While out on a date with her boyfriend Dominick, a mysterious hologram and portal appear in front of the train that Alex and Dominick were riding. The entire earth’s population is given an ultimatum: enter through the vertexes around the world to the hologram’s world, or die on earth when a comet hits.
Why this book?: After witnessing Julia Ember (Author of Unicorn Tracks) read this novel, I just had to get my hands on it. Also, general anxiety disorder rep? Please!!
Uneven pacing
Consider hooked me immediately with it’s fast, abrupt beginning. I was sucked in within the first few pages, making me flip the pages faster and faster. Acevedo definitely knows how to write fast-paced scenes, giving you a surreal and yet realistic view into this book.
However, it wasn’t to last forever. Eventually my entrancement worn off, and I found certain scenes in the middle to be redundant and pointless. The middle of the book read like a series of snapshots, chronicling Alex’s life until the eventual ruination of earth. While there were a few important scenes that eventually affected the outcome of the novel, certain scenes could have easily been cut. The middle dragged through up until the very end, where Acevedo once more picked up the pace, and drew you back into the story completely.
In the end, I ended up enjoying all of the characters. None of them felt fake to me, and I felt like I was reading about real people, going through a real crisis. You can tell that obvious care went into developing these characters, and I ultimately enjoyed every last one of them.
Grateful yet irked
One thing that really broke my heart was how realistically Acevedo depicted Alex’s anxiety. I related heavily with her experiences, and whenever she had a panic attack, I felt it too. I loved the honest rendition of her anxiety, but there were a few things that bothered me. Early in the book, when Alex and Dominick’s train stopped, Dominick says a flippant and rude line that ultimately stuck with me throughout the book. Despite eventually warming up to Dominick, this one line stuck with me, and it will never be okay. For context, Alex takes Atvian for her anxiety disorder. When the train stops, Alex takes a pill for her anxiety, and Dominick proceeds to say:
“Plus, I love being stuck with you. Too bad you need drugs to be stuck with me. Stop worrying.”
That line stuck with me. It is not okay, and I had to put the book down for a minute, in order to continue. I was hoping it would be eventually addressed within the book, but instead, Dominick is the be-all-end-all love interest.
Along with Acevedo’s realistic portrayal of anxiety, I also appreciated the fact that Alex had problems with her parents. Her dad was unpredictable, and she was wary of him. Her mother was silent, never speaking up. They were a real family. And that was refreshing.
Final Rating: ★★★★☆
Overall?
Consider was an intense, emotional read. While I had a few problems with it, the plot and effort that went into this novel eventually out-shadowed it. I definitely want to see some development between Alex and her family and friend’s reactions to her anxiety, especially after Dominick’s comment in the beginning. But overall, and after finishing the book, you can tell that the flippant remark is something that was never truly considered when publishing this book.
Would I Recommend?
Acevedo portrays anxiety so well, that there is no way that I wouldn’t recommend this book. You can tell that she has talent, and I personally cannot wait until Contribute, Holo #2, comes out in July.
Additional Information:
Published: April 19th 2016
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Page Count: 288
Genre: YA/Science Fiction/Dystopia
Synopsis: via Goodreads
As if Alexandra Lucas’ anxiety disorder isn’t enough, mysterious holograms suddenly appear from the sky, heralding the end of the world. They bring an ultimatum: heed the warning and step through a portal-like vertex to safety, or stay and be destroyed by a comet they say is on a collision course with earth. How’s that for senior year stress?
The holograms, claiming to be humans from the future, bring the promise of safety. But without the ability to verify their story, Alex is forced to consider what is best for her friends, her family, and herself.
To stay or to go. A decision must be made.
With the deadline of the holograms’ prophecy fast approaching, Alex feels as though she is living on a ticking time bomb, until she discovers it is much, much worse.