What do you think?
Rate this book
The Roar #1
The Roar
Mika and Ellie live in a future behind a wall: Solid concrete topped with high-voltage razor wire and guarded by a battalion of Ghengis Borgs, it was built to keep out the animals, because animals carry the plague. At least that's what Ellie, who was kidnapped as a child, has always been taught.
But when she comes to suspect the truth behind her captivity, she's ready to risk exposure to the elements and answer the call of the wild. Listen. Can you hear it? She's strapping on her headset, jumpstarting her Pod Fighter, and--with her capuchin monkey at her back--she's breaking out!
But when she comes to suspect the truth behind her captivity, she's ready to risk exposure to the elements and answer the call of the wild. Listen. Can you hear it? She's strapping on her headset, jumpstarting her Pod Fighter, and--with her capuchin monkey at her back--she's breaking out!
496 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
317 people are currently reading
7,825 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,117 reviews
July 16, 2010
LOVED it until the very end--then I had to throw the book across the room....
March 29, 2018
Blog review
After this was my first (and best) dystopian novel. I loved this book on so many levels and the action and mystery aspects were so captivating!
I really liked how the story was told from both twins' point of view. Ellie who was being studied in a government space station and Mika who remained at home forced to believe his sister was dead. But when a new video game contest appears Mika was soon to take part (and win), but then he discovers the shocking truth about the intention of this contest and Fit Camp the new sports lesson that tookplace in every school.
The conclusion was great, I can't say how much I loved this book! It was both gripping and thought provoking, so anyone who likes The Hunger Games read this!
After this was my first (and best) dystopian novel. I loved this book on so many levels and the action and mystery aspects were so captivating!
I really liked how the story was told from both twins' point of view. Ellie who was being studied in a government space station and Mika who remained at home forced to believe his sister was dead. But when a new video game contest appears Mika was soon to take part (and win), but then he discovers the shocking truth about the intention of this contest and Fit Camp the new sports lesson that tookplace in every school.
The conclusion was great, I can't say how much I loved this book! It was both gripping and thought provoking, so anyone who likes The Hunger Games read this!
September 20, 2012
I'm not going to pretend I didn't know this was a juvenile novel. And it gets points for being so long and being written at that level, if only because I am a big believer in long books no matter what your age.
But as for the actual content? Let's just say I am not surprised that it's a first novel. And I am surprised that gave it a good blurb. Because it doesn't "[fly] along like a laser beam from a blaster," it meanders forward like a bowling ball thrown by a three-year-old kept on path only because the bumpers are up.
The bumpers are, in this case, a stubborn determination that everyone over the age of thirteen be really, really dense. Everyone thirteen and below as well, but at least they're young and have an excuse. The defining feature of this book is not the mysterious game or evil plots: it's the flatness of the characters, the ability to read 500 pages and still not be able to ascribe a personality to a single one.
It wins a gold medal in "Telling Rather Than Showing" category, with another in the related category of "As-You-Know-Bob Exposition."
And whoever wrote the summary--any of the summaries I've seen--needs a new job. In my hardcover (the summary for the paperback here on GR), I'm lead to believe we won't see Ellie until her brother/the hero Mika finds her, probably near the end. I'm lead to believe that "mutant kids" are really special/rare/X-men and that this mysterious game will be exciting.
According to the hardback-ascribed summary here on GR, the book is about Ellie, who was "kidnapped as a child," and now sounds like some teenage kick-butt fighter pilot-slash-environmentalist who probably smuggles oppressed people to a new life or something after believing a lie but having a somewhat good post-kidnapping upbringing.
WRONG.
Ellie was kidnapped as a child because that was a year ago and she is still a child. She doesn't do anything active except escape from whatever at in the first chapter and then gets captured again, spending the rest of the book wondering what's going on.
But since the book opens with Ellie, the other summary is immediately shot. Mika still wants to believe that Ellie is alive? OF COURSE SHE IS SHE AND HER MONKEY FRIEND JUST FLEW A JET TWO CHAPTERS AGO. "Mutants?" Until the book inexplicably decides they're special, they're kids with birth defects: webbed toes, missing limbs. (On the same topic: Book, you cannot suddenly be all "Hey! Something we didn't mention until the end is now very important! Whee!") The game? It's as flat as the characters, and just as mysterious.
What I think the book was trying to do, with its alternating viewpoints from Mika to Ellie to the Big Bad, was trying to build the suspense because--ha ha!--we know something's coming! And all these things that we don't have answers for! I'm on the edge of my seat! ...Because I'm getting up and going to do something else because this book is so freaking boring.
Oh, and the worldbuilding: it's no worse than a lot of other dystopians, including ones aimed at an older audience. However, a lot of those don't have good worldbuilding, so that's not saying much.
How did you get the ENTIRE POPULATION OF EARTH behind even a massive enclosure and blot out all traces of nature? How did you What's this about "floods"? It's referenced but never explained. What are these stupid "Everlife Pills," and why are they in the story when NOTHING seems to relate to them? (Also: 108 is old, yes, but not nearly so old as the book wants to convince us, which is "so old no one has EVER LIVED THIS LONG look at this freak!")
If "fab" food is non-nutritious and just empty calories that kill you, why are so many people still alive and eating it for every single meal, every day of their life? How the heck did you build a wall 50-feet tall around all of northern Europe, Russia, and Canada? Not only would that have taken too long, there's no way you could convince billions of people to live behind it. How is the city stratified? We're told there are two levels, the rich-people Golden Turrets, and the poor-people Shadows. Except that a lot of characters don't live in either so what's up with that?
But as for the actual content? Let's just say I am not surprised that it's a first novel. And I am surprised that gave it a good blurb. Because it doesn't "[fly] along like a laser beam from a blaster," it meanders forward like a bowling ball thrown by a three-year-old kept on path only because the bumpers are up.
The bumpers are, in this case, a stubborn determination that everyone over the age of thirteen be really, really dense. Everyone thirteen and below as well, but at least they're young and have an excuse. The defining feature of this book is not the mysterious game or evil plots: it's the flatness of the characters, the ability to read 500 pages and still not be able to ascribe a personality to a single one.
It wins a gold medal in "Telling Rather Than Showing" category, with another in the related category of "As-You-Know-Bob Exposition."
And whoever wrote the summary--any of the summaries I've seen--needs a new job. In my hardcover (the summary for the paperback here on GR), I'm lead to believe we won't see Ellie until her brother/the hero Mika finds her, probably near the end. I'm lead to believe that "mutant kids" are really special/rare/X-men and that this mysterious game will be exciting.
According to the hardback-ascribed summary here on GR, the book is about Ellie, who was "kidnapped as a child," and now sounds like some teenage kick-butt fighter pilot-slash-environmentalist who probably smuggles oppressed people to a new life or something after believing a lie but having a somewhat good post-kidnapping upbringing.
WRONG.
Ellie was kidnapped as a child because that was a year ago and she is still a child. She doesn't do anything active except escape from whatever at in the first chapter and then gets captured again, spending the rest of the book wondering what's going on.
But since the book opens with Ellie, the other summary is immediately shot. Mika still wants to believe that Ellie is alive? OF COURSE SHE IS SHE AND HER MONKEY FRIEND JUST FLEW A JET TWO CHAPTERS AGO. "Mutants?" Until the book inexplicably decides they're special, they're kids with birth defects: webbed toes, missing limbs. (On the same topic: Book, you cannot suddenly be all "Hey! Something we didn't mention until the end is now very important! Whee!") The game? It's as flat as the characters, and just as mysterious.
What I think the book was trying to do, with its alternating viewpoints from Mika to Ellie to the Big Bad, was trying to build the suspense because--ha ha!--we know something's coming! And all these things that we don't have answers for! I'm on the edge of my seat! ...Because I'm getting up and going to do something else because this book is so freaking boring.
Oh, and the worldbuilding: it's no worse than a lot of other dystopians, including ones aimed at an older audience. However, a lot of those don't have good worldbuilding, so that's not saying much.
How did you get the ENTIRE POPULATION OF EARTH behind even a massive enclosure and blot out all traces of nature? How did you What's this about "floods"? It's referenced but never explained. What are these stupid "Everlife Pills," and why are they in the story when NOTHING seems to relate to them? (Also: 108 is old, yes, but not nearly so old as the book wants to convince us, which is "so old no one has EVER LIVED THIS LONG look at this freak!")
If "fab" food is non-nutritious and just empty calories that kill you, why are so many people still alive and eating it for every single meal, every day of their life? How the heck did you build a wall 50-feet tall around all of northern Europe, Russia, and Canada? Not only would that have taken too long, there's no way you could convince billions of people to live behind it. How is the city stratified? We're told there are two levels, the rich-people Golden Turrets, and the poor-people Shadows. Except that a lot of characters don't live in either so what's up with that?
January 8, 2009
In the future, a plague spreads through all the world's animals. To survive, the humans create a northern wall through Canada, England, etc. Every living thing south of the wall is destroyed while all the people in the world move north of the wall into multi-leveled cities with no plants or animals. Their food is produced from chemicals and mold.
Because of the lack of space, it's 30 years before anyone is allowed to have children. 2 of these children are fraternal twins Ellie and Mika. When Ellie disappears, Mika's parents believe that she's dead. But the strong telepathic bond Mika shares with his twin leads him to believe that she's alive, and he'll do anything to find her again. This leads him to follow along with what the government demands of him even when he senses there's some secret the government is trying to hide from everyone. This includes joining his classmates in learning war games on simulators and competing in competitions that can make his family very rich.
This book is an easy read. You keep turning the pages wondering if the twins will be reunited and if the big secret is what you think it is. It's predictable but enjoyable. It reminds me somewhat of even though Ender's Game is much more compelling. There are also nods to ideas such as twin telepathy across long distances and even into outer space such as in . Also there are versions in this series of the animal companions from and the rest of the His Dark Materials series (although they're not called "daemons" here). I might pick up the sequel when it comes out if I find it at a good price, but it's not a huge compulsion. I'm sure the next book in the series will merely be a book about a battle, but I might be surprised.
Note: While I critique both purchased and free books in the same way, I'm legally obligated to tell you I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program in return for my review. Blah blah blah.
Because of the lack of space, it's 30 years before anyone is allowed to have children. 2 of these children are fraternal twins Ellie and Mika. When Ellie disappears, Mika's parents believe that she's dead. But the strong telepathic bond Mika shares with his twin leads him to believe that she's alive, and he'll do anything to find her again. This leads him to follow along with what the government demands of him even when he senses there's some secret the government is trying to hide from everyone. This includes joining his classmates in learning war games on simulators and competing in competitions that can make his family very rich.
This book is an easy read. You keep turning the pages wondering if the twins will be reunited and if the big secret is what you think it is. It's predictable but enjoyable. It reminds me somewhat of even though Ender's Game is much more compelling. There are also nods to ideas such as twin telepathy across long distances and even into outer space such as in . Also there are versions in this series of the animal companions from and the rest of the His Dark Materials series (although they're not called "daemons" here). I might pick up the sequel when it comes out if I find it at a good price, but it's not a huge compulsion. I'm sure the next book in the series will merely be a book about a battle, but I might be surprised.
Note: While I critique both purchased and free books in the same way, I'm legally obligated to tell you I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program in return for my review. Blah blah blah.
March 24, 2009
"The Roar" is... interesting, "Ender's Game" meets a sci-fi environmentalism extreme. I was unimpressed with the writing style itself; a more flowery diction would have gone a long way to portray some of the dream motifs and fantastical, superpower elements prevalent in the storyline, I thought. But then again, it's a science fiction story at its core.
I did enjoy the character development. As the story begins, you assume Ellie is the main character, and keep on waiting for the plot to refocus on her. But she is the objective, and her twin brother, Mika, the character around whom the majority of plot revolves. Mika embarks on a compelling journey of self-discovery as he tries to search out his missing sister, all the while feeling foreboding instincts of paranoia in regards to how his world is treating the new generation of 12- and 13-year-old children.
The shift from one point of view to another is abrupt most times. You're rambling inside of Mika's head and then suddenly, his mother is explaining her perspective on her son. In fact, the omnipotent editor explains everything too well. You understand pretty quickly that Mika and Ellie have a bond that allows them to communicate on a different level, yet each time they share a sensation or experience, the narrator feels obligated to explain why one feels the other's pain. It's a kids' book though, so I'm probably being too harsh.
Most of my gripes with this book are at the beginning: the use of similes was excessive, descriptions of unfamiliar elements in the futuristic world abrupt and the plot disconnected and confused. Once the story gets going, the simplistic writing style felt less abrasive. And, even though I felt pretty sure of where the plot was going, the scintillating ride through Mika's dreams, discovery of his powers and awareness of the world around him was nonetheless compelling. The future world of "The Roar" is gradually explained and the mystery behind the hastily-mentioned Secret (yes, uppercase... annoying) slowly developed into a nuanced enigma.
The author did write action scenes, which included Pod Fighters, very well. I think I enjoyed the flying in this book most of all.
"The Roar" ends abruptly, almost in a rush. That's not to say I was displeased with the ending. It was appropriate, I felt, if not entirely conclusive. I'm undecided as to whether I think a sequel would be necessary or interesting.
While I wouldn't say "The Roar" is a surprising contribution to the literary world, it is a lot more imaginative, creative and expansive than the simplistic plot presented in the jacket summary. Definitely worth a read... if only for the tiny robot animals.
But seriously, I hope someone takes out the double simile in the book's first very sentence and the poor summary on the jacket, which both gives away the part of ending and incorrectly conveys the themes of the book. The "roar" referred to in the title isn't that of an animal's, I don't think.
I did enjoy the character development. As the story begins, you assume Ellie is the main character, and keep on waiting for the plot to refocus on her. But she is the objective, and her twin brother, Mika, the character around whom the majority of plot revolves. Mika embarks on a compelling journey of self-discovery as he tries to search out his missing sister, all the while feeling foreboding instincts of paranoia in regards to how his world is treating the new generation of 12- and 13-year-old children.
The shift from one point of view to another is abrupt most times. You're rambling inside of Mika's head and then suddenly, his mother is explaining her perspective on her son. In fact, the omnipotent editor explains everything too well. You understand pretty quickly that Mika and Ellie have a bond that allows them to communicate on a different level, yet each time they share a sensation or experience, the narrator feels obligated to explain why one feels the other's pain. It's a kids' book though, so I'm probably being too harsh.
Most of my gripes with this book are at the beginning: the use of similes was excessive, descriptions of unfamiliar elements in the futuristic world abrupt and the plot disconnected and confused. Once the story gets going, the simplistic writing style felt less abrasive. And, even though I felt pretty sure of where the plot was going, the scintillating ride through Mika's dreams, discovery of his powers and awareness of the world around him was nonetheless compelling. The future world of "The Roar" is gradually explained and the mystery behind the hastily-mentioned Secret (yes, uppercase... annoying) slowly developed into a nuanced enigma.
The author did write action scenes, which included Pod Fighters, very well. I think I enjoyed the flying in this book most of all.
"The Roar" ends abruptly, almost in a rush. That's not to say I was displeased with the ending. It was appropriate, I felt, if not entirely conclusive. I'm undecided as to whether I think a sequel would be necessary or interesting.
While I wouldn't say "The Roar" is a surprising contribution to the literary world, it is a lot more imaginative, creative and expansive than the simplistic plot presented in the jacket summary. Definitely worth a read... if only for the tiny robot animals.
But seriously, I hope someone takes out the double simile in the book's first very sentence and the poor summary on the jacket, which both gives away the part of ending and incorrectly conveys the themes of the book. The "roar" referred to in the title isn't that of an animal's, I don't think.
December 19, 2024
Read this for school…it was alright, I guess. A lot of things were weird and didn’t make sense. Recommend if you want a fast read, ig
June 27, 2018
Emma Clayton’s The Roar is one of those books I picked up to complete a deal � in fact, I picked up both books in this series. Although the books were used as a means to ensure I reached the right number of books to get the offer, I was interested in giving this series a read. In fact, I was rather eager to dive in. Although I feel as though young adult dystopian has grown to be overly repetitive, I still have a weakness for the genre.
Unfortunately, there was too much of that repetitiveness for me to enjoy this one. Most of the elements in this story I could point towards other young adult dystopian books and say ‘I have seen it before, and I have seen it done better�. Sure, there was potential here, but it failed to live up to it.
I think the biggest issue for me, however, was that I did not care about any of the characters. I can deal with similar stories, if I’m enjoying something about them. Namely, if I care about the characters and what is happening to them. With this one, I just didn’t care. I felt no connection to any of the characters, and I was reading simply to see how everything came together.
I will admit there was some enjoyment to be found when the details came together towards the end, and there were some nice messages in there, but it was not enough to win me over. As I have the second book I will be reading it to see how everything comes together, but it’s not a story I’m crazy excited about. It’s a means to get answers, not a necessity to calm a fangirl mind.
I’m sure many will enjoy this, but The Roar just wasn’t for me.
Unfortunately, there was too much of that repetitiveness for me to enjoy this one. Most of the elements in this story I could point towards other young adult dystopian books and say ‘I have seen it before, and I have seen it done better�. Sure, there was potential here, but it failed to live up to it.
I think the biggest issue for me, however, was that I did not care about any of the characters. I can deal with similar stories, if I’m enjoying something about them. Namely, if I care about the characters and what is happening to them. With this one, I just didn’t care. I felt no connection to any of the characters, and I was reading simply to see how everything came together.
I will admit there was some enjoyment to be found when the details came together towards the end, and there were some nice messages in there, but it was not enough to win me over. As I have the second book I will be reading it to see how everything comes together, but it’s not a story I’m crazy excited about. It’s a means to get answers, not a necessity to calm a fangirl mind.
I’m sure many will enjoy this, but The Roar just wasn’t for me.
May 17, 2010
This book had a lot going for it - a dystopian future world, virtual reality games, and mutant teens - but it fell apart on a number of levels. Mika refuses to believe that his twin sister Ellie is dead and somehow feels that she is still alive and being held captive somewhere, but we're never given any evidence that there were any telepathic feelings between them before this happened. Although most of the population seems to be living in crowded, squalid, dark, damp, and moldy surroundings, no one questions why this is so when others are living in cities above them in spacious, light-filled apartments. While the initial chapters on the pod fighters reality game are exciting, the rest of the book takes way too long to get through the competition that is set up to find and select the mutant teens who will be used by the people in power as fighters in a future war. Finally, the secret behind this society and the wall built around it is just thrown in at the end and in the last few pages we are supposed to believe that the teens in this world will somehow rise up and set everything right.
March 23, 2017
Considering I don't exactly love science fiction novels, this book was pretty good. There were enough unanswered questions and enough suspense to get me through all 481 pages in one day. The ending was pretty good, but I really wish Emma Clayton had shortened the introduction and lengthened the conclusion a bit, because I was definitely expecting more from the ending. It was a bit disappointing.
August 4, 2018
I really liked this book it was very interesting it reminds me of Eoin Colfer books when it comes to the writing and the pacing it was very interesting from start to finish. I really liked the characters especially Mika he is a very interesting and well-written character I liked all of the interesting details that were revealed as the story progressed. I really liked the story the plot moved at a steady pace and in this book I liked the book's world it was interesting and awful all at the same time. So overall I liked this book an will be reading the next one soon.
January 30, 2025
'Op aarde, achter de Muur, wonen tweehonderdzeventigduizend kinderen van twaalf en dertien,' zei hij. 'Tweehonderdzeventigduizend, Ellie. En vorige week hebben ze stuk voor stuk op school een beker Fitmix gedronken, behalve Mika Smith in Barford-Noord. Vertel jij me maar eens waarom. Waarom was jóúw broer de enige die weigerde? Het is nogal toevallig, vind je niet?'
Ellie sloeg haar ogen neer en voelde een vlaag van liefde en trots. 'Hij heeft het niet gedronken omdat hij niet achterlijk is,' zei ze zachtjes.
Om de een of andere reden was ik, de eerste keer dat ik dit boek las, niet helemaal overtuigd - nu (in 2015) ruim vijftien jaar geleden. Maar bij het herlezen ben ik helemaal verknocht geraakt aan dit boek.
Dit verhaal gaat over de onbreekbare vriendschap en de speciale band tussen broer en zus, en al heb ik daar geen ervaring mee, toch vind ik het prachtig neergezet en voelt het magisch aan. De dingen die Mika voor zijn zus doet zijn prachtig neergeschreven, echt ontroerend. Hij is een knap uitgewerkt hoofdpersonage, net als zijn zus Ellie en zijn vriendin Audrey.
Knappe beschrijvingen ook - op het moment dat ik dit boek voor het eerst las, was ik bezig met een library spree, zou je het kunnen noemen. En de C van Clayton zit vooraan in het alfabet, dus dit boek zat redelijk vooraan in de lange lijst die ik toen gelezen heb. De Schreeuw was een van de eerste boeken waar ik weg was van de beschrijvingen, ik zag ze zo voor me.
Het begin is trouwens wel heel erg opvallend. Zo ongeveer de eerste dertig bladzijdes krijg je voornamelijk vanuit het standpunt van Ellie te lezen, en het komt dan ook nogal als een verrassing dat de aandacht daarna naar Mika's kant draait. Een opvallende, originele keuze! Achteraf bekeken doen de eerste hoofdstukken een beetje denken aan een heel lange proloog, maar dan een die direct aansluit op de rest van het boek.
De Nederlandse vertaling is van Lia Belt. Daar valt eigenlijk niks op aan te merken. Er zitten misschien een paar tikjes Hollands in, en ik geloof dat ik doorheen de jaren - tijdens mijn talloze herleessessie - ook wel een paar typfouten heb opgemerkt. Oh ja, en op het einde staat er ergens een 'Ellie' waar dat 'Mika' moet zijn. Maar daar blijft het dan ook bij. Verder is dit knap werk, alles leest vlot en zoals het hoort. Een puike vertaling.
Het verhaal is origineel, en de worldbuilding ook. Als je dit boek nu pas voor het eerst leest, is de kans groot dat je het niet met me eens bent... maar je moet bedenken dat De Schreeuw in hetzelfde jaar als De Hongerspelen verscheen. In 2008 waren dystopische verhalen van dit kaliber nog niet zo wijdverspreid als nu, dus voor die tijd was het redelijk uitzonderlijk om dit soort plot te lezen. Goed uitgewerkt, logische opeenvolging, een paar dingen je net niet ziet aankomen... En een paar dingen, met name over het Geheim, die je toen ook nog niet zag aankomen maar nu misschien wel. Ik denk dat we inhoudelijk ondertussen zo geëvolueerd zijn dat we dat soort plotwendingen gewend zijn geworden. Maar dat maakt mij niks uit, dit is nog steeds een heerlijk boek.
Kort iets over het vervolg
Iets dat je zal opvallen als je het boek leest, is dat de titel niet verklaard wordt. Dat gebeurt pas in het tweede boek, dat nooit vertaald is. Aan de ene kant is dat jammer, natuurlijk, maar aan de andere kant... Dat boek is niet echt fameus. Heel erg jammer, na zo'n sterk eerste deel. Het lijkt er maar achter te zijn geplakt om het verhaal af te maken, zonder al te veel aandacht voor de grote zaken die ertoe doen. Spijtig.
Gelukkig kun je De Schreeuw volgens mij wel apart lezen. Dat doe ik ook. Je blijft met een paar vragen zitten, natuurlijk, en het is een beetje een open einde, maar niet té open en genoeg vragen zijn beantwoord. Het enige wat je eigenlijk van het vervolg (The Whisper) moet weten, is dat het een goed einde heeft.
10/10
Ellie sloeg haar ogen neer en voelde een vlaag van liefde en trots. 'Hij heeft het niet gedronken omdat hij niet achterlijk is,' zei ze zachtjes.
Om de een of andere reden was ik, de eerste keer dat ik dit boek las, niet helemaal overtuigd - nu (in 2015) ruim vijftien jaar geleden. Maar bij het herlezen ben ik helemaal verknocht geraakt aan dit boek.
Dit verhaal gaat over de onbreekbare vriendschap en de speciale band tussen broer en zus, en al heb ik daar geen ervaring mee, toch vind ik het prachtig neergezet en voelt het magisch aan. De dingen die Mika voor zijn zus doet zijn prachtig neergeschreven, echt ontroerend. Hij is een knap uitgewerkt hoofdpersonage, net als zijn zus Ellie en zijn vriendin Audrey.
Knappe beschrijvingen ook - op het moment dat ik dit boek voor het eerst las, was ik bezig met een library spree, zou je het kunnen noemen. En de C van Clayton zit vooraan in het alfabet, dus dit boek zat redelijk vooraan in de lange lijst die ik toen gelezen heb. De Schreeuw was een van de eerste boeken waar ik weg was van de beschrijvingen, ik zag ze zo voor me.
Het begin is trouwens wel heel erg opvallend. Zo ongeveer de eerste dertig bladzijdes krijg je voornamelijk vanuit het standpunt van Ellie te lezen, en het komt dan ook nogal als een verrassing dat de aandacht daarna naar Mika's kant draait. Een opvallende, originele keuze! Achteraf bekeken doen de eerste hoofdstukken een beetje denken aan een heel lange proloog, maar dan een die direct aansluit op de rest van het boek.
De Nederlandse vertaling is van Lia Belt. Daar valt eigenlijk niks op aan te merken. Er zitten misschien een paar tikjes Hollands in, en ik geloof dat ik doorheen de jaren - tijdens mijn talloze herleessessie - ook wel een paar typfouten heb opgemerkt. Oh ja, en op het einde staat er ergens een 'Ellie' waar dat 'Mika' moet zijn. Maar daar blijft het dan ook bij. Verder is dit knap werk, alles leest vlot en zoals het hoort. Een puike vertaling.
Het verhaal is origineel, en de worldbuilding ook. Als je dit boek nu pas voor het eerst leest, is de kans groot dat je het niet met me eens bent... maar je moet bedenken dat De Schreeuw in hetzelfde jaar als De Hongerspelen verscheen. In 2008 waren dystopische verhalen van dit kaliber nog niet zo wijdverspreid als nu, dus voor die tijd was het redelijk uitzonderlijk om dit soort plot te lezen. Goed uitgewerkt, logische opeenvolging, een paar dingen je net niet ziet aankomen... En een paar dingen, met name over het Geheim, die je toen ook nog niet zag aankomen maar nu misschien wel. Ik denk dat we inhoudelijk ondertussen zo geëvolueerd zijn dat we dat soort plotwendingen gewend zijn geworden. Maar dat maakt mij niks uit, dit is nog steeds een heerlijk boek.
Kort iets over het vervolg
Iets dat je zal opvallen als je het boek leest, is dat de titel niet verklaard wordt. Dat gebeurt pas in het tweede boek, dat nooit vertaald is. Aan de ene kant is dat jammer, natuurlijk, maar aan de andere kant... Dat boek is niet echt fameus. Heel erg jammer, na zo'n sterk eerste deel. Het lijkt er maar achter te zijn geplakt om het verhaal af te maken, zonder al te veel aandacht voor de grote zaken die ertoe doen. Spijtig.
Gelukkig kun je De Schreeuw volgens mij wel apart lezen. Dat doe ik ook. Je blijft met een paar vragen zitten, natuurlijk, en het is een beetje een open einde, maar niet té open en genoeg vragen zijn beantwoord. Het enige wat je eigenlijk van het vervolg (The Whisper) moet weten, is dat het een goed einde heeft.
10/10
December 2, 2010
Originally Posted on
The Roar was described by the readers whose judgment I trust as something like a mash-up of the popular books under the dystopian genre. In some ways, this is true. It has evident elements that I’ve already read on my favorite dystopian novels but it also does have elements that helped the book to stand its own.
It’s the year 2050 on Earth, and the entire human population was forced to inhabit the Northern Hemisphere, behind The Wall. Twins Ellie and Mika are among the first generation of kids to be born 30 years after the global epidemic known as The Plague. Ellie, for suspicions that she possess special abilities, was kidnapped and everyone were made to believe that she’s dead except her twin brother, Mika. Mika can feel the connection and certain that her twin sister is alive. He is to prove that he is right even if it means joining a dangerous virtual game set by the Northern Government.
One of the strongest points of The Roar is the effective dystopian world building. The world behind The Wall was divided into two; the rich live in the upper level known as The Golden Turrets while the poor live on the lower level, The Shadows. People are dying in The Shadows because they didn’t have any choice but to live off processed molds for food and amidst the increasing polluted water levels. Life in The Shadows is miserable and it is scary. There’s this particular scene where every time someone from The Shadows die, the people will bang the pillars that holds The Golden Turrets making the sound, “Boom Boom�. I was filled with dread every time I hear the sound.
Through this horrible world, I learned to feel sympathy for the characters � Ellie and Mika among others. They are separated but you can see the link between them. What one learns, the other learns and what one feels the other feels too. Throughout the duration that they are separated, I anticipated the moment when they will be reunited, half-expecting it to be something magical. This did not only help to keep the plot moving forward, but also for the smooth transition of perspectives.
And speaking of perspectives, there’s one perspective I am glad to see; the perspective of the “bad guy�, Mal Gorman. If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you know that I want my villains with strong character development. Emma Clayton didn’t disappoint me with Mal Gorman. Gorman’s characterization is every bit as strong as the twin’s. He has fair share of nightmares, he has fears, and his vulnerabilities were not masked. He did sound evil whenever we’re at the twin’s perspective but I kept wondering what Gorman’s real purpose was, what drives him to do such things, and whether he really is a bad guy or not. The Roar, aside from the violent games, also shares another important element from one of the most popular, if not the most popular dystopian novel today, The Hunger Games, and that is Media Fabrication. As to how does Media Fabrication comes to play in The Roar and what has it got to do with Mal Gorman is for me to know and for you to find out.
The Roar was described by the readers whose judgment I trust as something like a mash-up of the popular books under the dystopian genre. In some ways, this is true. It has evident elements that I’ve already read on my favorite dystopian novels but it also does have elements that helped the book to stand its own.
It’s the year 2050 on Earth, and the entire human population was forced to inhabit the Northern Hemisphere, behind The Wall. Twins Ellie and Mika are among the first generation of kids to be born 30 years after the global epidemic known as The Plague. Ellie, for suspicions that she possess special abilities, was kidnapped and everyone were made to believe that she’s dead except her twin brother, Mika. Mika can feel the connection and certain that her twin sister is alive. He is to prove that he is right even if it means joining a dangerous virtual game set by the Northern Government.
One of the strongest points of The Roar is the effective dystopian world building. The world behind The Wall was divided into two; the rich live in the upper level known as The Golden Turrets while the poor live on the lower level, The Shadows. People are dying in The Shadows because they didn’t have any choice but to live off processed molds for food and amidst the increasing polluted water levels. Life in The Shadows is miserable and it is scary. There’s this particular scene where every time someone from The Shadows die, the people will bang the pillars that holds The Golden Turrets making the sound, “Boom Boom�. I was filled with dread every time I hear the sound.
Through this horrible world, I learned to feel sympathy for the characters � Ellie and Mika among others. They are separated but you can see the link between them. What one learns, the other learns and what one feels the other feels too. Throughout the duration that they are separated, I anticipated the moment when they will be reunited, half-expecting it to be something magical. This did not only help to keep the plot moving forward, but also for the smooth transition of perspectives.
And speaking of perspectives, there’s one perspective I am glad to see; the perspective of the “bad guy�, Mal Gorman. If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you know that I want my villains with strong character development. Emma Clayton didn’t disappoint me with Mal Gorman. Gorman’s characterization is every bit as strong as the twin’s. He has fair share of nightmares, he has fears, and his vulnerabilities were not masked. He did sound evil whenever we’re at the twin’s perspective but I kept wondering what Gorman’s real purpose was, what drives him to do such things, and whether he really is a bad guy or not. The Roar, aside from the violent games, also shares another important element from one of the most popular, if not the most popular dystopian novel today, The Hunger Games, and that is Media Fabrication. As to how does Media Fabrication comes to play in The Roar and what has it got to do with Mal Gorman is for me to know and for you to find out.
January 12, 2011
A YA book, I would even say it fits for younger audiences- although some elements are quite frightening. I found the hook to be just too obvious- or perhaps simplistic is a more accurate word- for the more seasoned readers of dystopian fiction.
Set in a dark future where some time in the past the animals of earth became infected by a plague, the people of earth are still living behind man made walls in fortified cities. Little does everyone know that the walls and fortification are not to keep rabid beast out, but to keep them in. But one young girl, and the twin she hasn't seen since being kidnapped years ago, are about to expose the huge secret- one that goes to the darkest part of the human heart... because truth can never stay hidden for long, no matter what greedy men say.
The plot in The Roar is just a tad "done before" for my tastes and the revelation of the big bad made me roll my eyes because of its obvious agenda. (Which by the way, comes off as slightly hypocritical to me since an "agenda" is what the children are fighting against in this book.)
As YA fiction, this novel does fine. I think any kid under thirteen would enjoy it- if they're into the sci fi/fantasy genres. (The Hero & Heroine are only twelve.) But as older youth/adult fiction? Not so much.
Oh and don't expect a clearly defined ending- this book is most definitely sequel bait.
Set in a dark future where some time in the past the animals of earth became infected by a plague, the people of earth are still living behind man made walls in fortified cities. Little does everyone know that the walls and fortification are not to keep rabid beast out, but to keep them in. But one young girl, and the twin she hasn't seen since being kidnapped years ago, are about to expose the huge secret- one that goes to the darkest part of the human heart... because truth can never stay hidden for long, no matter what greedy men say.
The plot in The Roar is just a tad "done before" for my tastes and the revelation of the big bad made me roll my eyes because of its obvious agenda. (Which by the way, comes off as slightly hypocritical to me since an "agenda" is what the children are fighting against in this book.)
As YA fiction, this novel does fine. I think any kid under thirteen would enjoy it- if they're into the sci fi/fantasy genres. (The Hero & Heroine are only twelve.) But as older youth/adult fiction? Not so much.
Oh and don't expect a clearly defined ending- this book is most definitely sequel bait.
May 27, 2009
A solid 4 stars.
If I was pitching this book I would say its, "'Hunger Games' meets 'Children of Men' with a touch of 'Ender's Game'...WITH MUTANTS."
This fast paced read begins with your standard dystopian society after a horrific event called, "The Animal Plague" which caused all of nature to be destroyed and people to live in squalor behind a wall. We are introduced to Ellie and Mika. A set of twins, who had been separated when the government kidnaped Ellie for nefarious reasons which are only eluded to. We follow her brother Mika as he navigates the dangerous games the government have set up in the guise of entertainment for he and his peers. As Mika discovers the truth about Ellie and the world in which he lives and learns about friendship in the wake of horrific events.
While it is a mish mash of a bunch of different Sci Fi theme, the book was very compelling. I found myself cursing silently when I had to put the book down. I can't wait for a sequel.
If I was pitching this book I would say its, "'Hunger Games' meets 'Children of Men' with a touch of 'Ender's Game'...WITH MUTANTS."
This fast paced read begins with your standard dystopian society after a horrific event called, "The Animal Plague" which caused all of nature to be destroyed and people to live in squalor behind a wall. We are introduced to Ellie and Mika. A set of twins, who had been separated when the government kidnaped Ellie for nefarious reasons which are only eluded to. We follow her brother Mika as he navigates the dangerous games the government have set up in the guise of entertainment for he and his peers. As Mika discovers the truth about Ellie and the world in which he lives and learns about friendship in the wake of horrific events.
While it is a mish mash of a bunch of different Sci Fi theme, the book was very compelling. I found myself cursing silently when I had to put the book down. I can't wait for a sequel.
April 21, 2009
I was very prepared to give this book four or possibly even five stars........... and then I finished it. The beginning caught my attention. The focus shifting from Ellie to Mika through me off a bit, but hey, I can deal with twists and turns and surprises. It keeps the story interesting and is why I read in the first place. The story was engaging and kept me wanting to continue reading. And then the end. The author definitely leaves room for a sequel. In fact, at this point, how can she not write a sequel? She did not finish one story line. Not even a little bit. And the author had me so engaged in the characters and what was happening that I WANTED to know. Still a good book and a worthy read and hopefully a sequel is on the way but definitely a disappointing ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
The ROAR by Emma Clayton is a book written on the middle school level but can appeal to readers of all ages. The book is rather long and seems to have the natural "book bog" in the middle that often makes it difficult to finish. I think this is where many readers stop and think, "is it worth it to go on?"
While the book is written simply it covers some complex issues such as mind control through video games. I snickered at this because after all, isn't this what is happening now? But, I digress. The book wasn't too bad and supports the value of redeeming characteristics, loyalty, resiliency, and honesty.
I don't think I will be returning for the rest of the series as I did not develop enough interest in the characters or plotline to do a second book. I thought the book was a bit too long especially when the audience is considered. I do think that there are parts in the middle that could be eliminated and nothing in the book would change. I tired of reading about Mika scoring his working his way through the video game POD FIGHTER, but the further he progressed the higher the sakes were so it was a saving grace.
For me, it was a push to get to a 3 star read... but there were some interesting moments... I told my Grand I was going to put her in a detention collar, SHE didn't think it was funny... I liked that part!
Happy Reading.
February 10, 2025
Kinda like if you took Hunger Games, made all the characters way less interesting, took all the interesting backstory out, and made it British. Honestly, I think the only reason my English teacher made us read this is because Hunger Games is overused as a dystopian novel, but that's the whole point. Hunger Games is used so often because it is such a masterpiece. I wouldn't wast your time.
August 3, 2011
Mika has never gotten over the death of his twin sister--mostly because he's positive she's not dead. He can feel her out there, somewhere, and it's up to him to find her. It's not easy, when the world is surrounded by a giant wall to keep out the plague-ridden animals, and going to school now means drinking cups of the vile FitMix and going to FitCamp. When the new Podfighter game comes to the arcades, Mika takes to it like he's been playing all his life, and there's something about it that will bring him closer to his missing sister.
Hmm. I didn't love this. I didn't even particularly like it. There are some huge plot holes (have Ellie and Mika always been telepathic? ) and abandoned plot threads (where did Helen go? Will she be back?) Maybe some of this will be addressed in the sequel (due out Feb 2012, it seems) but I'm not inclined to pick it up and find out.
So: the world has been reduced to the space inside the wall, safe from the plague-carrying animals and the dangerous, deadly nature. Inside the wall, people are packed tightly together in strict classes, with little in-between: the wealthy live in the Golden Turrets, the luxury apartments; the poor live in the slums in tiny fold-down apartments prone to mildew and dampness; the really poor live in the Shadows, where they frequently die of illnesses induced by living in mold and dankness. You've got your garden-variety class issues, plus environmental ruin, population control (Mika and Ellie are among the oldest kids around after a 30-year population halt), gaming culture, conspiracy, and technology (anti-aging drugs, hovercars, tiny pocket-sized "companions" in place of phones).
Middle-schoolers may be excited by all the action; high schoolers are more likely to be jaded and bored by the loooooooong details of podfighter tournaments. Similar to Ender's Game or Epic(video gaming), X-Men or Witch and Wizard (mutant powers), Uglies (flying sequences; going beyond city limits), Maze Runner (safety only inside walls), or Inside Out (discoveries about the world outside).
Hmm. I didn't love this. I didn't even particularly like it. There are some huge plot holes (have Ellie and Mika always been telepathic? ) and abandoned plot threads (where did Helen go? Will she be back?) Maybe some of this will be addressed in the sequel (due out Feb 2012, it seems) but I'm not inclined to pick it up and find out.
So: the world has been reduced to the space inside the wall, safe from the plague-carrying animals and the dangerous, deadly nature. Inside the wall, people are packed tightly together in strict classes, with little in-between: the wealthy live in the Golden Turrets, the luxury apartments; the poor live in the slums in tiny fold-down apartments prone to mildew and dampness; the really poor live in the Shadows, where they frequently die of illnesses induced by living in mold and dankness. You've got your garden-variety class issues, plus environmental ruin, population control (Mika and Ellie are among the oldest kids around after a 30-year population halt), gaming culture, conspiracy, and technology (anti-aging drugs, hovercars, tiny pocket-sized "companions" in place of phones).
Middle-schoolers may be excited by all the action; high schoolers are more likely to be jaded and bored by the loooooooong details of podfighter tournaments. Similar to Ender's Game or Epic(video gaming), X-Men or Witch and Wizard (mutant powers), Uglies (flying sequences; going beyond city limits), Maze Runner (safety only inside walls), or Inside Out (discoveries about the world outside).
Read
December 16, 2013This exciting novel "The Roar" by Emma Clayton Takes place in the future where a nasty plague had broken out and everybody in the world is forced to live be hind the wall for there own protection.the general setting is actually based behind the wall and there are three parts to this whole new lifestyle the people are forced to live in. there are the shadows, witch is where the sewers and mold grows underneath everything and that is where the poor people are living the middle class live in barford north kind of like a normal city and then there arre the goolden turrets where everyone who is rich or important live. But this book included kids that all have a new arcade game called pod fighter and they are flying jets and preparing to play in a tornament. until these two kids, twins actually become very good beating everyone in there path they go on to win the tornament and they find out that they were actually being trained. trained for war and all of there friends had been taken from there parents and there was something horrible coming there way. my reaction to the book the first time i read it was that i wasnt very interested because i didnt exactly get it but the second time i read it i saw the plot i saw how the children were blinded through a game how adults were taking advantage of them and also how nobody seemed to notice till it was to late.
this book was actually very difficult to comprehend when i first read it because it was such a higher standard book when i read it in the fourth grade but seeing it now i get the real world perspective and it is an amazing book if you have the patience to get passed the first three chapters.
this book was actually very difficult to comprehend when i first read it because it was such a higher standard book when i read it in the fourth grade but seeing it now i get the real world perspective and it is an amazing book if you have the patience to get passed the first three chapters.
January 19, 2022
Recommended to me by one of my students, I read this with dread because #1, I am not a fan of series, and #2, I'm really not a fan of sci-fi either. I have to say I did like the book though. I like the characters, and I like the "hidden message" the author has. I see why middle school students like the book, and I would recommend it to my middle school students.
Added January 19: I don't know what book I was reviewing above -- I have absolutely no recollection of ever reading this book before now. My granddaughter asked me to read it so I did -- with dread for the reasons noted above. This time, however, I was unimpressed (assuming there really WAS another time!!). I could not buy into the "competition" or the relationships of Gorman and Ellie or Gorman and anyone else. He was alternately incredibly stupid and incredibly boorish. I was unimpressed with the dialogue, with the parents, with the plot which was incredibly transparent. These are MY impressions. That said, I do see how it would be an exciting read for someone of my granddaughter's age -- 6th grade. I will look forward to discussing it with her.
Added January 19: I don't know what book I was reviewing above -- I have absolutely no recollection of ever reading this book before now. My granddaughter asked me to read it so I did -- with dread for the reasons noted above. This time, however, I was unimpressed (assuming there really WAS another time!!). I could not buy into the "competition" or the relationships of Gorman and Ellie or Gorman and anyone else. He was alternately incredibly stupid and incredibly boorish. I was unimpressed with the dialogue, with the parents, with the plot which was incredibly transparent. These are MY impressions. That said, I do see how it would be an exciting read for someone of my granddaughter's age -- 6th grade. I will look forward to discussing it with her.
July 30, 2010
Still 4 stars even though the ending was awful. Awful unless there is a sequel out there somewhere that will answer my questions. But I searched every end page and could find no indication that this was book one in a series. There were so many things that needed explaining and wrapping up and I was left to make too many assumptions. I needed closure.
Other than that, this was a splendid book. Exciting from the get go--a wonderful read for kids who might not be ready for the intensity of Hunger Games or Ship Breaker, but who still want a thrilling, well-written sci fi. At first I thought the story might not appeal to my boys because it seems there is a female main character. As it turns out however, the story is told from Ellie's point of view, as well as that of her twin brother Mika. And Mika gets way more face time. I think they would totally go for it, which is why I'll probably end up buying it, if I can over the abrupt, rushed ending.
Other than that, this was a splendid book. Exciting from the get go--a wonderful read for kids who might not be ready for the intensity of Hunger Games or Ship Breaker, but who still want a thrilling, well-written sci fi. At first I thought the story might not appeal to my boys because it seems there is a female main character. As it turns out however, the story is told from Ellie's point of view, as well as that of her twin brother Mika. And Mika gets way more face time. I think they would totally go for it, which is why I'll probably end up buying it, if I can over the abrupt, rushed ending.
August 27, 2014
Seriously terrible. The plot was a weird and horrible mashup of Ender's Game and Hunger Games. It was FULL of plot ninjas. (Why was there an invisible dog? Seriously? What purpose did that serve?) Quite a few main characters could have been cut entirely (the captive twin, for one), as could the random space-station, in order to have a tighter and more cohesive plot. All of the dialogue seemed forced into the mouths of the characters. All of the descriptions were telling, not showing. The sentence structure was both over-long and choppy.
Look, I get that you're writing for kids, but that's no excuse for bad writing. In fact, kids NEED good writing. They need books that give them better vocabularies and show them how to use them. Nothing in this book seemed natural.
Look, I get that you're writing for kids, but that's no excuse for bad writing. In fact, kids NEED good writing. They need books that give them better vocabularies and show them how to use them. Nothing in this book seemed natural.
September 20, 2014
Another book aimed at young readers that bashes them over the head with eco-global warming indoctrination.
October 18, 2018
It is a good book for anyone who wants to see what might happen in the future. It really gets you thinking what might happen to us if we take everything from our home planet of earth. Its a mix between post Apocalypse and sci fi. All of the animals in the world have supposedly turned on the humans and everyone is cornered into one part of the earth. It gives of a vibe of perseverance and pushing through the problem that the people then faced. Overall the the book is great for anyone of all ages. The plot and characters hook you in right from the beginning. Its a good and decently long read if you like it there is another book in the series.
April 25, 2019
Mika lives in a world behind the wall where all signs of nature have been eliminated following a devastating animal plague. When he is recurited to play a game he seizes the opportunity as a way to find his twin sister Ellie who everyone but him thinks died.
In a lot of ways, this has a very Ender's Game feel to it. It started out a little slow but around the middle rapidly gained pace. At times it is a bit predictable but not enough to detract from the story.
In a lot of ways, this has a very Ender's Game feel to it. It started out a little slow but around the middle rapidly gained pace. At times it is a bit predictable but not enough to detract from the story.
March 5, 2018
It is a good book, plenty of action and understandable. Some parts get a little confusing because it can be so out of this world, but I usually was able to figure it out. Has a beautiful connection between siblings and friends and is the type of book that makes you think about the future. Kept me hooked, and I am still hooked. I want to finish Mika and Ellie's story.
April 1, 2019
This book was an awesome switchup. I just finished reading “Belichick and Brady� which is nonfiction. It was a huge relief to get back in the swing of exciting plot points and twists and turns. In this futuristic society, tons of questions are posed, and the book answered them amazingly. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading science fiction/ futuristic books.
February 27, 2020
There is a lot going on in this story and the writer does a decent job with it and the world building BUT I felt there was an extremist hidden agenda, the characters are very one dimensional and it goes on a bit too long in parts. Not reading the sequel!!
January 31, 2022
The Roar is an inspiring book about twins that have a psychic ability after being told that his sister Ellie was dead, Mika know he is being lied to what he docent know is there is an even bigger secret behind this scheme.
July 7, 2017
The book is a great dystopian novel. I have always been fascinated with ESP and the book offered me that connection! I kept thinking of Ender's Game as I read. I am moving on to the sequel soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,117 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.