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Panic by Lauren Oliver (Review #93)

"Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a poor town of twelve thousand 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 ever 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."

Review:
When I started this book, I was confused on what the world was like. Was this a world similar to the one in The Hunger Games? I couldn't tell. It wasn't until I got the the first round of Panic that I realized this was a right-of-passage for the seniors of this town. Moreover, this could in fact be an event that actually occurs in real life. If you had asked me before this book if I was afraid of anything, I'd tell you something deep, like abandonment or something. Now, my answer is vastly different. I imagined myself going through the challenges, and if I was in Panic, I'd be scared shitless (pardon my french). As for the characters, I immediately hated Dodge. He seemed shady from the beginning and I simply couldn't warm up to him. Heather on the other hand, was impulsive and a risk-taker, and I loved her from page 1. I thought this wonderful girl was going to fall for Dodge (ew, no), when suddenly the blooming romance between her and Bishop appeared. I instantly loved the idea. Additionally, her best friend and Dodge's love interest, Natalie, was such a SNAKE! I really thought I felt for their friendship when Nat and Heather promised to split the winnings together, but then she went behind Heather's back and made the same deal with Dodge. He, too, was oblivious to her devious plans. Honestly, I feel sorry for Dodge at this point; he was getting played! As the story progressed I loved it even more, and as each chapter passed, my perceived notions were spinning on their heads. The hairs on my arms began to rise. The surprises never ended and I loved the book more and more with each passing hour! And as I reached the end, my faith in Heather's resilience proved itself and the tiger metaphor really had me at the end. All in all, Panic certainly lived up to its name.



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