other instances. I really wish that there had been maybe some flashbacks, or maybe more going on than just these kids doing the same things over and over again and there being the same conflict again and again, all before Puck's sudden mindset change. The conclusion felt oddly rushed, while the body of the book felt like the pacing was somewhat off.

Puck is one of those powerful books that could promise a good emotional punch--and for the most part, it does. I don't know if I missed something along the lines, but I found some aspects of this story really dramatic. We don't find out a kind of vital piece to Puck's past until maybe halfway through the book (No hint whatsoever of this person earlier on). There were a few other situations that I found to be a little dramatic, or under-described/explained. But while they made me question a few things, they didn't completely impede on my reading experience.

I think my greatest regret is not knowing more about the original Puck. I feel like if I was more aware of this character's main influence in the original play, I might have enjoyed this novel more. I still recommend it for those who are fans of A Midsummer's Dream. Also, I strongly recommend Helmes and Askews' other Twisted Lit novels. So worth the read!

Happy reading!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into Puck I had an idea of what to expect from this writing duo. I've read and enjoyed the previous Twisted Lit books. I like how they are a modern day spin on Shakespeare's books, and that you don't have to have read or enjoyed his books before reading these. My only experience of Shakespeare was in English class in high school, many years ago.

Puck picks up pretty quickly as we join Puck in the middle of being removed from her foster home, to be taken on a mysterious ride to DreamRoads camp. A camp in the middle of no-where, designed to kick her butt into gear and rehabilitate her. What makes this even worse for Puck, is that she is placed there by her foster parent, and she isn't very happy about it and makes her opinions well known. But what Puck thinks is hell on earth is soon to be overshadowed by the upcoming days, where the camp goes into the wild

Puck was a book I fell into straight away. Puck is a character you either love or hate, and I did have mixed feelings about her, those feelings changed with what was going on at the time.

Leaping to my feet, I scream like a winning game show contestant. (You snooze, you lose.) "I did it! Oh my god, I actually did it!" I squeal

As a character she definitely stands out and sticks in your brain. Or more like a thorn in your side, especially to Barb who runs the camp.

Barb was someone who I disliked, and now looking back I wonder if I was influenced in someway by Pucks feelings towards her, that Puck's disliked overshadowed other things about Barb we don't see. It's not until near the end of the book that I actually changed my mind about Barb, the same time as Puck.

The characters in the book are unique in thier own way. Each one stands out as an individual, but also works well as part of the group. I loved their nicknames and attitudes and how they interacted with Puck, and each other.

There are lots of ups and downs throughout the pages of Puck, and we go an a real journey with Puck as she tries to deal with what is going on, as well as her own issues. I liked that we do see some history with Puck and learn how she ended up at DreamRoads Camp.

Final Verdict
Puck was a quick read for me, but one that I really enjoyed. I love how descriptive the book is, not only for the characters but also the surrounding area, and if it wasn't in a camp I would love to have seen the beauty for myself. The ending wasn't what I expected, but I like the twist.

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the third book in this series (review here) so I had fairly high expectations going into this one. Much to my disappointment, it ended up being not my kind of book. Constant swearing as well as derogatory and crude comments made for a less-than-enjoyable read. I understood some of it in relation to the main character and situation, but I also needed to like the MC and she wasn't working for me. Add to that other teens and adults that I just didn't feel one way or another about (except for the camp director's husband who I did actually like) and this story just fell flat for me. The small changes that take place didn't resonate as authentic and I couldn't stay interested after 60% through. DNF.

Content: Lots of swearing, derogatory and crude comments, suggestive comments.
Source: Received an ARC from the author through NetGalley.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. **

I really enjoyed this story. I've read the other Twisted Lit novels and liked them as well, but this one really captured me. It's very (VERY) loosely based on a Midsummer's Night Dream, my favorite of all of the Bard's plays, but the way the authors subtly tie aspects of the play into a modern day story about last-chance kids and wilderness programs is amazing! I loved the story, loved the characters and can't wait to see what these authors do next!

[Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

2016 Book Awards
Runner Up: Best Contemporary 2016
(more information about these awards on my blog)

I received this book as an ARC from Doublet Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Considering all of the fairy tale retellings that have appeared over the last few years I was pretty excited to see this appear on my NetGalley feed. A Shakespeare retelling? Count me in! And yes, this was a pretty cool book to read.

It draws you in, this little novel. I started it earlier this week and read through five-six chapters in less than forty minutes and the only reason why I didn't continue the day after was that I was hosting a theme week at school and it drained me (seriously; I fell asleep before nine every night). But I had a feeling that once I actually had time to read I would be able to get through it pretty fast because of the writing style and what I'd picked up from the story line in those first chapters. And I did - and I liked it!

This book follows Robin, more commonly known as Puck. She's a troublesome teenager who's been moved from foster home to foster home. At the start of the book she is jerked awake by two strangers - Nick and Barb - who take her away from her current foster mom, Paula, to a place called DreamRoads. DreamRoads is essentially a program for kids with issues. The people there - teenagers and counselors alike - spend 99% of their time out in the wild, doing various tasks in an effort to let nature change who they are. Puck, being the rebellious girl she's always been, decides to not let this "hippie thing" get to her and basically keeps her shield up. Question is how long she's capable of doing that and if her past will actually catch up with her.

The story's funny, brutal and honest, but at times it seems that the authors have taken the easy way out. When you meet Puck you get the impression that she has a lot of baggage to deal with and you get really interested in finding out how she'll deal with all of it once it comes back to the surface - but then the authors opt out of it by letting a lot of it be lies that Puck told people to keep herself safe. That did disappoint me a bit; if the authors had not taken the easy way out, this story could have been longer and even more in-depth when it comes to teenagers with a bad family background.

Overall, however, the story is a really good read and a novel that you can easily snuggle up with during a rainy October/November day.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a wuss.

Seriously. I cried about half a dozen times when reading this book. Puck, by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes, is an edgy, funny, and beautifully bittersweet twist on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

But even if you’re not a Shakespeare fan (these people do exist, you know), the book is utterly modern – while still staying true to the flavor of the Bard’s original play.

Puck is wonderful. In fact, all the characters are simply wonderful. I couldn’t even pick a favorite because I just wanted to take all of these kids home with me and protect them.

Expect a fast read that’s both funny and that will make you cry. Expect to love plucky characters who come from dark lives, but who are so full of love and light that you just adore them. And expect to simply love this book.

The Twisted Lit series is an absolute delight!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

[CT · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story revolves around Puck - not as mischievous as the elf we know, but reincarnated in this story as a street-smart, worldly-mouthed young teen who is sent to a nature-heavy reform camp for troubled youth. It is loosely inspired by Midsummer Night’s Dream given the names of some of the characters and the comedy of messing around with the love pairings of the camp counselors but it doesn’t necessarily do a step-by-step of the original story arc.

It is a fun and fresh interpretation of the play and it was a fast read. I particularly enjoyed the inner thoughts and schemes of the main character, and of course the trouble she got into, in her effort to outwit this whole rehab project.

I was given copy by Twisted Lit through NetGalley.

[Malou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book all the way to the end, and then it annoyed me.

This is a story about a girl, damaged by circumstances. She gets sent off to a camp for like minded and finds a way to look towards the future. Its not at all heavy, its light and funny and insightful.

Puck is a believable character, so strong and fragile at the same time, she doesn't believe in happy endings and pretty metaphors. This is why when she herself became the happy ending and the sloppy cliche, i got really disappointed.

I felt like she went from the Misfit in The breakfast club to the princess in a blink of an eye.

Also worth to mention is that this is a vague take on A midsummer nights dream, nice to keep in mind when reading.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review copy received from publisher*

A loose retelling of Midsummer’s Night Dreams, Puck is gripping from start to finish. Its secrets are released slowly keeping the anticipation on a high. I couldn’t bear to put it down, needing to keep reading.

The characters are brilliant. Realistic and so relatable, I just want more of them (hoping there is a sequel). I would love to know what happens at the next camp.

Full review on my book blog - http://crushingcinders.com/puck

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a Shakespearean adaptation to teen lit! Well done, funny and poignant.

[Sam - Spines in a Line · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the authors for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Find my full review and a special interview with the authors on my blog at https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com

Puck is a problem kid, in more ways than one. Bouncing from one foster home to the next, she thinks she’s finally found a more secure place but then her foster mom sends her to a wilderness camp that promises to tame her behaviour. Reeling from that betrayal and broken trust, Puck begins to plot a way out of the camp, though where she’ll go from there she’s not sure.

This book is based off of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and each chapter begins with a quote from the play. However, the authors don’t set out to simply retell the same story, though it will feel familiar. There’s still a love square (? is that how to describe it?), a play within a play, the use of nature, and of course Puck causing mass chaos, but in this reincarnation the story feels fresh and somehow manages to be unpredictable despite knowing how it will end.

While I don’t think Puck is an ignored character in the play by any means, he’s certainly not the main focus so I loved that these authors decided to develop the fairy’s backstory and figure out what made him tick. The YA genre seems perfectly suited to this venture, as rather than causing trouble purely for fun, the authors bring in subjects of childhood abuse and juvenile delinquency to explain Puck’s behaviour. Puck is developed much further than the play allows and we’re able to explore the ‘why’ behind her actions.

Now, that last paragraph may seem a little confusing, because I refer to Shakespeare’s Puck as ‘he’ and this new Puck as ‘she’. She is referred to as a ‘she’ in the book but I liked how the authors allowed for Puck’s gender to be more fluid. The character’s birth name is Robin but she chooses to go by Puck, and in her dress and appearance doesn’t present overtly feminine. I can’t say how Puck identifies because that isn’t directly covered in the book but she does seem to be comfortable in her ambiguity. I think the same can be said of the original character too, who works off that ambiguity as well.

Many other familiar characters appear in the book too, as well as some I couldn’t place. I’m not sure if this is because they were the authors’ invention or I just didn’t remember! Either way I think it’s worth reading the play before the book so you catch all the little details. Each character resembles their Shakespeare counterparts but in this setting they also get to be developed more and each got to have their own little quirks, like the girl who uses irony without understanding its meaning and the counselor who’s so eager to please he seems like a young child. The quirks aren’t necessary to the plot but I enjoyed getting to learn more about each character and it certainly added to the humour of the story.

Probably my favourite part of the book, and what made it so enjoyable, was the humour. Even with, or perhaps because of, the heavy themes the characters are dealing with, it was still a funny read and a number of times I caught myself laughing out loud! It always impresses me when this kind of dialogue can come across so naturally (and honestly what makes a good read great to me), and as this story involved a group of teenagers stuck together, it’s very likely they’d be cracking jokes to pass the time. My favourite jokester was Puck (big surprise!), who was full of sarcastic quips at any moment.

The book does deal with heavy topics, just so future readers are aware. Each of the kids in the camp have things they’re dealing with, from abuse to drugs to sexual assault, and these are developed in more detail near the end of the book. Nothing is depicted directly but it is talked about in therapy sessions and through memories. Luckily, as the kids are at a camp that is meant to help them with these issues, the conversation is focused on alleviating the guilt they feel and helping them work through it, but I understand this could still be triggering to some readers so avoid if need be. If you’d like to know more to figure out if this is the book for you, feel free to email me and I can provide more detail.

[Liis · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received the copy of the book directly from the authors through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!*

Before I give you my take on this novel I wanted to say that some of the reviews claim it to be loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Well, call me uneducated if you want but I never read this particular Shakespeare book thus am unable to draw parallels in between the two and quite frankly, I didn’t find the need… I went into this book quite blindly, I found it to be fresh and engaging and very therapeutic! On another note- hey! If this is a re-telling like some readers have shelved it as, then here’s popping champagne and cherries (hahaha) for my first ever retelling reading experience! Heh, not sure how much it counts if I haven’t actually read the original.. anyway, snoozefest, moving on!

First things first- this book tickled my funny bone big time. I found it hilarious. I don’t know if the sayings and phrases are totally cliché and overused as I am not familiar with every country’s slang and popular ‘soundbites’ but I don’t even care. Grumpy, naive, thinking-themselves-larger-than-life teenagers are just hilarious! The writing is punchy and entertaining- what else could you want from a novel? Oh! Yeah! The plot…

Well… as you’ve read from the blurb there’s this rehabilitation camp for troubled youngsters called DreamRoads headed by Mistress Barb. Barb rules the whole ‘operation’ with an iron fist…her husband Nick comes across a bit of a doormat but essentially he is a really nice, sound guy… There are 4 councellors in their early 20s who have their own relationship dramas… The camp rules and activities are quite text-book councelling, I guess, but it’s the characters that make it so much fun.. and engaging…a ‘literary trip through pain to better outcomes!’ Really, I can’t stress this enough- it was such an entertaining read and it cracked me up so many times…

until…

it didn’t!

You see when you have a rehab camp for teenagers then it’s natural they all come with their baggage, their heartbreak, their loneliness and their broken souls. Yeah, you can argue that the characters are stereotypical- yes, they are. How else will the reader truly connect with a story that resembles real life for some of our younger generations? So, we have the Latino ‘bad’ guy Ronnie, the Asian brainy geek Quin, the pop/rock star bimbo Tonya, the ‘popular’ girl from school, a strange boy that doesn’t speak and acts like a lunatic… and then we have Puck. A regular girl who is more broken inside in her short 15 years than some adults could handle in a year!

Throughout the book I got sucked into the relationship dynamics and how each single connection between each single character evolved.

The novel touches many a difficult subject and manages to break your heart, but it does so with a hope of healing… I mean, the LOL moments of the book continue throughout, even when stopping on difficult to deal with revelations but getting a clear glimpse into each and every one of the teenager’s heads in terms of what was holding them back, what they were afraid of and why they act they way they do created a quick instant connection for me. It’s just a mirror of real life isn’t it?!

Overall, my rating for this book as yet another easy 5 stars. The writing was perfect, the characters if stereotypical were well written with some extra super-sass. Story was easy to connect with and most importantly, it will give every teenager, young adult and adult who reads this book some food for thought. Human relationships no matter how difficult or easy, are always hard work. This novel reminded me again that sometimes no matter how hard things are, I should not give up. It can make or break a soul.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://fallenoverbookreviews.blogspot...

I received this book to give an honest review.

I was very impressed with this book more than I thought I would be. Puck is a young teenager who has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. So when she is finally wanted by her new mom Paula Puck tries to screw up that relationship because she just knows that she will be sent back.

Paula doesn't give up on her wants to send her to a place called DreamRoads, you have to graduate from this place to be sent back home. This place will test you and help you grow. You have certain tasks you need to pass to move on to get to the end. It is not just about building and working on yourself, but also working with others. Though Puck doesn't even care. She will do whatever to be kicked out though when she finally decides to give it a try it may be too late for her. I really loved how Puck grew as a person and it wasn't overnight. She came across as this I don't give a crap about anyone and everything, because everyone will do me wrong. Though as Barb the lady in charge doesn't give up on Puck they make a breakthrough. We learn of Puck's past and in a way it sheds light on why she acts the way she does.
We are also introduced to other kids that are troubled as well. Each has a story that is unique and troubled. Will they graduate out of DreamRoads?

The plot was great, the characters well developed and different in their own way. I plan on reading more from these authors in the future.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment you meet the fierce and sassy heroine, Puck, you are rooting for her to find her tribe and feel chosen after a life of abandonment and heartache. On her arduous desert journey with the DreamRoads brat pack, she finally discovers what she's been searching for. I have loved all of the Twisted Lit novels-- from Tempestuous (for its sardonic wit and wry humor) and Exposure (dramatic intrigue and suspense) to Anyone But You (young love's romantic passion)-- but Puck stands out as a novel written for misfits and loners and outsiders, really anyone who has ever felt like they didn't belong. I was captivated by this wholly original take on A Midsummer Night's Dream. Kim Askew and Amy Helmes bring such imagination and daring to their delightfully topsy-turvy versions of Shakespeare's plays. I can't wait to see what they write next!

[Sofiraindrop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley

Puck... Well, let's say it wasn't what I expected.
This book is a good YA, but I felt like I was watching one of those cheesy films where the outcast is a badass and slowly turns into a 'better person' (which involves a life-changing realization and usually a turn for the boring). I felt too grown up for this and kept thinking, 'this is a book I'd recommend to a ten year-old kid' (except for the foul words and alcohol).
The plot was alright, but I felt like the author didn't really 'get into' the problem. It was mentioned in passing, and didn't make me feel much of anything. And the ending! What a bunch of...
But there were some jokes that made me laugh, so it wasn't all bad.

The rest was fine, and I would absolutely let any teenager read it (without the aforementioned problems)

[Amy Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 3.75 stars?
I had some pretty terrible expectations of this book... So imagine my shock when I turned out to actually *gasp* enjoy it! I liked Puck as a character and I really enjoyed the plot of the story. This was a super fast read with a heartwarming moral and genuinely adorable relationships. No regrets here.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I was excited when I was asked to review this book, because I have a soft spot for Shakespeare inspired stories. There’s something really fun about taking plays and stories that the entire world is familiar with to some extent, and making them into something new and special. And Helmes and Askew do an amazing job with this book.

Puck follows the story of, well, Puck. She’s a fifteen year old girl who has been shuffled through the system, and seems to have given up hope that there’s anything that can be done with her. She’s plucked from her bed in the middle of the night by two strangers and driven for ages to DreamRoads, where troubled kids go to see the light out in the middle of nowhere. Sure that this isn’t going to do a thing for her, she resists, cheats, and collects information that may work to her benefit. But even our best laid plans don’t go as we hope, and maybe DreamRoads is exactly where Puck needs to be.

As far as a rewrite would go, this one is pretty loose. Inspired is definitely the word to use here. You’ll see some common characters, story lines, and elements that match up with what you know from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but the overall story is different enough. But that’s what’s good about this. The elements the authors have chosen to include work so well within the story and you’re excited to see them, but it’s not the same old story yet again. This is how all adaptions, rewrites, or inspired stories should be done.

The Good Points about Puck:

I loved all of the characters in this book. They were all so fun and unique and interesting. And even more, I loved that there were no bad or good characters in this book. Sure, some were jerks, or strange, or something for parts of the story. But in the end, they proved themselves to be all just doing the best they could. It fit the story so beautifully.

Snout deserves a point of his own, because I honestly loved everything about his character and what goes down with him. Can we have a book about Snout, please?

The writing in this book is fantastic. Puck and the others all sounded like teenagers, which is something I don’t say about many books. Adults tend to write teens as though they speak and think like adults, but this isn’t the case here. Askew and Helmes have teen speak down, and it works so well in this book.

A book about teens with problems gives you the impression that you’re getting into something serious. And you are. But the authors have thrown in just enough humour and fun that you’ll laugh as much as your heart aches for the characters, and in just the right places. Balancing serious subject matters and comedy is no easy task, but Askew and Helmes did a wonderful job.

As a therapist myself (however, please note, not one that typically works with youth at risk, just has studied or sat in on sessions with them), I did like the relationship between Puck and Barb. I thought it was really well portrayed, and that both of their reactions were great. I loved the Barb was human, and that Puck seemed to get under her skin, which at times caused her to be a little unprofessional. Therapists and counsellors have feelings and opinions and difficulties too, and counter transference is a real thing. It was an interesting read from the therapist’s perspective, but I’ll leave it at that.

The Downsides about Puck:

The timeline of the story completely threw me. It was only when the characters brought it up in the end that I found out they’d been out in the wilderness for as long as they were. I had definitely thought they were on a much shorter timeline. Maybe I’d just missed it earlier, but it was a bit of a surprise when I hit that part. It definitely helped the progress of the characters make more sense though.

This book is paced incredibly fast, which probably is part of my issue with my previous point. While it did make it easy to fly through this book, I think it would be been better if we’d gotten a bit more time with some of the scenes and maybe even a bit more of the story.

There is one aspect of Puck’s story, the reason that she ended up at DreamRoads if you’ve read it, that sat a little funny with me. It was brought up and discussed, but I felt like it should have been a bigger deal than it was. The book is short and there’s a lot to get through, but what Puck did is really serious. I wish that the adults in the book had made it a bigger deal so that she’d realize that.

All in all, this is a fun, quick read that will tug on your heart just enough, and make you smile in all the right places. The characters are wonderful, the story unfolds in a fun, engaging way, and leaves you wishing that you could just give all of the characters a great big hug. I had not heard of the Twisted Lit Novels before, but I am definitely going to have to hunt more of them down now, not to mention, get my hands on a copy of Puck for my own shelf.

[Lorna Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...

Puck is a modernised story which takes a great deal of inspiration from the classic Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream. If you are familiar with AMSN then a lot of the characters and scenarios will be familiar to you, but even if you are reading Puck as a standalone I believe it would still be a good story.

Although the main character, the eponymous Puck, may seem like your standard whiny, self-entitled teenager at first, as the story progresses and you learn more about her, it quickly becomes clear that this isn't the case. All the young people at DreamRoads, Puck included, have a pretty complex past, and each campmates' story slowly gets revealed throughout the book.

I did feel that the story was a little repetitive at times, but towards the end, the pace picked up and the story came to a satisfying end. Similarly, although this is a Young Adult story, it does not feel limited by its audience and, despite the fact that it is told from Puck, a teenager's, point of view, I feel that people of all ages could enjoy the book.

I enjoyed this book and I am tempted to check out some of the other books in the Twisted Lit series next!

[Annamarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puck is about a young messed up girl who is taken from her foster home in the middle of the night. Puck is a handful and because of this she has been to many different schools, lived in lots of care home and had seen a lot of different therapists, but who can blame her for acting out after what happened to her.

Puck is living with a nice young woman Paula, but when Puck makes an accusation about Paula's fiance Paula has had enough and sends Puck away to DreamRoads hoping that it will help her to let go of all her anger and finally learn to trust someone.

While at DreaRoads we meet seven other children who have all done different things wrong to end up being stuck there, and it turns out that there stay could be longer than they imagined.

First is a pop star Tatania (Tonya) who was rich and successful but she got sent to DreamRoads because she was stealing, then there is Nissa who was sleeping with her married teacher, Frances who took an overdose, Quin who got hooked on medication, Peabo who liked to set fires when he was angry, Snout who acts like a crazy person but is there because he was hiding out in his school for seven months after playing off his parents, he only got caught because he accidentally set the canteen on fire while cooking and DreamRoads longest resident Ronnie who hurt someone bad enough to put them in a coma.

At first Puck decides that she is going to do everything she can to get out of the place and she starts a fight with Tonya on her first night and ends up injuring the woman in charge Barb and is punished by making her take a cold shower to get all the food of her.

The next morning the campers are split into two groups with two cam chaperones Puck is with Mia and Xander while Ellen and Dmitri are assigned to watch the other campers while they hike through the desert to where they will start working on the four Stepping Stones to help them get out of DreamRoads and back home to their families.

Stepping Stone one Fire - the campers had to be able to light a fire with the exception of Peabo, this is the Stepping Stone that Ronnie keeps failing at and why he is still at DreamRoads, at the same time Puck is also failing at it until Ronnie uses a lighter he stole from Tonya to light the fire and Puck takes credit for it.

Stepping Stone two is Air - this challenge requires the campers to rappel from a mountain, Puck goes second down the side of the mountain and half way down she stops to take in the scenery and everyone thinks she has stopped because she is scared but she shows them that she isn't scared by free falling until Xander stops her decent.

Stepping Stone three Earth - for the earth challenge the campers are made to dig a hole so that when they are stood in it, it comes up to their necks after digging each camper is given paper to write anything they want on it, it could be a poem, a confession anything, they are told that no one will ever read what they have written it was a promise, Puck struggles to write anything and then just before they are make to stop she writes something. Barb tells the campers to put the paper in the hole that they had dug and then they cover it up.

Stepping Stone four Water - for the water challenge the campers take a short hike and then they are put into groups again where they get into boats to go down stream on it the only problem is Puck has a fear of the water because of something that happened to her when she was younger. Puck manages to get onto the boat and help sail down the river until they hit a problem and the boat capsizes and Puck gets stuck under the water and Barb has to save her but Puck doesn't realise that it is Barb trying to save her.

Once the campers have completed all the Stepping Stones they go back to DreamRoads safe house for graduation Ronnie and Puck don't graduate because of something that Puck did that was dangerous and it got her kicked out and because Ronnie didn't complete the Fire challenge.

The campers preform a new version of The Wizards of Oz and Tonya sings a song that she had written while at DreamRoads and she decides to donate all of the money from that song to DreamRoads who use it to fund a new scholarship that they give to Puck.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review posted on my blog From Ink to Paper

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued when I got the request to review this book because I enjoy the Midsummer Night's Dream story and thought that is cool it is a twisted version of it. Hence the name twisted lit novel. When I first started reading I wasn't really sure how I felt about it to be honest. I was like I am not sure I can get into this and I feel like it is for a younger audience.

Then I got going on it, and I started getting more involved with the characters and being like I want to see what happens. I started rooting for Puck because at first I was like come on Puck grow up and then again I got going and I was like feeling for her and wanting her to succeed. I also liked how the characters go along with the Midsummer story, the love square between the 4 camp counselors and how it is Puck's flower drink that makes them go all crazy and not remember who got with who and just how it plays out similar to the story.

I thought the characters were likeable, more so once you get going and hear their story and what they are going through. It is a journey you go on with them and you feel for them. Again just the fun part of Titania who is a pop star instead of queen of the fairies, but you can see the similarities and how she was based off the character in the play. I thought the humor that was involved in the banter between the kids were great. I love when all of a sudden Snout just pops up and is normal.

I think this was a great idea for a story and a fun read. I think it is a good book for older children, teens, young adult, and even fun for adults. For those who are fans of Shakespeare and this play it is a fun read just trying to figure out the similarities and being like oh yeah that goes with this! I am glad that I had the opportunity to read and review this book and look forward to checking out other Twisted Lit novels!

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a quick, fun retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The pacing was good and the cast of characters were fun. There was enough action to keep you interested and the slow unfolding of the character's backstory was very satisfying. It was a very enjoyable read, although I often stopped to wonder when was the last time either of the authors actually spoke to a teenager (one particularly vivid example was when a character said "fo shizzle" without any irony.)

That being said, I am so mad about the revelation of Puck's first secret. I am furious. And not at Puck, but at the author's who made this choice.

They could have chosen anything to have been the catalyst for Puck's admittance into this program, but they decided to use false pedophile allegations. This was such a disgusting and dangerous choice to make that I almost stopped reading right then. And it was played off in an almost "aw shucks" sort of way. Like it was just another lie Puck told. They briefly tried to ground it in the gravity of the situation with Nissa's reaction, but it was still a grossly unfortunate route for the author's to take. Normalizing false pedophile/rape/molestation in this way is so harmful and adds to the rape culture notion that people are mostly lying about their sexual assault. Especially since young girls like Puck are even more at risk for these sorts of atrocities as they are far less protected and far more likely to not be believed than children who are not in unstable family situations. Honestly, this whole aspect of the book makes me feel sick. I probably should have taken some time before writing this review as my emotions are possibly inhibiting my ability to fully articulate the issue I have with this. I'm truly, deeply disappointed in this. It was so fucking unnecessary.

(I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

[Hannah Charlesworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**

I received a lovely copy of this from the authors in exchange for my honest review. Thank you again!

The book follows Puck as our main character who is having a hard time fitting into a foster home and has yet again been kicked out. After being kicked out, Puck ends up at a rehabilitation wilderness camp with fellow delinquents which include a famous pop star, a geeky math whizz, and a gang-banger. Puck tries everything she can at first to cheat her way out of the camp. However, what Puck doesn't quite realise at first, is that the camp is exactly what she needs.

This book is loosely based on Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' which I haven't actually read or seen the play of so I would say it's quite hard for me to say how similar it is or how much of 'Puck' is inspired by Shakespeare. This was an interesting book and read nicely, however, I would say that it wasn't really for me in the end. I have had a look at the reviews on Goodreads and a lot of other readers really enjoyed it, so please don't be put off by me not wholly loving it. There are some uses of Shakespeare quotes and the pace was good. The characters were generally interesting and worked well too. There was definitely plenty of back story too and enough action.

I wouldn't say that I had any issues with this book other than the plot overall just wasn't me and sometimes that's just how it is with books! We can't love them all! I think it would definitely have been nice to have had some more of an idea of the Shakespeare original and/or read it.

Overall, this was a very solid book and there is definitely plenty to enjoy. I would probably recommend this to anyone with any interest in young adult. It is something a little different but maybe not for everyone!

[Melanie P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I close my eyes and drift closer to my dreams, trailed by one small, sleepy spark of thought: Perhaps what I choose to hang on to can be just as important as everything I have been struggling to let go of.” – Puck by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes

​(I received a copy from the authors in exchange for an honest review.)

With everything Puck has gone through, going from foster home to foster home, she never seems to catch a break. Now she’s being sent to DreamRoads, a rebabilitation wilderness camp, against her will. With a love of manipulation and the determination to get back home, she aims to stir some trouble. Will she get her way or will this journey be the hike that she needs to see her life in a better light?

When it comes to retellings, I’m so used to seeing many different kinds based on fairy-tales. I’ve never before heard of a Shakespeare retelling until I was given the chance to read Puck (A Twisted Lit Novel). Being a big Shakespeare fan myself, I felt very intrigued to know where they would go with a modern retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was a very fast-paced and really fun book. There were parts that made me laugh and other moments that stayed true to the seriousness of being in a rehabilitation camp. With the help of the other members’ support, though it wasn’t easy, they learn to be true to themselves. It sends a very real and positive message while also being true to the style of Shakespearean comedy. That being said, it overall makes this such a unique and fun novel to read.

If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, you would love this retelling!
I give this awesome retelling a 4 out of 5 rating!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it. Puck is like her namesake, a troublemaker to the core. A foster child with walls up around her and a chip on her shoulder, Puck seems like a lost cause. Not just to those around her, but to herself as well. When she gets sent to an outdoor boot camp-type program for troubled teens, all she wants is to get out. She tries her hardest to get kicked out. The last thing she expects is to make friends and actually start to feel like she is somebody who is loved. The last thing she expects is to actually care about the people around her and the program she is forced to be a part of. As she struggles both physically and emotionally from day to day, she is forced to face her own past and the demons that lurk there. The truth can only be avoided for so long, and Puck may not survive the confrontation. This is filled with interesting and troubled characters. They all have a story, and I enjoyed getting to know them. I was partially drawn to this story because I love Shakespeare, and the boot camp is in Utah, where I live. I didn't really love any of the characters, which kept me from loving the story itself. They were all okay, just none that I completely adored. They all have their moments, but none of them really clicked for me. I think the character of Puck was well written. At times I felt what she felt, the disgust in her actions, the loss of control, the defensiveness. Overall, she was an interesting character.

[alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was... interesting. It's a modern retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream and I really do mean retelling in that there was nothing unpredictable about it. The names were even the same or extremely obvious tweaks (Mia, Ellen, Dimitri, Xander). The snake scene is still in there, the "nothing but low and little", Puck having a monologue at the end.

But I have a soft spot for A Midsummer Night's Dream and I have a soft spot for angsty teens who go into the woods and think they're broken and unlovable. This was a pretty good combo. Extremely predictable, prose sufficiently edited to not be distracting most of the time (it was clunky at points. Also i don't get the sense they have a great grasp on race. Also they use the word "gypsy" which is a slur for Romani people.)

TL;DR: literally just AMND but in the woods with hurt teens so if you like either of those things it's worth a read.

(Oh I got this from netgalley; opinions my own)

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mix of Shakespeare quotes and name drops mixed with The Breakfast Club. And some psychobabble in the middle of all of it.

Puck (and no her name doesn't mean what you think it does) is on her last chance when she is sent to some delinquent bootcamp which she hates from the get-go. Surrounded by other kids she can't stand, or seem to fully understand yet, it takes outdoor survival training and picking on the counsellors and each other to finally come to some self- and life-realization.

This was a weird one. Good weird, but still weird. It takes some focus to really sit down and read, to keep up with everything going on and who's who. I got confused a lot and had to keep going back since I tried to read this between constant interruptions. Overall, not bad, but it was a bit slow in the middle for me. By the end, it definitely pulled at the heart strings. 3 stars!