Do You like book The Lottery (2006)?
Have you ever picked up a book without knowing a single thing about it? Because I did with this one. And I'm glad I did. I was impressed.The cover makes it look like it's one of those teen paranormal books, but it's not. It's about a girl and her friends caught up in a very strange school tradition. Every year, a group of students known as the Shadow Council select someone from the student body to be their victim - a kid who delivers messages for them, and does the dirty work when no one else will. This year, it's Sal Hanson's turn.Being the "lottery winner" means that the entire school shuns you for the year as you do the Shadow Council's bidding, so Sal's thrown into this world where all of a sudden she's completely abandoned and alone, bullied by fear into following the orders of a group of some not so nice students. It's an interesting study into what it's like to go to a school ruled by a group of empowered students who aren't very nice, but also into what it's like when people stop letting themselves be bullied. It's one of those books with a great sense of hope. That's what makes it so great. It's about sticking up for yourself and for your friends and for doing what's right, instead of what's expected. It's about knowing that you can't rely on other people to start the revolution, that you have to take the first steps yourself. It's well written, though Sal probably could have had more depth and development as a character, especially as it seems she's got PTSD. It's interesting, it has its moments of humour, and, would you believe it, there's no unnecessary romantic subplot! Hooray for Beth Goobie! Well, it's there, but it's not enacted, which is good. God knows there are too many young adult novels which start out with a good plot and then pass it over as secondary to some stupid romance. I'd say read this book if you have the chance. Don't expect brilliance, but at least you don't have to sit through a book just like every single other young adult one on the shelf.
—Mersini
The good thing about this book is that it is a good read. It kind of has The Chocolate Wars kind of feel to it, but not really. Basically there is a council of students, mainly of juniors and seniors, that "rule" the school. They have a lottery every year of the students in the school. The so-called winner of this lottery is their lackey for the entire school year. They've been doing this for years, and no one has ever said a word to them about it. It's a simple fact. Sally Hanson is picked to be this years lottery winner. At first she isn't sure if she is the lottery winner because the first scroll she receives with a black ribbon is completely blank. But eventually she is summoned to the council. When you have won the lottery you are pretty much alienated from any friends you had at school before you were picked. Which is what happened to every lottery winner before. Sally should be no different. And should a friend of yours even TRY to act like nothing is wrong, well, they'll be threatened and the next day you won't exist. Sally's duties are to deliver notes to other students. Some of them contains tasks that the students much complete. After a while, Sally gets into creating trouble at the school. She begins to feel a part of the council. At the same time however, she doesn't want to be alienated. The book ends with her no longer being the lackey for the council. They just decide hold another lottery and pick another kid. There's no real ending, or any real conflict in the book. Just Sally not wanting to be alienated from her friends. And that other thing with her dad. But that's it.
—Karissa
Soooo, this book is marketed as a thriller?Right, well, it's more like a teenage-angst ridden jaunt through a year in high school, more about friendship and band class than anything else. At least what I remember from it. The protagonist isn't that engaging, and nor are some of the other main characters, but I remember really liking the secondary characters - they certainly fleshed out the world of high school much more.Probably need a reread if that summary is actually nothing as to how I remember this book, haha!
—Mika
