What do you think?
Rate this book
The Reject
Juliet Seven is waiting on a seacraft offshore from war-torn Mangeria, hoping that her beloved Nicolas will soon join her. Instead, the boat is pirated by a Reject boy stinking of rot and oil. A storm rises and they are swept away. They reach a new land, but all is not what it seems in this perfect place of refuge and Juliet is desperate to escape. Since the day of her birth, the blind tellers of Mangeria have prophesied that Juliet is ‘The One’. What will she have to do to fulfil her destiny?
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2020
41 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Edyth Bulbring
26 books38 followersEdyth Bulbring is an award-winning author of nine Young Adult novels: The Summer of Toffie and Grummer which was shortlisted for the English Academy's 2010 Percy FitzPatrick prize for Youth Literature (Oxford University Press, February 2008); Cornelia Button and the Globe of Gamagion (Jacana, April 2008); The Club (Jonathan Ball Publishers, September 2008); Pops and The Nearly Dead (Penguin, March 2010); Melly, Mrs Ho and Me (Penguin, September 2010); Melly, Fatty and Me which was awarded the English Academy's 2012 Percy FitzPatrick prize for Youth Literature (Penguin, September 2011); The Mark which was awarded the English Academy's 2016 Percy FitzPatrick Prize for Youth Literature (Tafelberg September 2014) and Snitch which won the 2017 M.E.R Prize for best Afrikaans or English youth novel (Tafelberg, May 2016).
She was born in Boksburg and grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She worked as a journalist for fifteen years and was the political correspondent at the Sunday Times of South Africa covering the first democratic elections. She likes dogs, trees and junk shops.
She was born in Boksburg and grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She worked as a journalist for fifteen years and was the political correspondent at the Sunday Times of South Africa covering the first democratic elections. She likes dogs, trees and junk shops.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 20, 2019
I bought this for the school library, so that the Grade 10s who had to read 'The Mark' could move past the unsatisfying conclusion of this book's prequel.
'The Reject' is an improvement on the previous book with regards to pace and character. Gollum really stole the book, while Ettie had good reason to be annoying. But, I am still disappointed. Bulbring constantly takes the easy route. Instead of satisfying her reader with all the exciting scenes, making use of suspense and allowing the reader to enjoy some nail-biting moments, she skips them altogether and then tells the reader about these scenes from the perspective of after the event. What a let down! It gave me the feeling that this was a very fleshed out outline but not a solid story.
Before this review puts you off this book (if you are a high school kid in SA who is wanting some closure) ignore my comments. This book was not written for me: not my age, nor my interests, nor my preferred reading. This book will give you the closure you want - mostly.
'The Reject' is an improvement on the previous book with regards to pace and character. Gollum really stole the book, while Ettie had good reason to be annoying. But, I am still disappointed. Bulbring constantly takes the easy route. Instead of satisfying her reader with all the exciting scenes, making use of suspense and allowing the reader to enjoy some nail-biting moments, she skips them altogether and then tells the reader about these scenes from the perspective of after the event. What a let down! It gave me the feeling that this was a very fleshed out outline but not a solid story.
Before this review puts you off this book (if you are a high school kid in SA who is wanting some closure) ignore my comments. This book was not written for me: not my age, nor my interests, nor my preferred reading. This book will give you the closure you want - mostly.
January 24, 2020
Edyth Bulbring brings her readers back to Juliet Seven's world in The Reject. Events in book one, The Mark, were left a little in the air, with Juliet escaped on board a stolen yacht with a price on her head while Mangeria was dumped into turmoil. There was no HEA for her and her love Nicholas.
It's going to be difficult to review The Reject without massive spoilers, so I'm not going to discuss specific plot points. At its heart, this is a quest-novel, with Juliet aiming to return to Mangeria and reunite with Nicholas. Except the Fates have other things in mind for her, and she's blown far off course with two major side-quests, as it were.
The story isn't straight-up SF, but blends in elements of fantasy as well, so be warned that occasionally there are dream-like sequences involving beasts of omen, like hadeda ibises and yes, even a great white shark. This novel reads far grittier and darker than I expected – Juliet is a hard young woman, and most certainly a product of her environment. This means that she's not particularly likeable, but her strong will to survive and yes, her bitterness, make a lot of sense. She doesn't allow folks to push her around. Or if they do push, she will find ways to push back.
I did feel that the pacing was a little off with The Reject, but then Edyth does compress a lot of time in the story – and although there are events that take place, they are almost lost in a kind of narrative summary. My suspicion is that this novel suffers a little bit of what I term as 'middle book syndrome' where there's a measure of setting up for a book three. Not that I've heard whether a book three is in the works, but it wouldn't surprise me a book were to drop at some point in the future. The first half of the novel feels like a detour, offering important back story, before it gets on the move again.
There are some pop-culture nods that made me smile, which I suspect may go a little over the head of readers who haven't watched older films. But I enjoyed the intertextuality. I will, however, suggest that folks might reread book one before dipping into book two, especially if some time has lapsed since the last read – and here the fault lies with me, the reader. I was a little overwhelmed with the cast of characters and their relationships in the last part of the story, where things really start moving. I think if I were more solidly grounded in the context, this wouldn't have been so much of a problem for me.
The Reject offers a cracker of a story, and when it really gets going, it rushes at a headlong pace, perhaps sometimes a little too fast, in my opinion. I would have liked to have seen more immersion in the world, a bit more tactile, sensory input to flesh the setting out. But these were not dealbreakers for me. I enjoyed seeing Juliet's interactions with the people around her, the way she's often in denial about her own feelings, and also how she tries (and perhaps even fails) to do better than the people in her past who let her down.
It's going to be difficult to review The Reject without massive spoilers, so I'm not going to discuss specific plot points. At its heart, this is a quest-novel, with Juliet aiming to return to Mangeria and reunite with Nicholas. Except the Fates have other things in mind for her, and she's blown far off course with two major side-quests, as it were.
The story isn't straight-up SF, but blends in elements of fantasy as well, so be warned that occasionally there are dream-like sequences involving beasts of omen, like hadeda ibises and yes, even a great white shark. This novel reads far grittier and darker than I expected – Juliet is a hard young woman, and most certainly a product of her environment. This means that she's not particularly likeable, but her strong will to survive and yes, her bitterness, make a lot of sense. She doesn't allow folks to push her around. Or if they do push, she will find ways to push back.
I did feel that the pacing was a little off with The Reject, but then Edyth does compress a lot of time in the story – and although there are events that take place, they are almost lost in a kind of narrative summary. My suspicion is that this novel suffers a little bit of what I term as 'middle book syndrome' where there's a measure of setting up for a book three. Not that I've heard whether a book three is in the works, but it wouldn't surprise me a book were to drop at some point in the future. The first half of the novel feels like a detour, offering important back story, before it gets on the move again.
There are some pop-culture nods that made me smile, which I suspect may go a little over the head of readers who haven't watched older films. But I enjoyed the intertextuality. I will, however, suggest that folks might reread book one before dipping into book two, especially if some time has lapsed since the last read – and here the fault lies with me, the reader. I was a little overwhelmed with the cast of characters and their relationships in the last part of the story, where things really start moving. I think if I were more solidly grounded in the context, this wouldn't have been so much of a problem for me.
The Reject offers a cracker of a story, and when it really gets going, it rushes at a headlong pace, perhaps sometimes a little too fast, in my opinion. I would have liked to have seen more immersion in the world, a bit more tactile, sensory input to flesh the setting out. But these were not dealbreakers for me. I enjoyed seeing Juliet's interactions with the people around her, the way she's often in denial about her own feelings, and also how she tries (and perhaps even fails) to do better than the people in her past who let her down.
October 20, 2019
A great sequel to The Mark. It is much better than the first, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story does become rather complex and convoluted - I shall reread it and hopefully it will all fall into place more satisfactorily. Characters are more developed than in the first book, so that we are able to feel a little more empathy for them, but there are still lots of unanswered questions at the end. Not sure if the author is leaving the way open for a third novel. Worth reading if you enjoy YA post-apocalyptic/fantasy fiction.
May 7, 2019
The Reject is the sequel to The Mark, where the author set up a gritty, post-catastrophe, dystopian world set in the State of Mangeria near where a now submerged Cape Town South Africa once stood. Bulbring envisions is highly stratified and essentially feudal society with worker castes and a ruling class. It is a brutal existence where you are tolerated only as long as you are productive. Each person is stamped with an indelible mark that assigns an identifier and caste at birth. The mark is generated by The Machine, a giant solar powered computer which can also track individuals by their mark. Our protagonist is 15 year old Juliet 7, known as Ettie, who was born to be drudge, in service to a Posh (ie upper class) family.
There is a little bit of the fantastical in this world: Juliet is the Chosen One, destined to bring down this oppressive society; and there are talking birds that tell the future.
Don't let this put you off: these fantastical elements are really not over done so we are not talking about a urban fantasy type of book. I would say that there is more science fiction than fantasy in this world. particularly in The Reject.
The Mark ends with Juliet planning to escape from Mangeria by boat with a young Posh man with whom she has fallen in love.
The Reject begins immediately after the events of The Mark. The revolution has broken out and the city is in flames. But in a disastrous turn of events, the escape boat is hijacked by a Reject (ie a non-person as far as society is concerned) who Juliet dubs Captain Gollum, a name he unironically embraces having no knowledge of Tolkien. If that isn't bad enough, a storm blows them out to sea leaving Juliet, Captain Gollum, and Reader, the blind past trader (ie he has read books) in a desperate struggle to survive.
I don't want to be guilty of massive spoilers but I think I can safely say that our small band of survivors discover that Mangeria isn't alone in the world and that the conflagration, the catastrophe that blasted the world, may not be entirely in the past. They have some some remarkable adventures before returning to Mangeria to complete the story. I would also say that the biggest science fiction elements are in The Reject.
Where The Mark set up set up the world, The Reject puts the story and action on Juliet and her companions. Juliet already had to mature beyond what we would expect from a 15 year old in order to survive but in The Reject we see her pushing her capabilities and building an iron will to survive. The author also gives Captain Gollum a character arc that is very satisfying and nicely, if subtly developed. Like a good dystopian story, it gets readers to ask themselves: could I make it in this world?; what would my life be like if I was in one of the worker castes?; what kind of person would I be as a Posh?
Setting aside the fantastical elements like the Chosen One and talking prophet birds, Bulbring's is easily acceptable. I can see a society reverting to feudalism to maintain structure in a brutal environment and it would definitely suck to be in a worker caste. And if you are wondering what else has survived the conflagration besides people and at least one species of bird, yes, cockroaches do indeed make it through the apocalypse.
The Mark and The Reject are YA novels but I found them engrossing stories with layered characters I cared about. I can see these books being used as teaching tools and sparking discussion.
I think there could be more story to be told in this world but I won't feel cheated if the author chooses to end the story with The Reject.
There is a little bit of the fantastical in this world: Juliet is the Chosen One, destined to bring down this oppressive society; and there are talking birds that tell the future.
Don't let this put you off: these fantastical elements are really not over done so we are not talking about a urban fantasy type of book. I would say that there is more science fiction than fantasy in this world. particularly in The Reject.
The Mark ends with Juliet planning to escape from Mangeria by boat with a young Posh man with whom she has fallen in love.
The Reject begins immediately after the events of The Mark. The revolution has broken out and the city is in flames. But in a disastrous turn of events, the escape boat is hijacked by a Reject (ie a non-person as far as society is concerned) who Juliet dubs Captain Gollum, a name he unironically embraces having no knowledge of Tolkien. If that isn't bad enough, a storm blows them out to sea leaving Juliet, Captain Gollum, and Reader, the blind past trader (ie he has read books) in a desperate struggle to survive.
I don't want to be guilty of massive spoilers but I think I can safely say that our small band of survivors discover that Mangeria isn't alone in the world and that the conflagration, the catastrophe that blasted the world, may not be entirely in the past. They have some some remarkable adventures before returning to Mangeria to complete the story. I would also say that the biggest science fiction elements are in The Reject.
Where The Mark set up set up the world, The Reject puts the story and action on Juliet and her companions. Juliet already had to mature beyond what we would expect from a 15 year old in order to survive but in The Reject we see her pushing her capabilities and building an iron will to survive. The author also gives Captain Gollum a character arc that is very satisfying and nicely, if subtly developed. Like a good dystopian story, it gets readers to ask themselves: could I make it in this world?; what would my life be like if I was in one of the worker castes?; what kind of person would I be as a Posh?
Setting aside the fantastical elements like the Chosen One and talking prophet birds, Bulbring's is easily acceptable. I can see a society reverting to feudalism to maintain structure in a brutal environment and it would definitely suck to be in a worker caste. And if you are wondering what else has survived the conflagration besides people and at least one species of bird, yes, cockroaches do indeed make it through the apocalypse.
The Mark and The Reject are YA novels but I found them engrossing stories with layered characters I cared about. I can see these books being used as teaching tools and sparking discussion.
I think there could be more story to be told in this world but I won't feel cheated if the author chooses to end the story with The Reject.
Read
January 25, 2019~I hear you when you cry out in your sleep. It shreds my dreams.~
~Sometimes lies are told not in what is said, but what is not said.~
~The clown smiles down at me. "Parting is such sweet sorrow. Still, you can't say I didn't show you a good time."~
~Just because [animals] can't tell stories, it didn't give Homesaps the right to treat them like they were less.~
~To kill my god! Who will I pray to? Who will save me when things go wrong?~
~Sometimes lies are told not in what is said, but what is not said.~
~The clown smiles down at me. "Parting is such sweet sorrow. Still, you can't say I didn't show you a good time."~
~Just because [animals] can't tell stories, it didn't give Homesaps the right to treat them like they were less.~
~To kill my god! Who will I pray to? Who will save me when things go wrong?~
December 1, 2020
Much more enjoyable than The Mark despite the continuation and the overused genre of young girls in post-apocalyptic worlds.
July 16, 2021
I LOVED IT, finished it in 2 day, couldn't put the book down 😭
Currently reading
August 11, 2022cant wait to read as im a ettie fan
November 25, 2023
The ending didn't satisfy me but I'm inlove with these 2 books 🤝🏽
November 9, 2024
This is one of the very few times a sequel surpasses a prequel, a very impressive one at that. This book is laden with plot twistss. The ending is satisfactory. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews