From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes an extraordinary novel of fear, friendship, courage, and hope that Kirkus Reviews says “will have readers up until the wee hours,” School Library Journal raves is “fast-paced and captivating,” and E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars, calls “a thrill a minute.”
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. 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.
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Sexual Content - 2/5
2/5
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Violence - 2/5
2/5
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Language - 4/5
4/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 3/5
3/5
Summary
A round of applause for Panic! I held this book to some very high standards- author Lauren Oliver's other books were nothing short of stunning. But once again, Oliver blew my mind. Panic's prose was harsh, its situations achingly real, and its plot gripping beyond belief. Surprisingly, this story keeps you on the edge of your seat. Nail-knowing, leg-jiggling, and a very late bedtime are assured side effects of Panic. This book reads like a thriller, but at its heart is a traditional coming-of-age tale. Yet it never gets dully violent or blandly preachy, a typical problem associated with these types of books. Instead, Panic uses alternating storylines and characters hell-bent on keeping their secrets to keep readers rapt. Panic is a must-read for fans of thrillers, YA, and books in general.
Violence-Some mild violence such as fighting.
Language-There were several instances of very ugly language and the F-bomb was used frequently.
Sexual-Lots of making out and rape is discussed but never put into detail.
Drug & Alcohol-There is a fairly graphic scene in which a group of people are caught using cocaine, and it seems like in every scene someone is just a little drunk.