When their plane crashes in a remote rainforest with no adults left alive, a group of high school students struggles to survive against sinister threats from the jungle–and one another–in this tense thriller. Tom Calloway didn’t want to go on a field trip to Costa Rica, but circumstances had him ending up sitting in the back of the plane–which was the only part that was intact after the … part that was intact after the crash in the remote South American wilderness. Tom and a small group of his classmates are fortunate to be alive, but their luck quickly runs out when some of them fall prey to the unfamiliar threats of the jungle: animals, reptiles, insects, and even the unforgiving heat. Every decision they make could mean life or death.
Thank you to Jimmy Patterson Books for a complimentary copy.
All opinions expressed are my own.
When We Were Lost
By: Kevin Wignall
*REVIEW*
The Amazon-jungle, not website-is one of the most dangerous places on earth. Everything wants to kill you. Imagine your plane crashing here, but you and a scattering of others survive. Oh, and you’re 17 years old and dislike people in general. Personally, I would lay down and die. Tom, our hero, is a keep to himself kind of guy. He avoids people, and they avoid him. Somehow, in this chaos, Tom becomes the leader. The choice is made for him because he’s a natural at it. Granted, their is opposition, I’m talking to you, Joel, that creates unnecessary strife among the survivors. Sides are chosen. What if you maybe chose the wrong leader to follow, thus switching sides? As these kids trek through the deadly Amazon looking for help, tension builds, lines are drawn, hope diminishes, and not everyone survives. Tom, Joel and the rest of the survivors discover who they really are. They grow and change in unexpected ways. Some must act in situations unimaginable. Who remains calm and collected? Who runs rampant with stupidity? Do they find salvation or death? I loved this story. It’s got action, drama, mystery and heart. Tom is a thoughtfully written character who develops exponentially. Joel is the perfect nemesis. I didn’t completely hate him, but I wanted to. I won’t name everyone, but each character had a bit of individuality, and it’s good to read an author who doesn’t generalize age groups, especially teens. I read this in a day because I had to know if they made it out of that jungle. My favorite part, though, is the butterfly effect, particularly at the end. This idea is present throughout the story. As one choice affects another,etc, we see how a different choice could lead to numerous other outcomes. That’s the hard part; just choose and hope for the best, as Tom and Joel did. Isn’t it amazing how one little thing causes so many ripple effects? It will be what it will be. We have no control. The choices these survivors make ultimately lead them…where? When We Were Lost is an enthralling, sharp and intelligent read for teens and adults. Add this one to your tbr!
I won this ARC copy through a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to JIMMY Patterson Books | Little, Brown and Company | Hachette Book Group and to author Kevin Wignall. The novel is a YA action adventure that focuses on the survival of a group of high schoolers. The plot is what I expected for the most part with a couple of surprises through out the book. The main character is an introvert, but you have the expected group of diverse personalities among the rest of the group.
This is a fast read and one of the main reasons that I did not give it a 5 star rating is that I felt the language had been simplified too much for 17 year-olds. It seemed to be at a junior high level at best.
There is plenty of tension; whether it is with nature or with personalities. There is considerable character growth in the main character. Overall, it is entertaining and interesting. It drew me in and had me rooting for the students. Kevin Wignall also writes thrillers/crime fiction for adults and I will definitely give those a try.
I got this book from the library, since I’ve recently been interested about survival stories. It’s soooooo good! Alice is my favorite character, she’s funny, brave and smart. I know someone just like Joel, and she really gets on my nerve. If your looking for a funny, fast paced survival book, look no further!
I highly recommend the audiobook, great narrator.
“When We Were Lost” is a great book. It wasn’t my favorite at first but as I continued, I realized how I connected to the characters and by the end, I was attached to them. I was sad to see them go. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants something easy-to-read that will still keep them wondering what happens next.