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REVIEW: Panic By Lauren Oliver

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PANIC
By: Lauren Oliver
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
SUMMARY
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.
ABOUT LAUREN 

Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer every day, mulling over the difference between “chortling” and “chuckling,” is normal. She has always been an avid reader. 

She attended the University of Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After college, she attended the MFA program at NYU and worked briefly as the world’s worst editorial assistant, and only marginally better assistant editor, at a major publishing house in New York. Her major career contributions during this time were flouting the corporate dress code at every possible turn and repeatedly breaking the printer. Before I Fall is her first published novel. 


She is deeply grateful for the chance to continue writing, as she has never been particularly good at anything else.


Jaime’s Thoughts
Panic by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To say I was leery of picking up another Lauren Oliver book would be an understatement. After my disappointment with the Delirium series I swore I would never… but then I read the summary of Panic.

I know this isn’t even out until March, but I couldn’t wait to open it up and see if I could get back on the LO bandwagon.

Consider me jumping on.


Panic is actually a game. There isn’t much to do in Carp during the summer, so years ago, recently graduated seniors decided to create a game that only the seniors could take part in. Throughout the school year, every student must contribute to the pot – whether you decide to participate or not. Winner of the game, takes all. But it’s not that easy. The tasks are dangerous and you never know what you’re going to be asked to do. The game however, starts the same way each year… jumping off the cliff into the water below. By the end of the summer, there will be only one person left to win the pot based on the points awarded by the two secret judges.

This years game follows Dodge and Heather.

Dodge had known he would participate. He’s been planning for it for a while. And he will do anything to make it to the last ‘game’. Though the money will be a nice prize he’s in it for something completely different. Revenge. (I’m not telling you why so don’t ask.)

Heather on the other hand, was never planning on participating, but her emotions take over the night of the jump and she finds herself on the top of the cliff and going over without a hesitation. Suddenly she’s involved in this crazy game that could cost her a lot more than she bargained for.

While reading I couldn’t help but think Panic was a crazy game of Survivor. Alliances and secrets are what keep this game going and following our two heroes as they make their way was intriguing. They both had a different purpose for being involved, but the way their lives and situations tangle really had me turning pages.

This is a story of friendship, jealousy, love, and betrayal that will have you hooked from the very first pages. It’s a story about the lengths we will go to for our family and how brave you can ultimately be to do what you think you need to do for them.

That’s all I’m saying about this one – I’m not going to spoil, but I will say that if you felt like I did after Requiem do not let that keep you from picking up this book. I’m happy to say that despite my disappointment with that ending THIS ending was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harpercollins for an advance copy for review.

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