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When We Were Lost
When their plane crashes in a remote rainforest with no adults left alive, a group of high school students struggles to survive against sinister threats from the jungle—and one another—in this tense thriller.
Tom Calloway didn't want to go on a field trip to Costa Rica, but circumstances had him ending up sitting in the back of the plane—which was the only part that was intact after the crash in the remote South American wilderness. Tom and a small group of his classmates are fortunate to be alive, but their luck quickly runs out when some of them fall prey to the unfamiliar threats of the animals, reptiles, insects, and even the unforgiving heat. Every decision they make could mean life or death.
As the days go by and the survivors' desperation grows, things get even more perilous. Not everyone can cope with the trauma of seeing their friends die, and a struggle for leadership soon pits them against each other. And when they come across evidence of other people in the middle of the rainforest, does that mean they're safe—or has their survival come to an even more vicious end?
Tom Calloway didn't want to go on a field trip to Costa Rica, but circumstances had him ending up sitting in the back of the plane—which was the only part that was intact after the crash in the remote South American wilderness. Tom and a small group of his classmates are fortunate to be alive, but their luck quickly runs out when some of them fall prey to the unfamiliar threats of the animals, reptiles, insects, and even the unforgiving heat. Every decision they make could mean life or death.
As the days go by and the survivors' desperation grows, things get even more perilous. Not everyone can cope with the trauma of seeing their friends die, and a struggle for leadership soon pits them against each other. And when they come across evidence of other people in the middle of the rainforest, does that mean they're safe—or has their survival come to an even more vicious end?
309 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2019
220 people are currently reading
8503 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Wignall
41 books560 followersArmy Child till age nine.
Settled back in a small town in the west of England.
Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.
Writer.
Also writes as K.J. Wignall
Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com
Settled back in a small town in the west of England.
Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.
Writer.
Also writes as K.J. Wignall
Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
May 23, 2020
2.5 Stars
A gripping, white-knuckle survival story set in the unknown depths of the Amazon jungle, When We Were Lost explores the razor-thin line between life and death, and what it really means to be alive.
Lies! All lies.
JIMMY Patterson who published this novel, also published my all time favorite book, Stalking Jack the Ripper so I obviously had high hopes for this book. Most of the stuff I've read from Patterson's Imprint has been very good or at the very least, mediocre. I think the reason I didn't enjoy this is in part because it felt very off. It felt so different to what JIMMY Patterson usually publishes. Most of the book from this Imprint are either horror, or mystery. This being survival story, it felt very off brand and alien.
Another thing, the cover says:
A plane carrying a high school class crashes in the jungle.
Who lives?
Who dies?
Who becomes a killer?
First, I need to point out that I really struggled to even keep track of who died and who lived because everyone had white people names! Alice, Tom, Chris, Kate, Joel!? Come on people. Be more creative (*cough* and diverse *cough*) with your characters. Second, it says Who becomes the killer. The answer is not a single person. NO ONE! There was no killer. I went into this expecting a survival story/murder mystery. I kept comparing it to Hachet and Lord of the Flies in my head but it fell very short of both of the novels.
I like when a book jumps right into the story but it must do it right. When I opened this book, I admit, I was intrigued at first but I slowly lost interest. The whole plane crash was brushed over. We never find out why or how the crashed which was very frustrating because in Hachet everything is very clear.
Another thing. I could not connect with the characters at all. It felt like when you try to push two magnets with the same charge towards each other. No matter how hard you push it pull, you just can't make them click. Partly, it was because the characters felt so flat and generic, like something you pull out of a pre-made meal box. We had Tom, the protagonist(?). Even though he was a lot like me, anti-social, anxious and the like, I still hated him. Instead of feeling like he was strong in spite of all his faults, it felt like he just didn't give a sh*t. Now, I would talk about the other characters but I honestly can't remember them because they were so boring and forgettable. The only reason I remember Tom so because he was shoved in my face throughout the whole book.
It really annoyed me that I felt like the book was going so fast and yet a was ridiculously bored. Even though they were supposed to be in danger, the whole situation felt silly. All of them were fine and never got hurt. Except for the ones that did but even then it felt so dumb. I felt like I was supposed to feel something but I just didn't because I did not give a sh*t about any of the characters! Also, the cause of death was just brushed over. Like, they would say one sentence and then move on. Ugh.
Even once they get rescued (I'm not even marking that as a spoiler because it was so predictable), they didn't not to into it at all. They just were like: Welp, we're rescued now. Everything's great. And then it ended. We never hear about the families reactions, which kids get PTSD. Nothing!!!
Overall, a big disappointment. I expected more.
Bottom Line:
2.5 Stars
Age Recommendation: 12+
Cover: 3/5 Stars • Plot: 2/5 Stars • Characters: 1/5
TW: Body horror, plane crash
Many thanks to Jimmy Patterson for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
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April 19, 2019
I won this ARC copy through a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to JIMMY Patterson Books | Little, Brown and Company | Hachette Book Group and to author Kevin Wignall. The novel is a YA action adventure that focuses on the survival of a group of high schoolers. The plot is what I expected for the most part with a couple of surprises through out the book. The main character is an introvert, but you have the expected group of diverse personalities among the rest of the group.
This is a fast read and one of the main reasons that I did not give it a 5 star rating is that I felt the language had been simplified too much for 17 year-olds. It seemed to be at a junior high level at best.
There is plenty of tension; whether it is with nature or with personalities. There is considerable character growth in the main character. Overall, it is entertaining and interesting. It drew me in and had me rooting for the students. Kevin Wignall also writes thrillers/crime fiction for adults and I will definitely give those a try.
This is a fast read and one of the main reasons that I did not give it a 5 star rating is that I felt the language had been simplified too much for 17 year-olds. It seemed to be at a junior high level at best.
There is plenty of tension; whether it is with nature or with personalities. There is considerable character growth in the main character. Overall, it is entertaining and interesting. It drew me in and had me rooting for the students. Kevin Wignall also writes thrillers/crime fiction for adults and I will definitely give those a try.
April 14, 2023
This book was well written but it was not my favorite kind of book.
May 15, 2020
Thank you @JimmyPattersonBooks
All opinions expressed
are my own. When We Were Lost
By: Kevin Wignall @kevin_wignall
#REVIEW
The Amazon-jungle, not the website-is one of the most dangerous places on earth(on second thought, maybe it is the website).Everything wants to kill you. Imagine your plane crashing here. You and a scattering of others survive. Oh, and you're 17, and dislike people in general. Tom, our reluctant hero, is a keep to himself kind of guy. He avoids others- they avoid him. But, amid this chaos, Tom slides into the role of leader because he's a natural at it. Granted, their is opposition, I'm talking to you, Joel, creating unnecessary strife and division among the survivors. If you chose the wrong leader, can you safely switch sides? As they trek through the deadly Amazon looking for help, tension builds, lines are drawn, hope diminishes, and not everyone survives. Tom, Joel and the remaining survivors face themselves; they grow and change in unexpected ways. Some will do unimaginable things. Who remains calm and collected? Who runs rampant with stupidity? Do they find salvation or death? I loved this story for its action, drama, mystery and heart. Tom is a thoughtfully written character who develops exponentially. Joel is the perfect nemesis. I didn't completely hate him, but I wanted to. I won't name everyone, but each character had a bit of individuality, and it's good to read an author who doesn't generalize age groups, especially teens. I read this in a day because I had to know if they made it out of that jungle! The butterfly effect, particularly at the end, is brilliant. It's an idea present throughout the story, as we see how different choices can lead to innumerable outcomes. That's the hard part; just choose and hope for the best, as Tom and Joel did. It's amazing how one little thing causes so many waves. The survivors' choices ultimately lead wherever they are supposed to be, at least in this scenario. When We Were Lost is an enthralling, sharp, intelligent read for teens and adults that's a must read!
All opinions expressed
are my own. When We Were Lost
By: Kevin Wignall @kevin_wignall
#REVIEW
The Amazon-jungle, not the website-is one of the most dangerous places on earth(on second thought, maybe it is the website).Everything wants to kill you. Imagine your plane crashing here. You and a scattering of others survive. Oh, and you're 17, and dislike people in general. Tom, our reluctant hero, is a keep to himself kind of guy. He avoids others- they avoid him. But, amid this chaos, Tom slides into the role of leader because he's a natural at it. Granted, their is opposition, I'm talking to you, Joel, creating unnecessary strife and division among the survivors. If you chose the wrong leader, can you safely switch sides? As they trek through the deadly Amazon looking for help, tension builds, lines are drawn, hope diminishes, and not everyone survives. Tom, Joel and the remaining survivors face themselves; they grow and change in unexpected ways. Some will do unimaginable things. Who remains calm and collected? Who runs rampant with stupidity? Do they find salvation or death? I loved this story for its action, drama, mystery and heart. Tom is a thoughtfully written character who develops exponentially. Joel is the perfect nemesis. I didn't completely hate him, but I wanted to. I won't name everyone, but each character had a bit of individuality, and it's good to read an author who doesn't generalize age groups, especially teens. I read this in a day because I had to know if they made it out of that jungle! The butterfly effect, particularly at the end, is brilliant. It's an idea present throughout the story, as we see how different choices can lead to innumerable outcomes. That's the hard part; just choose and hope for the best, as Tom and Joel did. It's amazing how one little thing causes so many waves. The survivors' choices ultimately lead wherever they are supposed to be, at least in this scenario. When We Were Lost is an enthralling, sharp, intelligent read for teens and adults that's a must read!
June 8, 2019
I read this fast, a really compelling YA adventure, completely perfect for its target audience and just as perfect for adults like me who are trying very hard not to be. Adult that is…
Seriously this is a fantastic read from Kevin Wignall here, utterly gripping from the first page as a plane crashes in the Amazon leaving a motley group of teenagers battling the elements, the terrain, the wildlife and often each other in order to make it out alive..
Our anchor for this erratic and riveting journey is the quietly deep and observant Tom Calloway, a really engaging protagonist whose tendency towards solitude becomes slowly erroded by the unusual circumstance, creating a growing group dynamic character drama within the wider thriller narrative.
The author has a genuinely fine eye for human nature, a clever and intuitive sense of how to immerse the reader into a story and as well as all that there are snakes and storms, beasts and burdens, fire and fury. I mean what else do you really need?
Loved it. My youngest child has now nabbed it and he’s already talking out loud to the characters within which is probably the biggest clue that this is one to watch..
Fun, adventure and classic character study. Go get it.
Recommended.
Seriously this is a fantastic read from Kevin Wignall here, utterly gripping from the first page as a plane crashes in the Amazon leaving a motley group of teenagers battling the elements, the terrain, the wildlife and often each other in order to make it out alive..
Our anchor for this erratic and riveting journey is the quietly deep and observant Tom Calloway, a really engaging protagonist whose tendency towards solitude becomes slowly erroded by the unusual circumstance, creating a growing group dynamic character drama within the wider thriller narrative.
The author has a genuinely fine eye for human nature, a clever and intuitive sense of how to immerse the reader into a story and as well as all that there are snakes and storms, beasts and burdens, fire and fury. I mean what else do you really need?
Loved it. My youngest child has now nabbed it and he’s already talking out loud to the characters within which is probably the biggest clue that this is one to watch..
Fun, adventure and classic character study. Go get it.
Recommended.
October 31, 2018
So, when I got this book, I was horrified by these words: Presented by James Patterson. Patterson makes me break out in hives. However, he does do a good job of picking out and supporting some good YA adventures.
This is a good book. It's a very exciting YA survival story. While there are certainly deaths, I thought they were a little...few and gentle (?) for the situation they were in. I get that this is YA, but YA readers can take a little more edge and realism.
That being said, the adventure was still an exciting one and I loved most of our characters. Our main character is very different - his personality isn't your normal YA guy - and should appeal to readers who feel just a little on the outside of the school social scene.
All in all a good book that would also make a good movie. Glad I read this one!
This is a good book. It's a very exciting YA survival story. While there are certainly deaths, I thought they were a little...few and gentle (?) for the situation they were in. I get that this is YA, but YA readers can take a little more edge and realism.
That being said, the adventure was still an exciting one and I loved most of our characters. Our main character is very different - his personality isn't your normal YA guy - and should appeal to readers who feel just a little on the outside of the school social scene.
All in all a good book that would also make a good movie. Glad I read this one!
May 29, 2021
All the stars!!!
February 29, 2020
4.75 stars
Tom and classmates are on their way to a remote location for a school trip when their plan goes down. They find themselves in a remote jungle with only a handful of survivors. This book grips you from the first page. It was so fast paced and I quickly came to love Tom and the other characters, minus Joel >.<
I didn't want to put the book down and found myself thinking about it, trying to find ways to sneak in time to read.
The only reason I am not counting it as perfect to me is just because I would have liked a little more to the ending. Overall this was a surprising read which I highly recommend if you like survival stories.
Tom and classmates are on their way to a remote location for a school trip when their plan goes down. They find themselves in a remote jungle with only a handful of survivors. This book grips you from the first page. It was so fast paced and I quickly came to love Tom and the other characters, minus Joel >.<
I didn't want to put the book down and found myself thinking about it, trying to find ways to sneak in time to read.
The only reason I am not counting it as perfect to me is just because I would have liked a little more to the ending. Overall this was a surprising read which I highly recommend if you like survival stories.
June 19, 2019
This was a fast read. The character development wasn't as thorough as it could have been. There was plenty of action, though. It was a solid story about survival after a plane crash.
April 11, 2020
BOOK TAGS ⤏ 3.5 ✰STARS✰ ⤏ PLANE CRASH ⤏ ALL THE SURVIVORS ARE TEENS ⤏ LOW DRAMA ⤏ CAN THEY WORK TOGETHER TO SURVIVE?
MY THOUGHTS⇣
The prologue and the epilogue were clearly the best parts of this story. As for the filler in between...not all bad...it was mostly forgettable, though. I believe the reason I feel this way, is the characters lacked any real emotion, they did just lose a whole bunch of friends and teachers, after all. That's in addition to the plane crash. Plus overall they got their shit together pretty quick...for a bunch of kids. My guess is...the author doesn't really do drama.
Basically, you get a bunch of kids who crash land...far from where they were originally headed for. You have the quiet kid, the think-they-know-it-alls, the girls, and a couple of nerdy kids...and the rest, they just want someone to lead them. It was sort of like The Breakfast Club meets the first few episodes of Lost with a South American jungle setting. The audio is decently done and the book really flies by...before you even know it, and maybe a little too quickly, and too easily...your closing in on the end of the book.
BOOK DETAILS⇣
AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ WILL COLLYER
SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)
AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 8 HOURS, 47 MINUTES
BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 3.7/5
Characters⇢ 3.3/5
The Feels⇢ 3/5
Pacing⇢ 4/5
Addictiveness⇢ 3.7/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5
World-Building⇢ 3.5/5
Originality⇢ 3/5
Ending⇢ 3.8/5
MY THOUGHTS⇣
The prologue and the epilogue were clearly the best parts of this story. As for the filler in between...not all bad...it was mostly forgettable, though. I believe the reason I feel this way, is the characters lacked any real emotion, they did just lose a whole bunch of friends and teachers, after all. That's in addition to the plane crash. Plus overall they got their shit together pretty quick...for a bunch of kids. My guess is...the author doesn't really do drama.
Basically, you get a bunch of kids who crash land...far from where they were originally headed for. You have the quiet kid, the think-they-know-it-alls, the girls, and a couple of nerdy kids...and the rest, they just want someone to lead them. It was sort of like The Breakfast Club meets the first few episodes of Lost with a South American jungle setting. The audio is decently done and the book really flies by...before you even know it, and maybe a little too quickly, and too easily...your closing in on the end of the book.
BOOK DETAILS⇣
AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ WILL COLLYER
SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)
AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 8 HOURS, 47 MINUTES
BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 3.7/5
Characters⇢ 3.3/5
The Feels⇢ 3/5
Pacing⇢ 4/5
Addictiveness⇢ 3.7/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5
World-Building⇢ 3.5/5
Originality⇢ 3/5
Ending⇢ 3.8/5
October 17, 2022
Really enjoyed this!! YA version of the tv show “Lost”. Definitely worth your time!
October 18, 2020
As a fan of James Patterson's novels, I have been finding myself enjoying some of the authors that he has had in his publishing line of "James Patterson Presents". Though so many people talk badly about James Patterson, I am a big fan and I love how he is giving so many new and unknown authors a chance to make a name for themselves in the published world of YA novels, etc. The second thing that attracted me to this book was that it had a survival/ Lost feel to it. Kids lost in the jungle? A plane crash and a potential killer among them? Sign me up. This book starts with us being introduced to one of our main male leads Tom. He is someone who knows death as he lost both of his parents in an accident and now lives with the philosophy of everything happens for a reason and the fact that we all die sometimes and of course the Butterfly Effect which will be spoken about quite a few times throughout the story. Tom is reluctantly headed to Costa Rica with a few from his school as his guardian Julia is away on a Yoga Retreat. While flying over the Amazon Jungle, they end up in a plane crash. Some end up dying and others live but Lost in the wilderness with no adults. Tom is one of those survivors along with a group of other teens from their school. Of course, like most situations, we see Joel taking the automatic role of leader but right from the beginning it really should be Tom and during the novel, we see him subtly standing up and being a non-threatening leader. During the book, it will be a fight for survival, especially when the numbers of survivors start to dwindle and their supplies, and as the tagline reads - some will die, some will live and one will become a killer. If you love action and adventure stories and survival tales, then check out When Were Lost by Kevin Wignall today.
February 1, 2021
"19 Teenager und ein Flugzeugabsturz über dem Dschungel: Wer wird überleben?
Überleben. Kein Thema mit dem sich normale High-School-Schüler schon mal befasst haben. Es sei denn, ihr Flugzeug stürzt über dem südamerikanischen Dschungel ab und kein Erwachsener hat überlebt. Völlig auf sich gestellt wird den 19 Jugendlichen erst nach und nach klar, dass die wahren Gefahren noch vor ihnen liegen: wilde Tiere, giftige Reptilien und Insekten, ganz zu schweigen von der unerbittlichen Hitze. Jede ihrer Entscheidungen wird von nun an über Leben oder Tod entscheiden."
Es war eine ganz nette Geschichte, in der es um Freundschaft, Loyalität und um Mut geht.
Der Hauptprotagonist ist Tom, der eigentlich sehr unscheinbar ist, kaum Kontakte zu seinen Mitschülern hat und in sich gekehrt ist. Er macht die stärkste Entwicklung in der Geschichte durch und man lernt ganz andere Facetten von ihm kennen.
Denn obwohl sein Mitschüler Joel die Führung übernimmt, stellt er einige Entscheidungen in Frage und macht auch seinen Mund auf. Hier fand ich es schön zu sehen, wie wichtig es doch immer ist, dass man selbst nachdenkt und nicht immer alles hinnimmt was einer sagt.
Dennoch hat mich das Buch nicht wirklich umgehauen. Die Charaktere waren ansonsten nicht sehr aussagekräftig und ich habe die Tiefe vermisst. Es gab ein zwei spannende Momente, aber auch nicht mehr. Es ist eine nette Geschichte für Zwischendurch, aber auch nicht mehr. Klar ist es ein Jugendbuch und ich denke auch für junge Menschen ist dieses Buch sicherlich gut geeignet, aber für mich war es jetzt nichts besonderes.
Man kann es lesen, aber man wird auch nichts verpassen, wenn man es nicht liest.
Überleben. Kein Thema mit dem sich normale High-School-Schüler schon mal befasst haben. Es sei denn, ihr Flugzeug stürzt über dem südamerikanischen Dschungel ab und kein Erwachsener hat überlebt. Völlig auf sich gestellt wird den 19 Jugendlichen erst nach und nach klar, dass die wahren Gefahren noch vor ihnen liegen: wilde Tiere, giftige Reptilien und Insekten, ganz zu schweigen von der unerbittlichen Hitze. Jede ihrer Entscheidungen wird von nun an über Leben oder Tod entscheiden."
Es war eine ganz nette Geschichte, in der es um Freundschaft, Loyalität und um Mut geht.
Der Hauptprotagonist ist Tom, der eigentlich sehr unscheinbar ist, kaum Kontakte zu seinen Mitschülern hat und in sich gekehrt ist. Er macht die stärkste Entwicklung in der Geschichte durch und man lernt ganz andere Facetten von ihm kennen.
Denn obwohl sein Mitschüler Joel die Führung übernimmt, stellt er einige Entscheidungen in Frage und macht auch seinen Mund auf. Hier fand ich es schön zu sehen, wie wichtig es doch immer ist, dass man selbst nachdenkt und nicht immer alles hinnimmt was einer sagt.
Dennoch hat mich das Buch nicht wirklich umgehauen. Die Charaktere waren ansonsten nicht sehr aussagekräftig und ich habe die Tiefe vermisst. Es gab ein zwei spannende Momente, aber auch nicht mehr. Es ist eine nette Geschichte für Zwischendurch, aber auch nicht mehr. Klar ist es ein Jugendbuch und ich denke auch für junge Menschen ist dieses Buch sicherlich gut geeignet, aber für mich war es jetzt nichts besonderes.
Man kann es lesen, aber man wird auch nichts verpassen, wenn man es nicht liest.
August 4, 2023
chlopie czy ty przeczytales co napisales bo to bylo tak nieprawdopodobne, ze ja pierdole
May 14, 2019
This review and many others can also be found at Musings of a (Book) Girl.
content warnings: plane crash, death, violence, suicide
I was honestly so hyped for When We Were Lost. I’m a sucker for a good survival story, especially one that’s being compared to both Lost and Lord of the Flies, but to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Really the only similarity between this novel and the above is a plane crash leaving the characters stranded in an unknown location. That’s it. Which really left me unsatisfied.
First, let’s talk about the characters. The vast majority of them had the most common white names possible, which made them blur together. It also didn’t help that they all had the same amount of personality as a plain piece of stale bread that was left on the counter for a couple of days. There was absolutely nothing special about a single one of them. I wasn’t able to form an emotional connection to anybody, which coupled with the fact that I couldn’t tell them apart thanks to their generic names, left me uncaring when one would die.
Speaking of character deaths, if you look at the cover for this book, you can plainly see the question “who becomes a killer?” Because of this, in addition to the survival theme, I was expecting some sort of murder mystery undertone thrown in too, but nope. I did almost say that not a single murder takes place, but then I remembered (and to avoid potential spoilers I’ll keep it vague) that there was one character that did that one thing, but it’s just not what somebody expects at all after reading the little attention grabber on the cover, and it’s such a let down.
Thankfully, this is a pretty quick read. I was able to get through the entire thing in about half a day. You’d think though that since it is a quick read and a survival story that it would be jam-packed full of action, but you’d be wrong. We are thrown right into the story without very much build up, but the actual plane crash was pretty glossed over, ending almost as soon as it begins. Throughout the rest of the novel, even though serious things are happening, there just wasn’t enough oomph behind anything. Maybe it was because I didn’t care about the characters or maybe it was bad writing, but everything fell flat. The ending was also so rushed. The characters were trekking through the jungle for a week until suddenly they came to a town and then within a matter of ten to fifteen pages everything was okay again.
The plot really wasn’t all that bad until the epilogue when we find out why the plane crashed. A big theme of this book is the butterfly effect. One thing leads to another, and the pilot of the plane finds out he has cancer. This causes him to become depressed and suicidal, and since he has no reason to live because cancer will eventually kill him anyway, he decides to crash the plane. It is 2019. I’m so tired of depression and suicide being handled this way. My mental illness does not exist for authors to turn it into plot points and use it as the villain’s motive. This has to stop.
If you enjoy survival stories, and the synopsis of this one sparks your interest, then I encourage you to read it. I saw several people on Goodreads who really enjoyed this one, so maybe it’s just me having too high of expectations and being nitpicky because of it. Other than the way mental illness was handled and the lack of diversity, I didn’t find anything else that seemed problematic, so I don’t want to discourage anybody from giving When We Were Lost a try. Not every book is for every reader, and that’s okay. Since this wasn’t one for me, maybe (hopefully) it will be for you.
content warnings: plane crash, death, violence, suicide
I was honestly so hyped for When We Were Lost. I’m a sucker for a good survival story, especially one that’s being compared to both Lost and Lord of the Flies, but to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Really the only similarity between this novel and the above is a plane crash leaving the characters stranded in an unknown location. That’s it. Which really left me unsatisfied.
First, let’s talk about the characters. The vast majority of them had the most common white names possible, which made them blur together. It also didn’t help that they all had the same amount of personality as a plain piece of stale bread that was left on the counter for a couple of days. There was absolutely nothing special about a single one of them. I wasn’t able to form an emotional connection to anybody, which coupled with the fact that I couldn’t tell them apart thanks to their generic names, left me uncaring when one would die.
Speaking of character deaths, if you look at the cover for this book, you can plainly see the question “who becomes a killer?” Because of this, in addition to the survival theme, I was expecting some sort of murder mystery undertone thrown in too, but nope. I did almost say that not a single murder takes place, but then I remembered (and to avoid potential spoilers I’ll keep it vague) that there was one character that did that one thing, but it’s just not what somebody expects at all after reading the little attention grabber on the cover, and it’s such a let down.
Thankfully, this is a pretty quick read. I was able to get through the entire thing in about half a day. You’d think though that since it is a quick read and a survival story that it would be jam-packed full of action, but you’d be wrong. We are thrown right into the story without very much build up, but the actual plane crash was pretty glossed over, ending almost as soon as it begins. Throughout the rest of the novel, even though serious things are happening, there just wasn’t enough oomph behind anything. Maybe it was because I didn’t care about the characters or maybe it was bad writing, but everything fell flat. The ending was also so rushed. The characters were trekking through the jungle for a week until suddenly they came to a town and then within a matter of ten to fifteen pages everything was okay again.
The plot really wasn’t all that bad until the epilogue when we find out why the plane crashed. A big theme of this book is the butterfly effect. One thing leads to another, and the pilot of the plane finds out he has cancer. This causes him to become depressed and suicidal, and since he has no reason to live because cancer will eventually kill him anyway, he decides to crash the plane. It is 2019. I’m so tired of depression and suicide being handled this way. My mental illness does not exist for authors to turn it into plot points and use it as the villain’s motive. This has to stop.
If you enjoy survival stories, and the synopsis of this one sparks your interest, then I encourage you to read it. I saw several people on Goodreads who really enjoyed this one, so maybe it’s just me having too high of expectations and being nitpicky because of it. Other than the way mental illness was handled and the lack of diversity, I didn’t find anything else that seemed problematic, so I don’t want to discourage anybody from giving When We Were Lost a try. Not every book is for every reader, and that’s okay. Since this wasn’t one for me, maybe (hopefully) it will be for you.
June 25, 2019
When We Were Lost is an exciting and terrifying story about a group of teenagers that are stranded in the middle of the jungle when their plane crashes on the way to Costa Rica for a school trip. Tom is a bit of an outsider; a quiet student who has trouble connecting with the others. This is really his story- how he begins to form friendships, and takes on a leading role as the group of survivors begin to navigate their way out of the jungle.
This is a young adult survival story that tackles themes such as friendship, acceptance, forgiveness, and the meaning of life. There are snakes, dangerous animals, high temperatures, rough waters, enemies and a bit of romance. I really liked the premise of this novel as I haven't read anything like it in a long time. The line on the cover that says "who becomes a killer?" threw me off a bit, as I was expecting an additional thriller/murder plot line, but that's not what it means at all.
Overall there was something lacking in the story for me. I think it was the characters. I found that I didn't get to know them well enough, other than their names, so I wasn't invested in their relationships (or even whether they survived really). Despite this, it was an entertaining read and there were a few suspenseful moments and times that had me hooked! I wanted a bit more from the ending- more on the repercussions of certain events, or Tom's relationship with his caregiver. I appreciate the research that went into all of the South American jungle facts, and there are some useful survival tips in here that I hope I never have to use!
Thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a young adult survival story that tackles themes such as friendship, acceptance, forgiveness, and the meaning of life. There are snakes, dangerous animals, high temperatures, rough waters, enemies and a bit of romance. I really liked the premise of this novel as I haven't read anything like it in a long time. The line on the cover that says "who becomes a killer?" threw me off a bit, as I was expecting an additional thriller/murder plot line, but that's not what it means at all.
Overall there was something lacking in the story for me. I think it was the characters. I found that I didn't get to know them well enough, other than their names, so I wasn't invested in their relationships (or even whether they survived really). Despite this, it was an entertaining read and there were a few suspenseful moments and times that had me hooked! I wanted a bit more from the ending- more on the repercussions of certain events, or Tom's relationship with his caregiver. I appreciate the research that went into all of the South American jungle facts, and there are some useful survival tips in here that I hope I never have to use!
Thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2019
t's hard not to think about the show, Lost, when reading about a plane crash in the middle of nowhere. It's also hard not to think about Lord of the Flies when the survivors are all children. Regardless of any want of comparing, this book really does shine. It did take me a little bit to get into the story but by midpoint, I was absolutely hooked and flew through the rest.
In these types of situations we get the usual alpha male that tries to take control. Whether the intentions are good or not, typically this tends to lead to more trouble then good. Tom is the lone wolf - the outcast - the nerdy one and him and his crew that manage to come together are the ones you later in life wish you had befriended from the get go. Joel, the alpha male, just needs a swift kick to the nads. Uff. BOYS.
I enjoyed the butterfly effect bookends but I did feel the ending was a bit in your face. I wish I had more background to the reasoning of the plane crash. HOWEVER, for simplicity sake and for the butterfly effect reasoning behind everything, I let that wash. At the end of the day, this survival story surrounding these kids is an easy read and very entertaining.
In these types of situations we get the usual alpha male that tries to take control. Whether the intentions are good or not, typically this tends to lead to more trouble then good. Tom is the lone wolf - the outcast - the nerdy one and him and his crew that manage to come together are the ones you later in life wish you had befriended from the get go. Joel, the alpha male, just needs a swift kick to the nads. Uff. BOYS.
I enjoyed the butterfly effect bookends but I did feel the ending was a bit in your face. I wish I had more background to the reasoning of the plane crash. HOWEVER, for simplicity sake and for the butterfly effect reasoning behind everything, I let that wash. At the end of the day, this survival story surrounding these kids is an easy read and very entertaining.
October 30, 2020
Kevin Wignall has my vote! WHEN WE WERE LOST reminded me of Peter Heller's THE RIVER in some ways... so more like Heller and less like Patterson.
If you haven't read this... then you need to consider it! I am not often a fan of survival books or the lost son of some big adventurer.. but I liked this one very much and found it engaging. It had that realism thing going.. although, TOM becomes more than a 'high school' kid.. so I have to say that he grows as a character. But that would be expected if his plane really crashed and they had to reason their way out of the jungle. While the language level in the book is fairly simple, I think they might have made this group freshman or sophomore college kids and been more on the mark for the talent and skills of this group. The expressed level of maturity was higher than 17 or 18... so this was my biggest point of contention. I did like the tension between the characters and several times I could have thrown Joel off a cliff.
My favorite part was that most of the kids had some skill to add to the mix and a girl in the group was very much the outdoors girl. This was a page-turner and as promised, it kept me from doing what I should have been and sitting and reading. I resented the buzzer on my dryer....
So,
4 stars
Happy Reading!
If you haven't read this... then you need to consider it! I am not often a fan of survival books or the lost son of some big adventurer.. but I liked this one very much and found it engaging. It had that realism thing going.. although, TOM becomes more than a 'high school' kid.. so I have to say that he grows as a character. But that would be expected if his plane really crashed and they had to reason their way out of the jungle. While the language level in the book is fairly simple, I think they might have made this group freshman or sophomore college kids and been more on the mark for the talent and skills of this group. The expressed level of maturity was higher than 17 or 18... so this was my biggest point of contention. I did like the tension between the characters and several times I could have thrown Joel off a cliff.
My favorite part was that most of the kids had some skill to add to the mix and a girl in the group was very much the outdoors girl. This was a page-turner and as promised, it kept me from doing what I should have been and sitting and reading. I resented the buzzer on my dryer....
So,
4 stars
Happy Reading!
May 8, 2019
This is one book that actually took me by surprise. It was surprising how good it was. I didn't hate the characters. Which is what I was expecting to happen is to find a bunch of whiny teenagers. Even the "jerk" was reasonable. I could understand where he was coming from and why he acted the way he did. He actually was not so much a leader. It is just that he did not know any other way of coping with the situation. You strip away the layers and all you got was a scared boy.
Because I actually liked all of the characters, this book was not only an enjoyable read but a fast one as well. It took me a shorter time to read this book than it did for the characters to be rescued. There was a tiny touch of romance but it was fleeting. I am glad that it was as it didn't really feel like it was necessary or wanted for the story. If you are looking for a good book to read you should pick up a copy of this book. The only thing that you will get "lost" in is this book.
Because I actually liked all of the characters, this book was not only an enjoyable read but a fast one as well. It took me a shorter time to read this book than it did for the characters to be rescued. There was a tiny touch of romance but it was fleeting. I am glad that it was as it didn't really feel like it was necessary or wanted for the story. If you are looking for a good book to read you should pick up a copy of this book. The only thing that you will get "lost" in is this book.
September 4, 2020
Prenant et bien mené, un super roman que j’ai dévoré 😍
June 23, 2019
WHEN WE WERE LOST is an exciting YA survival story. It's a fast read that will grip you from the first page until the very last word. Great book, Mr. Wignall!
October 6, 2020
3.5*
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I didn’t go in with super high hopes - I’ve read a decent amount of YA survival books this year and I wasn’t sure that this one would hold up, but it did.
The plot was interesting and engaging. Sometimes it seemed like it was going a bit over the top, but generally pulled back right when it was on the edge of getting to be too much. I found that there were a lot of characters who didn’t really need to be there - there were 19 plane crash survivors in the group but most of them are just background characters. I think that by having fewer characters, the book would have had more time to develop them, since there was very little character development of a lot of the characters.
I liked the butterfly effect theme in the intro and epilogue, but I think more time could have been spent on introducing characters and plot, rather than jumping in and having to introduce everyone on the fly. Definitely a good read though and I think if I’d read it as a teenager, I would have been really engaged.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I didn’t go in with super high hopes - I’ve read a decent amount of YA survival books this year and I wasn’t sure that this one would hold up, but it did.
The plot was interesting and engaging. Sometimes it seemed like it was going a bit over the top, but generally pulled back right when it was on the edge of getting to be too much. I found that there were a lot of characters who didn’t really need to be there - there were 19 plane crash survivors in the group but most of them are just background characters. I think that by having fewer characters, the book would have had more time to develop them, since there was very little character development of a lot of the characters.
I liked the butterfly effect theme in the intro and epilogue, but I think more time could have been spent on introducing characters and plot, rather than jumping in and having to introduce everyone on the fly. Definitely a good read though and I think if I’d read it as a teenager, I would have been really engaged.
June 28, 2019
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Every one in a while, you come across a book that sounds like it has everything you wanted. Tragedy, survival, chaos, the unknown, darkness, and a possible murder? Right up my alley! Sadly though, the execution of this book didn’t live up to my expectations.
If you like books that detail survival and focus VERY heavily on that aspect, then this is the book for you! In a way, I felt like that’s all this book did! Yes, of course, they’re surviving in a jungle! Naturally there’s going to be focus on survival!!! But, when it’s hundreds of pages of just that….. it got boring really fast! It did project the importance of supplies and using them appropriately and sparingly, but I just couldn’t stand it for as long as it went on, with little else coming into the picture. There were a few aspects of this book that I found very interesting, and could have elevated this book had they been a larger focus. But those things fell flat and didn’t add as much to the story as I hoped.
This book also encouraged the importance of a strong and smart leader. Which I whole heartedly agree with! When you’re in a situation where you have no idea if and when you’ll be rescued, staying together and keeping things in order is a must. But I also feel like this wasn’t done as I hoped. I feel like this was used as a plot point to create a conflict and untrustworthy relationship between the survivors. The author mentioned Lord Of The Flies multiple times throughout this book. And that’s what this book felt like to me. A modern retelling of that book.
But what I really missed from this – the urgency! The emotion! The reaction! No one can really know how you’ll react to a situation until you’re in the middle of it but, I can assume, that there would be a little more panic, anguish, grief, and preservation than I got. When the plane crashes, and they realize that they’ve lost their teachers and fellow students, they gave of the impression of “Oh well, I guess I didn’t really know them….. So let’s start a fire.” They immediately went into a weird survival mode where they were choosing sides and picking up supplies. I don’t know about you, but if I were in that situation, I wouldn’t immediately straighten my back and choose sides of anything! I would want to help and be helped. And there was a huge lack urgency throughout the entire book.
I did, however, really enjoy the writing style! And the world building was great! I felt all the sensations (aside from emotion) of being there right with them. The things they saw, felt, smelled, sensed, and more.
I wanted to love this. I really did. Especially since the publisher (Hachette Book Group Canada/Jimmy Patterson) so kindly sent me this for review. I’m usually spot on with only requesting books that I’m positive I’ll enjoy. But, for some reason, this one just totally missed the mark for me. Now – even though this is one of the most negative reviews I’ve written, I need you to remember – this is only a personal preference!! I know that there will be those of you out there that will really enjoy this book! Especially since it’s so strong to the survival end of things! This isn’t a bad book book! It’s just not the right book for me.
Thank you so much to Jimmy Patterson and Hachette Book Group Canada for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are uninfluenced.
Every one in a while, you come across a book that sounds like it has everything you wanted. Tragedy, survival, chaos, the unknown, darkness, and a possible murder? Right up my alley! Sadly though, the execution of this book didn’t live up to my expectations.
If you like books that detail survival and focus VERY heavily on that aspect, then this is the book for you! In a way, I felt like that’s all this book did! Yes, of course, they’re surviving in a jungle! Naturally there’s going to be focus on survival!!! But, when it’s hundreds of pages of just that….. it got boring really fast! It did project the importance of supplies and using them appropriately and sparingly, but I just couldn’t stand it for as long as it went on, with little else coming into the picture. There were a few aspects of this book that I found very interesting, and could have elevated this book had they been a larger focus. But those things fell flat and didn’t add as much to the story as I hoped.
This book also encouraged the importance of a strong and smart leader. Which I whole heartedly agree with! When you’re in a situation where you have no idea if and when you’ll be rescued, staying together and keeping things in order is a must. But I also feel like this wasn’t done as I hoped. I feel like this was used as a plot point to create a conflict and untrustworthy relationship between the survivors. The author mentioned Lord Of The Flies multiple times throughout this book. And that’s what this book felt like to me. A modern retelling of that book.
But what I really missed from this – the urgency! The emotion! The reaction! No one can really know how you’ll react to a situation until you’re in the middle of it but, I can assume, that there would be a little more panic, anguish, grief, and preservation than I got. When the plane crashes, and they realize that they’ve lost their teachers and fellow students, they gave of the impression of “Oh well, I guess I didn’t really know them….. So let’s start a fire.” They immediately went into a weird survival mode where they were choosing sides and picking up supplies. I don’t know about you, but if I were in that situation, I wouldn’t immediately straighten my back and choose sides of anything! I would want to help and be helped. And there was a huge lack urgency throughout the entire book.
I did, however, really enjoy the writing style! And the world building was great! I felt all the sensations (aside from emotion) of being there right with them. The things they saw, felt, smelled, sensed, and more.
I wanted to love this. I really did. Especially since the publisher (Hachette Book Group Canada/Jimmy Patterson) so kindly sent me this for review. I’m usually spot on with only requesting books that I’m positive I’ll enjoy. But, for some reason, this one just totally missed the mark for me. Now – even though this is one of the most negative reviews I’ve written, I need you to remember – this is only a personal preference!! I know that there will be those of you out there that will really enjoy this book! Especially since it’s so strong to the survival end of things! This isn’t a bad book book! It’s just not the right book for me.
Thank you so much to Jimmy Patterson and Hachette Book Group Canada for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are uninfluenced.
February 10, 2021
I am pleasantly surprised by how good this book was. I thought it would be just your standard survival story where the main characters have to find food and whatnot, but it was so much more. The beginning had me hooked just due to the explanation of the butterfly effect, and how it affected the main character. Then there are the characters personality's...wow. I love the relationships that were formed and the drama that ensued because of those relationships. The plot was faced paced all the way through and you never got bored. Wignall was very creative with the different situations they got themselves into and how they got out of them. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it if you want a fast paced adventure story with relatable characters. The epilogue was amazing as well.
May 27, 2019
Another one that wasn't quite what I expected, but nonetheless a solid read. Loved the Amazon setting and having to Google different animals and predators. Always a great time when I'm dropped into a new world. The dynamic between the major players kept tension high and the unpredictable nature of the jungle meant nobody was safe. At some points, I had to stop myself from skimming forward because I was super nervous that one of my faves wouldn't make it. Satisfying ending, which compared to the many DNF and disappointing books I've read lately, served as a welcomed change.
Big thanks to HBG Canada for an ARC!
Big thanks to HBG Canada for an ARC!
February 19, 2021
Coup de cœur de James Patterson, "l'auteur" qui n'écrit plus ses livres depuis plus de vingt ans... J'aurais dû me douter que ce ne serait pas extraordinaire. Grosse déception, il ne se passe rien de surprenant, très manichéen avec les gentils et les méchants ados. Bref, d'une platitude confondante. Perte de temps totale.
May 27, 2024
this book had so much potential!!! the plot was so interesting and the characters were very fun but i thought every issue they had was resolved so fast and the story would just jump onto something else and leave me confused. Alice and Tom were really cute and i wish their relationship was explored more. overall fun little read nothing too heavy
June 19, 2021
3.5 stars
Tom is the HERO, all caps. No matter what, he’s the white knight. Which can be fun and adventuresome, but also more than a little tiring (and unbelievable).
If you’ve got a hero, you’ve got to have a villain—enter Joel. I (mostly) didn’t find Joel to be the über-jerk he was meant to be portrayed as, though. That probably says something about me. Something that maybe the author would disapprove of. Hmmmmm . . .
Still, a pretty fun read—my teen niece or nephew might like it. I expected a little more*, plot-wise and depth of character-wise, but it was still a breezy, entertaining read.
I really enjoyed a suspense book of his, The Traitor’s Story, that I read a few years back.
Tom is the HERO, all caps. No matter what, he’s the white knight. Which can be fun and adventuresome, but also more than a little tiring (and unbelievable).
If you’ve got a hero, you’ve got to have a villain—enter Joel. I (mostly) didn’t find Joel to be the über-jerk he was meant to be portrayed as, though. That probably says something about me. Something that maybe the author would disapprove of. Hmmmmm . . .
Still, a pretty fun read—my teen niece or nephew might like it. I expected a little more*, plot-wise and depth of character-wise, but it was still a breezy, entertaining read.
I really enjoyed a suspense book of his, The Traitor’s Story, that I read a few years back.
May 29, 2021
All the stars!!
June 25, 2024
So, it's a pretty good YA novel. I didn't realize it was YA. The story was almost unbelievable at times, and the main character Tom was crazy lucky, yall. I thought it was funny the book referenced Lord Of The Flies a few times since this was almost like a modern version in some ways.
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