For What It's Worth


Monday, July 23, 2012

Must Read Monday: This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers



Must Read Monday is a meme hosted by Jen from What's on the Bookshelf to showcase a book or series (old or new) that we recommend.

This weeks book is This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers.

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This is Not a Test
by Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Released: June 19th, 2012


It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to? ~ Goodreads | Amazon

Why I recommend it:

I started hearing a groundswell of buzz for This is Not a Test. I thought it had an interesting cover but didn't really have a clue what it was about.

Then a few people I knew started reviewing it and mentioned that it was about zombies! I'm in!!

But…..they all prefaced their reviews by saying that they don't really like books about zombies but loved This is Not a Test. That kind of scared me off because I DO love zombies and all the gore that implies. I ended up giving it a try anyway with much trepidation. All unfounded.

Everyone is right. This is a great book even if you are not a fan of the typical zombie genre. This is Not a Test is about survival but more importantly deciding if you even want to survive. Even though the requisite zombie gore is indeed there and creepy as hell - the story is more psychological. The pressure the survivors put on themselves and each other was more intense than anything happening outside.

Courtney Summers does an amazing job at weaving the group of survivors stories together in a wholly fresh and original way. One decision… one unintended action… has consequences for the whole group in a domino effect that was chilling.

You will constantly be questioning if you would make the same choices if you were in their situation. Who lives? Who should be sacrificed?  Is life worth living anymore?

"The man outside, he was expendable. He didn't mean anything to me. Was I expendable?"
"This is what it sounds like when the world ends."

"The thing that no one tells you about surviving, about the mere act of holding out, is how many hours are nothing because nothing happens."

I was blown away by This is Not a Test. It's definitely on my top reads list for 2012 and I will be checking out Courtney Summers contemporary YA novels soon.

Here are a couple of more detailed reviews if you're still not convinced.
Rather Be Reading
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

20 comments:

  1. It's good to hear that it's so good because I was going to pick this one up tomorrow. I love zombies so I can't wait!

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  2. Omg YES YES I Loved this so hard! It was my first Summers book and she's amazing at intense scenes!

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  3. Looks good, and I do want more than bloodsplatter

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    Replies
    1. This book has both lol
      I think it should please both zombie lovers and non zombie lovers.

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  4. I usually don't do zombies either, but its good to know that its still a good book from someone who does do zombies...
    I also like it when a book makes me question if what I would do in their situation.
    Thanks for spotlighting,
    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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  5. Totally agree! I read this in one sitting on Saturday and was completely blown away! Great feature, I definitely think there's something in here for everyone. :)

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  6. Omigosh! I'm so excited to hear you say that! I've seen this book popping up here and there, but I didn't know if I'd like it! I HAVE to have it now! *runs to store/amazon/etc) :D Thanks for the post! I MUST HAVE IT

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    1. Eep!! I hope you love it! Let me know after you read it.

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  7. i did not know this was about zombies, either! i had NO idea! Thanks for the review!

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  8. A bit of a hit and miss affair amongst the blogging community as people seem to be either loving this or hating it. Glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. I haven't read many reviews so I don't know what people didn't like about it. I can see people getting annoyed with the protagonist at times but I liked her complexity. She's not always likable or makes great (or any) decisions.

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  9. This book became more fantastic after I read it and let my thoughts run around in my head. It's truly a serious look at how each of us have different perspectives on life, and how those perspectives can be deeply affected by our environment.

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    1. I agree. When I went back to my notes to look for quotes I actually felt MORE emotional that when I was reading it the first time.

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  10. I seriously NEED to read this! I'm one of those people who are not a fan of zombies so hearing that zombie lovers & not-so-zombie-lovers makes me really excited to read it. It sounds like such an intense, powerful book.

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    1. It's very intense.

      The zombie stuff is there...and creepy! But that's not really what the core story is about.

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  11. I've heard mixed things about this book, but I think I will read it and see for myself.

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    1. I hadn't read many reviews before reading it - which is pretty much my new policy lol

      It's leaving me with a more open mind.

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  12. Thanks so much for the link!

    Yes, I'm the zombie-phobe who loves Courtney Summers. I thought there was plenty of grossness in here for you zombie lovers, but also enough psychological suspense to give me a break from the flying limbs and eyeballs.

    I also try not to read reviews until I read a book -- sometimes spoilers sneak in too :)

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  13. This looks really good! I'll have to add it to my TBR for sure.

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  14. SO need to read this one! It's on my shelf, and hopefully I'll get around to it as soon as I catch up on my review books! I was on schedule until we had to move...and now I'm like two weeks behind! Grr...Lol.

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