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The Crossing
In this thrilling dystopian novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Returned, the world is at war and two siblings are forced on the run, challenged to do whatever it takes to save themselves—and each other
Twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have been on their own since they were orphaned at the age of five, surviving a merciless foster care system by relying on each other. Twelve years later, the world begins to collapse around them as a deadly contagion steadily wipes out entire populations and a devastating world war rages on. When Tommy is drafted for the war, the twins are faced with a choice: stay and accept their fate of almost certain death, or run. Virginia and Tommy flee into the dark night.
Armed with only a pistol and their fierce will to survive, the twins set forth in search of a new beginning. Encountering a colorful cast of characters along the way, Tommy and Virginia must navigate the dangers and wonders of this changed world as they try to outrun the demons of their past.
Twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have been on their own since they were orphaned at the age of five, surviving a merciless foster care system by relying on each other. Twelve years later, the world begins to collapse around them as a deadly contagion steadily wipes out entire populations and a devastating world war rages on. When Tommy is drafted for the war, the twins are faced with a choice: stay and accept their fate of almost certain death, or run. Virginia and Tommy flee into the dark night.
Armed with only a pistol and their fierce will to survive, the twins set forth in search of a new beginning. Encountering a colorful cast of characters along the way, Tommy and Virginia must navigate the dangers and wonders of this changed world as they try to outrun the demons of their past.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2018
53 people are currently reading
1533 people want to read
About the author
Jason Mott
20 books1,454 followersJason Mott lives in southeastern North Carolina. He has a BFA in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His poetry and fiction has appeared in various journals such as Prick of the Spindle, The Thomas Wolfe Review, The Kakalak Anthology of Carolina Poets, Measure and Chautauqua. He was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize award and Entertainment Weekly listed him as one of their 10 “New Hollywood: Next Wave” people to watch.
He is the author of two poetry collections: We Call This Thing Between Us Love and “…hide behind me…” The Returned is his first novel.
The Returned has been optioned by Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B, in association with Brillstein Entertainment and ABC. It will air in March, 2014 on the ABC network under the title “Resurrection.”
He is the author of two poetry collections: We Call This Thing Between Us Love and “…hide behind me…” The Returned is his first novel.
The Returned has been optioned by Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B, in association with Brillstein Entertainment and ABC. It will air in March, 2014 on the ABC network under the title “Resurrection.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
June 20, 2018
3.5 As I mentioned before in my reviews, that except for the first paragraph I have quit reading the extended summaries of the books I read. I have discovered, however, a slight glitch in even doing this because this book said it was post apocalyptic, and thrinlking, which leads one to believe this was a quick moving book. It wasn't, in fact, it was quite slowly paced. So whle I expected it to be one thing, it turned into another. Book expectations. Took me a while but I fell in to this story of twins, Tommy and Virginia born on 9/11, who lose their parents young and grow up in the foster care system. While disease and war are the two conflicts in this novel, it is more a story of how people handled these dual conflicts.
While it concentrated mostly on Ginny and Tommy, their relationship, there are also short chapters devoted to others who are experiencing these scenario. There are also breaks for letters from the twins father that he had written them both before they were born and before he died. Both twins have a talent that lie on alternate spectrums, not mystical, just something that effects their relationship past and present. This book does a fantastic job with character building, showing the many different ways adversity is faced and how personalities are formed from the past and present. Hence, the slower pace of the book.
Funny thing is I found I liked it more after I finished and put it all together than while I was reading. Happens once in a while, but the more I thought about it the more I could see what Mott accomplished. It may not be fast paced, but I found it to be extremely well written.
ARC from Netgalley.
While it concentrated mostly on Ginny and Tommy, their relationship, there are also short chapters devoted to others who are experiencing these scenario. There are also breaks for letters from the twins father that he had written them both before they were born and before he died. Both twins have a talent that lie on alternate spectrums, not mystical, just something that effects their relationship past and present. This book does a fantastic job with character building, showing the many different ways adversity is faced and how personalities are formed from the past and present. Hence, the slower pace of the book.
Funny thing is I found I liked it more after I finished and put it all together than while I was reading. Happens once in a while, but the more I thought about it the more I could see what Mott accomplished. It may not be fast paced, but I found it to be extremely well written.
ARC from Netgalley.
December 7, 2018
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jason Mott's The Crossing is perhaps the most eloquently written novel I have ever read. Simply stunning in its imagery. The characters are so deep and exquisitely described. Everything, just everything, is music in words.
Seeing the less-than-stellar reviews of this book, I almost didn't read it even though it sounded intriguing. I read the synopsis a few times, looked at the stars and reviews, hemmed and hawed. Thankfully the part of me that wanted to read this won out. I simply cannot understand why it's not a 4 or 5 star average book! The only thing I can figure is that many/most people who picked it up did so thinking it would be more plot-driven, a more fight-to-the-end post-apocalyptic action story with characters driven to kill each other in a fight for survival. This book is neither of those things. It is not dull or slow-paced, not at all. However, it is more about our main character's thoughts, feelings, and memories than about a fierce struggle for survival. If you're looking for fast-paced action, you will not find it in this book. You will instead find a book that is so well-written, with such vibrant characters, that you cannot help but be immersed in the novel. If you're looking for a character-driven book, you will not be disappointed and cannot go wrong with this book.
The Crossing tells the story of Virginia and Tommy, twins whose parents were killed in a car accident when they were 5. Virginia has a photographic memory, forgetting nothing. Tommy's memory is not so good, because he wants to forget all of the bad things in their lives, such as all the foster homes that did not work out. It's set sometime in the near future and a mysterious disease simply called The Disease has been ravaging the population. It began with the oldest of people, putting them into a deep sleep from which there was no awakening. As each age group dies off, The Disease moves to younger and younger people. In spite of this, or perhaps because of this, there are wars being fought all over the planet, and acts of terrorism in those countries that do not have active warfare. The future is bleak no matter how you look at it. Is there a way to find hope in such a world? Is there a way to make a future for oneself in such a world?
I won't say more about the story because I don't want to give anything away. I wish I could give this book 10 stars. No, 20! I am sure it will stay with me for a very long time.
Jason Mott's The Crossing is perhaps the most eloquently written novel I have ever read. Simply stunning in its imagery. The characters are so deep and exquisitely described. Everything, just everything, is music in words.
Seeing the less-than-stellar reviews of this book, I almost didn't read it even though it sounded intriguing. I read the synopsis a few times, looked at the stars and reviews, hemmed and hawed. Thankfully the part of me that wanted to read this won out. I simply cannot understand why it's not a 4 or 5 star average book! The only thing I can figure is that many/most people who picked it up did so thinking it would be more plot-driven, a more fight-to-the-end post-apocalyptic action story with characters driven to kill each other in a fight for survival. This book is neither of those things. It is not dull or slow-paced, not at all. However, it is more about our main character's thoughts, feelings, and memories than about a fierce struggle for survival. If you're looking for fast-paced action, you will not find it in this book. You will instead find a book that is so well-written, with such vibrant characters, that you cannot help but be immersed in the novel. If you're looking for a character-driven book, you will not be disappointed and cannot go wrong with this book.
The Crossing tells the story of Virginia and Tommy, twins whose parents were killed in a car accident when they were 5. Virginia has a photographic memory, forgetting nothing. Tommy's memory is not so good, because he wants to forget all of the bad things in their lives, such as all the foster homes that did not work out. It's set sometime in the near future and a mysterious disease simply called The Disease has been ravaging the population. It began with the oldest of people, putting them into a deep sleep from which there was no awakening. As each age group dies off, The Disease moves to younger and younger people. In spite of this, or perhaps because of this, there are wars being fought all over the planet, and acts of terrorism in those countries that do not have active warfare. The future is bleak no matter how you look at it. Is there a way to find hope in such a world? Is there a way to make a future for oneself in such a world?
I won't say more about the story because I don't want to give anything away. I wish I could give this book 10 stars. No, 20! I am sure it will stay with me for a very long time.
April 20, 2018
The Crossing by Jason Mott is a dystopian read that is set in a world where disease has begun to slowly take over the world. It started with the elderly, those over 90 simply went to sleep and did not wake up again. But as time goes on the age that is effected by the sleeping sickness continues to drop lower and lower.
In the beginning no one worried about the disease thinking it was only taking those at the end of their lives anyway. But when it became apparent that sooner rather than later there would be no one left of child bearing age the world broke out in chaos. As war started the military began the draft yet again.
Seventeen year old twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have only had each other since they were children often running when the system would try to split them apart. Now Virginia wants nothing more than to make it to see the space launch to Europa that just might be the last hope for the world that is falling apart.
The Crossing wasn’t a bad read at all but it was one that for me had a lot of slowness to it that then has it a struggle to keep my attention. There is a lot of telling instead of doing in the book and one only needs so much world building without progress to a plot.
On the other hand after wading through the slowness there is an interesting story going on with the twins and their world. Virginia is one that never forgets a single detail at all so she’s certainly a unique character and other interesting characters are introduced along the journey. The idea of setting of to see the launch was an interesting one to center around while the characters grew and developed so in the end I’d say this was an ok read just a bit slow for my taste.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In the beginning no one worried about the disease thinking it was only taking those at the end of their lives anyway. But when it became apparent that sooner rather than later there would be no one left of child bearing age the world broke out in chaos. As war started the military began the draft yet again.
Seventeen year old twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have only had each other since they were children often running when the system would try to split them apart. Now Virginia wants nothing more than to make it to see the space launch to Europa that just might be the last hope for the world that is falling apart.
The Crossing wasn’t a bad read at all but it was one that for me had a lot of slowness to it that then has it a struggle to keep my attention. There is a lot of telling instead of doing in the book and one only needs so much world building without progress to a plot.
On the other hand after wading through the slowness there is an interesting story going on with the twins and their world. Virginia is one that never forgets a single detail at all so she’s certainly a unique character and other interesting characters are introduced along the journey. The idea of setting of to see the launch was an interesting one to center around while the characters grew and developed so in the end I’d say this was an ok read just a bit slow for my taste.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 21, 2018
This is a novel of hopelessness. The world is at war, there's some unknown disease that at first attacked only the oldest who would fall asleep and never wake up. Then the Disease affects younger and younger populations. It's also about two twins, Virginia and Tommy, whose parents died when they were five and they have been shuffled between various foster homes. Virginia retains all memories of every minute of every day and everything that happens. She remembers everything she see and everything she reads and everything she feels. Tommy is a normal boy. Viginia is always the special one.
I kept waiting for something interesting to happen in this book or something to make me love or hate or get involved with one of the characters, but for me it never did. I'm sure some people will love the book, but this one wasn't for me. I chose it because I really liked Mott's book The Returned and wanted to read more by him. This wasn't a bad story - it just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Jason Mott and HARLEQUIN - Park Row Books through Netgalley for allowing me to read and advance copy.
I kept waiting for something interesting to happen in this book or something to make me love or hate or get involved with one of the characters, but for me it never did. I'm sure some people will love the book, but this one wasn't for me. I chose it because I really liked Mott's book The Returned and wanted to read more by him. This wasn't a bad story - it just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Jason Mott and HARLEQUIN - Park Row Books through Netgalley for allowing me to read and advance copy.
January 20, 2018
Jason Mott has done it again with another captivating read, The Crossing, set in a dystopian world where a disease has eaten at the human race by rendering those affected forever sleep. That's right. I know we all have had a moment where we wonder if we go to sleep, will we wake again. This title is along the same lines of The Returned in terms of the matters in life and death, except the focus here is the other end of the spectrum where those who are healthy just die in their sleep, never to return.
As the world unfolds into war and terror, Virginia and Tommy embark on a journey to see a space launch headed towards Europa. Europa is a distant moon that could perhaps lead to a new place to inhabit for those not affected with The Disease. By the time they begin this trek, the Disease was already in its tenth year and 20% of the world's population had been affected.
Virginia and Tommy are twins whose parents died before the Disease could take them, but the memory of them is alive and well in Virginia. She's a remarkably bright 17 year old who's unable to forget anything. Her brilliance is a gift and a curse for her. She primarily narrates the story, but as the journey unfolds, and they meet some interesting characters (to say the least), it becomes hard to like her.
Although Virginia's well developed and intriguing, she might be the only thing keeping this novel from a 5-star rating. No that's not fair. I'm just stingy with my 5-stars, is all. But seriously, I just wanted to strangle her at times, yet I can't imagine what hell she's going through as the world crumbles around her.
She uses The Memory Gospel to recount the way life was before the Disease. The only problem with the Memory Gospel is that the memories it contains are hers and hers alone. These memories are her own perspective which seems detached at times. Although she loves her brother Tommy, her ability to disconnect from emotions makes her seem cold and distant. She's knows this yet can't help herself. The curse of her inability to forget anything is that she will remember all the good and the bad and this makes her cynical at times. There are moments I felt genuinely sorry for Virginia as she narrates, but mostly I was hoping she could rise to the occasion and be a better person. For Tommy's sake at least.
As Tommy and Virginia run towards the launch, in the hopes of witnessing what might possibly be the last act of what life was like before the Disease. Preservation is one of the strongest themes in The Crossing. Preserving normalcy, creativity, hope, love, and life. Preserving a future and hoping that the memories of life before the Disease, can be found again.
The Crossing will really resonate with readers. Jason Mott writes well with an uncomplicated story full of emotion with a hint of suspense. To say I enjoyed The Crossing would be an understatement.Yes this novel was a quick read for me, I found myself highlighting, or rereading excerpts I found most moving. What I've taken from this book is that often times is that our memories can be a gift. These memories can help us through tough times but the art of forgetting is a blessing that shouldn't be taken for granted.
Copy provided by Harlequin via Netgalley
As the world unfolds into war and terror, Virginia and Tommy embark on a journey to see a space launch headed towards Europa. Europa is a distant moon that could perhaps lead to a new place to inhabit for those not affected with The Disease. By the time they begin this trek, the Disease was already in its tenth year and 20% of the world's population had been affected.
Virginia and Tommy are twins whose parents died before the Disease could take them, but the memory of them is alive and well in Virginia. She's a remarkably bright 17 year old who's unable to forget anything. Her brilliance is a gift and a curse for her. She primarily narrates the story, but as the journey unfolds, and they meet some interesting characters (to say the least), it becomes hard to like her.
Although Virginia's well developed and intriguing, she might be the only thing keeping this novel from a 5-star rating. No that's not fair. I'm just stingy with my 5-stars, is all. But seriously, I just wanted to strangle her at times, yet I can't imagine what hell she's going through as the world crumbles around her.
She uses The Memory Gospel to recount the way life was before the Disease. The only problem with the Memory Gospel is that the memories it contains are hers and hers alone. These memories are her own perspective which seems detached at times. Although she loves her brother Tommy, her ability to disconnect from emotions makes her seem cold and distant. She's knows this yet can't help herself. The curse of her inability to forget anything is that she will remember all the good and the bad and this makes her cynical at times. There are moments I felt genuinely sorry for Virginia as she narrates, but mostly I was hoping she could rise to the occasion and be a better person. For Tommy's sake at least.
As Tommy and Virginia run towards the launch, in the hopes of witnessing what might possibly be the last act of what life was like before the Disease. Preservation is one of the strongest themes in The Crossing. Preserving normalcy, creativity, hope, love, and life. Preserving a future and hoping that the memories of life before the Disease, can be found again.
The Crossing will really resonate with readers. Jason Mott writes well with an uncomplicated story full of emotion with a hint of suspense. To say I enjoyed The Crossing would be an understatement.Yes this novel was a quick read for me, I found myself highlighting, or rereading excerpts I found most moving. What I've taken from this book is that often times is that our memories can be a gift. These memories can help us through tough times but the art of forgetting is a blessing that shouldn't be taken for granted.
Copy provided by Harlequin via Netgalley
October 11, 2023
A brother and sister embark on a wistful cross-country trek as the world (as they know it) slowly dies. I quite enjoyed the journey and the honestly written characters and I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr Mott's work in the not too distant future.
3 1/2 Determined Stars
3 1/2 Determined Stars
couldn-t-finish
May 21, 2018Premise is great but the book never really got anywhere and didn't engage me. I gave it 33% and decided to put this one down.
June 27, 2018
Tommy and Virginia are twins. They depend on each other because they are all that's left. Their parents died when the twins were young, forcing them into the foster system. Then The Disease came, killing first the elderly then progressively trickling down to younger and younger victims. The people go to sleep and just never wake up. As the planet ticked down towards destruction, war broke out. Now young people are being drafted to die in senseless violence. The world is burning it's candle at both ends. Young people bleeding to death on battlefields, while older people sleep themselves to death. How long until nobody is left? And the twins are in the middle....running from the horror of a draft notice. The twins run towards a space probe launch, feeling it's the last hope for mankind. Discovering that there is life on distant moon Europa would mean the death of Earth wouldn't leave the universe totally devoid of life.
When I finished this book, I was unsure how I felt about it. I had to think it over for two days before I was ready to write this review. A few deep breaths, a cup of fresh coffee.....I think I'm ready now.
I found this story very disjointed. Most of the plot is told from the twins' point of view, but portions of chapters jump to other characters they meet on their journey to Cape Canaveral to watch the probe launch. I found the constant jumping around to be a distraction from the main plot, and it slowed down the already too slow progression of the story line. For a dystopian story about a plague and the effects of war....with the main characters running from pursuers.....this book moved too slowly. I almost stopped reading several times. But I kept at it thinking that once they got to Florida, the story would find it's footing and start going somewhere. But it really never did. I think the main problem for me is this: It's hard to enjoy or want to continue reading a story that has absolutely no sense of hope.
Portions of the story are very well written. Introspection from the main characters about The Disease, the loss of their parents, the destruction of the world, human nature, etc. At times, it was very interesting. But, all the introspection and inner thoughts overpowered the plot until there really was no plot action to carry the story. And in the end, the feelings of hopelessness and futility just killed any enjoyment of the story for me.
I'm not going to say this is a bad book....the writing isn't bad, and the idea in itself is interesting. But, overall, the story was not for me. I did not enjoy this book. Others might. For me, in the end, the story just had no purpose. I took nothing away from my reading other than a deep feeling of wasted time and lost hope.
Not for me. Too slow....too dark and depressing.
I would definitely try another novel by this author. His writing style is good. But next time, if it goes along this same path, I'm going to DNF and move along.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. **
When I finished this book, I was unsure how I felt about it. I had to think it over for two days before I was ready to write this review. A few deep breaths, a cup of fresh coffee.....I think I'm ready now.
I found this story very disjointed. Most of the plot is told from the twins' point of view, but portions of chapters jump to other characters they meet on their journey to Cape Canaveral to watch the probe launch. I found the constant jumping around to be a distraction from the main plot, and it slowed down the already too slow progression of the story line. For a dystopian story about a plague and the effects of war....with the main characters running from pursuers.....this book moved too slowly. I almost stopped reading several times. But I kept at it thinking that once they got to Florida, the story would find it's footing and start going somewhere. But it really never did. I think the main problem for me is this: It's hard to enjoy or want to continue reading a story that has absolutely no sense of hope.
Portions of the story are very well written. Introspection from the main characters about The Disease, the loss of their parents, the destruction of the world, human nature, etc. At times, it was very interesting. But, all the introspection and inner thoughts overpowered the plot until there really was no plot action to carry the story. And in the end, the feelings of hopelessness and futility just killed any enjoyment of the story for me.
I'm not going to say this is a bad book....the writing isn't bad, and the idea in itself is interesting. But, overall, the story was not for me. I did not enjoy this book. Others might. For me, in the end, the story just had no purpose. I took nothing away from my reading other than a deep feeling of wasted time and lost hope.
Not for me. Too slow....too dark and depressing.
I would definitely try another novel by this author. His writing style is good. But next time, if it goes along this same path, I'm going to DNF and move along.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. **
May 29, 2018
*4.5 Stars
Jason Mott is a new-to-me author. The Crossing grabbed my attention, I was pulled in by the premise and I loved the tone and atmosphere created by the author.
The Crossing has to be one of the most eloquently written books I’ve ever read. There is an elevated quality to the writing that sets it apart from other books, I would almost call it poetic in nature. Sometimes this sort of thing can turn me off of a book, but in this case, it perfectly reflected the protagonist. This story is told from Virginia’s point of view, she is a special girl, who was not always able to balance along the line between brilliance and redeemable human being. Her imperfection made her a captivating character.
I love a dark book, one that doesn’t always promise the beloved HEA. Do I want everything to work out in the end? Absolutely! But an author who is willing to risk an “as good as it could have been” ending has my admiration and respect.
If I had to have one criticism of The Crossing it would have to be the supporting cast. I just didn’t feel like Mott allowed them to be themselves. Each and every one seemed to have the same gravitas in their thoughts and speech as Virginia. I would have preferred the dialogue to be a bit more unique for each character.
I enjoyed The Crossing, it’s not the type of book that I want to read all of the time, but sometimes the dark makes the light shine that much brighter.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via Edelweiss).
Jason Mott is a new-to-me author. The Crossing grabbed my attention, I was pulled in by the premise and I loved the tone and atmosphere created by the author.
The Crossing has to be one of the most eloquently written books I’ve ever read. There is an elevated quality to the writing that sets it apart from other books, I would almost call it poetic in nature. Sometimes this sort of thing can turn me off of a book, but in this case, it perfectly reflected the protagonist. This story is told from Virginia’s point of view, she is a special girl, who was not always able to balance along the line between brilliance and redeemable human being. Her imperfection made her a captivating character.
I love a dark book, one that doesn’t always promise the beloved HEA. Do I want everything to work out in the end? Absolutely! But an author who is willing to risk an “as good as it could have been” ending has my admiration and respect.
If I had to have one criticism of The Crossing it would have to be the supporting cast. I just didn’t feel like Mott allowed them to be themselves. Each and every one seemed to have the same gravitas in their thoughts and speech as Virginia. I would have preferred the dialogue to be a bit more unique for each character.
I enjoyed The Crossing, it’s not the type of book that I want to read all of the time, but sometimes the dark makes the light shine that much brighter.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via Edelweiss).
July 22, 2018
"Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Mankind is not putting up much of a fight.
I can feel the Earth slowing on its axis, slowing to a stop.
Set in a dystopian world, a disease that puts people to sleep and eventually kills them has wiped out 20% of the population and the death toll is climbing as wars rage on, and polar ice caps melting is adding to the disaster.
This is more a story about family.
17 year old twin orphans, Virginia who remembers every moment of her life, a blessing and a curse, and her brother Tommy who remembers nothing about his life, a curse and a blessing. Gannon their foster father who ends up filled with compassion and wisdom as the book went on. The three struggle to survive in a dying world.
The letters from their parents, Gannon's father in the backseat of his police cruiser, the 'elsewhere' vignettes just added to the sorrow.
The sadness, the hopelessness, the inevitability of it all was always around just sitting on the edge waiting.
A well written book. I got choked up at the ending, no tears just a cough.
My only complaint is the author tended to wax poetic at times. I read his bio he has a masters degree in poetry so that answered that.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
Mankind is not putting up much of a fight.
I can feel the Earth slowing on its axis, slowing to a stop.
Set in a dystopian world, a disease that puts people to sleep and eventually kills them has wiped out 20% of the population and the death toll is climbing as wars rage on, and polar ice caps melting is adding to the disaster.
This is more a story about family.
17 year old twin orphans, Virginia who remembers every moment of her life, a blessing and a curse, and her brother Tommy who remembers nothing about his life, a curse and a blessing. Gannon their foster father who ends up filled with compassion and wisdom as the book went on. The three struggle to survive in a dying world.
The letters from their parents, Gannon's father in the backseat of his police cruiser, the 'elsewhere' vignettes just added to the sorrow.
The sadness, the hopelessness, the inevitability of it all was always around just sitting on the edge waiting.
A well written book. I got choked up at the ending, no tears just a cough.
My only complaint is the author tended to wax poetic at times. I read his bio he has a masters degree in poetry so that answered that.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
June 16, 2018
In Jason Mott’s The Crossing tension is created in the reader's desire for Virginia to find something outside herself and her brother, something tangible or intangible, anything that will create a desire to move forward. She has the hope of a young cynic, the love of her brother, and the dream of a better planet. The premise is utilized with skill and the reader will ultimately get the pay off in the end. This is a deserving read and a solid addition to this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley, Park Row Books, and Jason Mott for the advanced copy for review.
Full review can be found here: https://paulspicks.blog/2018/05/13/th...
Please check out all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
Thank you to NetGalley, Park Row Books, and Jason Mott for the advanced copy for review.
Full review can be found here: https://paulspicks.blog/2018/05/13/th...
Please check out all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
January 4, 2018
Can't believe I'm the first person reviewing this, Mott, after all, has made quite a name for himself. My first introduction to his was via Resurrection the short lived tv show, based on his fiction debut The Returned. So I went and read The Returned and was promptly disappointed. It wasn't a terrible read by any means, but it left a lot to be desired. For those unfamiliar with the plot, The Returned are individuals miraculously resurrected, who come back to places they left behind unchanged while the world around them has moved on. There's a lot to be done with a concept like that and Mott didn't really take advantage of it. But he did return to grand concepts. The Crossing is set in a dying world not of the future, but of an alternate present. Apocalypse comes quietly in disguise of sleep and is plowing through the elder generations. The younger ones, meanwhile, are being eliminated in a more conventional way...war. Between the forever sleep and the war, the candle is burning at both ends, the world is short on joy and a space launch to Europa (Jupiter's moon) might be as close to it as it gets. Therefore seventeen year old twins, one with a perfect memory (eidetic and photographic) set off on a crossing to get to Florida. Again, a good story, though not a great one. Not sure what's preventing Mott from literary greatness, but he is getting closer, this one is an improvement upon earlier work. He's making efforts to reign in his poetic tendencies, though still prone to occasionally overwriting or overemphasizing, Ginny's impeccable memory is given entirely too much play. Yes, it's a great and terrible weight to remember every single thing perfectly, but how many times can it be mentioned. It does create a fascinating relationship dynamic and that Mott has done well. He's also done well to sprinkle these vignettes of lives affected by the ugliness of the world throughout the novel (Morgan's was my favorite). And the writing is good, very easy to read (in a good, not an easy reading all IQ accessible way), has a sort of buttery quality to it. Then again, the man is from the South, the butter is mandatory. There is a beauty here too, a melancholic sort, an ode to moribund world, no misplaced optimism, nothing unduly ridiculous and inappropriate to alter the somber mood. There are still stars above, if one chooses to notice, in all their glorious indifference. It's worth mentioning that despite the protagonist's young age, this doesn't really read like a YA novel, though it seems that a relatively intelligent young person should be able to read this, there's nothing objectionable here, except for the general dark ambiance. It reads somewhat young, at least for an adult, but not overwhelmingly so. Enjoyable read, somewhat frustrating with unmet potential, but the lovely ending goes some distance to make up for it. Quick one too. Thanks Netgalley.
May 16, 2018
The Crossing by Jason Mott is a highly recommended tale about twins struggling to survive in a dying world.
When the Disease first started, it hit only the elderly. Once they got it, they just fell asleep and never woke up. Then the age of those who caught the Disease began to go lower and the recrimination over how or who started the Disease began, turning into a world-wide war. Now the world is in the 10th year of the Disease. Those who lead the war efforts are dying from it, while those who are actually drafted, fighting, and dying in the war are the young.
Tommy and Virginia are seventeen-year-old twins who only have each other. Their parents died when they were five and they have been in the foster system ever since. The twins are opposites. Virginia remembers everything, every word, every detail, in complete clarity - calling it the Memory Gospel - while Tommy doesn't recall much at all. Now Tommy has received a draft letter and the two are making a final desperate trip from Oklahoma to Florida to see the shuttle launch to Jupiter’s moon Europa. Their father was obsessed with Europa and Virginia is sure that the shuttle may be humankind’s last chance for survival. Their foster father, a police officer, is following them, determined to bring Tommy back to go to the military.
This is more a story of sibling relationships and rivalry than a dystopian tale. It is set in a dying world, but the important part of the story is the interaction between Tommy and Virginia and how they relate to each other and the world. Virginia's disaffection for people and the Memory Gospel is an oddly creepy combination. She may remember everything and be the intelligent one, but she's also a bit off putting. She recounts in perfect recall the series of letters their father wrote to them, which, among other things, encouraged them to take care of each other.
The Crossing is an interesting viewpoint for a dystopian story, but perhaps not the best choice. I will readily admit to wanting to hear more about the Disease, more about the world wide war, more about the political ramifications and explanations for the plague that strikes the elderly and slowly works its way down the generations. Virginia is not really a likeable character and while it is compelling to see the struggles in the journey to Florida, her flashbacks and recollection of their father's letters takes away from the edginess and desperation of the odyssey.
The quality of the writing is excellent, as I expected. There was the potential for an even greater story here, but, still, I rather liked some of the revealing disclosures at the end which made the story much better for this reader.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Park Row Books via Netgalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
When the Disease first started, it hit only the elderly. Once they got it, they just fell asleep and never woke up. Then the age of those who caught the Disease began to go lower and the recrimination over how or who started the Disease began, turning into a world-wide war. Now the world is in the 10th year of the Disease. Those who lead the war efforts are dying from it, while those who are actually drafted, fighting, and dying in the war are the young.
Tommy and Virginia are seventeen-year-old twins who only have each other. Their parents died when they were five and they have been in the foster system ever since. The twins are opposites. Virginia remembers everything, every word, every detail, in complete clarity - calling it the Memory Gospel - while Tommy doesn't recall much at all. Now Tommy has received a draft letter and the two are making a final desperate trip from Oklahoma to Florida to see the shuttle launch to Jupiter’s moon Europa. Their father was obsessed with Europa and Virginia is sure that the shuttle may be humankind’s last chance for survival. Their foster father, a police officer, is following them, determined to bring Tommy back to go to the military.
This is more a story of sibling relationships and rivalry than a dystopian tale. It is set in a dying world, but the important part of the story is the interaction between Tommy and Virginia and how they relate to each other and the world. Virginia's disaffection for people and the Memory Gospel is an oddly creepy combination. She may remember everything and be the intelligent one, but she's also a bit off putting. She recounts in perfect recall the series of letters their father wrote to them, which, among other things, encouraged them to take care of each other.
The Crossing is an interesting viewpoint for a dystopian story, but perhaps not the best choice. I will readily admit to wanting to hear more about the Disease, more about the world wide war, more about the political ramifications and explanations for the plague that strikes the elderly and slowly works its way down the generations. Virginia is not really a likeable character and while it is compelling to see the struggles in the journey to Florida, her flashbacks and recollection of their father's letters takes away from the edginess and desperation of the odyssey.
The quality of the writing is excellent, as I expected. There was the potential for an even greater story here, but, still, I rather liked some of the revealing disclosures at the end which made the story much better for this reader.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Park Row Books via Netgalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
April 1, 2018
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ginny—who remembers literally everything—and Tommy—who barely remembers anything—are twins who have been on their own since they were orphaned at the age of five. At the time of the story, they are seventeen, and their relationship is the core of this book.
The world is falling apart. A disease is killing the elderly and working its way younger and younger. Meanwhile, the world’s youth is being sent off to fight in the latest war. When Tommy gets drafted, Ginny convinces him to go on the run from their latest foster home to Florida, so they can watch the launch of a spaceship that will be looking for life on the Jovian moon Europa.
The story is about that journey. In trying to evade their foster father Gannon, they meet other characters, who are dealing with the potential end of the world in a variety of ways. We also get brief vignettes involving characters who are otherwise not in the story. We see most of the book through Ginny’s eyes, her memories, her perfect recollection of letters from her dead father. Slowly, we learn the truth behind their trip, and that truth changes the twins’ understanding of each other and themselves.
It’s a dystopian novel, but one that takes place before things get so bad that the world is unrecognizable when compared to our own. There’s not a great deal of action, but it’s well-written and I found myself absorbed in the story and affected by the ending. Recommended.
The world is falling apart. A disease is killing the elderly and working its way younger and younger. Meanwhile, the world’s youth is being sent off to fight in the latest war. When Tommy gets drafted, Ginny convinces him to go on the run from their latest foster home to Florida, so they can watch the launch of a spaceship that will be looking for life on the Jovian moon Europa.
The story is about that journey. In trying to evade their foster father Gannon, they meet other characters, who are dealing with the potential end of the world in a variety of ways. We also get brief vignettes involving characters who are otherwise not in the story. We see most of the book through Ginny’s eyes, her memories, her perfect recollection of letters from her dead father. Slowly, we learn the truth behind their trip, and that truth changes the twins’ understanding of each other and themselves.
It’s a dystopian novel, but one that takes place before things get so bad that the world is unrecognizable when compared to our own. There’s not a great deal of action, but it’s well-written and I found myself absorbed in the story and affected by the ending. Recommended.
January 13, 2019
Rated 3.5 - The Crossing by Jason Mott is an interesting Dystopian adventure about the possible end of the world. I enjoy this author’s writing style for his creativity in every sentence, painting a story with his words in a way that makes me stop and read the last passage over again. I don’t read his books quickly as I feel they need to be savored to find the silver lining in each sentence.
Twins Virginia and Tommy lose their parents early in life. Bounced from one foster home to another, they always felt they only had each other. Virginia’s gift of remembering everything she ever heard, read, or experienced was a blessing and a curse for them both.
I really enjoyed the adventure part of this novel. The characters were interesting, even when they were exasperating. There are some cool ideas about how people could survive the onset of a terrible situation. A couple of their adventures felt unresolved.
My least favorite part of this book is the end. I was disappointed. After the creativity of the rest of the story, the end felt rushed and incomplete. It leaves room for a sequel, but I can’t imagine how that will draw me in enough to want to continue. My heart was a bit broken and I don’t see how that will mend.
I was surprised by one clever thing Virginia did and Tommy grew, able to exist without her. I just didn’t like the resolutions. Jason Mott creates a fun world with an abundance of interesting characters to interact and move the story forward, making this a more character driven book than anything else.
The Crossing is the second novel I’ve read written by Jason Mott, having thoroughly enjoyed The Returned, another intriguing creative endeavor. Mott’s talent is lyrical with beautiful descriptions that paint odd pictures. I’m fascinated by his storytelling, even when the book isn’t the type I’d normally read. It goes without saying that I’m looking forward to whatever he tries his hand at next.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. Digital copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Twins Virginia and Tommy lose their parents early in life. Bounced from one foster home to another, they always felt they only had each other. Virginia’s gift of remembering everything she ever heard, read, or experienced was a blessing and a curse for them both.
I really enjoyed the adventure part of this novel. The characters were interesting, even when they were exasperating. There are some cool ideas about how people could survive the onset of a terrible situation. A couple of their adventures felt unresolved.
My least favorite part of this book is the end. I was disappointed. After the creativity of the rest of the story, the end felt rushed and incomplete. It leaves room for a sequel, but I can’t imagine how that will draw me in enough to want to continue. My heart was a bit broken and I don’t see how that will mend.
I was surprised by one clever thing Virginia did and Tommy grew, able to exist without her. I just didn’t like the resolutions. Jason Mott creates a fun world with an abundance of interesting characters to interact and move the story forward, making this a more character driven book than anything else.
The Crossing is the second novel I’ve read written by Jason Mott, having thoroughly enjoyed The Returned, another intriguing creative endeavor. Mott’s talent is lyrical with beautiful descriptions that paint odd pictures. I’m fascinated by his storytelling, even when the book isn’t the type I’d normally read. It goes without saying that I’m looking forward to whatever he tries his hand at next.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. Digital copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
February 3, 2018
#TheCrossing #NetGalley
Publisher synopsis: Twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have been on their own since they were orphaned at the age of five, surviving a merciless foster care system by relying on each other. Twelve years later, the world begins to collapse around them as a deadly contagion steadily wipes out entire populations and a devastating world war rages on. When Tommy is drafted for the war, the twins are faced with a choice: stay and accept their fate of almost certain death, or run. Virginia and Tommy flee into the dark night.
Armed with only a pistol and their fierce will to survive, the twins set forth in search of a new beginning. Encountering a colorful cast of characters along the way, Tommy and Virginia must navigate the dangers and wonders of this changed world as they try to outrun the demons of their past.
This book was wonderfully written, given bits of information and different view points by inserting brief stories of others throughout book as well as from the main characters. This one was sad, but it is one that will stay with you.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher synopsis: Twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have been on their own since they were orphaned at the age of five, surviving a merciless foster care system by relying on each other. Twelve years later, the world begins to collapse around them as a deadly contagion steadily wipes out entire populations and a devastating world war rages on. When Tommy is drafted for the war, the twins are faced with a choice: stay and accept their fate of almost certain death, or run. Virginia and Tommy flee into the dark night.
Armed with only a pistol and their fierce will to survive, the twins set forth in search of a new beginning. Encountering a colorful cast of characters along the way, Tommy and Virginia must navigate the dangers and wonders of this changed world as they try to outrun the demons of their past.
This book was wonderfully written, given bits of information and different view points by inserting brief stories of others throughout book as well as from the main characters. This one was sad, but it is one that will stay with you.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2018
I received this e-book ARC through Net Galley from Harlequin-Park Row Books in exchange for a truthful review.
I enjoyed being immersed in the dystopian world Jason Mott has created where teenaged twin orphans, Ginny and Tommy, are trying to find their way to FL, having segues and interacting with a variety of characters, young and old. The premise of the world they are traversing is that it is controlled on two fronts: a sleeping disease which is decimating the population starting with the old, and a war which is similarly decimating the younger population. This world is depressing, but hasn't yet fallen into "The Road" level of chaos/depravity. Ginny's and Tommy's particular strengths/weaknesses give another level of interest to the story.
I enjoyed being immersed in the dystopian world Jason Mott has created where teenaged twin orphans, Ginny and Tommy, are trying to find their way to FL, having segues and interacting with a variety of characters, young and old. The premise of the world they are traversing is that it is controlled on two fronts: a sleeping disease which is decimating the population starting with the old, and a war which is similarly decimating the younger population. This world is depressing, but hasn't yet fallen into "The Road" level of chaos/depravity. Ginny's and Tommy's particular strengths/weaknesses give another level of interest to the story.
September 25, 2021
Short review: This book was slow
Long review: This book was sloooooooooooooooow.
Fraternal twins run away from their foster home to watch a rocket launch to Europa, because reasons. They meet people on the way.
That's the story. All of it. They make no decisions that change the direction of the story. They make no decisions that change the people around them or alter the world they inhabit. They have no character agency and stuff simply happens to them. And very little happens, because there's a ton of exposition while the narrator dwells on their past.
The epilogue was the most interesting part of the book, but you have to read about 325 pages to get there.
Long review: This book was sloooooooooooooooow.
Fraternal twins run away from their foster home to watch a rocket launch to Europa, because reasons. They meet people on the way.
That's the story. All of it. They make no decisions that change the direction of the story. They make no decisions that change the people around them or alter the world they inhabit. They have no character agency and stuff simply happens to them. And very little happens, because there's a ton of exposition while the narrator dwells on their past.
The epilogue was the most interesting part of the book, but you have to read about 325 pages to get there.
February 4, 2019
I struggle with my thoughts on this one. The premise is brilliant and engaging. The book presents a real study on the meaning of memory and its impact on human relationships. But the writing is so overwrought in places that it becomes distracting and the plot is unstable at best. I don't think I've ever read a book that needed a more forceful editor. That said, I'm still thinking about the questions it raised weeks later, which is a sure sign of a provocative work.
June 16, 2018
There is something about Jason Mott’s novels that I find absolutely captivating.
Two quotes from this book will linger with me for sometime. “...the heart can break and break and break again, but the turn around and love like it’s never known how.”
“In fact, sometimes forgetting was a blessing. A person couldn’t regret what they couldn’t remember.”
I just connect to his books.
Two quotes from this book will linger with me for sometime. “...the heart can break and break and break again, but the turn around and love like it’s never known how.”
“In fact, sometimes forgetting was a blessing. A person couldn’t regret what they couldn’t remember.”
I just connect to his books.
May 17, 2018
Title: The Crossing
Author: Jason Mott
Genre: YA/dystopian
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
At first, the disease only took those over age 90, putting them into a sleep they never awoke from. Gradually, the victims grew younger, and the world realized eventually no one of childbearing age would be left awake—or alive. Accusations of blame arose, followed by the war.
Virginia and Tommy have spent most of their lives in the foster care system, fighting to stay together. But now the draft threatens to keep them apart forever. So they run away, headed for Florida and a space shuttle lunch that could be the last hope of mankind.
In a world gone mad, people try desperately to forget the truth, but Virginia remembers everything: ever single detail of everything she’s ever seen or heard. The Memory Gospel brings the past alive for her, but it makes her blind to some things. As Tommy and Virginia flee across the country, they have only themselves to depend on, but can they bear the cost of the truth?
This was an intriguing novel, with a premise unique in the dystopian books I’ve read. The world, filled with war and the Disease, is frankly terrifying. Virginia and Tommy’s history is sad, yet their love for each other remains strong.
I found Virginal pretty unlikable. Her perfect memory makes her think she’s smarter than everyone around her, and, while that may be true in some cases, she only remembers her memories, not necessarily the truth. She’s a selfish person whose intellect makes her push people away. Despite that, this was an engrossing read.
(Galley provided by Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
Author: Jason Mott
Genre: YA/dystopian
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
At first, the disease only took those over age 90, putting them into a sleep they never awoke from. Gradually, the victims grew younger, and the world realized eventually no one of childbearing age would be left awake—or alive. Accusations of blame arose, followed by the war.
Virginia and Tommy have spent most of their lives in the foster care system, fighting to stay together. But now the draft threatens to keep them apart forever. So they run away, headed for Florida and a space shuttle lunch that could be the last hope of mankind.
In a world gone mad, people try desperately to forget the truth, but Virginia remembers everything: ever single detail of everything she’s ever seen or heard. The Memory Gospel brings the past alive for her, but it makes her blind to some things. As Tommy and Virginia flee across the country, they have only themselves to depend on, but can they bear the cost of the truth?
This was an intriguing novel, with a premise unique in the dystopian books I’ve read. The world, filled with war and the Disease, is frankly terrifying. Virginia and Tommy’s history is sad, yet their love for each other remains strong.
I found Virginal pretty unlikable. Her perfect memory makes her think she’s smarter than everyone around her, and, while that may be true in some cases, she only remembers her memories, not necessarily the truth. She’s a selfish person whose intellect makes her push people away. Despite that, this was an engrossing read.
(Galley provided by Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
May 20, 2018
The reason I never give up hope is because everything is so basically hopeless. - Anne Lamott
Well, I need to give up reading literary dystopian novels. They are just not my cup of tea. They are usually full of philosophical discourses and this story fit that mold.
Some people will enjoy that but I prefer the dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels that I read to have people battling for a better life and I want them to have hope of a better future.
In this tale, Virginia and Tommy Matthews are 17 year-old twins born on 9/11. Virginia remembers EVERYTHING that has happened in her life while Tommy tends to forget most things. They were orphaned at a young age, went to many foster homes and group homes and are now living with a foster father who is a deputy.
The world has been hit by a DISEASE that makes the elderly fall asleep - without waking. And in the aftermath of that, wars start all over the world and the military draft is started again.
I would say the story is well written but it was boring and depressing to me.
I received this book from Net Galley and Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
Well, I need to give up reading literary dystopian novels. They are just not my cup of tea. They are usually full of philosophical discourses and this story fit that mold.
Some people will enjoy that but I prefer the dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels that I read to have people battling for a better life and I want them to have hope of a better future.
In this tale, Virginia and Tommy Matthews are 17 year-old twins born on 9/11. Virginia remembers EVERYTHING that has happened in her life while Tommy tends to forget most things. They were orphaned at a young age, went to many foster homes and group homes and are now living with a foster father who is a deputy.
The world has been hit by a DISEASE that makes the elderly fall asleep - without waking. And in the aftermath of that, wars start all over the world and the military draft is started again.
I would say the story is well written but it was boring and depressing to me.
I received this book from Net Galley and Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
May 18, 2018
This is an end of the world science fiction with the book following the lives of twins. When Virginia and Tommy they go into a cruel foster car system with the world losing the elderly to the sleeping sickness. Every year the sickness strikes younger people and then the world goes to war in an effort to assign blame. When the twins turn 18 it is expected they join the military and join the war. They decide to run and hide. Along the way they meet some strange and interesting people who try and help them. They are pursued by hunters to return them to the military. The story was an ok read and wasn't my favorite by Jason Mott. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 16, 2022
The people of the world are dying of a sleeping sickness and the governments of the world are at war, playing the blame game. Meanwhile a probe to Europa is being launched from Florida. Twins Virginia and Tommy run away from their foster father to go watch it.
It was just fine.
It was just fine.
December 29, 2018
We build oceans of life under the surface of ourselves. And those around us only get to see what they choose to see, never what we are.The Crossing…
...is part of what is for me a new genre of ‘quiet books’. Slow action adventures, based more in the mind of its protagonists than in the adventure and action they are slowly experiencing or, often, remembering.
What would you do with a perfect memory? Every moment of your life: every birth, every death, every conversation, every action, every commute, every person you ever saw or met, every fight, every argument, every lie you told or were told, every time you were separated from your loved ones, every letter you ever read, every story you were ever told, every time you looked at the night sky, every injury you suffered, every single memory.
What would you do with an imperfect memory? What if you couldn't recall a conversation you had merely an hour ago, if you couldn't recall your parents and loved ones. What if all you really remembered is that you can't remember anything, that you simply forgot every single thing in your life.
The Crossing follows the journey of two siblings, twins, one remembers everything, the other remembers nothing. The story of their journey, of why they journey and to where, was less important to me than their inner journey, their relationship with one another, and with themselves.
The Crossing exists in a world so utterly different to and so incredibly similar to our own world. There is war. Conscription is compulsory, draft via lottery. But what point is there in fighting a war when there is The Disease. Slowly but surely, The Disease, is taking life after life. There is no cure and there is no indication that The Disease will slow or fizzle out on it’s own. So, as in real life, we fight. We fight because we’re scared. We fight because we don’t know what else to do. We fight because we don’t want to be alone. We fight because we don’t want to die.
We’ve got a whole planet full of people who think they’re alone in the universe, and all they can do is try to kill one another. So just imagine what they’ll do if they find out they’re not special. Just imagine the killing.As in real life, we fight a pointless battle because it makes us feel better about the battles we can never hope to win. We ignore avenues to real hope because they seem too difficult or far fetched, or because we have a poor understanding of how to make that hope a reality. The Crossing explores the myopic naivete and selfishness of humanity but in a compassionate manner, understanding that we are merely human, not gods, and that the limitations of being human are not necessarily bad, they just are.
Nobody wants to be a part of the world they were born into. Everybody wants to be in some other place at some other time, as if that’ll fix the way their lives turned out. ... And then they teach it to their children. They teach them to live in a world that doesn’t exist, to think of things that aren’t the way they are.The Crossing is a reminder to look to the future with an open mind, with an eye on what we want that future to be, for all of us. We get out what we put in. If we put in ignorance and fighting, we’ll get that in return. If we put in trust and honesty, we’ll get that in return, but we all have to do it together or there is little point to it.
Action without meaning is simply a thing that happened. It can never become sacred. It can never drive behavior. It can never make a person decide to do something to someone else or to themselves.My rating: 4 rockets to Europa out of 5.
Plus a bonus 5 points for being beautifully written. So actually 4.5 out of 5.
N.B.: I actually created a quite complex grading criteria because of this book. 10 criteria weighted at 5 marks each plus a bonus criteria for ‘prose’ which will only be given to books that qualify or are really really badly written.
April 15, 2018
The first third of the book was 5 stars and then the main character kept telling, and telling, and telling her story. Slow going for the middle third, with a lot of repetition. But the teen twin characters are memorable and the dystopian world seems like it could happen in about 2025.
May 27, 2018
I read bad books, so you don’t have to, and it is with profound sorrow that I must say that Jason Mott’s The Crossing is one of those books. I had high expectations for it — the publisher indicated that it was for fans of Joe Hill. However, what Joe Hill has that Jason Mott does not have is writing skill. Thus, what we get is a dystopian novel set roughly in the present time frame about two siblings running away from their foster parents so they can see a rocket launch. Not exactly the most compelling synopsis, but that’s kind of my point. The Crossing is a pretty boring book. This is even suggested in its rather generic title. Do a Google search on it, and you’ll be brought to results about a current network TV show that shares the same name.
The only thing going for this title is that it has a crackerjack setup, which is probably the only reason why it ever got published. (Aside from the fact that Jason Mott is a bestselling New York Times author, which seems to grant one liberty to write bad fiction.) Anyhow, the setup is that there is a disease out there, imaginatively called the Disease, that kills from the top down. While this disease is probably epidemically impossible, old people are the first to go, then its victims grow younger and younger — meaning that it will eventually kill off those of childbearing age, leaving only children behind. Because of this threat, the world has seemingly entered into World War III and those children, once they turn 17 years old, are being drafted and killed in this war.
Read the rest of the review here: https://medium.com/@zachary_houle/a-r...
The only thing going for this title is that it has a crackerjack setup, which is probably the only reason why it ever got published. (Aside from the fact that Jason Mott is a bestselling New York Times author, which seems to grant one liberty to write bad fiction.) Anyhow, the setup is that there is a disease out there, imaginatively called the Disease, that kills from the top down. While this disease is probably epidemically impossible, old people are the first to go, then its victims grow younger and younger — meaning that it will eventually kill off those of childbearing age, leaving only children behind. Because of this threat, the world has seemingly entered into World War III and those children, once they turn 17 years old, are being drafted and killed in this war.
Read the rest of the review here: https://medium.com/@zachary_houle/a-r...
June 16, 2018
3.5, and when I gave up on running into any zombies I enjoyed it much more. But dang, I love me some zombies . . . and I loved me some Tommy.
April 25, 2018
Won in a Goodreads Giveaway.
DNF at page 138. I tried honestly but I was stuck on this book for most of April, I needed to move on.
I love dystopian fiction. I love finding out the when, why and how. I love meeting the characters who persevere and survive and make me proud to be a human being. This isn't that book.
20% of the population is gone. Given the current world demographics I would estimate this to be about 10% people over 60 due to a disease that caused them to fall asleep and not wake up. And the other 10% would be casualties of a war that at page 138 was still a mystery. This is all I could figure out and I had to google this and make it up on my own. Not much of an apocalypse.
Primary narrator was Ginny who was unlikable. Some reviewers have postulated excuses for her. IMO she decided that she was more special than everyone else. Falsely thought that Knowledge=Intelligence=Worth. Common intellectual snob.
At 40% nothing of significance had happened. But there were lots of similes.
DNF at page 138. I tried honestly but I was stuck on this book for most of April, I needed to move on.
I love dystopian fiction. I love finding out the when, why and how. I love meeting the characters who persevere and survive and make me proud to be a human being. This isn't that book.
20% of the population is gone. Given the current world demographics I would estimate this to be about 10% people over 60 due to a disease that caused them to fall asleep and not wake up. And the other 10% would be casualties of a war that at page 138 was still a mystery. This is all I could figure out and I had to google this and make it up on my own. Not much of an apocalypse.
Primary narrator was Ginny who was unlikable. Some reviewers have postulated excuses for her. IMO she decided that she was more special than everyone else. Falsely thought that Knowledge=Intelligence=Worth. Common intellectual snob.
At 40% nothing of significance had happened. But there were lots of similes.
August 3, 2018
I connected pretty quickly with Tommy and Virginia - teenage twins who lost their in a car accident. They grew up in and out of foster care and group homes. Now they are living in a world afflicted by The Disease, which starts out taking the elderly but has slowly progressed to having younger and younger victims. On the run from their current foster Dad, they are trying to make it to Florida to see a space launch to Europa.
The author tells this story in chapters that alternate between the twins journey, letters written by their Dad, and anonymous stories of others and how The Disease has impacted them. I liked the connection between Gina and Tommy. I was very interested in finding out what was so important in making it to the launch. All went well with the story until the ending, which was totally different than what I expected. But the more I thought about it, the more I could see why this ending worked out best. At tale about sibling bonds, determination and hope.
I received this from Harlequin - Park Row Books via Netgalley.
The author tells this story in chapters that alternate between the twins journey, letters written by their Dad, and anonymous stories of others and how The Disease has impacted them. I liked the connection between Gina and Tommy. I was very interested in finding out what was so important in making it to the launch. All went well with the story until the ending, which was totally different than what I expected. But the more I thought about it, the more I could see why this ending worked out best. At tale about sibling bonds, determination and hope.
I received this from Harlequin - Park Row Books via Netgalley.
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