Every year in Carp, the graduating HS seniors play the dangerous game of Panic. This year, it's Heather and Dodge's turn to try for the winner's purse of over $60,000.
Some reasons I loved Panic:
-- a fantastical situation grounded by gritty realism. Is it crazy unbelievable that seniors play a game every year where people often end up dying and getting paralyzed by doing stunts like breaking and entering, running across a busy interstate and walking a tightrope without a net and the police don't/can't do anything about it? Yes. But Oliver sells the hell out of it with down-on-their-luck characters that have heartbreakingly believable motivations.
-- the games. I would never, ever join Panic (way too wimpy), but I don't have to because Oliver described the feeling of participating so well, I felt like I was there. Heart pumping thrills.
-- the writing. I love the way Oliver crafts her sentences. Her prose is always atmospheric and fitting of the situation. A pure joy to read. Here's a quote I like:
PANIC will be out March 4th, but you can already go and read the first chapters on iTunes.
FTC disclosure: eGalley from Edelweiss. Also, Lauren Oliver is a friend.
What the other Bookanistas are talking about this week:
Christine Fonseca is captivated by SHINOBI by Cole Gibson
Jessica Love raves about WHEN AUDREY MET ALICE by Bookanista Rebecca Behrens
Katy Upperman swoons for THE SUMMER I FOUND YOU by Jolene Perry
