The Returners by Gemma Malley
The Returners
Gemma Malley
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Publishing
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Pages: 320
Rating: 4 stars
London teenager Will Hodge is miserable. His mother is dead, his father’s political leanings have grown radical, and his friends barely talk to him. To top it off, he’s having nightmares about things like concentration camps. Then Will notices he’s being followed by a group of people who claim to know him from another time in history. It turns out they are Returners, reincarnated people who carry with them the memory of atrocities they have witnessed in the past. Will realizes that he, too, is a Returner. But something about his memories is different, and with dawning horror, Will suspects that he wasn’t just a witness to the events, he was instrumental in making them happen. Set in the near future, with the world on the verge of a new wave of ethnic cleansing, Will must choose to confront the cruelty he’s known in his past lives, or be doomed to repeat it . . . again.
The Returners was very different from what I was expecting. When I read the description, I had this idea of what The Returners would be, and it was not the same at all. Though, this doesn’t mean I wasn’t happy with how The Returners ended up, as I did enjoy it.
The plot of The Returners was fairly simple and rather intriguing. The first part of the book was slower and focused more around building story. This was interesting, but I do wish the plot had picked up a bit faster. The whle concept of these “Returners” was completely original and caught my attention. I almost wish Gemma Malley had played up the idea of Returners a bit more. They were this fantastic idea, and what she did with them was great, but I feel it could’ve been that much more.
Malley does a wonderful job with the characters in The Returners. Will was an artfully crafted character. You did sympathize with him, but I did find myself confused sometimes at his actions. I could not stand Will’s father. He was just so… ugh! I think that was Gemma Malley’s intention though. Patrick just gave me the creeps.
I wasn’t fully satisfied with the ending. I would have liked to hear just a bit more of the story, and then it would have seemed a bit more complete. But overall, I would definately suggest this one! It’s an enjoyable read set in a alternate future in the year 2016.
The description does sound intriguing. Can't wait to check this out!
The description immediately drew me in, so I'm a little disappointed that the book turned out to be a little different. However, if it's still good, it just might make it to my wishlist.
Looks to be good. I am kind of taken by dystopian fiction these days and this one seems to be a good reading choice. Nice review
A very good book review. I just love how you post your reviews here but this, this is one of the genre books I wanted to read and read and read. So mysterious and so unique.
I'm so intrigued! I love how balanced your review is, and how you don't give too much away… because now I can't wait to find out exactly what the returners are. Definitely looking forward to starting this.
Do you know if there will be a sequel? Perhaps then they will tell a bit more of the story. I, like, Lauren, am also intrigued! You say exactly how you felt without really saying anything, which is to me how a review should be!
And now I want to read it. :-)
It sounds like it would be a good book for one of my challenges. Thanks. I might give it a try.
Sounds interesting. I'll add it to my TBR list. :)
Good review.
Liking the sound of this one! Great review
I'm confused about this book. Various places say it's the third book of the Declaration series, but it's not set in that time and the blurb makes no comment on Longevity or the Underground like the supposed (forth?) book (and they're both coming out this year, which is odd), The Legacy, does. Is it just a different story she decided to write as a side thing to the Declaration books, or really part of the series?