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Downsiders #1
Downsiders
Fear the Topside, or be crushed by its embrace
Beneath the sewer grates and manholes of the city lies a strange and secret world called the Downside. Every Downsider knows that it's forbidden to go Topside, and most fear a collision of the two worlds. But fourteen-year-old Talon is curious about what goes on above ground, and one day he ventures out in search of medicine for his ailing sister. There he meets Lindsay, who is as curious about Talon's world as he is about hers.
When Lindsay visits the Downside for the first time, she marvels at the spirit of the Downsiders, and the way they create works of art from topside "trash," like old subway tokens and forgotten earrings. As awed as she is by the Downside, however, she also questions its origins, and when she finds out that this fantastic world is not all it appears to be, she is determined to tell Talon the truth. Then a construction accident threatens to crush Talon's world, and his loyalty is put to the test. Can the truth save the Downside, or will it destroy an entire civilization?
Beneath the sewer grates and manholes of the city lies a strange and secret world called the Downside. Every Downsider knows that it's forbidden to go Topside, and most fear a collision of the two worlds. But fourteen-year-old Talon is curious about what goes on above ground, and one day he ventures out in search of medicine for his ailing sister. There he meets Lindsay, who is as curious about Talon's world as he is about hers.
When Lindsay visits the Downside for the first time, she marvels at the spirit of the Downsiders, and the way they create works of art from topside "trash," like old subway tokens and forgotten earrings. As awed as she is by the Downside, however, she also questions its origins, and when she finds out that this fantastic world is not all it appears to be, she is determined to tell Talon the truth. Then a construction accident threatens to crush Talon's world, and his loyalty is put to the test. Can the truth save the Downside, or will it destroy an entire civilization?
246 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1999
128 people are currently reading
4160 people want to read
About the author
Neal Shusterman
90 books29.9k followersAward-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews
June 25, 2012
Fun story about this book. I read this back in high school and really liked it. I then in college got the urge to read it again because I had never run across another book with the same theme and I couldn't remember what it was called. Throughout the years I have tried to google "book about kids living under New York City" or "society underground in New York City" and never got any results. Extremely saddened I had given up. I am now reading Unwind by none other than Neal Shusterman. I have been reading the book for about 2 weeks now and had glanced at the back cover a few times. Today, however, I glanced at the back cover and noticed that it says other books by Neal Shusterman and one of the books was Downsiders. The name immediately jogged my memory and I read the description and it was the book I had been searching for! I could barely control my excitement and went to the library to check out Downsiders and it will be the next book I read! Hopefully I haven't built it up too much in my head. It probably isn't as good as I remember but I'm still excited to finally read it again!
Read
July 20, 2018Omg I read this in the 6th grade and still think about it time to time. Haha never knew it was a novel by Neal!!
December 27, 2008
I have finished Downsiders. It is an unusual mix--not quite science fiction; more an urban fantasy. Reminded me not a little of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.
The clash between the Downside and Topside cultures is well well described in the book. Although meant for younger readers, I feel it could be enjoyed as a quick, easy read for an adult.
I don't do spoilers--but--I really liked the way it ended!
The clash between the Downside and Topside cultures is well well described in the book. Although meant for younger readers, I feel it could be enjoyed as a quick, easy read for an adult.
I don't do spoilers--but--I really liked the way it ended!
July 12, 2017
Maybe I should have read this
before
Scythe; it paled in comparison. Downsiders is almost a typical dystopian novel. It is about people who live Topside, as we do, and people who live Downside, as moles do. The story focuses mostly on the Downsiders and their hatred and misunderstanding of the Topsiders. They also don't truly know their own history and how they came to be, which taints their feelings towards the people who live above ground. Likewise, the Topsiders don't even know that the Downsiders exist, so all the conflicts that the Downsiders are fueling, is against an enemy who doesn't even know they are at war.
I really liked Neal Shusterman's writing in Scythe and his characters were comfortable. I felt quite the opposite with the characters in this text. They didn't feel true to the person Shusterman was trying to create (I often found myself thinking, that isn't how she would have reacted) and it was only toward the end that I started caring about what happened to Talon, the main character.
If I ever abandoned books, I might have tossed this one aside when I found myself skimming portions of the first 50 pages. As I stuck with it, it got better to a point, but this is definitely not Shusterman's best work.
I really liked Neal Shusterman's writing in Scythe and his characters were comfortable. I felt quite the opposite with the characters in this text. They didn't feel true to the person Shusterman was trying to create (I often found myself thinking, that isn't how she would have reacted) and it was only toward the end that I started caring about what happened to Talon, the main character.
If I ever abandoned books, I might have tossed this one aside when I found myself skimming portions of the first 50 pages. As I stuck with it, it got better to a point, but this is definitely not Shusterman's best work.
January 2, 2015
Shusterman imagines that a part of the underclass really become an underclass - living in deep tunnels underneath the subways of New York. To preserve themselves, the Downsiders minimize their contact with Topsiders. Of course, this delicate situation threatens to blow up when the main character gets too curious about life above, and falls for a Topside girl.
While good, this lacked both the depth of character and the cleverness of either his Skinjacker or Unwind books. In general, this felt like an early work. It almost completely lacks a sense of danger, even when the main character is tried, sentenced to death, and executed. Similarly, I thought the treatment of the main girl and her family was thin and too stereotyped. It's a decent book, but not anywhere as good as some of the other things I've read of his.
While good, this lacked both the depth of character and the cleverness of either his Skinjacker or Unwind books. In general, this felt like an early work. It almost completely lacks a sense of danger, even when the main character is tried, sentenced to death, and executed. Similarly, I thought the treatment of the main girl and her family was thin and too stereotyped. It's a decent book, but not anywhere as good as some of the other things I've read of his.
March 1, 2017
In every depths of reading, there are always some things that lurk around every paragraph and the system of words does not undermine how Downsiders exemplify its storyline without stymied content.
I would rate this book a 4-star review. It’s reeling with a simple gain on the plot. Hence, exploration and discovery was the main attraction of the book. The articles and research that was put into the book made it more comprehending with relation to what happened to Lindsay and Talon’s world colliding in various effects.
Shusterman made me feel as if he’s actually narrating the story over my ears took more strings into my thoughts just as I was thinking a children’s book would make me all bored had I not regret reading it all the way because it’s a short read.
“Remember—sympathy kills.”
—Lindsay Matthias
On top of that, as this is a children’s book, I am somewhat surprised those scenes with Lindsay and Talon struck me like it had the YA vibe in it. Beyond all those, I’m very convinced with the characters’ demeanour towards the painstakingly gestured actions between the Topside and the Downside life. They both agreed in terms of the excitement and tension all at once.
“It is human nature to take the most magical of worlds for granted, turning each one into a blank canvas upon which to paint the lives of those who would live there. Only an outsider can see a world’s wonders for what they truly are.”
—6-Topsider Down
In all honesty, the book was so imaginative and engaging. Shusterman, ever since the 90s, as the book was published on that period, showed great relevance as to how he manage his works as the title for himself goes, “The Master Storyteller.” I can never say more of how you write in style and in vivid impact.
“Truth was such a strange thing—its face changing depending on the angle at which it was viewed. There were some truths that gained value by being proclaimed, others whose greatest virtue is that they remain unknown.”
—20-On the Dark Side of the Moon
Things would always reflect between fiction and reality, as we all know that every truth lies with layer-by-layer truths that should always be scavenged, peeled, and jigged deeper than we set ourselves comfortable with that proof that it was always enough.
“I will be keeper of your secrets. I will be the one who remembers why we forget.”
—20-On the Dark Side of the Moon
As to how Talon Angler and Lindsay Matthias live in accordance to what their worlds may be, along those times, they will always live up to a new set of discovery and learnings as they are young individuals who claim to seek every part of their curiosity into delivering a new age of legacy to the future generations.
I’d rather pause from reading Shusterman books or else I would have to write more book reviews. That would be a good thing and a bad thing because I’m lacking time. Nevertheless, I urge you readers to speak more of your mind in reading his works as they are so finely good you would not even miss time to regret or NF-ing a single book.
We are, perhaps, Highsiders, that live with no norms or bounds in living what we intended to be.
I would rate this book a 4-star review. It’s reeling with a simple gain on the plot. Hence, exploration and discovery was the main attraction of the book. The articles and research that was put into the book made it more comprehending with relation to what happened to Lindsay and Talon’s world colliding in various effects.
Shusterman made me feel as if he’s actually narrating the story over my ears took more strings into my thoughts just as I was thinking a children’s book would make me all bored had I not regret reading it all the way because it’s a short read.
“Remember—sympathy kills.”
—Lindsay Matthias
On top of that, as this is a children’s book, I am somewhat surprised those scenes with Lindsay and Talon struck me like it had the YA vibe in it. Beyond all those, I’m very convinced with the characters’ demeanour towards the painstakingly gestured actions between the Topside and the Downside life. They both agreed in terms of the excitement and tension all at once.
“It is human nature to take the most magical of worlds for granted, turning each one into a blank canvas upon which to paint the lives of those who would live there. Only an outsider can see a world’s wonders for what they truly are.”
—6-Topsider Down
In all honesty, the book was so imaginative and engaging. Shusterman, ever since the 90s, as the book was published on that period, showed great relevance as to how he manage his works as the title for himself goes, “The Master Storyteller.” I can never say more of how you write in style and in vivid impact.
“Truth was such a strange thing—its face changing depending on the angle at which it was viewed. There were some truths that gained value by being proclaimed, others whose greatest virtue is that they remain unknown.”
—20-On the Dark Side of the Moon
Things would always reflect between fiction and reality, as we all know that every truth lies with layer-by-layer truths that should always be scavenged, peeled, and jigged deeper than we set ourselves comfortable with that proof that it was always enough.
“I will be keeper of your secrets. I will be the one who remembers why we forget.”
—20-On the Dark Side of the Moon
As to how Talon Angler and Lindsay Matthias live in accordance to what their worlds may be, along those times, they will always live up to a new set of discovery and learnings as they are young individuals who claim to seek every part of their curiosity into delivering a new age of legacy to the future generations.
I’d rather pause from reading Shusterman books or else I would have to write more book reviews. That would be a good thing and a bad thing because I’m lacking time. Nevertheless, I urge you readers to speak more of your mind in reading his works as they are so finely good you would not even miss time to regret or NF-ing a single book.
We are, perhaps, Highsiders, that live with no norms or bounds in living what we intended to be.
September 4, 2017
Hmm became a Neal Shusterman fan this summer after reading Unwind and getting caught up enough to add the entire trilogy to my wishlist ..I really liked the way he did YA Science Fiction and when I caught this title in my school library I had to read it to promote his writing though I do need to get Unwind as that would be a much easier push as I was not as enthralled as I thought I would be with this story of people living under the streets. Set in the glorious city of glittering dreams, the greatest city in the world-New York City (yea I am biased but truly believe it 😊) and it tells the stories of what lies beneath in the sewer drains. As you walk down the streets and see the grates, the mineholes and the water pipes that lead to the subterranean worlds below—can you imagine a whole society and world down there? This book explores that concept with a community of individuals that live down in the sewers called “the Downside”. Downsiders live completely underground and only venture out for food and medicine after dark, catching homeless and unwanted individuals (“Fallers”) and living by their own rules (think Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie The Beach) and I liked that they wore their watches on their ankle as time is of low importance to them... All is well and because the Downsiders do not know more they do not want anything or wonder about the Topside world until one of the young leaders Talon needs to cure his sister of a nasty cold. He ventures alone into the house of Lindsay a girl who was feeling alone and unwanted herself and so begins the adventure of how their worlds collide. You read about the Wise Advisors and the community of Downsiders and through Talon you learn who they are and why they believe what they do. Talon and Lindsay travel through the world above and below ground and find themselves in the process—this was a good but not great book as I feel this concept was better done in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere but it was interesting and I read on..Will recommend this but was not a super favorite for me.
August 21, 2019
Really cool and interesting book. Kinda like Neverwhere but without magic yet still some fantastical elements. Thought provoking and moving, but laugh out loud funny in some parts! (Socks!) Definitely will read more from this author.
July 25, 2022
I first read this when I was in high school and I has so much fun reading this. It's a very stimulating book that helps your imagination be more vivid. It has mystery and action that makes you want to turn every page because you're dying to know what happens next.
I like that the setting is in New York. It's kinda fun to imagine that a different type (or species? group? set?) of people exist in New York underground. I think of this novel as similar to Us (2019) by Jordan Peele minus the horror.
I like that the setting is in New York. It's kinda fun to imagine that a different type (or species? group? set?) of people exist in New York underground. I think of this novel as similar to Us (2019) by Jordan Peele minus the horror.
August 25, 2011
Recently, I read Downsiders for my seventh grade school assignment. When I first opened it I thought, "okay, this book is for a school assignment, it probably stinks." However, when I read it, I realized it's actually a brilliant book. This contributes to the fact that Neal Shusterman's writing is very descriptive and entertaining. I found it especially interesting that one thing leads to another in a very unusual manner, but after you've read it, you really understand it. For example, the story starts with an innocent snowflake that seems to have little importance to the rest of the book. But the snowflake leads to a dying man who tries to commit suicide, which leads to Talon and his friends, which leads to the Downside (I'm sorry I spoiled it if you haven't read the book, but this is only the first chapter anyways.) How Shusterman can make a tiny snowflake important to the existance of the Downside is amazing. The idea of a Topside and a Downside was very creative. It was one I'd have never thought of. I also admire the style of writing. It's a rare talent to posess the ability to pack so much detail into one chapter, but make it interesting enough that one doesn't get bored out of their mind. Many authors will try to imitate this style but it usually turns out poorly because you need the perfect dose of action and the perfect dose of description to lure a reader in and keep them interested. My favorite character was The Champ. You didn't really know about where he was going or where he came from, and that gave him an air of mystery. He gave Talon and Lindsay a lot of advice, and that made him seem to have a wise personality. I got the impression that he'd been through a lot and was old. The only issue I had in the book was that, honestly, Neal Shusterman is a terrible love story writer. The first signs of blooming love were very subtle, but not the kind of subtle that makes you think "ooh! I wonder if so-and-so likes so-and-so." They were the kind of subtle hints you don't notice are subtle hints. I'd thought that the subtle hints were mere signs of curiousity about the Downside and Topside people. That's why, when I found they (I'm not going to say who, that would be a major spoiler!) were in love, I was surprised. If the love had been omitted from the book, I'd have thought it to be a perfect book. I really do reccomend this book to be read, however, because even though the love part isn't that great, the rest is truly worth spending your time reading!
December 10, 2012
I wish I would have discovered Neal Shusterman when I was younger. He writes great tales of adventure and imaginary worlds. This book is centered on a society living 200 feet below NYC. Shusterman ties in a bit of New York history claiming the fictitious society was spun off of the great inventor Alfred Beach's Pneumatic Transit, which is considered to be the original subway system in NY. It never gained enough political support and was abandoned due to the Great Depression.
Talon is a lifelong Downsider who has only limited knowledge of the world above ground, the "Topside." Of course, he falls in love with a Topside girl, Lindsey. He takes her underground and she finds a magical world below her city. Panic grows among Talon's people when Topsiders stumble onto an access to the downside, the worlds collide and the downsiders declare "war" to protect themselves.
I am sure many young boys have crawled into manholes to explore because of this book. This book is wonderful for more than just being a great adventure tale. As a young adult novel, it is wholesome, and perhaps sugar coated. You feel edified after reading it and I learned something. It was a good break from the trash and dark tales I have read recently and I think I need to read more books like this. To be better then before you start a book, that is why I read. I had forgotten that.
Talon is a lifelong Downsider who has only limited knowledge of the world above ground, the "Topside." Of course, he falls in love with a Topside girl, Lindsey. He takes her underground and she finds a magical world below her city. Panic grows among Talon's people when Topsiders stumble onto an access to the downside, the worlds collide and the downsiders declare "war" to protect themselves.
I am sure many young boys have crawled into manholes to explore because of this book. This book is wonderful for more than just being a great adventure tale. As a young adult novel, it is wholesome, and perhaps sugar coated. You feel edified after reading it and I learned something. It was a good break from the trash and dark tales I have read recently and I think I need to read more books like this. To be better then before you start a book, that is why I read. I had forgotten that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2016
This book is like a breeze of fresh air,very different from rest of Shusterman's book.Relatively less intense but funnier.This is a kind of book that you can read again and again but never get bored.The world created by Shusterman is very realistic and believable without a single loophole.The characters are so endearing and vivacious that i could almost feel what the protagonist was going through,his angst,his dilemmas and how he felt upon realizing that everything he believed in has been a lie.Moreover, the romance is the book is so endearing , just the kind of romance which doesn't make you cringe but makes you embrace it with open arms. The book ended the way just like i wanted it to ,
Talon holding Lindsay's hands and showing her his new world.....Neal Shusterman,you are truly a genius.
Talon holding Lindsay's hands and showing her his new world.....Neal Shusterman,you are truly a genius.
July 13, 2008
yay!!! neal shusterman has done it again! he is starting to become one of my favorite authors at this point! :) he definitely has a talent for creating believable worlds, interesting characters, realistic dialogue, and a truly original plot. i would probably give downsiders five stars if i hadn't read unwind--but comparing it to his other books, i have to give it four stars. but those four stars mean more than the usual four stars, if that makes sense. downsiders was not quite as compelling as unwind; unwind is still my fave of shusterman's books. but i still thoroughly enjoyed it; plus it was a little more cheerful than everlost and unwind. highly recommended! ;D
January 30, 2010
I didn't particularly like the way it was written. It had a very "removed" narrator with an almost historical voice, and the narrative voice was continually misleading in a very disingenuous way that I didn't care for.
However, the story was interesting, and my daughter (11) is enjoying it. And whlie it's quite far-fetched, as much sci-fi/fantasy is, it does show how small choices can lead to big consequences, and how one person can make a difference. An interesting read.
However, the story was interesting, and my daughter (11) is enjoying it. And whlie it's quite far-fetched, as much sci-fi/fantasy is, it does show how small choices can lead to big consequences, and how one person can make a difference. An interesting read.
October 31, 2022
Talon has always lived underground, in the abandoned tunnels under New York City. Lindsay is new to the city, but with the renovations on her house opening up a rift that goes all the way down, she finds herself face to face with Talon, who is searching for forbidden Topsider medications to help his sister. Thus begins an unlikely friendship. Talon brings Lindsay to the Downside, and while Lindsay is fascinated by the world below, she knows the rules Talon lives by in his underground society aren't based on truth. When Talon faces the consequences of showing Lindsay his world, it will bring both worlds to the brink of war.
I have a work-in-progress about life in the subway tunnels, so it was interesting to read about this world. There were some hints of The War of the Worlds with the Topsiders and Downsiders, although the prejudice was largely on the part of the Downsiders who have many rules about interacting with Topsiders, as well as strange traditions and rituals. There was a kind of fun tone about this story that kept it from getting too dark, and also kept me from believing that this could be real - although from my research, the information about the subways wasn't entirely made up, and rumors of this kind of underground society have been around for years. Overall a fast and interesting read that straddles the line between middle grade and young adult.
I have a work-in-progress about life in the subway tunnels, so it was interesting to read about this world. There were some hints of The War of the Worlds with the Topsiders and Downsiders, although the prejudice was largely on the part of the Downsiders who have many rules about interacting with Topsiders, as well as strange traditions and rituals. There was a kind of fun tone about this story that kept it from getting too dark, and also kept me from believing that this could be real - although from my research, the information about the subways wasn't entirely made up, and rumors of this kind of underground society have been around for years. Overall a fast and interesting read that straddles the line between middle grade and young adult.
January 10, 2021
Several years ago I read Unwind and I fell in love with Shusterman's creativity and ability to take taboo subjects and make them entirely readable and thought provoking.
Since then I've been slowly making my way through his older books, and this one had been on my list since 2014 (and written in 1999!), but I finally got there ;)
This was a very quick read and again showcases Shusterman's creativity and also realism when tackling big issues. He doesn't go for HEAs, but instead has the reader think about the different options and how sometimes we just need to take what we think it the best one given the circumstances at the time.
I tried to find if this is actually slated for a series as GR suggests, but didn't come across anything conclusive. The book works well as a stand-alone and given that it has been over 20 years since it was written it would be a surprise to find out #2 was in the works!!
Recommended for those who enjoy dystopian YA that requires a little more thinking than usual and is in for a quick read.
Since then I've been slowly making my way through his older books, and this one had been on my list since 2014 (and written in 1999!), but I finally got there ;)
This was a very quick read and again showcases Shusterman's creativity and also realism when tackling big issues. He doesn't go for HEAs, but instead has the reader think about the different options and how sometimes we just need to take what we think it the best one given the circumstances at the time.
I tried to find if this is actually slated for a series as GR suggests, but didn't come across anything conclusive. The book works well as a stand-alone and given that it has been over 20 years since it was written it would be a surprise to find out #2 was in the works!!
Recommended for those who enjoy dystopian YA that requires a little more thinking than usual and is in for a quick read.
May 21, 2019
This book was pretty good. Being one of Neal Shusterman's earlier books, it was something definitely unexpected. But that doesn't not mean it wasn't good. There were a couple moments in the book that I had to reread a couple times, being the fact that I didn't understand what the author was trying to say or what was happening. But eventually, most of those confusing pages and paragraphs were settled and understood in the end. Overall, the book was very different from the rest of Shusterman's books, but still well written. It shocks me how well Neal Shusterman can imagine so many different worlds and not allow them to interconnect.
December 14, 2019
2.5 Stars
Meh. This was disappointing coming from Shusterman, seeing as Scythe was one of my favorite novels of the past five years. This had many inconsistencies in its "world" and questions that remained unanswered. Even some of the world-building explanations did not hold up under scrutiny. My advice? Read Scythe, but skip this one.
Meh. This was disappointing coming from Shusterman, seeing as Scythe was one of my favorite novels of the past five years. This had many inconsistencies in its "world" and questions that remained unanswered. Even some of the world-building explanations did not hold up under scrutiny. My advice? Read Scythe, but skip this one.
July 14, 2023
Downsiders, dibuka oleh Lindsay, seorang remaja perempuan dari sisi atas dunia & Talon, seorang remaja laki-laki yg tinggal di masyarakat bawah tanah rahasia yg dikenal sebagai Downsiders. The Downsiders berisi kumpulan orang-orang yg hidup di bawah jalanan Kota New York selama beberapa generasi, yg benar-benar terisolasi dari belahan dunia atas. Saat Lindsay secara tidak sengaja menemukan masyarakat tersembunyi ini, dia tertarik pada cara hidup mereka yg unik.
Aku suka ketika penulis dengan terampil mendeskripsikan kota bawah tanah, yg lengkap dengan infrastruktur, adat istiadat, hingga rahasianya sendiri. Dengan jelas & terperinci, aku berhasil masuk ke seluk-beluk dunia Downsiders. Ini kontras antara kota bagian atas yang ramai & masyarakat yang tersembunyi di bawah tanah.
Karakternya mungkin bisa berkembang dengan lebih baik. Tetapi, aku suka interaksi dan hubungan antar dua karakter ini yg terasa tulus & sukses menambah resonansi emosional pada ceritanya. Kebersamaan & pentingnya komunitas adalah tema utamanya.
Sementara, plot diungkap secara bertahap, mengungkap misteri & rahasia masyarakat Downsiders. Namun sayangnya, cerita ini mudah ditebak.
Meski, cerita ini fiksi, tetapi cerita ini mendorong kita untuk kembali mempertanyakan asumsi & stereotipe dari orang-orang di sekitar kita.
Aku suka ketika penulis dengan terampil mendeskripsikan kota bawah tanah, yg lengkap dengan infrastruktur, adat istiadat, hingga rahasianya sendiri. Dengan jelas & terperinci, aku berhasil masuk ke seluk-beluk dunia Downsiders. Ini kontras antara kota bagian atas yang ramai & masyarakat yang tersembunyi di bawah tanah.
Karakternya mungkin bisa berkembang dengan lebih baik. Tetapi, aku suka interaksi dan hubungan antar dua karakter ini yg terasa tulus & sukses menambah resonansi emosional pada ceritanya. Kebersamaan & pentingnya komunitas adalah tema utamanya.
Sementara, plot diungkap secara bertahap, mengungkap misteri & rahasia masyarakat Downsiders. Namun sayangnya, cerita ini mudah ditebak.
Meski, cerita ini fiksi, tetapi cerita ini mendorong kita untuk kembali mempertanyakan asumsi & stereotipe dari orang-orang di sekitar kita.
November 29, 2023
I loved the author’s writing style and diction. There were so many great lines I had to write down because they made me smile. Shusterman does a brilliant job at developing and humanizing this other world. One of my favorite descriptions has to be the characterization of the Topside by the Downsiders at various points in the story, because it’s so unique and peculiar and entertaining.
September 11, 2018
I expected this book to be like a not as popular version of the City of Ember. And it was, in a way, but it definitely stands on it own.
Talon and Lindsey's worlds collide, and only two teenagers one from the surface and one from below, can control whether they survive it. I loved their romance especially, it was not the typical teen romance you see in ya novels. They were very mature, and Both of them knew what their priorities were. The world building was excellent and the storyline and characters well thought out. I loved it.
Talon and Lindsey's worlds collide, and only two teenagers one from the surface and one from below, can control whether they survive it. I loved their romance especially, it was not the typical teen romance you see in ya novels. They were very mature, and Both of them knew what their priorities were. The world building was excellent and the storyline and characters well thought out. I loved it.
June 6, 2021
The ending was so good 😭
August 16, 2024
Beautiful story!11
October 14, 2025
3.5 stars! I enjoyed it, especially the ending.
January 1, 2020
4.5 stars
So cool. I could not remember this book for the life of me. I read it about ten years ago so it's been a while. I enjoyed how everything was played out. I can't believe how things turned out especially with Talon. Unexpectedly captivating.
So cool. I could not remember this book for the life of me. I read it about ten years ago so it's been a while. I enjoyed how everything was played out. I can't believe how things turned out especially with Talon. Unexpectedly captivating.
May 14, 2010
Makes me laugh that I STILL haven't finished The Lovely Bones.
Anyway, for some reason I've avoided borrowing this book for a long time. I think it might be because I thought I'd read it before, what being a Neal Shusterman fan, but apparently not. Thank god they republished it with another cover, or I would never have read it. Yes, I'm a horrible person, I judge books by their covers. And the new cover looked intriguing, so ... BUT mostly it was because I thought I'd read it, really.
I'm betting this book was written quite a few years ago, when Shusterman was still in his experimental stage, because compared to his newer ones, this one's pretty mild. Gentle. I wouldn't say it was bad, since I enjoyed the story and its characters and settings, but it lacked a bit of that OOMPH very abundant in his newer books. The dangers in this book are threatening, but not thrilling-threatening in a way that makes you want to jump in and rescue the characters. This one makes you want to witness things unfolding without interfering in them, and by saying that I don't mean it such that you don't care enough for the characters that it's perfectly comfortable watching them suffer. This book has a very explorative feel to it, and whether intentional or not, it's a book I feel that I should stand by and watch the characters grow into themselves. This book feels like a draft-template for Unwind and Everlost, because there are similar characters in all three of them. You can almost feel Shusterman feeling out his characters here, and then strengthening them in the other two books. Maybe I'm biased, but I'm in no way calling this a rip-off. It's tender development, dammit.
Also reminded me of The City of Ember (the movie, haven't read the books), and a bit of The Underland Chronicles. Underground living, you know? I'm developing a taste for books of this sort.
Anyway, for some reason I've avoided borrowing this book for a long time. I think it might be because I thought I'd read it before, what being a Neal Shusterman fan, but apparently not. Thank god they republished it with another cover, or I would never have read it. Yes, I'm a horrible person, I judge books by their covers. And the new cover looked intriguing, so ... BUT mostly it was because I thought I'd read it, really.
I'm betting this book was written quite a few years ago, when Shusterman was still in his experimental stage, because compared to his newer ones, this one's pretty mild. Gentle. I wouldn't say it was bad, since I enjoyed the story and its characters and settings, but it lacked a bit of that OOMPH very abundant in his newer books. The dangers in this book are threatening, but not thrilling-threatening in a way that makes you want to jump in and rescue the characters. This one makes you want to witness things unfolding without interfering in them, and by saying that I don't mean it such that you don't care enough for the characters that it's perfectly comfortable watching them suffer. This book has a very explorative feel to it, and whether intentional or not, it's a book I feel that I should stand by and watch the characters grow into themselves. This book feels like a draft-template for Unwind and Everlost, because there are similar characters in all three of them. You can almost feel Shusterman feeling out his characters here, and then strengthening them in the other two books. Maybe I'm biased, but I'm in no way calling this a rip-off. It's tender development, dammit.
Also reminded me of The City of Ember (the movie, haven't read the books), and a bit of The Underland Chronicles. Underground living, you know? I'm developing a taste for books of this sort.
May 29, 2008
Downsiders is probably my favorite Neal Shusterman to date. To be honest, I'm a sucker for a cute romance, and that's what really got me about this one. But additionally, Neal Shusterman has created yet another fantasy world and infused it with enough real-life history and character to make it not only believable, but fascinating.
I've found that Neal Shusterman's endings to his books can be unsatisfying or muddled (not that it distracts TOO much from the rest of the gold mine). The ending to Downsiders was not only satisfying and clear, but one of the most satisying and clear endings of any book I've ever read.
However, since the book's romance really stuck with me so much, I suppose I wouldn't recommend it too highly to those who don't much care for that sort of thing. There's enough else in there to make it worthwhile, but the thing that makes it 5 stars instead of 4 stars is how adorable the romance is.
I've found that Neal Shusterman's endings to his books can be unsatisfying or muddled (not that it distracts TOO much from the rest of the gold mine). The ending to Downsiders was not only satisfying and clear, but one of the most satisying and clear endings of any book I've ever read.
However, since the book's romance really stuck with me so much, I suppose I wouldn't recommend it too highly to those who don't much care for that sort of thing. There's enough else in there to make it worthwhile, but the thing that makes it 5 stars instead of 4 stars is how adorable the romance is.
June 7, 2015
I wanted to love this. I would say that I liked it, I just wanted...more. I think the potential for some storytelling magic was here, I just didn't find it. I found the under world to be creative and wonderful and even wish some of the "history" presented here was true. Talon was hard to get a read on and because of that I couldn't figure out what he was going to do next-or cheer him on. Lindsey also seemed to have giant disconnect because her family issues were so prevalent. The Champ was, by far, my favorite character. It reminded me of Neverwhere Jr. Worth reading? Yes. I enjoyed Unwind more.
October 9, 2014
This was an odd story as most of Shusterman's stories are. He writes stories that are improbable, but he makes you think. He always has a bigger question going on in his stories.
There are so many discussion topics in this novel - so many themes. I liked the changes and growth in the characters and felt Talon's issues with learning the truth about his society were very true to life - much like what I've seen from people coming from the closed society I was raised in.
I always enjoy reading Shusterman's stories.
There are so many discussion topics in this novel - so many themes. I liked the changes and growth in the characters and felt Talon's issues with learning the truth about his society were very true to life - much like what I've seen from people coming from the closed society I was raised in.
I always enjoy reading Shusterman's stories.
April 8, 2021
I don’t know why Neal Shusterman was chosen to be THE author for all summer reading for grade school. I firmly believe it’s books like these, forced on young kids, that turn so many people against reading.
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