Recent Reads - Deviant

Deviant, by Adrian McKinty

DNF - Did Not Finish

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Pages: 368

Publication: 10/1/2011, Amulet Books

Why I Chose It:  I selected this ARC from NetGalley because the cover was creepy and the synopsis sounded promising.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Danny Lopez is new in town. He made a mistake back home in Las Vegas, and now he has landed at an experimental school in Colorado for “tough cases.” At the Cobalt Charter School, everything is scripted—what the teachers say, what the students reply—and no other speaking is allowed.

This supercontrolled environment gives kids a second chance to make something of themselves. But with few freedoms, the students become sitting ducks for a killer determined to “clean up” Colorado Springs.

My Review:  Okay, since this was a DNF this review will be short. I'm simply going to state my reasons for not completing the book.

1) There was too much head-hopping. This book randomly switched perspective in the middle of scenes. In the very first chapter it went from the killer's point of view to the cat's. And it didn't stop there. I'd be following along with Danny and then all of a sudden be inside his stepfather's or his mother's head. It was hard to follow and kept me from really connecting with ANY of the characters.

2) Characters were flat. I got a hundred pages in and I still had no sense of who the characters were, nor did I care what happened to them.

3) Dialogue was unrealistic. For me, this book just never really captured the YA voice. The dialogue and Danny's internal thoughts seemed more like those of an adult.

Overall, the book just wasn't for me. I know some people have raved about it, but I can't recommend it.


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