Variant Review

356 pages

Benson Fisher thought a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life. He was wrong. Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive. Where breaking the rules equals death. But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

Review (ARC): 
Variant is an exceptionally well written book. Can you imagine being trapped in a school where the kids and an unseen force run things, and kids that don't follow the rules disappear? At first Maxfield Academy is a huge mystery but as time goes on Benson starts to unravel the secrets that are kept there.  This book reminds me of a situation like in Lord of the Flies except its more structured by the rules. Benson is a strong male character who takes it upon himself to figure out what is going on and why the kids aren't actively trying to escape. There is a lot more to everything going on in this book and all I can say is that the twist to the story is worth the read. The surprise ending also completely captivated me and made me eager to read the second novel whenever it comes out. I definitely recommend this book especially to fans of dystopian fiction.