Review: A great break from the norm
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 8, 2014
I went into reading Number Thirteen with an open-mind. Based on the reviews, it seemed that readers either loved or hated it. I knew it was going to be a different experience…one that would take everything that I thought I understood about William and his thirteen girls and turn it upside down. Now that I am finished, I can honestly say I loved it, and while I do see why some readers may have had a hard time with it, any book that can twist my stomach in knots and put my emotions on high alert as well as keep me invested until the very end, in my opinion, is a fantastic read.At the beginning of the text, readers are introduced to thirteen year old William. His life up until this point has been a bit different than most. Going to school hasn’t been easy for him, and one fateful day tears apart the normal existence he had hoped for. From there, the story introduces readers to our heroine; the only thing we learn about her is that she has been kidnapped and stamped with a tattoo that has the number thirteen on it. When she wakes up in a dank basement with twelve other terrified girls, the mystery continues to develop. Soon, as thirteen learns more about her surroundings and her situation, William the young boy we met in the Prologue, is identified as thirteen’s master, complicating the plot once again. As more information is learned and we witness the treatment some of the girls receive under William’s command, questions arise as to how a man who was bullied as a child becomes the one who bullies as an adult. But everything is not what it seems and as the story progresses, truths are learned that change not only the girls’ lives but William’s as well.William – I have to admit that I detested him at the beginning. I couldn’t understand what his end game was with the girls. He’s very methodic in the rules and the punishments that are given, but I didn’t quite grasp what was to be learned through them. Control is a big issue for him, which completely makes since because he had no control when the bullies completely altered his life all of those years ago, and yet, you would think that he understands how necessary it is for damaged people to know who they are and be given a life that is completely different than the one they had been suffering through. Slowly, though, his teachings become clearer, and his true plan is exposed. As the saying goes, there’s usually a method to his madness, and by the end, his objective allows him to go from being a monster to a hero of sorts.Number Thirteen – She’s such a strong character. She keeps fighting no matter what. At her very core, she’s a giving, selfless person who has experienced a traumatizing life for many years. Her memories have been taken from her in hopes to alleviate some of her pain, but those details have also shaped who she is, so she needs them back so that she can create an identity that blends the two together.I really enjoyed reading this text. In a way, it’s a psychological thriller because it explores the idea of being humane. All thirteen girls as well as William himself have suffered at the hands of vicious people…those individuals who are monsters, caring nothing about what happens to those they treat poorly. That treatment has left the victims beyond traumatized, so the goal is to alter their psyches so they see their self worth. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t understand William’s methods…many of his actions are over the top and horrendous, but he truly believes he can help the thirteen girls he has taken.My only concern with the text is the ending; it seemed to end too neatly. Terrible things have happened and in order to process it all and deal with it, I feel like that should have been explored a bit further. Hopefully, though, this isn’t the only book about these thirteen girls and more can be explained through future books.If you like books that are different from the norm, Number Thirteen is a definite must read. It will take readers outside of their comfort zones a bit and keep them interested until the very end.I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.4.5 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)