Panic by: Lauren Oliver

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Published: March 4, 2014 by: HarperCollins
Pages: 408
Rating: 5/5 stars

First off, happy new year everyone! Hope you had lots of fun last night and are excited for what's to come. I'm kicking off 2016 with a review of a very unique storyline and eerie contemporary.

Panic is a game. A game where the seniors of the ghost-town of Carp fight in a series of events where dangers lurk, all to be the covenant champion and receive a hefty amount of money to start their life somewhere else. Senior Heather never dreamed of competing, but when her alcoholic mother leaves her and her sister again, she knows that she must win it for the both of them. Enter Dodge, a guy who has never been afraid of Panic, and will do anything to win. The two form an alliance. But there can only be one winner.

Panic was a series of twists and turns, of suspense and tragedy, and of family and love. I ABSOLUTELY loved the concept of this book for incorporating various themes that could appeal to a wide audience, as for also keeping a very unique storyline. This one was on a class all on it's own.

The premise for this book is basically based on the sacrifices that one will make to get what they want. First we have Heather, who is fighting for the money for her sister, so that she and her can leave town in search of a better life. Then we have Dodge, who may seem like he just likes the idea of cash, however he's got a secret that will push him to the limits. I loved how these themes were kept consistent and concise throughout the entire book, which really brought out the emotion and deeper meaning within.

The characters in this book were beautifully contrasting with each other, and I loved how they all weren't cookie-cutter contemporary characters. Each person had their own reasons for playing Panic, and I feel like all of them were broken in some sort of way. They all seeked a better life than what they got.

I loved the eeriness of this book. When thinking of the book in my head, I always imagined a dark, grey atmosphere that clouded over everyone in the town's faces. This book is not really a light and happy book, but instead has a bit of a dark, creepy tone to it. Each event is led by a mysterious email and secret judges that no one ever sees, and so it was interesting to piece together who actually started Panic in the first place.

Overall, this was a very different contemporary with a unique concept. If you're not into the light and fluffy, this would be an amazing one for you as it was something that I had never seen anything like before.

Have you read Panic? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess