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After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Hardcover, 457 pages

Published May 7th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile (first published April 7th 2013)

Krista

Cover 

The cover is perfect fitting for the book. It describes a scene in which we are solo wanderers if we want to live, hiding in the forest, travelling at dusk and night is our best chance of survival.

Characters

The story is told from 3 different perspectives and sometimes a 4th. As the characters all get separated into different groups the varied perspectives allows the reader to see what is happening at the same time in different places.

Favourite

Evan is my favorite character. Throughout the novel he had me wondering about what he was hiding. I had a soft spot for him.

Least Favourite

I both liked and disliked Cassie. But she does show growth throughout the novel and I really liked her more in the ending. She is a fighter when it comes down to the people she cares for and her own survival.

Beginning

We jump into the story at the present time and get back story through memories of each of the characters as their POV’s are introduced.

Storyline

After the Aliens have decimated the Earth, humans for the most part are just solo survivors as forming groups is dangerous. When Cassie’s little brother Sammie is taken away by a government group, she decides that she cannot let him go and must rescue him from the camp.

Ending

The story is a build up for the ending. We get to know the characters throughout the story but at the end they all come together. There is a final battle scene that leaves you needing more.

Thoughts

A survival story that when you think about it, is really creepy.When the enemy looks just like you, how do you fight them? It could be a person you’ve known your whole life, your neighbour, your teachers, your family. That is the real backbone to this story and the different perspectives range from younger to teen. I would have loved to see one adult perspective but enjoyed the story as is – romance and danger rolled into one.

Quote

“How do you rid the Earth of humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.”

 

Lisa:

 

 

Cover 

One of the prettiest covers on my bookshelf! There are so many different elements, that truly represent the story inside, and that are just beautiful. What a piece of eye candy! If you tilt the book to the side, you can actually see the rays of sun shine through the branches of the trees.

Characters

There were many interesting characters featured in The 5^Th Wave, and it was compelling to see how these different personalities dealt with what was going on!

Favorite

Cassie and Ben were definitely my favorite characters! Cassie was that butt kicking girl I crave for in books like The 5^th Wave. She matured and grew strong quickly when things started to fall apart. She handled situations much better than I think I would have been able to. When the reader was first introduced to Ben, Cassie was day dreaming about her crush on him. After being in a child military academy Ben was used to hiding his feelings and following orders. But when Cassie’s little brother, Sam who was only five arrived, Ben really opened up to him and took him under his wing. I also thought Sam was tough in his cute baby brother way.

Least Favorite

I didn’t really hate or was even bothered by any of the characters. I felt that each, big or small, personality really made the story. Evan, was kind of mysterious, but also very sweet to Cassie. The Others, that you don’t know who or what they are, but are always there and watching somehow. Each was a component to an amazing story!

Beginning

Millions of people have died, and things are just getting worse and worse. Since the Others have arrived and the first four waves have come, the world seems to be ending. After losing her mother, Cassie is lucky enough to still have her dad and baby brother alive, until they are separated in hopes that they’ll be safer once the fifth wave strikes.

Middle

Cassie is on her search for Sam, but is shot and on the verge of dying. When she finally wakes up, she finds herself in someone else’s bedroom and in bandages. Cassie meets Evan, her saviour, who seems…almost too good to be true.

End

Evan isn’t exactly who he says he is, but decides to help Cassie get her brother back anyways. Cassie sneaks into the child military academy and bumps into Sam. But she also bumps into her high school crush, that I mentioned earlier, who seems to know her brother. Cassie and Sammy are reunited, but things aren’t over yet; the fifth wave hasn’t come!

Overall Thoughts

The 5^th Wave had so much hype when it was first released and I was excited to see what everyone was talking about. And I know I’m going to sound like everyone else, who was screaming on the top of their lungs, but I LOVED THIS BOOK – from the characters, to the actual storyline, and especially the ending! I felt that there was always something around the corner and I’m so excited to see what the next book will be about and how things will go for Cassie and the group!

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