The CompoundS. A. Bodeen
Feiwel & Friends (April 29, 2008)
2009 Texas Lone Star Award book
The world changed dramatically for Eli when he was nine. He went from living among millions of others above ground to living with four others below ground. Eli’s dad led them into a huge, nuclear war bunker for the remainder of their lives at that time. Eli had a lot of time to think.
“Was I vain? I didn’t think so. I worked hard at getting my physique to that level. The outside was a lot easier to perfect than the inside.”
After six isolated years underground Eli has grown distant and surly to his family. Things at the compound aren’t going as well as his father had planned either.
“I had never made a point of seeking out right and wrong. The right answer depended entirely on whether the outcome benefited me….This time, however, I felt it. I felt it in my head. I felt it in my heart. Dad’s solutions were wrong….We had not become godless.”
As the book cover says, “…this debut thriller is perfect for teens who like their movies scary and their books suspenseful.” True enough, but the line between suspense and creepy is very thin here. Using the Donner party as an example to emulate, Eli’s dad makes suggestions about food and “relations” that are a little bit too close to the line for me. Along with the profanities and blasphemies almost typical of teen fiction nowadays I can’t recommend this to anyone but the tough-skinned wanting a feel for the grim side of teen fiction.
“Was I vain? I didn’t think so. I worked hard at getting my physique to that level. The outside was a lot easier to perfect than the inside.”
After six isolated years underground Eli has grown distant and surly to his family. Things at the compound aren’t going as well as his father had planned either.
“I had never made a point of seeking out right and wrong. The right answer depended entirely on whether the outcome benefited me….This time, however, I felt it. I felt it in my head. I felt it in my heart. Dad’s solutions were wrong….We had not become godless.”
As the book cover says, “…this debut thriller is perfect for teens who like their movies scary and their books suspenseful.” True enough, but the line between suspense and creepy is very thin here. Using the Donner party as an example to emulate, Eli’s dad makes suggestions about food and “relations” that are a little bit too close to the line for me. Along with the profanities and blasphemies almost typical of teen fiction nowadays I can’t recommend this to anyone but the tough-skinned wanting a feel for the grim side of teen fiction.
Rating: Avoid
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