tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5090356376347540893.post6341134516152378423..comments2023-06-24T08:30:59.493-04:00Comments on Adventures in YA Contests from: Entry #48: APOCALYPSE HIGHMartina Boonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5090356376347540893.post-23356186157673730012014-08-31T18:57:17.125-04:002014-08-31T18:57:17.125-04:00I liked the MC' s voice and connected to her r...I liked the MC' s voice and connected to her right away. I'm not sure you need the articles at the beginning. I'd rather learn that info a little further in and I'm not sure how many teens will wade through the legalese. I want to know a little more about how she fell into the pit--and a few more physical details would help me appreciate how hard it is to hang by your fingers for fifteen minutes. She has a calm, funny outlook--is she panicked at all? What are the stakes if she falls, besides the threat of injury and her brothers mockery? Best of luck!Rosalynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13533288555696717340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5090356376347540893.post-68615288246385658132014-08-30T22:57:24.185-04:002014-08-30T22:57:24.185-04:00Interesting take on a high school! I also like the...Interesting take on a high school! I also like the Survival Act in the beginning that clues the reader in before the story starts, although now I want to know what dangers this world faces in order to pass it in the first place. The beginning has tension, especially with the whole "don't trust your classmates" thing, although I was kind of confused by the school's setup. How do people get into the school? Are you drafted, or do you choose? Is it only based on the test scores? Why is it only for two years, instead of the usual four? I assume you get to these later, but having a little clarification in the beginning would help visualize the setting more.<br /><br />Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5090356376347540893.post-50387406111461126852014-08-29T11:25:26.005-04:002014-08-29T11:25:26.005-04:00I think I agree with Laurie here -- I wouldn't...I think I agree with Laurie here -- I wouldn't mind a little suspense about the exact circumstances that brought Annabelle to this place. More oblique references to this survivalist society would leave the reader curious for more (not a bad thing!) as the book goes on. I'd be very content to pick up those details in bits and pieces as I followed along with Annabelle. <br /><br />I'm also surprised that the others reacted so calmly to seeing someone hanging by their fingertips over a pit! They don't seem all that hasty to help her at first. Is that a deliberate callousness because of there competition with each other? <br /><br />It's also really interesting to have a survivalist culture, but in a world that clearly still has rule of law, exams, formal academies... It's a good contrast from the standard collapse-of-society dystopia. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14820659522541825744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5090356376347540893.post-2392553761505318112014-08-27T13:48:55.957-04:002014-08-27T13:48:55.957-04:00Oh, this reminded me a little of Starship Troopers...Oh, this reminded me a little of Starship Troopers. Very cool! I did enjoy getting the set up of the premise in the opening, but part of me wished it just jumped into the chapter. I felt a connection to the main character as well, but I wasn't sure if she was a girl or boy right away. I think a stronger hint of that would have made an even stronger connection sooner. Best of luck to you!Laurie Dennisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01089552813955890768noreply@blogger.com