"I’d love to give this book another shot in the future, as I love Thompson’s previous works. The Barn’s subject matter is vitally important for everyone to learn more about; however, the manner in which the plethora of names, locations, addresses and historical origins are presented is disjointed at best.

I had a very difficult time finding a “flow� with any kind of narrative. Thompson clearly did a TON of research and reporting, however it often felt like he was forcing all of it into a single paragraph with awkward pacing. "

"Did not finish.

I’d like to know if I’m actually reading the same book as everyone else. This is the worst piece of literature I’ve read in a long while. I got to chapter 8. Couldn’t go any further.

First off, the endless use of the F bomb is tacky and lazy if you ask me. So many great descriptive words and all this author can do is spout curse words. Curse words do not a personality make. Neither is being a horny 13 year old. Violet is supposed to be 20 years old, but it seems more like she is 12. I mean�

“the scar that marks his eye brow only makes him hotter. Flaming hot. Scorching hot. Gets-you-in-trouble-and-you-like-it-level-hot…�

Who talks like that? I’ll tell you. Tweens.

I think I’m rooting for the other side of this conflict too. What kind of battle strategy is it to encourage the deaths of dozens of people as an entrance exam? Then to be okay with it when your cadets at killing each other. Let’s just kill off a huge percentage of our able bodied young men and woman every year. Yup. Sound strategy. The big bad school is so scary! It’s incredibly cliche, predictable, and trite in all the worst ways.

Violets only personality trait is that she’s SuPeR FaSt aNd SmArT. And the reason her mother tossed her into the school in the first place is super unbelievable. It’s just a weak book with weak and convenient reasons to push the plot forward.

"