REVIEW: Variant by Robison Wells

Variant
Robison Wells
364 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 4th, 2011
Source: ARC from Publisher



 

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

   When Benson Fisher gets a scholarship to Maxfield Academy he thinks that his sucky life has finally taken a turn for the best. For him this was a chance to start a new life in a Ivy League school where all the kids drove BMW's and Mercedes. After all what could be worse than having no family or friends? Nothing right?. He was wrong, Maxfield Academy is a school where the students are trapped inside a razor wire fence, a school where video cameras monitor the students every single move, and where breaking the rules means death. Plus what kind of school has no teachers and forces to cook, clean, and teach themselves? Despite all this, Benson finally begins to settle down, and when he realizes he just might be able to get used to this, he stumbles upon the schools real secret. And he realizes that escape may be impossible.

   This book is good enough to rival Maze Runner. Although it's not much of a dystopian like it says on the cover, it really is thriller. Sometimes Benson made me laugh but most of the time I felt angry right along with him. You would too if you were stuck in some ancient building.When I first started reading the book I thought it would be a little boring since the character is seventeen, but to my surprise the book is really for middle school kids. I've always thought that The Enemy by Charlie Higson was my favorite thriller but I think I might have a new favorite. The only thing I didn't understand was a few parts during the battle at the end. I would explain it some-more but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. But other than that minor dilemma, Variant was a good read and I think it deserves five stars.

   Even though this is Robison Wells debut novel he is a fantastic writer. He is able to entrance you and make you feel as if you were living the experience with Benson. Variant was absolutely fantastic and I think everyone should go pre-order it now.

This review was written by my 13 year old brother, Calidude!

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