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acpaulette's review
3.0
Not as good as the first but an entertaining read nonetheless. The story picks up with Shay arriving at the coast of California and follows him and his allies in their quest to reach Arizona and share the vaccine. Still some loose ends...wonder if there will be a 3rd?
mrjgyfly's review
3.0
Why do I love Matt de la Pena? The biggest factor is that he gets my students to read and he does so especially well with post-apocalyptic yarns that examine the socioeconomic implications of natural disasters. While I do not typically go for YA fare, I burned through The Living in couple of days and could not wait to do the same with The Hunted. Unfortunately (well, perhaps not) I'd wait quite a while while this one got tossed around my classroom. Worth the wait?
Not entirely.
Firstly, I know it's popular, but post-apocalyptic tales have been wearing me a little thin since Cormac McCarthy's The Road to the point that I refuse to consider watching The Walking Dead within the next decade.
However, dystopian fiction seems to be the more annoying current trend in YA fiction, so I was willing to go along with de la Pena as he led me down a highly entertaining path. The action scenes have been exquisitely detailed throughout the whole tale and while one might complain that he simply lists a bunch of horrible happenings to get accomplish this detail, isn't that kind of the point? Los Angeles is pretty much obliterated in the blink of an eye, so what do you expect?
Shy and the gang arrive at the coast to find the devastation to be nearly as bad I they thought it would be, but the social barriers that have quickly been constructed are another issue entirely. A biker gang has hastily risen to power, ensuring that people stay where they are, killing anyone leaving their assigned sections of the city. This is done to avoid the spreading of the Romero disease which has left the blackened cities riddled with bloated corpses.
The beauty in this YA novel is that it continues the trend of not shying teenagers away from horror. Shy and the gang are forced to camp out in one of the only places the biker gang won't mess with them: an abandoned trailer painted with a sign of the plague. They have to clear out the family, which includes children, that was living there before and give them proper burial before sleeping in the disease-ridden cabin.
So that happened.
Shy's background is fleshed out a bit more with the introduction of his deadbeat father as the group's savior from the biker gang because he is--you guessed it--a member himself. Dear old dad just wants to do right by his son after realizing the mistakes he has made over the years. While this sounds like pretty typical family drama fare, it didn't feel like it would end well.
Perhaps it does, perhaps it doesn't
To be honest, I am really not sure what to make of the ending. I know what literally happens during the final seconds of this novel, and no it does not look like this will become a trilogy, but the ending was lackluster to say the best. It simply kind of ends without much direction for the characters, outside of Shy. While he is the main character, the others have been there long enough to deserve a little bit better. I am all for an open ending, but they are left entirely in the dust.
Speaking of the others, Addie makes her return (like you know she will throughout the entire story) but for being such a key character in The Living, she is not a major character and her inclusion seems to serve mainly as a means for Shy to get to her mad scientist father.
There is also a strange quasi-supernatural occurrence that bridges us into the final act but ultimately falls flat. Its inclusion seems like it is going to have major LOST-like implications, but then nothing becomes of it. Shy mentions it a few times, but it remains dead in the water where it occurs. (I realize I am employing circumlocution, but to mention it would spoil a major plot point. You'll know it when you read it.)
Perhaps I am missing something due to the fact that I read an Advance Reader's Copy, but I am fairly confident based on other reviews that I am not. The Hunted is certainly needed and certainly fitting in a lot of ways, but in others it really misses the mark. I almost hope there is a sequel just to figure out what kind of new adventure some of these "loose ends" might spark, but perhaps it really is time to close the book on these characters.
Not entirely.
Firstly, I know it's popular, but post-apocalyptic tales have been wearing me a little thin since Cormac McCarthy's The Road to the point that I refuse to consider watching The Walking Dead within the next decade.
However, dystopian fiction seems to be the more annoying current trend in YA fiction, so I was willing to go along with de la Pena as he led me down a highly entertaining path. The action scenes have been exquisitely detailed throughout the whole tale and while one might complain that he simply lists a bunch of horrible happenings to get accomplish this detail, isn't that kind of the point? Los Angeles is pretty much obliterated in the blink of an eye, so what do you expect?
Shy and the gang arrive at the coast to find the devastation to be nearly as bad I they thought it would be, but the social barriers that have quickly been constructed are another issue entirely. A biker gang has hastily risen to power, ensuring that people stay where they are, killing anyone leaving their assigned sections of the city. This is done to avoid the spreading of the Romero disease which has left the blackened cities riddled with bloated corpses.
The beauty in this YA novel is that it continues the trend of not shying teenagers away from horror. Shy and the gang are forced to camp out in one of the only places the biker gang won't mess with them: an abandoned trailer painted with a sign of the plague. They have to clear out the family, which includes children, that was living there before and give them proper burial before sleeping in the disease-ridden cabin.
So that happened.
Shy's background is fleshed out a bit more with the introduction of his deadbeat father as the group's savior from the biker gang because he is--you guessed it--a member himself. Dear old dad just wants to do right by his son after realizing the mistakes he has made over the years. While this sounds like pretty typical family drama fare, it didn't feel like it would end well.
Perhaps it does, perhaps it doesn't
To be honest, I am really not sure what to make of the ending. I know what literally happens during the final seconds of this novel, and no it does not look like this will become a trilogy, but the ending was lackluster to say the best. It simply kind of ends without much direction for the characters, outside of Shy. While he is the main character, the others have been there long enough to deserve a little bit better. I am all for an open ending, but they are left entirely in the dust.
Speaking of the others, Addie makes her return (like you know she will throughout the entire story) but for being such a key character in The Living, she is not a major character and her inclusion seems to serve mainly as a means for Shy to get to her mad scientist father.
There is also a strange quasi-supernatural occurrence that bridges us into the final act but ultimately falls flat. Its inclusion seems like it is going to have major LOST-like implications, but then nothing becomes of it. Shy mentions it a few times, but it remains dead in the water where it occurs. (I realize I am employing circumlocution, but to mention it would spoil a major plot point. You'll know it when you read it.)
Perhaps I am missing something due to the fact that I read an Advance Reader's Copy, but I am fairly confident based on other reviews that I am not. The Hunted is certainly needed and certainly fitting in a lot of ways, but in others it really misses the mark. I almost hope there is a sequel just to figure out what kind of new adventure some of these "loose ends" might spark, but perhaps it really is time to close the book on these characters.
thebookishjoy's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kate_m_m's review
2.0
While you can read this as a standalone, reading the first book will really help with an understanding of character motivations and the horrible, disease-filled wasteland setting. This book topped The Living with violent scenes, but neither were particularly well written, with this even less so. I appreciate de la Pena's pushing himself, but not sure he's a genre writer.
richincolor's review
4.0
Review copy: ARC from publisher
Sometimes series books can be read out of order. I would not recommend that in this case. A reader would likely understand most of the book, but there would be way too much backstory missing without the first book. If you haven’t read The Living yet, it’s probably best you stop reading this review and go do that first. It was one of my favorite books of 2013 (review here).
This second book picks up right where the first left off. Shy and his companions are on the run. They’re trying to get away from some people, but they are also running for another purpose. Because of the intrigue, it’s difficult to talk about plot without giving things away, but there are many life-threatening events and stressful circumstances that have to be faced as they move closer and closer to their intended destination.
The Hunted moves at an even faster pace than The Living. Chase scenes and violence are sprinkled throughout. This is definitely an action book, but the characters begin to gain more depth too. We find out that Shy’s friend Marcus isn’t what he seemed to be back on the cruise ship. Shy learns about himself and sees he’s capable of more than he expected. The characters also get a small glimpse into Shoeshine’s past.
Shoeshine is an interesting part of both books. He is inscrutable and also has amazing strength, wisdom and prescience. Even in seemingly impossible situations, he is likely to save the day often at great risk to himself. The phrase magical negro kept popping into my mind. Usually that trope has the character subordinate to a white person, but here Shoeshine is saving and guiding a Latino protagonist so it’s not exactly the same.
Lest you think it is all seriousness, there are still moments of lightness. Shy, Marcus and Carmen joke and jab at each other once in a while and there is good news on occasion. Readers get to smile sometimes. I especially liked the scenes with a young brother and sister they meet along the way. The playful wrestling and teasing were a lot of fun.
I enjoyed both of the books in this series, but they had quite different textures. This first book was more about the intrigue and the second felt like a race. Thankfully, the second one wasn’t just a revamping of the first. It was something new. I don’t know when the next book is scheduled to be published, but I’m eager to get it into my hands.
Recommendation: Buy it soon if you enjoyed the first installment. This second book is another wild ride. If you haven’t read The Living, get it now.
Sometimes series books can be read out of order. I would not recommend that in this case. A reader would likely understand most of the book, but there would be way too much backstory missing without the first book. If you haven’t read The Living yet, it’s probably best you stop reading this review and go do that first. It was one of my favorite books of 2013 (review here).
This second book picks up right where the first left off. Shy and his companions are on the run. They’re trying to get away from some people, but they are also running for another purpose. Because of the intrigue, it’s difficult to talk about plot without giving things away, but there are many life-threatening events and stressful circumstances that have to be faced as they move closer and closer to their intended destination.
The Hunted moves at an even faster pace than The Living. Chase scenes and violence are sprinkled throughout. This is definitely an action book, but the characters begin to gain more depth too. We find out that Shy’s friend Marcus isn’t what he seemed to be back on the cruise ship. Shy learns about himself and sees he’s capable of more than he expected. The characters also get a small glimpse into Shoeshine’s past.
Shoeshine is an interesting part of both books. He is inscrutable and also has amazing strength, wisdom and prescience. Even in seemingly impossible situations, he is likely to save the day often at great risk to himself. The phrase magical negro kept popping into my mind. Usually that trope has the character subordinate to a white person, but here Shoeshine is saving and guiding a Latino protagonist so it’s not exactly the same.
Lest you think it is all seriousness, there are still moments of lightness. Shy, Marcus and Carmen joke and jab at each other once in a while and there is good news on occasion. Readers get to smile sometimes. I especially liked the scenes with a young brother and sister they meet along the way. The playful wrestling and teasing were a lot of fun.
I enjoyed both of the books in this series, but they had quite different textures. This first book was more about the intrigue and the second felt like a race. Thankfully, the second one wasn’t just a revamping of the first. It was something new. I don’t know when the next book is scheduled to be published, but I’m eager to get it into my hands.
Recommendation: Buy it soon if you enjoyed the first installment. This second book is another wild ride. If you haven’t read The Living, get it now.
meagancurotola's review
3.0
The book, overall, wasn't bad. It wasn't great either. I expected more after reading the first book. The characters are not as likeable (especially Carmen...don't even get me started on her). The ending could have been so much better than it was. Ever heard of an epilogue?
luluthegreat78's review against another edition
I liked the first book but this one just felt worse. The characters annoyed me more than they did in the first book and I liked the somewhat predictable mystery the first one had. The reason I put this book down was simply because it bored me and I didn't think it was worth my time.
mily_fran78's review
5.0
I wish I didn't read this book as fast as I did! Every page is full of excitement and anticipation as to what was going to happen to Shy and Carmen.. I do recommend reading "The Living" before reading "The Hunted". Everything would make more sense if you had learned about what happened on the cruise.
Just like some other reviewers...I am a little confused about the ending. I guess it is up to the readers imagination. Would there be another book added to this sequel?!? I'll sure be looking for it Matt De la Pena!! :)
I am truly recommend this sequel to teens and also adults. Its an easy read and so full of excitement!
Just like some other reviewers...I am a little confused about the ending. I guess it is up to the readers imagination. Would there be another book added to this sequel?!? I'll sure be looking for it Matt De la Pena!! :)
I am truly recommend this sequel to teens and also adults. Its an easy read and so full of excitement!
tchatters's review
1.0
After racing through The Living in a couple of days, I was looking forward to The Hunted. What would happen to Shy and his friends? What would they discover about the mainland?
Instead, The Hunted seems to change both genres and writing styles. It turns the pacing and intrigue of The Living into panicked fury of an attempt to tell the rest of the story. Storylines get thrown in and dropped and then there's the ending. My son's a passionate reader and he slammed his kindle closed and swore off de la Pena forever. I should have listened to his advice and skipped the book altogether.
Instead, The Hunted seems to change both genres and writing styles. It turns the pacing and intrigue of The Living into panicked fury of an attempt to tell the rest of the story. Storylines get thrown in and dropped and then there's the ending. My son's a passionate reader and he slammed his kindle closed and swore off de la Pena forever. I should have listened to his advice and skipped the book altogether.