♥!The Young Adult Book Club!♥ discussion

Panic by Lauren Oliver



Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

OMG! I didn't even know that Lauren Oliver published a book after the delirium book series. I am definitely doing to read it.

This book was an interesting read. I loved the whole concept of the Panic challenges. One thing I didn't completely understand is that they were talking about how each student had to pay a dollar a day every year for like 4 years to the games, but this was a poor town in many areas. How in the world could they pay for that???

Ok, moving on, I expected a bit more from this book, some of the challenges were just stupid not brave.

SPOILERS:

I mean, walking across a busy street WITH A BLINDFOLD. I mean, I can't even walk across a normal street with my eyes wide open. I thought the sleeping in the house was a good challenge, the water towers and the stealing something from crazy man's house. Although, I thought it was complete crap that the water tower one didn't count. I think the ones that did that one could opt out of the next one, but whatevs.

Also, MORE SPOILERS I totally thought Nat was going to die in the tiger cage. Also, I guessed really early on the Bishop was a judge, I mean that was pretty obvious for me. I thought it was sooo not fair that Dodge got to skip his solo challenge. I hated the way Dodge turned against his sis as well. Stupid Dodge. And stupid Nat as well! She bothered me the whole time and should not have made it that far in Panic. Heather was a really good character though!

I liked the end though, I could vividly picture the tiger and explosion, car, background, everything. It was great. So, I dub thee a 84%.

Ohh, but one more thing. Stupid boys. Go figure Heather didn't know Bishop didn't like her! He was all over his girlfriend, not girlfriend thing. Poor Heather.

Wow!! This book sounds really interesting

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a well written stand alone. Although I generally don't like Stand Alones as much, but Panic was amazing!

I have just begun to get into this book and I like it so far. Some of the concepts are a little blurry to me but they are working themselves out as they go. Can't wait to get to the end so I can review it

Kirsten wrote: "This book was an interesting read. I loved the whole concept of the Panic challenges. One thing I didn't completely understand is that they were talking about how each student had to pay a dollar a..."

I totally agree with everything you said. I didn't understand why those who did the water tower challenge didn't get to skip the next one! Heather deserved to win from that point on. Nat was weak and annoying, and Dodge was kind of a coward. (view spoiler)[ I mean, spiders? Really? And then he didn't have to do that or the water tower.

I was mad that Heather shared the money in the end...she deserved it all, and needed it the most. The other two were pretty awful people! Dodge to both his sister and Nat, tho she kind of deserved it. And I couldn't believe they forgave her so easily for double crossing them both! (hide spoiler)]

I read this book a while ago, but didn't particularly love it. I would have to say my favorite sub plot of the book was Heather working for the lady with the tiger. You really got a sense of how small the town was and what it is like to find a supporting adult you are not related to that you can fall back on, which is an important concept for teens to understand and be aware of.

I think this book was pretty good. it was a bit unclear at times but the challenges were exciting to read. I just joined this book club and I'm very excited to be in it! :)

THERE ARE SOME MILD SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

So, here we are. Another book that I was looking forward to reading has completely disappointed me. The plot was just...stupid. That's the only word I can use to describe it. These kids started a game that had the potential to be a gripping look at social hierarchy. Instead, it's a series of challenges that put people at risk for no reason except boredom. Once Russian Roulette was added as an obstacle, I gave up all hope for this novel. And it doesn't help that the characters aren't very likable. I mean, Dodge is planning a murder. And this is the guy I'm supposed to be rooting for? I think not. I was hoping to fall in love with this book like Before I Fall. Unfortunately, I had the opposite reaction.

SPOILERS:

I was on the fence about this book. I was really excited about the concept of playing a high stakes game for cash. Getting out of a po-donk town for the "big city" is a very common theme and I liked the twist with the game. However, my issue came with how some the of challenges ended and yet the game continued to be played. Someone died in a fire and the game went on? It is just absurd. Also, I am a huge softie when it comes to animals in books. And while I liked that Heather worked with the tigers, I was disturbed that they got out and one was shot. There really was no reason for this plotline.

I just recently finished this book and was not completely impressed. I feel a lot of the plot and events didn't make sense. I understood them for the most part, but they were pretty unclear. Heather jumping because of her ex was pretty dumb in my opinion and her transition into the reason being her sister didn't really make sense. It was obvious that the tigers were going to be used in the game, but it Nat being the one to have to face them wasn't very interesting, and why Nat played with Dodge the way she did was really unclear. I just wasn't very impressed with the book as a whole.

I enjoyed the character development in this book more than the story line of the book. I'm sorry but I just couldn't get into the idea that a town, no matter how small, would allow something like this to take place with so much money at stake, etc. The relationships between the characters and the character's inner flaws were really well developed and consuming and I did like how the teen angst still ran through the entirety of the book even when the more adult issues of the actual game were taking place. I'm glad that I read it because several of my students have read it so now I can discuss it with them.