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    Panic
    Panic
    Panic
    Audiobook8 hours

    Panic

    Written by Lauren Oliver

    Narrated by Sarah Drew

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a captivating, thrilling novel of fear, friendship, courage, and hope that will leave readers gasping for air. Now a television series on Prime Video, starring Olivia Welch, Mike Faist, Jessica Sula, Enrique Murciano, Camron Jones, and Ray Nicholson!

    E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars, calls Panic ""a thrill a minute."" Kirkus says: ""Will have readers up until the wee hours,"" School Library Journal raves: ""Fast-paced and captivating.""

    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.

    Read the book that inspired the series, which the New York Times described as “Reminiscent of ‘The Hunger Games’ but grounded in the real world.”

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMar 4, 2014
    ISBN9780062299840
    Author

    Lauren Oliver

    Lauren Oliver is the cofounder of media and content development company Glasstown Entertainment, where she serves as the President of Production. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of the YA novels Replica, Vanishing Girls, Panic, and the Delirium trilogy: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem, which have been translated into more than thirty languages. The film rights to both Replica and Lauren's bestselling first novel, Before I Fall, were acquired by Awesomeness Films. Before I Fall was adapted into a major motion picture starring Zoey Deutch. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017, garnering a wide release from Open Road Films that year. Oliver is a 2012 E. B. White Read-Aloud Award nominee for her middle-grade novel Liesl & Po, as well as author of the middle-grade fantasy novel The Spindlers and The Curiosity House series, co-written with H.C. Chester. She has written one novel for adults, Rooms. Oliver co-founded Glasstown Entertainment with poet and author Lexa Hillyer. Since 2010, the company has developed and sold more than fifty-five novels for adults, young adults, and middle-grade readers. Some of its recent titles include the New York Times bestseller Everless, by Sara Holland; the critically acclaimed Bonfire, authored by the actress Krysten Ritter; and The Hunger by Alma Katsu, which received multiple starred reviews and was praised by Stephen King as “disturbing, hard to put down” and “not recommended…after dark.” Oliver is a narrative consultant for Illumination Entertainment and is writing features and TV shows for a number of production companies and studios. Oliver received an academic scholarship to the University of Chicago, where she was elected Phi Beta Kappa. She received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from New York University. www.laurenoliverbooks.com.

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    Reviews for Panic

    4/5

    130 ratings47 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This book is compared to too many of it's YA counterparts as being not enough different at the beginning, but I have to admit I really loved this book. It's strange, and bare, and it's sparse everywhere. But there's a place for that in literature, too. I did not always see everything coming and certain things were far too obvious from the very first time I saw a hint of them.

      I thought the romances were a little convenient, but I madly, truly, deeply loved the best friends, trio of friends, and the family bonds for everyone and between everyone. They were so perfectly imperfect that I could see myself, my friends and people I knew shining through the realism of ups, down, opinions, mistakes, loyalty, everything.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I love Lauren Oliver's books, so it didn't surprise me how much I enjoyed PANIC. The challenge feels real, desperate, and quirky, and I fell in love with Heather and Dodge from the first few sentences in each of their alternating POVs. The author has a gift for making you feel for her characters and leaving the reader haunted. This book is no exception. And the end? Read it. That's all I'm saying.
    • 4/5
      Really lovely. Better than the Delirium series, not as good as Before I Fall.

      Review to come!
    • 4/5
      Heather and her friends join in Panic, the annual game, at the end of their senior year. Friendships and love are found while competing to win a lot of money.
    • 4/5
      Panic was a pleasant surprise for me, I loved the storyline. I was intrigued by the mysteriousness of the game, imagining what kinds of challenges they would have to do and who the judges were. All of the participants had different motives as well, which all played their part in how the game turned out. Definitely kept me intrigued. Unfortunately this is a stand alone novel, but I look forward to more novels by Lauren Oliver. She never disappoints me!
    • 5/5
      In the poor town of Carp, New York, a group of teens enters a high-stakes game that involves a series of secretive, possibly deadly challenges throughout the summer, with the winner receiving more than $50,000--enough money to start a new life.
    • 5/5
      I've been a fan of Lauren Oliver for a few years now, first with Before I Fall and then with Delirium series and when I heard about Panic I was pretty excited. Sure the cover though beautiful doesn't give much away, sure its suppose to be a dystopian book but there's absolutely nothing futuristic about it, but it was still a good book. I heard one person compare it to The Hunger Games , I'm not exactly sure why they think thank as its nothing like it, if anything it reminds me strongly of The Scorpio Races which seen as I loved that book (and massively wish it was a series) it is nothing but a good thing.The book is set from two peoples point of views, Heather a strong minded girl who's had a hard life with a great group of friends and Dodge, a loner with a hard life of his own. Both have their own reason's for entering Panic, both desperate to win to make a better life for their sisters. Heather is a very timid girl at first, but with the help of Panic and determination she really comes out of her shell and we see that she isn't as scared as we and she thinks. Dodge is a stranger character, at first he comes across as shy from his obviously lack of social interaction, but then when we get further into the book it becomes apparent that his intentions might not be as innocent as we once thought.We also have two other sub characters who are just as important. Natalie and Bishop, Heathers best friends. Natalie is also in Panic, for nothing other than the money. she seems pretty hell bent on being famous and escaping Carp. Bishop is always there for Heather, and is pretty much one of my favourite characters. All of them, no matter how big or small, together or a mess are brilliant. The thing I love about Lauren Oliver is that she puts so much effort into building up her characters from the ones who are just in it for a chapter to the main ones.The more the story goes on, the harder the game gets. Sometimes through it my heart was in my throat or I was very on edge, sometimes it dragged (very little) but I loved the development of the characters and the relationships, I love how for the most of it I never knew what was going to happen. I loved the originality of the idea. I really just liked the book in general. It had its ups and downs, like every book, but overall it was a really good book and I'm glad I read it :)
    • 3/5
      The concept of the game itself began well but ended with a fizzle, and the super surprise judge was no surprise at all. Not up to her usual standard here.
    • 3/5
      3.5 StarsSummary:No one knows how it began or who created it, but each summer graduating seniors in the small town of Carp participate in daring challenges of a dangerous tradition called Panic, hoping to become the sole winner of tempting cash reward. For some, the grand prize is a shot at a better future. For Heather, it's the unplanned opportunity to escape her desperation after a sad breakup; for Dodge, it's the perfect pass to revenge for his sister's injury. But for all contestants, this is a game that will push them beyond their limits, physically and emotionally. Some will die, and some will lose, but they will have the chance to explore the true meanings of family, friendship, loyalty, and love.My Thoughts:Lauren Oilver did a great job at portraying this dull, small town in Panic and its people's rough realities. Her detailed and realistic depictions of this young group's struggles and their imperfect lives give this story an authentic and genuine touch.The story is told via alternating third person perspectives between Heather and Dodge, and there are also two supporting characters, Nat and Bishop, Heather's best friends. The author created diverse, interesting, believable, and well developed characters. I really liked the two romantic relationships. They are light (for a contemporary YA) but sweet and are essential in adding to the tensions and troubles that plague these teens.There are just enough suspense throughout the story to keep the pages turning, and as these characters confront the game and their conflicts in real life, we are able to observe their adventurous journey and transformation. I loved and sympathized with these teenagers, and it's great to see how the effects of the game mold them into strong and mature characters. From time to time, I did find this book very dark, and again it was due to the author's realistic descriptions of the suffocating realities that these characters face.This is an extremely well written and enjoyable book, but it does contain minor flaws. My biggest concern was with the premise of how Panic works. It's hard to believe that such a risky and illegal game was able to be carried out for so many years even though Carp is such a small community and the game involved majority of the graduating class. Also, the challenges seemed a bit stupid to me. Panic is suppose to be a test for bravery. Instead, it's more like a series of reckless and cruel stunts that resemble college hazing rituals.The book was quite slow for the first 50% but quickly picked up after that. Overall, this is an exhilarating and fantastic read. The plot is interesting, characters are likable, and Lauren Oilver is a great writer and an amazing storyteller.
    • 4/5
      Random Thoughts Would be a fabulous book for class discussion and opening up communication The adults were mostly caricatures - the typical self involved and neglectful parents that can be found in most ya novels (You must remember I am a 43 yr old mom and am a good parent). That being said it does explain the actions of the teen characters Great message without being preachy Author had a good understanding of the teenage mind with all its turmoil, confusion and angst. Especially of those teens growing up in such a poor and depressed town. I didn't feel a real connection to any of the characters, with the exception of Heather, and some of their actions (Bishop's for example), didn't really makes sense to me. Fast paced and interesting - ir was a hard one to put down - even when I wanted to slap these kids upside their heads for some of their stupid actions (yet I still remember being a teen so I can see how they would react the way they did) Oliver does a brilliant job of creating a town that is in an economic downturn and the feeling of desperation permeates throughout the story and all of the characters The towns name is Carp (hmm play around with those letters LOL!) Could totally see this situation happening Memorable Quotes/Passages"The sky was deepening, the light was fading and so were the colors, swirling away behind the line of trees beyond the ridge, as though someone had pulled the plug""...about her fears that she would never get out of Carp and it would eat her up, swallow her as it had her mom, turn her into one of those brittle, bitter women who is old and drug-eaten and done at twenty-nine." "My point is, when you love someone, when you care for someone, you have to do it through the good and the bad. Not just when you're happy and it's easy."3.75 Dewey'sI received this from HarperCollins at work as part of my job. I am in no way obligated to review or sell any copies. One of the perks about being a bookseller which almost makes up for crappy retail pay LOL - love the job though so I really shouldn't complain - just miss my cushy library job that had benefits and paid vacation time
    • 4/5
      Nobody believed that Panic would stop, of course. The game must go on. The game always went on.I have read all of Lauren Oliver's previous work and enjoyed them so when this book came out I knew I was going to add it to my tbr pile. This book mainly follows two teenagers (Heather and Dodge) living in small town Carp, New York. For the past fear years after graduation the seniors take place in a game called Panic. The game is very dangerous at times and people have died or been seriously injured while playing it. The risk may be great but so is the reward as the pot this year is $67,000. Money isn't the sole motivation for everyone playing the game, sometimes a person's motivation is more sinister than that.I felt like Heather and Dodge were great main characters for this book. Both have their hardships and both have different reasons for playing Panic. I connected a bit more with Heather because I felt like Dodge was a bit too annoying and naive at times. Both Heather and Dodge become close to Heather's best friends (Nat and Bishop) during the game but Panic, as it usually does, threatens to tear their bonds apart.I have a few problems with this book. My first problem with it was that the major twists in the book were obvious from pretty early on in the book. I'm not even sure you could really call it a twist since it was so obvious. Also how in the hell were these kids able to raise $67,000? It briefly explains how they got the pot but quite honestly it seemed like with the amount of people in their graduating class that $67,000 is completely unrealistic. If Panic is such a dangerous game then how come the parents and police didn't shut it down? The police tried a bit but it just seemed like they were stumbling around. I can't believe that a dangerous game where people have been killed would have been allowed to continue on.While I did enjoy this and read it really fast I still had my doubts about the plausibility of some of the plot. If you've liked Lauren Oliver's previous work then you will enjoy this book.
    • 3/5
      I really liked this book more than I thought I would. It got some extra bonus points for not being in first person. Certain details on the game Panic does have me a little confused, but I guess I could overlook them enough to enjoy the story. I haven't read anything by Lauren Owen before, so this book helped me discover her. I did feel, though, that I didn't exactly get much closure on Dodge's perspective.
    • 4/5
      It was actually really good. That's for me, though. I see mixed reviews but I really liked it.
      I was just kinda disappointed by some characters' slowness and I think that Lauren Oliver isn't really good with ending her books *coughs*Requiem*coughs* but other than that, this book was full of suspense and action and some really heart-pounding scenes.
    • 4/5
      Panic was a thrilling and tense book filled with high stakes and danger. It was a bit like Fear Factor, but with life-or-death tasks and much more at stake than just money. THE THEMESDesperation, greed, and courage were what the biggest themes revolved around. In order to play Panic, the characters had to dig deep for every bit of courage they could spare--they needed it to not just get through the challenges but to forward in life. In the meantime, they all had to deal with the greed they felt for the prize for winning the game (money, a better future, etc.). They all did things out of desperation to win the game or get further in life. There were many other focuses and themes in Panic, but those were the ones that stood out the most to me.THE GAME OF PANICI simply loved the game! I've never seen one like it. At first, I was puzzled over what the point of it was and how it worked, but once I figured it out, the game proved to be very dangerous and exciting. It kept me on my toes--the challenges the characters felt were pretty scary, so I was constantly worried over what would happen to them. The game and its progression from one dangerous task the next, even more dangerous one was the best part of the book for me. It added a lot of excitement to the story, as well as some different twists than I was expecting.HEATHERShe definitely changed over the course of the story, and since character growth is one of my favorite things to see in a book, that stood out to me. Through pushing determinedly through the high risk tasks, she had to muster up much more courage than she ever had. She had to strip away her weakness and start seeing things in a new light in order to win Panic. The main reason for her competing in the game was to give her chance to grow. I loved how the game helped her do that.OVERALLThe minute I discovered this book, I knew it would be a good read for me. And I was right. Panic was my type of book. It was a contemporary with great themes, exciting events, and character growth--some of my favorite things. The game, too, was something that I absolutely love to find in books: a level of freshness. The tasks each player were given made the book feel quite different. Panic was a great read that I already know that I want to reread sometime. If you are looking for an exciting contemporary and haven't given this one a try yet, I suggest doing so. You may enjoy it as much as I did!*I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      Read on December 26, 2013While reading this book I had flashbacks to my Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine reading days. No idea why...it's been years (maybe even a couple of decades) since I read either author. Maybe it was the game itself (or the vast group of teenagers making really bad decisions). Panic tests to see how much fear you can handle and even despite fear, how long you can last in certain situations. It's not a game for the faint of heart. That part of the book was interesting -- seeing the tests these characters are put through. I also generally liked the characters. I could relate to being the tall girl that wears flats and slouches so she doesn't look like a giant next to her friends. In fact, the thing that bothered me most about this book was kind of silly and is probably me being a little nit-picky. Carp is a town of 12,000 with a graduating class of around 100 -- it has a BUS SYSTEM?! I grew up in Florida so maybe I'm incorrect in thinking that bus systems are only in large, more urban areas, but a town that small with public transit? Is there a county system that covers this in upstate New York?AND she forgave Bishop?! Seriously? And the kidnapping of Dodge? Too much.I had more thoughts as I was drifting off to sleep last night about other things I found a little too absurd, but now I've forgotten. Bottom line: It doesn't have all the feels of Before I Fall, which is kind of what I was expecting. But it's a good read, just not Oliver's best.
    • 4/5
      Panic is a secret game that pits player against player in mental and physical challenges designed to push them to the breaking point. Heather Nill never planned or dreamed that she would play...but felling she had nothing to loose and everything to gain... she’s in. Nothing is going to keep her from walking away with enough money to get away from this small town with an evil at it's heart. Impossible to think that anyone or anything could even conceive of a game like this. The story grabs you early on, and even though all the time you think.."how ridiculous this is that anyone would even do this for any amount of money"...you find you are caught up in the game until the very last page.
    • 3/5
      I think the premise of this book is interesting, but the characters left it feeling a little flat.

      I think the game of Panic is amazing. It’s dangerous, and scary as hell. It’s not something I’d ever participate in, but I can see why others would. I had to know what the next challenge was while I was reading. Each one is deadlier than the previous one. I was freaking out while reading some of them.

      Panic is told from the perspectives of Heather and Dodge. I had a hard time with them as narrators because I felt like they didn’t have much of a personality. They both have had hard lives, and ones that I wish wasn’t a reality. But the way they portrayed things felt like it lacked passion, I guess. I didn’t feel their anger, or anything. It’s like it just happened. I’m not sure that makes sense, but it does in my head. lol

      While the characters left me wanting more, the story is engaging.
    • 3/5
      Panic is a legendary game played only by high school seniors during the summer in Carp, a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. The game consists of a series of dares that become more and more dangerous as it goes on. Only one winner goes home with thousands of dollars, but many go home with injuries and people have died before. Heather was never really interested in Panic, but participated on a whim after her boyfriend broke up with her. She's terrified every step of the way, but wants to see it to the end. Dodge, on the other hand, has been planning to participate in Panic for a year because of a deep dark secret. He doesn't fear the game at all and is fueled by his secret to do anything to win. Panic will bring both of them new friends, new enemies, shocking revelations, and turn their lives upside down.I read Nerve by Jeanne Ryan a few weeks ago and it's a book that really wanted to be Panic. Panic goes to the extremes that I expected and (way) beyond. Each of the challenges pushes further and further and touches on real fear. However, I felt about half of them were unrealistic in how life threatening they were. $10,000 is not worth anyone's life. It should have been a lot more to make it plausible, but teens have to be able to put together this money, so more money still wouldn't be plausible. Anyway, there are some problems with the concept in general.The characters and writing are what make the book successful. I related to or empathized with each character and their situation. Heather's mother was an abusive drug addict, so Heather took her sister and lived out of their car. Despite her fear, she was a lot stronger than she thought and used her Panic outlook in her real life. Dodge was kind of weird because of his painfully obvious "secret" and his blind need for vengeance. Other than that, he's a decent person who cares for his family. The only character I had no connection with was Nat. She used people, lied, manipulated, and was generally mean to people. There seems to be no reason for people to be her friend or like her in any way. Lauren Oliver's writing never fails to suck me into her stories. I didn't even notice some of the flaws of the book until the very end because of her prose.Panic is a thrilling read, but the logistical problems and one major unlikeable character distracted from the story. It's a decent stand alone book and I would definitely read other books by Lauren Oliver.
    • 4/5
      Thanks to Edelweiss for access to this title.

      Another original story from Oliver. The entire premise was interesting. A small town, a big challenge, and winner's pot worth enough to take that winner away and kick-start their dreams. All with the chance of dismemberment or death. I think fans of the author will really enjoy this new story.
    • 4/5
      Panic by Lauren Oliver is a tense novel and overcoming fear in order to take home $67,000.The setting is in Carp, NY, and everyone is desperate. Desperate to get out. So desperate they will risk their lives. After graduation, seniors are required to put money in the pot and anyone can participate in the game Panic in order to win the money. It begins with jumping off a cliff into water. Heather has no intention of participating; but, when her boyfriend dumps her, she finds himself jumping. Throughout the summer, Heather, Bishop, Nat, and Dodge navigate the increasingly dangerous game while trying to elude the police who want to stop it. If anyone gives the police information, he/she is severely punished. In this atmosphere of desperation, lying may be the only way to survive.Heather loves her little sister and wants out of Carp because her mother is a drunk drug addict; Nat wants a career as an actress or model and is willing to do whatever it takes; Bishop is heading to college and only wants Heather safe; and, Dodge wants revenge for his sister's accident in Panic a few years ago that left her paralyzed. Only one person can win, so how can these four help each other yet be the last one standing with the money?This novel has mature content. These are kids from difficult lives who use coarse language because they see it at home and school. I think this will be a popular book because it's intense--almost too intense. The characters are their own worst enemies and then they each have their own secrets. The suspense comes in whether their secrets can be revealed before someone dies. There are death-defying challenges, tigers, tense relationships, and desperation to hook you in.
    • 3/5
      This story begins the day after the protagonists have graduated from high school, at which time the traditional secret game of “Panic” begins. Each participant has to pass a series of ridiculously risky challenges, with two unknown judges (acting via flyers and an anonymous email account) determining what they will be, allocating points, and knocking losers out of the game. The final remaining contestant wins a large pot of money.In the seven years the game has been played, four players have died and one has been left paralyzed. But the prize money - this year it is $67,000 - is too tempting for these teens to resist. They are desperate to get out of of their dead-end small town of Carp, New York, and maybe realize their dreams, most of which are pretty much impossible without lots of cash.The danger involved doesn’t deter them from putting their lives on the line; unfortunately, all of the characters, most of whom come from broken homes, are very deficient in self-esteem, and looking for love in all the wrong places. The focus is primarily on four main protagonists: two females graduates - Heather and Nat, and two males - Bishop and Dodge.Discussion: I found some aspects of the plot very unrealistic. Parents and police are pretty much absent most of the time, especially considering the deaths and life-crippling injuries associated with the game. And the "requirement" that every high school student from this impoverished community contribute $100 each year to the game, and they somehow manage to come up with the money? I wasn’t buying it.I also did not think some of the main characters were especially well-developed. Nat, for example, apparently has obsessive-compulsive disorder, but this complication is only briefly alluded to, and then mostly forgotten. Nevertheless, it probably plays a large role in her behavior which was otherwise unexplained (and inexplicable). Why would Oliver assume most kids would understand this syndrome? Some other issues were only touched upon and then dropped, such as Heather’s insecurity about her size, and her dependence on appeal to boys for her sense of self-worth. Bishops’ behavior also went largely unexplained, even though much of what he did seemed quite contrary to the person he was supposed to be. The character of Dodge was better drawn than the others. His devotion to his paralyzed sister was juxtaposed with the reinforcement he got from her dependence on him, and to his resistance to her improvement because it meant he was less important to her. That complex and contradictory situation was very well done. While the tension level of the book built nicely, the "mystery" of the plot was obvious. I was also disappointed with the cluster of events comprising the ending, which seemed even more unrealistic than the rest of the story. Evaluation: It's hard not to give Oliver consideration after loving some of her other work, particularly the book Before I Fall. But with Panic, I felt there were some problems with story believability and with the characterization, and there were a few examples of overly trite writing (“Nothing and none of us will ever be the same”).
    • 4/5
      Carp is a small town where there's not much to do, so the high school students made up a game called Panic. Everyone pays in, but only the seniors compete the summer after graduation. There's always at least $50,000 at stake, but each round of the game has higher and higher risks. It starts with everyone competing jumping off of a cliff into the water below, and ends with two cars facing off in a round of chicken. Everything in between is made up by two unknown judges. Heather and her best friend Natalie are competing for the money, but Dodge, who quickly becomes their friend, is more interested in revenge. Very suspenseful story, and I'm excited to hear that it's already been optioned for a movie. I think it's going to be a great, action-packed film.
    • 4/5
      Enter an impoverished rural community full of teenager dreams of leaving for the big city life. Now enter the town where the graduating class participates in an annual contest where the winner gets the grand prize worth thousands--the ticket to leaving the town--the ability to leave behind family sorrows and start a new life. Friendships will be renewed and broken and made stronger. The impending finale promises to push readers to the end.
    • 2/5
      The plot is interesting; almost an entire graduating senior year is involved in dares, hoping to win the big payoff. The goal is to be the last person who refuses to back down from one of the dares. The problem is that some of those dares are resulting in deaths, and it is no longer harmless fun. Thrilling and original.Having said that, it won't be on my middle school shelves; too mature. I'll be sending it along to my high school.
    • 4/5
      This is the first Lauren Oliver book that I really liked. Panic is a game that has been created for senior students about to graduate from high school in the small, rural town of Carp. The challenges are risky, scary and increasingly dangerous, where accidents and death occur. The chapters alternate between Heather and Dodge, two competitors in this year's Panic. Although I usually like alternating points of view, I didn't like how the chapters were told in the third person, and Dodge seemed more like a secondary character than a main protagonist. However, despite some gaps in the plot, "Panic" moved along at a fast pace, with more and more secrets being revealed along the way, which made for a surprisingly entertaining read.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed Panic, but I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped I would. In the book Panic is a game, and throughout the book I think it was the main thing that kept me reading. I liked the characters, but I didn’t particularly love or really care about any of them. I didn’t mind following their stories and their romances, but mostly I just wanted to find out what would happen during Panic and how it would end.The book is told from two points of view, Heather’s and Dodge’s, but I didn’t particularly enjoy one of their stories more. I didn’t really care about either of their romances, but I did appreciate both of their loves for their siblings and what they did for them. Thankfully, neither were characters that I struggled to read because they did not annoy me, but they failed to make me love them.Panic was the best thing about this book. It’s basically a game where a group of teens risk their lives doing challenges so that one of them can eventually win quite a lot of money. For a book about a group of regular teenagers, the challenges they have to complete are pretty extreme, to the point where I was often fearing for people’s lives because what they were doing seemed so crazy sometimes.The challenges in Panic are set by anonymous judges, whether or not it was supposed to be a shock when who those judges were was revealed I’m not sure, but I was able to guess who at least one of the judges was about 1/3-1/2 of the way through the book, the other I was iffy about but was leaning toward the person who it actually was. This made it both fun and a bit annoying, it was fun because I liked figuring it out and waiting for the other characters to figure it out, but also annoying because how could the other characters not see it when to me it was pretty obvious. It would have been even better if I was wrong though.Overall I enjoyed Panic, but it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it would be. I thought the characters were alright, but Panic was the most interesting thing about the book – 3.75/5
    • 4/5
      In her boring upstate New York town, Panic is the big deal for graduating seniors. The summer after they graduate, those brave enough engage in a series of challenges determined by anonymous judges. The winner walks away with a pot of money big enough to escape their town.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Intense story with intriguing characters and unique premises. This was a very enjoyable read and Lauren Oliver fans will be very pleased.Opening Sentence: THE WATER WAS SO COLD IT TOOK HEATHER’S BREATH away as she fought past the kids crowding the beach and standing in the shallows, waving towels and homemade signs, cheering and calling up to the remaining jumpers.The Review:Panic is a game that was created in the small town of Carp, New York. Only graduating seniors are allowed to compete in the games and participation is completely optional. The judges are completely anonymous and they pick tasks that tend to insight fear in people. Each round there are people eliminated and there is a final showdown where one person is crowned the winner. Not only do they get to say they won Panic they also win the money pot that has been collected since they were freshmen in high school which is usually close to $50,000.Heather never planned to contend in Panic, she never considered herself fearless or brave, which to win Panic you have to be both. But on the night of the first task fate would have it that she catches her long time boyfriend cheating on her, and she decides that she has nothing to lose by playing the games. Then as things at home get rough she finds that winning all that money might solve a lot of problems for her.Dodge has always planned on playing Panic, and he has another reason to win the games besides the money. His older sister was paralyzed from the waist down two years ago in the final show down of the games, and Dodge has never forgotten. He is out for revenge and he will stop at nothing to get it.The story alternates between Heather and Dodge’s POV. First you meet Heather, and to be honest, I really didn’t like her at first. She has a very negative attitude and some serious self esteem issues that got on my nerves a little bit. She grew up with no father and a mother that partied all the time. So her home life was a mess, but she had a couple great friends that got her through all the hard times, and a little sister that made it worth sticking around. At first the games are just to pass the time, but eventually it becomes more important to win. While I didn’t like Heather at first, I loved her by the end. Her character grows so much throughout the pages that it’s hard not to admire her, and respect her determination.I liked Dodge from the very beginning. He was always sort of a social outcast in school and never very outgoing. But he knew that he would do well at Panic, because he wasn’t afraid of the consequences. He also had more motivation than the others to win. I liked that Dodge was a little awkward and different, it added to his charm. I could easily sympathize with his situation and found him to be a likeable guy.Panic was an intense read that was very unique. Oliver did a fantastic job keeping the suspense running high throughout the whole book. I will admit that the first hundred pages or so were a little slow, but once you got through the background story it was pretty much non-stop drama and action. I thought that the premises was very unique and different from anything else I have ever read, so I liked that and it made the story more intriguing. The ending was left slightly open ended but I thought that it was a perfect fit for the story. Oliver is just one of those authors that know how to write amazing stories. Her style and form is always so captivating and I will always be a fan of her work. I would highly recommend this to anyone that is looking for a great YA realistic contemporary read, it will not disappoint.Notable Scene:Heather fought for breath. Tears were pushing at the back of her eyes. She knew they were being too loud. Too loud. Everything was all wrong. The gun in her hand felt awful, cold but also alive, like some alien creature that might suddenly roar to life.“What are you doing here?” she finally said. “You were supposed to get proof for us and get out.”“I heard something,” Dodge fired back. “I thought it might be one of the other players—”The lights came on.Jack Donahue was standing in the doorway, eyes wild, chest slick with sweat. Then he was shouting and the barrel of the gun was swinging toward them and there was an explosion of glass, and Heather realized Dodge had just hurled a chair straight through the window. Everything was fracture, roar, blur.“Go, go, go!” Dodge was shouting, pushing Heather toward the window.FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Panic. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 3/5
      Interesting, but I felt like I was watching a train wreck the whole way through. Yes, the protagonists (mostly) come out of it okay, but the book is about the subtle forces destroying a community, individual by individual.
    • 3/5
      Not bad. Not as good as her other, but not bad.