Review: Engaging, Fantastic Book
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 26, 2014
I was totally surprised by how quickly this novel grabbed me. Asa is such a complex, well-drawn character; this book makes you feel like you're right there with him. Also, it really brought back those feelings of being fourteen, and being thrust into situations you're not quite ready for. Asa's been plagued with problems for his entire life, but he doesn't mope or feel sorry for himself. Very heroic and real kind of protagonist. Teddy and Charlotte were two of my other favorite characters.Dystopian-type novels can sometimes irritate me if they're not done correctly, but this one really hit the nail on the head. Like the movie 'Contagion', the author's depiction of the illness (Wolf Flu) and its symptoms seemed very realistic to me. Also, the science in this book seemed realistic, as well as the school.Anyway, for me 'The Academy' has that certain, undefinable 'it factor' that makes you want to stay up late reading. The situations are both mesmerizing and real, and the characters are up against such insurmountable odds but they maximize their potential to overcome them. This is an excellent rendering of the hero's journey, and I look forward to reading more of the author Leito's works.