Book Review: Variant by Robison Wells

Variant
by Robison Wells
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Pages:
Hardcover, 356
Young Adult
Date Published:
October 4th 2011
Source: Publisher
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Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.Where breaking the rules equals death.
But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

REVIEW:
     Variant is another book I have been patiently awaiting dying to read. When I got it from NetGalley I wanted to read it right away and was elated to start when I finally got around to it. Variant was really good. The whole idea of the story was like one I've never read before. Every twist and turn had something hidden within it.Plus the fact that it took place in a boarding school made it even better. There is something about boarding schools that always intrigue me.
     First lets talk about the characters. Benson the main character has been bounced back and forth from foster family to foster family and he is pretty pissed off about it. Finally he gets accepted to Maxfield Academy where he thinks everything will be okay. Or so he thought. The whole school is some demented experiment. You will find out what they are testing later. Well Benson isnt going down without a fight. He constantly tries to escape. With other students against him it makes it pretty hard to. Benson is a great main character to read from the point of view from. His never except the norm for the truth and never give up spirit give the story an interesting read. There are also a host of other great characters to make the journey at Maxfield even better.
     Wells's writing was good. His characters sort of mesh together sometimes but other than that it was great.   He creates a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. Wells brings to life the hell hole of a school Maxfield Academy.  He makes you think of one thing then hits you with another. Wells leaves you hanging like a cow from the ceiling of a refrigerator ( Bonus for weird similes?)  at the shocking end to the book.
      All in all I suggest that you read Variant. Give it a chance I promise you will like it. The edge of seatness is to die for. He combines both action and thriller-ness in equal parts to make an excellent read. He also splashes in a bit of romance which might appeal to some people. I cant wait to read Feedback.