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We Didn't Ask for This
Central International School’s annual lock-in is legendary. Bonds are made. Contests are fought. Stories are forged that will be passed down from student to student for years to come.
This year’s lock-in begins normally enough. Then a group of students led by Marisa Cuevas stage an ecoprotest and chain themselves to the doors, vowing to keep everyone trapped inside until their list of demands is met.
Some students rally to their cause…but others are aggrieved to watch their own plans fall apart.
Amira has trained all year to compete in the school decathlon on her own terms. Peejay intended to honor his brother by throwing the greatest party CIS has ever seen. Kenji was looking forward to making a splash at his improv showcase. Omar wanted to spend a little time with the boy he’s been crushing on. Celeste, adrift in a new country, was hoping to connect with someone—anyone. And Marisa, once so certain of her goals, must now decide how far she’ll go to attain them.
Every year, lock-in night changes lives. This year, it might just change the world.
This year’s lock-in begins normally enough. Then a group of students led by Marisa Cuevas stage an ecoprotest and chain themselves to the doors, vowing to keep everyone trapped inside until their list of demands is met.
Some students rally to their cause…but others are aggrieved to watch their own plans fall apart.
Amira has trained all year to compete in the school decathlon on her own terms. Peejay intended to honor his brother by throwing the greatest party CIS has ever seen. Kenji was looking forward to making a splash at his improv showcase. Omar wanted to spend a little time with the boy he’s been crushing on. Celeste, adrift in a new country, was hoping to connect with someone—anyone. And Marisa, once so certain of her goals, must now decide how far she’ll go to attain them.
Every year, lock-in night changes lives. This year, it might just change the world.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
25 people are currently reading
5185 people want to read
About the author
Adi Alsaid
29 books1,287 followersAdi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, where he now lives, writes, and spills hot sauce on things. He's the author of several YA novels including LET'S GET LOST, NEVER ALWAYS SOMETIMES, and NORTH OF HAPPY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
April 8, 2020
I have to admit it was strange reading a book about a lockdown everyone was excited about in the middle of our current situation. This was a readable, entertaining, diverse book with some believability issues. Central International School Home of the See Cucumbers and the world elite’s children. It was kind of like Breakfast Club on steroids. If Molly Ringwald were to chain herself to the doors protesting aqua net destroying the ozone layer. Well and these kids were here by choice not because they were in detention, OK well maybe it’s really not all that much like Breakfast Club. The story does however revolve around a cast of very diverse characters. The party planner, the improv lover, the female athlete, the girl wanting to fit in, The quiet boy, and the activist. The school was international, set in a undisclosed location, so all the students came from different countries with different cultures and different expectations. This was the part of the story I really enjoyed. The narrative bounces around and is told in third person. It was really easy to follow and kept me engaged throughout the book. I liked getting to know each of these characters and found them each to have their own issues, personality, and voice. I would have honestly been just fine if this is what the story was about a bunch of kids enjoying A night of freedom and fun. But NO Marissa had to go chain herself to the doors along with several others and change everything. Marissa was an environmentalist and had a laundry list of items that she wanted met before she would allow people to enter or leave the school. Now I am not against trying to do what’s best for the environment I recycle, I use reusable grocery bags, I carry around a metal straw, and so on. However I’m not certain a high school night of fun is the best place to conduct this act of activism. Also the logistics were a bit problematic. There were windows that could not be opened? Locks that could not be picked? There seem to be no way to get in to the school and a 17-year-old girl had covered every contingency. So while I appreciated the message, I didn’t necessarily like it in this book. I think this book could have stood on its own better without it. A good book that could have been better (in my humble opinion).
This book in emojis 🏫 🔐 🌍
*** Big thank you to Ink Yard Press for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This book in emojis 🏫 🔐 🌍
*** Big thank you to Ink Yard Press for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
April 29, 2020
Giveaway win!
Boring. Dull. A chore to read.
I'm so extremely happy that I didn't pay for this. Tomorrow I'm donating it to a little library because no one should have to pay for this.
Boring. Dull. A chore to read.
I'm so extremely happy that I didn't pay for this. Tomorrow I'm donating it to a little library because no one should have to pay for this.
April 18, 2020
It’s the annual lock-in night at Central International School, the night where students stay at school and enjoy fun events and a legendary secret party planned by a fellow student. It’s a night they look forward to all year, and younger students can’t wait until they’re in high school to experience it.
For some students this will be the night—the night they let their crush know what they’re thinking, the night they prove they’re the best athlete in the school regardless of gender, the night they finally feel like they belong. And for one student, this is the night to follow in his dying brother's footsteps and throw an unbelievable party.
But for one student, this night is the opportunity to take a stand against climate change. Knowing so many students have powerful parents from around the world, she and her supporters have a plan—they’ll chain themselves to every entrance, swallow the keys, and not move until their demands are met. And these aren’t just superficial demands: in some cases they’re asking for sweeping changes to society, like the ceasing of construction on an island.
We Didn't Ask for This follows the aftermath of the students chaining themselves to the doors and how everyone deals with it, from the students and the teachers in the school to those outside. I thought that the original premise of the story was such a good one, but this concept—while I understand the importance of standing up for our climate—just didn’t work. It dragged on way too long and was totally unrealistic, especially when the school had no windows that could open or other things.
I enjoy Adi Alsaid’s writing, as I’ve read some of his other books. I loved the way that the students’ sexuality was so matter-of-fact and no one cared, and a number of the characters were really appealing. I just wish the book didn't feel like two stories melded together into one.
I was part of the blog tour for this book. Thanks to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
For some students this will be the night—the night they let their crush know what they’re thinking, the night they prove they’re the best athlete in the school regardless of gender, the night they finally feel like they belong. And for one student, this is the night to follow in his dying brother's footsteps and throw an unbelievable party.
But for one student, this night is the opportunity to take a stand against climate change. Knowing so many students have powerful parents from around the world, she and her supporters have a plan—they’ll chain themselves to every entrance, swallow the keys, and not move until their demands are met. And these aren’t just superficial demands: in some cases they’re asking for sweeping changes to society, like the ceasing of construction on an island.
We Didn't Ask for This follows the aftermath of the students chaining themselves to the doors and how everyone deals with it, from the students and the teachers in the school to those outside. I thought that the original premise of the story was such a good one, but this concept—while I understand the importance of standing up for our climate—just didn’t work. It dragged on way too long and was totally unrealistic, especially when the school had no windows that could open or other things.
I enjoy Adi Alsaid’s writing, as I’ve read some of his other books. I loved the way that the students’ sexuality was so matter-of-fact and no one cared, and a number of the characters were really appealing. I just wish the book didn't feel like two stories melded together into one.
I was part of the blog tour for this book. Thanks to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
May 21, 2020
Still thinking about my rating. Might change on my final review.
March 13, 2020
Central International Schools annual lock-in was an event people looked forward to, and a place, where memories were made.
One hoped to prove he was the party master.
One hoped to spread his love of improv.
One hoped to prove that a female athlete was just as talented as a male athlete.
One hoped to find connection.
While, one hoped to save the reefs, and it seemed, her hopes would come at the cost of all the others.
There were things I really liked about this story, and things I didn't like so much, though overall, I have a favorable opinion.
What worked for me:
Believe it or not, I liked the third person POV narration. There was something about the narrator, that caught my attention and kept it. The story also unfolded at a good pace, frequently flipping between different locations and different characters.
This book had a very large cast, and they weren't simply bystanders, but rather fully developed characters. They were very diverse, and each came with their own set of talents and issues. Alsaid made me feel their loneliness, grief, family pressure, and sting of parental disappointment. I found myself interested in getting to know them better, and was invested in them finding some sort of peace with their situations.
One of my favorite things, was the wonderful friendship born between these characters, who hailed from different social circles as they bound together to protect "the protester". Though, she sort of torpedoed their plans for the evening, the students still believed in Marisa's cause and her conviction. They rose up to support her, both figuratively and literally. It warmed my heart to see them put aside their wants and needs to come to the aid of Marisa.
The not so much for me:
I do admire those with passion for a cause, and Marisa had that in spades. However, the glorification of her approach was off putting for me. I do appreciate, that Alsaid acknowledged her protest walked a fine line between peaceful protest and a hostage situation, it still was difficult for me to condone her behavior.
Overall: Though I appreciated the focus on activism and the environment, I found myself much more interested in the friendship aspect of the story, and wanted more of that.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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One hoped to prove he was the party master.
One hoped to spread his love of improv.
One hoped to prove that a female athlete was just as talented as a male athlete.
One hoped to find connection.
While, one hoped to save the reefs, and it seemed, her hopes would come at the cost of all the others.
There were things I really liked about this story, and things I didn't like so much, though overall, I have a favorable opinion.
What worked for me:
Believe it or not, I liked the third person POV narration. There was something about the narrator, that caught my attention and kept it. The story also unfolded at a good pace, frequently flipping between different locations and different characters.
This book had a very large cast, and they weren't simply bystanders, but rather fully developed characters. They were very diverse, and each came with their own set of talents and issues. Alsaid made me feel their loneliness, grief, family pressure, and sting of parental disappointment. I found myself interested in getting to know them better, and was invested in them finding some sort of peace with their situations.
One of my favorite things, was the wonderful friendship born between these characters, who hailed from different social circles as they bound together to protect "the protester". Though, she sort of torpedoed their plans for the evening, the students still believed in Marisa's cause and her conviction. They rose up to support her, both figuratively and literally. It warmed my heart to see them put aside their wants and needs to come to the aid of Marisa.
The not so much for me:
I do admire those with passion for a cause, and Marisa had that in spades. However, the glorification of her approach was off putting for me. I do appreciate, that Alsaid acknowledged her protest walked a fine line between peaceful protest and a hostage situation, it still was difficult for me to condone her behavior.
Overall: Though I appreciated the focus on activism and the environment, I found myself much more interested in the friendship aspect of the story, and wanted more of that.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
December 7, 2019
Activism or terrorism? When a teenager and her friends chain themselves to every exit door in their high school, the "lock-in" night becomes a bit more than they expected. While this was a pretty good book, I don't think it was very believable. Windows that don't open or shatter seem to be a fire marshal disaster. And why would anyone let this go on so long before bringing in the police or even the national guard? I've worked as a high school teacher for 20 years and can tell you that not only do our windows open, no one would be stuck in the building and going to classes after a week of being held captive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
We Didn't Ask for This started off relatively promising. There's a large cast of characters that are introduced in small bits and pieces, which had me itching to learn more about them and their motivations. Told in a third person omniscient POV that I found a bit refreshing once I got used it, We Didn't Ask for This' narrator was also funny! I found myself chuckling out loud at some of more well-placed jokes:
Someone else grabbed the megaphone and begged Ms. Duli to "bcc" everyone or at least for the other parents to not hit reply all, which, of course, many would.
That said, I spent a lot of We Didn't Ask for This questioning who this book was written for. The jokes I mentioned I found funny? I found funny as an adult with that lived experience. As a teen, I could see myself having just rolled my eyes. But the message behind We Didn't Ask for This, that the youth of today have inherited problems they can't solve alone, was one I couldn't see young adults or adults truly warming to because of how it was handled. I found it a bit insulting that Marisa's demands were so local (like changing the fertilizer the school uses). While she commented often on how she knows these are small fish in comparison to the larger issues, at least it's something. But it felt like a waste of her potential for her to be so narrow in her scope given the influence of the adults in the lives of her and her peers. And if youth with as much power and resources as this school of privileged children - the children of diplomats and ambassadors - can only enact such small change, what hope is there for youth from lesser privileged areas? And as an adult, I felt a sense of indignation toward the parents. They were treated like - and acted as - mere pawns without individual thought. One student told her Dad his company wasn't allowed to use a certain chemical anymore, and he cleared his calendar to ensure he was able to give her what she was asking for. It just felt...obtusely flippant.
I also really struggled visualizing the school's layout and how the students were specifically chained to the doors. They were able to change their clothing, sit on stools and stretch, for example. But over and over the narrator mentions how tight the chains are, how sore the protestors ribs are from having the chains dig into them. At one point past the halfway mark, it's noted that they are standing. But once the doors are inevitably opened, a protestor comments on how hard it is to walk, as she is unused to being on her feet. These little discrepancies kept pulling me out of the reading experience, while I tried to reconcile the descriptions with the images I had in my head.
But mostly, I found myself being asked to suspend my disbelief too much. The premise of We Didn't Ask for This revolves around 5 teens who have locked the doors to their high school in protest of (ultimately) climate change, which is impacting the coral reefs. Again, as an adult, I had a hard time believing that any administration, community or even local government would allow this type of protest - where hundreds of students are being held inside a school against their will - for over a week. We were asked to believe that because no harm was coming to anyone, no one felt a sense of urgency to find another way into the building (like, having the teachers learn how to remove the doors completely from their inside hinges, or busting through the windows the students used to have their delivered food passed through). As an international school for the wealthy, I also had a hard time believing a school with a rooftop garden and indoor tennis courts, would only have 5 exits.
There are other things that nagged at me as I was reading - why did Peejay have so much power over all of his peers? Why were the students so complacent about being stuck inside the school for a week? Why would anyone think classes should continue while this was happening? So despite being a quick read, I can't say I would recommend We Didn't Ask for This.
April 10, 2020
This was one crazy ride into the dynamics of an international school!
3.5, rounded up because of so many merits in diversity, ecology and especially all the work for planning this thing.
Marisa wants to protect the environment and save the reefs, for that she joins force with some other student and sabotages the yearly event of lock-in night, when their whole school is supposed to spend the night together in fun activities. Marisa makes it honor the name, though, by locking herself to the exit and preventing anyone from leaving before her demands are met—the most important one, to save the reefs. The students didn't ask for the situation, but a few gradually see themselves align with Marisa, wanting her to succeed.
Not an easy read, but surely it was even harder to write. Marisa isn't the only main character and we happen to get the point of view of a lot of them, actually. In an organized mess, we go rounds through students and teachers, getting to know them and their limitations, getting to see how the real lock-in protest defies their nature and make some grow, others crazy.
To be honest, Marisa was actually among the ones whom I liked less. It's hard to pick my actual favorite, but some were even more pleasing to follow, like the outsider Celeste who just can't find a friend in the new school, or the partier-in-chief Peejay, who just wanted to give a secret party for the students and make his brother proud. Actually, Peejay grew on me; it seemed crazy that all he could think of was the party but then you do say why he's the charismatic leader of that school.
But behind so many different characters and a good number of events lies a very good planning. And I'm a big fan of good planning. It gave me waves of pleasure to feel it. The complex structure of this story is extremely rare in YA, but it also made the narration very long with very few dialogues. I'm also a fan of dialogues. This is not a book you'll read in one sitting, because as entertaining the twists of the plot are, it's just a lot of minds, a lot of personalities, a lot of thoughts to digest.
And yet, the writer achieved to build round characters, to make sure we the reader can keep up with all them, can live through their eyes knowing the differences from one to another. This book demanded a huge work behind it.
Another great point is life in an international school. I have a friend who used to teach at one in China, and though, of course, it never suffered from an almost-ecoterrorist attack, reading this book took me back to her stories. My sole international experience was an exchange program in college, and I can say the portrayed relationships sounded real to me. In fact, it brought me back a little to those days, living the international community life.
It's important to say you could call this "casting" diverse, but they're all basically very rich; their privileged lives are a part of the point. The writer mentions dishes from other cultures but it's not to a level that will erase the feeling of watching Gossip Girl. I should also point out the writer does seem very aware of this. To be honest, I thought Marisa wouldn't be taken seriously in the end because of that, and I wish it were the case.
As I said, this won't be a read for all. There are huge chunks of paragraph, a good number of characters, and we're all for the green cause, but the book becomes an utopia from the half onward. If the fact no one bulldozed those school's walls for the long period they were locked in already didn't make you frown, the way it wraps up will. Which is a pity for a story so well built.
Regardless of its flaws, I guarantee you won't ever forget this book.
Honest review based on an ARC provided for the book tour through Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
3.5, rounded up because of so many merits in diversity, ecology and especially all the work for planning this thing.
Marisa wants to protect the environment and save the reefs, for that she joins force with some other student and sabotages the yearly event of lock-in night, when their whole school is supposed to spend the night together in fun activities. Marisa makes it honor the name, though, by locking herself to the exit and preventing anyone from leaving before her demands are met—the most important one, to save the reefs. The students didn't ask for the situation, but a few gradually see themselves align with Marisa, wanting her to succeed.
Not an easy read, but surely it was even harder to write. Marisa isn't the only main character and we happen to get the point of view of a lot of them, actually. In an organized mess, we go rounds through students and teachers, getting to know them and their limitations, getting to see how the real lock-in protest defies their nature and make some grow, others crazy.
To be honest, Marisa was actually among the ones whom I liked less. It's hard to pick my actual favorite, but some were even more pleasing to follow, like the outsider Celeste who just can't find a friend in the new school, or the partier-in-chief Peejay, who just wanted to give a secret party for the students and make his brother proud. Actually, Peejay grew on me; it seemed crazy that all he could think of was the party but then you do say why he's the charismatic leader of that school.
But behind so many different characters and a good number of events lies a very good planning. And I'm a big fan of good planning. It gave me waves of pleasure to feel it. The complex structure of this story is extremely rare in YA, but it also made the narration very long with very few dialogues. I'm also a fan of dialogues. This is not a book you'll read in one sitting, because as entertaining the twists of the plot are, it's just a lot of minds, a lot of personalities, a lot of thoughts to digest.
And yet, the writer achieved to build round characters, to make sure we the reader can keep up with all them, can live through their eyes knowing the differences from one to another. This book demanded a huge work behind it.
Another great point is life in an international school. I have a friend who used to teach at one in China, and though, of course, it never suffered from an almost-ecoterrorist attack, reading this book took me back to her stories. My sole international experience was an exchange program in college, and I can say the portrayed relationships sounded real to me. In fact, it brought me back a little to those days, living the international community life.
It's important to say you could call this "casting" diverse, but they're all basically very rich; their privileged lives are a part of the point. The writer mentions dishes from other cultures but it's not to a level that will erase the feeling of watching Gossip Girl. I should also point out the writer does seem very aware of this. To be honest, I thought Marisa wouldn't be taken seriously in the end because of that, and I wish it were the case.
As I said, this won't be a read for all. There are huge chunks of paragraph, a good number of characters, and we're all for the green cause, but the book becomes an utopia from the half onward. If the fact no one bulldozed those school's walls for the long period they were locked in already didn't make you frown, the way it wraps up will. Which is a pity for a story so well built.
Regardless of its flaws, I guarantee you won't ever forget this book.
Honest review based on an ARC provided for the book tour through Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
June 1, 2020
i received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all opinions below are my own.
this was a diverse and unusually hilarious read with characters who complement each other so well! :D full rtc
this was a diverse and unusually hilarious read with characters who complement each other so well! :D full rtc
February 29, 2020
*3.5 stars*
This is a novel about activism, standing up for what you believe in, and making very big stands. A high school filled with rich kids (often with important parents) is celebrating its yearly lock-in. While everyone anticipates games, movies, and a secret (yet epic) party, they aren't expecting a group of students to chain themselves to the exits and swallow the keys.
What does Marisa and her group want? A long list of demands to locally aid the environment. They have brought supplies and medicine, and intend to stay put until the demands are met. The only issue is, a school full of students and teachers intending to have a night of fun, must also stay.
When is activism terrorism? What is going too far, and how far should you go for your beliefs? This is a thought-provoking novel delving into the minds of many of the characters, including Marisa. While it was a gripping scenario, I was often thrown by the implausibility of what was happening. The way the school was built, the severity of injuries, the way people reacted to the situation (particularly parents and police) - these were all factors that pulled me out of the narrative and made me question how any of this could possibly happen. I also wanted a deeper discussion of Marisa grappling with her cause versus the physical safety of her classmates. Honestly, I didn't think she could possibly physically plan for all contingencies - especially not without someone else (like a teacher) noticing.
I am all for activism, but I need a slightly more plausible story, with slightly more plausible consequences.
This is a novel about activism, standing up for what you believe in, and making very big stands. A high school filled with rich kids (often with important parents) is celebrating its yearly lock-in. While everyone anticipates games, movies, and a secret (yet epic) party, they aren't expecting a group of students to chain themselves to the exits and swallow the keys.
What does Marisa and her group want? A long list of demands to locally aid the environment. They have brought supplies and medicine, and intend to stay put until the demands are met. The only issue is, a school full of students and teachers intending to have a night of fun, must also stay.
When is activism terrorism? What is going too far, and how far should you go for your beliefs? This is a thought-provoking novel delving into the minds of many of the characters, including Marisa. While it was a gripping scenario, I was often thrown by the implausibility of what was happening. The way the school was built, the severity of injuries, the way people reacted to the situation (particularly parents and police) - these were all factors that pulled me out of the narrative and made me question how any of this could possibly happen. I also wanted a deeper discussion of Marisa grappling with her cause versus the physical safety of her classmates. Honestly, I didn't think she could possibly physically plan for all contingencies - especially not without someone else (like a teacher) noticing.
I am all for activism, but I need a slightly more plausible story, with slightly more plausible consequences.
May 5, 2020
CIS is an international school for grades K-12. Each year, the high school kids have a lock-in toward the end of the school year. This is an event that everyone looks forward to. This year is no different, during lock-in, magic can happen, people fall in love or out of it and try to change the world. Everyone is enjoying the events of the night when they literally get locked in. Marisa and a few other students chain themselves to the doors, refusing to move until thirty demands are met. Will it happen by the time parents arrive in the morning or will they brush this off as a teenage angst.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I feel like kids today are a lot more dedicated to the world then I was with my generation. They are trying to change the world at every turn. Staging protests and demonstrations. I don't think I would have ever done that when I was in high school. This book shows the resilience they have to overcome just about anything in order to get what they want, not for themselves, but for everyone.
This book really resonated with me and it gives me hope for my children and their future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I feel like kids today are a lot more dedicated to the world then I was with my generation. They are trying to change the world at every turn. Staging protests and demonstrations. I don't think I would have ever done that when I was in high school. This book shows the resilience they have to overcome just about anything in order to get what they want, not for themselves, but for everyone.
This book really resonated with me and it gives me hope for my children and their future.
Read
April 2, 2020I DNF'd at 30 % I was really impressed with the author's ability to seamlessly move from one student point of view to the next every few paragraphs without it breaking up the story. However, at the same time it made it difficult for me to form a connection with or care about any of the characters. The story by the time I stopped already felt like it was dragging and while the overall plot was interesting it was just taking way to long to unfold.
Read
March 20, 2020Tonight is the night of the International School’s annual lock-in. It’s a beloved tradition and one that’s always legendary. All kinds of activities take place, from decathlons to dance parties, and this year, Peejay is eager to be the master of ceremonies. His brother earned incredible respect when he was in charge, and Peejay is desperate to top him.
Tonight, Amira wants to win the decathlon, keeping her passion for sports and her interest in other girls from her conservative mother.
Omar wants to finally kiss Peejay tonight.
Kenji wants to star in the improv show, proving acting chops are alive and well.
And Celeste? As the new girl in the school, she’s hoping tonight she can make her first real friend since moving to another country from her Chicago suburban home.
All of it looks like it should go on….until it doesn’t. Tonight, driven by her passion to make change in the world, Marisa Cuevas and a group of fellow environmentally-conscious students chain themselves to the doors of the school and refuse to let anyone else enter or exit the building until all of their demands are met. And those demands are many, ranging from the school banning single-use plastics to protective measures being enacted to protect a local island from destruction.
As the night drags on, it becomes Marisa and her team won’t back down until their demands are heard -- and not just heard, but met.
One night bleeds into the next and then the next, and the protest goes on for a full week before things reach a breaking point. Students once inconvenienced and angered by Marisa are now listening and even stepping up to help her. They know people who know people who can make change happen. So they do what they can now, hoping that meeting those demands not only gets them set free but also really does help change the world for the better.
It’s not smooth sailing, of course, as there’s a group within the school who are hoping to take down Marisa and her team, and they get closer and closer through the story.
Will all of her demands be met? How? And will everyone else be able to achieve the things they desperately hoped for when the lockin began?
Alsaid’s book is a smart look at standing up for what you believe in, and it’s really creative in execution. Marisa isn’t seen as a hero for championing these causes for a long time. She’s rather seen as the enemy until something drastic happens to her, and her peers not only begin to listen to her, but they begin to understand why it is she chose this as her hill to die on and why it is she chose to execute her protest during the lockin.
I’ve read a ton of books this year on student activism and student activists, and this is a worthy addition to that collection. It’s especially noteworthy for the lack of immediate agreement seen among students, though -- and this is an extremely diverse student body, as well as a student body with the means to make change happen, as they come from wealthier families. It’s a reminder that even though this generation of teenagers is vocal and stands up for their beliefs, it’s not universally agreed-upon or followed. It’s easy to forget that sometimes kids want to be kids and that in and of itself can be the challenge with making change. Are they supposed to be anything more? And why do we expect that?
A couple of things that didn't land as well for me: it was VERY hard to understand the layout of the school and how the chained students managed what they did. I would have loved an image of it in the book. I also thought at times it was especially slow, but I recognize a lot of that has to do with the fact the story's pace mirrors precisely what those teens were themselves experiencing.
Creative, thought-provoking, and timely.
Tonight, Amira wants to win the decathlon, keeping her passion for sports and her interest in other girls from her conservative mother.
Omar wants to finally kiss Peejay tonight.
Kenji wants to star in the improv show, proving acting chops are alive and well.
And Celeste? As the new girl in the school, she’s hoping tonight she can make her first real friend since moving to another country from her Chicago suburban home.
All of it looks like it should go on….until it doesn’t. Tonight, driven by her passion to make change in the world, Marisa Cuevas and a group of fellow environmentally-conscious students chain themselves to the doors of the school and refuse to let anyone else enter or exit the building until all of their demands are met. And those demands are many, ranging from the school banning single-use plastics to protective measures being enacted to protect a local island from destruction.
As the night drags on, it becomes Marisa and her team won’t back down until their demands are heard -- and not just heard, but met.
One night bleeds into the next and then the next, and the protest goes on for a full week before things reach a breaking point. Students once inconvenienced and angered by Marisa are now listening and even stepping up to help her. They know people who know people who can make change happen. So they do what they can now, hoping that meeting those demands not only gets them set free but also really does help change the world for the better.
It’s not smooth sailing, of course, as there’s a group within the school who are hoping to take down Marisa and her team, and they get closer and closer through the story.
Will all of her demands be met? How? And will everyone else be able to achieve the things they desperately hoped for when the lockin began?
Alsaid’s book is a smart look at standing up for what you believe in, and it’s really creative in execution. Marisa isn’t seen as a hero for championing these causes for a long time. She’s rather seen as the enemy until something drastic happens to her, and her peers not only begin to listen to her, but they begin to understand why it is she chose this as her hill to die on and why it is she chose to execute her protest during the lockin.
I’ve read a ton of books this year on student activism and student activists, and this is a worthy addition to that collection. It’s especially noteworthy for the lack of immediate agreement seen among students, though -- and this is an extremely diverse student body, as well as a student body with the means to make change happen, as they come from wealthier families. It’s a reminder that even though this generation of teenagers is vocal and stands up for their beliefs, it’s not universally agreed-upon or followed. It’s easy to forget that sometimes kids want to be kids and that in and of itself can be the challenge with making change. Are they supposed to be anything more? And why do we expect that?
A couple of things that didn't land as well for me: it was VERY hard to understand the layout of the school and how the chained students managed what they did. I would have loved an image of it in the book. I also thought at times it was especially slow, but I recognize a lot of that has to do with the fact the story's pace mirrors precisely what those teens were themselves experiencing.
Creative, thought-provoking, and timely.
April 11, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: We Didn’t Ask for This
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: LGBT+ friendly
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (slight violence, romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Every year, lock-in night changes lives. This year, it might just change the world.
Central International School's annual lock-in is legendary -- and for six students, this year's lock-in is the answer to their dreams. The chance to finally win the contest. Kiss the guy. Make a friend. Become the star of a story that will be passed down from student to student for years to come.
But then a group of students, led by Marisa Cuevas, stage an eco-protest and chain themselves to the doors, vowing to keep everyone trapped inside until their list of demands is met. While some students rally to the cause, others are devastated as they watch their plans fall apart. And Marisa, once so certain of her goals, must now decide just how far she'll go to attain them.
Review: I thought the book was pretty good. The characters were interesting and well developed. The plot itself was intriguing and kept me interested in the book throughout the whole novel. I really liked this lockdown novel during this lockdown time period.
However, I felt like something the pacing drug on and on and it was hard to imagine what the world looked like. There was very little world building and it got confusing at times. Also, the unbreakable windows were a bit unrealistic.
Verdict: It was pretty good!
Book: We Didn’t Ask for This
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: LGBT+ friendly
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (slight violence, romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Every year, lock-in night changes lives. This year, it might just change the world.
Central International School's annual lock-in is legendary -- and for six students, this year's lock-in is the answer to their dreams. The chance to finally win the contest. Kiss the guy. Make a friend. Become the star of a story that will be passed down from student to student for years to come.
But then a group of students, led by Marisa Cuevas, stage an eco-protest and chain themselves to the doors, vowing to keep everyone trapped inside until their list of demands is met. While some students rally to the cause, others are devastated as they watch their plans fall apart. And Marisa, once so certain of her goals, must now decide just how far she'll go to attain them.
Review: I thought the book was pretty good. The characters were interesting and well developed. The plot itself was intriguing and kept me interested in the book throughout the whole novel. I really liked this lockdown novel during this lockdown time period.
However, I felt like something the pacing drug on and on and it was hard to imagine what the world looked like. There was very little world building and it got confusing at times. Also, the unbreakable windows were a bit unrealistic.
Verdict: It was pretty good!
November 5, 2020
this book is hauntingly beautiful.
June 1, 2023
Book: We Didn’t Ask For This
Author: Adi Alsaid
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Inkyard Press, for sending me an ARC.
So, I really did want to like this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. The summary sounds really amazing and has so much promise, but the story I got just wasn’t one that I was expecting. I was honestly so disappointed about how this story was carried out and in the direction it went. There was so much infro dumping and overwriting that just took away from the story. The paragraphs were lengthy and filled with so much information. We were told so much rather than shown. It was the writing that was the first major turn off for me. I think we could have had a much better story had the writing been cleaned up a bit.
The next thing that I didn’t like at all was the playout of the events. Okay, none of this will ever happen in a real school and it seems like the author kind of downplayed the events. This is not activism at all; it’s terrorism. Okay, let me put that out there. This is not how we act. I get the concept of it and fighting for what you believe in, but you do not hold people captive. Not only that, but the way the author wrote it just isn’t believable. There is no way that the school would open so quickly after something like this. Not only that, but come on, someone would have called the cops and this would have played out a lot differently. Just because someone is standing up for their beliefs does not make it okay. You have to understand that. Terrorism is never an okay solution to your problems.
The characters seemed like they were supposed to be complex, but they ended up being a train wreck as well. They were flat, unrealistic, and really unlikable. I honestly had a really had time keeping them all straight and that is not good. There’s just no other way to put it.
Anyway, I was very disappointed. This is an author that have been wanting to try and have another one of his books, but, now, I’m just not so sure if I want to read another book by him.
This book comes out on April 7, 2020.
Author: Adi Alsaid
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Inkyard Press, for sending me an ARC.
So, I really did want to like this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. The summary sounds really amazing and has so much promise, but the story I got just wasn’t one that I was expecting. I was honestly so disappointed about how this story was carried out and in the direction it went. There was so much infro dumping and overwriting that just took away from the story. The paragraphs were lengthy and filled with so much information. We were told so much rather than shown. It was the writing that was the first major turn off for me. I think we could have had a much better story had the writing been cleaned up a bit.
The next thing that I didn’t like at all was the playout of the events. Okay, none of this will ever happen in a real school and it seems like the author kind of downplayed the events. This is not activism at all; it’s terrorism. Okay, let me put that out there. This is not how we act. I get the concept of it and fighting for what you believe in, but you do not hold people captive. Not only that, but the way the author wrote it just isn’t believable. There is no way that the school would open so quickly after something like this. Not only that, but come on, someone would have called the cops and this would have played out a lot differently. Just because someone is standing up for their beliefs does not make it okay. You have to understand that. Terrorism is never an okay solution to your problems.
The characters seemed like they were supposed to be complex, but they ended up being a train wreck as well. They were flat, unrealistic, and really unlikable. I honestly had a really had time keeping them all straight and that is not good. There’s just no other way to put it.
Anyway, I was very disappointed. This is an author that have been wanting to try and have another one of his books, but, now, I’m just not so sure if I want to read another book by him.
This book comes out on April 7, 2020.
April 16, 2022
"She emerged from the water and took of her mask, tears mixing with the waves people and the trash with which they suffocated the world. She looked around, shading her eyes from the shimmering sunlight with her free hand. Maybe it was time to accept the world as it was. A construction site. Large, acres of it, from what Marisa could tell, and a handful of bulldozers. She swam closer and saw the sign announcing the coming resort. Nearby, a trickle of brown-gray water weaved its way from below the makeshift wall around the site and dribbled onto the sand. Yes, it was a travesty, an outrage that the world had been ruined before her arrival. But that trickle hadn't reached all the way to the shore, not yet. As soon as she and her family made it back to their echo-hotel that day, Marisa decided she had to stop that waste from reaching the ocean. Whatever she could do for the reefs she was going to do it. If it was just shutting down that one construction site, or if it was something much bigger, she had to try. What else was there but to try?"
Adi Alsaid author of "We Didn't Ask For this" delivers an idealistic and quite frankly unlikely story about environmental advocacy. While yes, this is a fictional tale and therefore is allowed more liberties due to this fact even by fiction standards it pushes it in my opinion. To begin, I will begin with two good points since this book does not have many. Firstly, the book supports LGBTQ and has characters who are gay or lesbian. For example, the main character Marisa likes Amira is in a main character but not the main character, it would be best to say she is above a supporting character but below being the main character. We also have Omar having feelings towards Peejay. That is all I really have towards that so onto the next positive point. This next point is the fact the book advocates or supports the environment and how we need to protect it and clean it. For context, "Central International School" has in night where in essence they hold like a festival for the students and it is famous for allowing many things to happen. For example, people fall in love, find passions, find lifelong friends etc. So in order to capture people's attention Marissa essentially holds the students who are within the building hostage and chains herself (along with 4 others) to all exits effectively trapping the students inside. This is the crisis I believe because she effectively discovered the reefs nearby where she lives are dying and the parents of the students at this school have the power to change this. There is another potential crisis which is much later in the book and it is where Marissa's leg is broken by someone falling on it and at that point she has to make the decision of either giving up and only having a few of her demands met or continue on but possibly face worst health complications later since she will need surgery for her leg. But of course she continues on for her belief in her cause since she wants to get rid of that atrocious hotel which is ruining the reef and oceans she loves so much. Anyways, before this gets far too off the rails this is where the good of the books ends and now the dismantling of it begins. To continue, one huge detriment to the book is the fact is that it is too idealistic and lives too far in fiction. A seventeen year old girl managed to effectively smuggle in chains and remove any kind of tools that might've been able to be an issue to her plan all without a single person noticing. Not only is this ridiculous, BUT officials quite literally could not get students out because in essence plot convivence. So the police could not break the windows? Or how about someone could pick a lock inside? And while this did happen how about use violence as a threat against Marissa. While I should not condone this if lets say they decided they threatened to hurt one of her coconspirators, this is not too far out of the realm of possibility. Jordi did manage to convince on of his lackeys to harm Marissa, perhaps not intending to break her leg in the process but they did in fact willingly go to those lengths. Furthermore, for the longest time there is no real suspense of conflict. To say this story is boring would be an understatement. It goes for long periods of just world building and developing characters and does not have any real conflict until a student decides to throw a shoe at Marissa and turns into a mob. It could be said that the conflict is the internal strife that all the students are dealing with realizing they are losing their precious festival for a lack of better words. Well that conflict is resolved rather quickly, while yes they do get the traditional party that comes with this "festival," they still have lost and are nothing but pawns in this game Marissa is playing with the city. Which brings me to my final point which frustrates me the most, which is what is the main conflict and support conflict? For a brief explanation, stories may have up to two conflicts or more with one being the main conflict which is the main focus of the story and the rest in some capacity support this "main" conflict. So with this information, is Marissa eco-protest the main story? Is how the students cope and change from this the main story? In the first half this is so confusing because the author spends so much time focusing on the supporting cast and their own individual problems. Even in the second half as the students have changed I found myself wondering, "is this the real story." Seeing how Kenji Pierce stood up to his father (Arthur Pierce Ceo of the company constructing the Hotel) and tell him to stop construction or Arthur Pierce would never see him again. How he revealed to his father how he never felt like his father never listened to him made me wonder is the story focusing on teenagers problems and such. The eco-protest was just a ploy to get them into a setting to explore their problems and possibly see a resolve for this. Maybe I am just missing the point in all of this but the book is not very good. To conclude, Adi Alsaid delivers a subpar book that is far too monotonous and delivers a very unrealistic story.
Adi Alsaid author of "We Didn't Ask For this" delivers an idealistic and quite frankly unlikely story about environmental advocacy. While yes, this is a fictional tale and therefore is allowed more liberties due to this fact even by fiction standards it pushes it in my opinion. To begin, I will begin with two good points since this book does not have many. Firstly, the book supports LGBTQ and has characters who are gay or lesbian. For example, the main character Marisa likes Amira is in a main character but not the main character, it would be best to say she is above a supporting character but below being the main character. We also have Omar having feelings towards Peejay. That is all I really have towards that so onto the next positive point. This next point is the fact the book advocates or supports the environment and how we need to protect it and clean it. For context, "Central International School" has in night where in essence they hold like a festival for the students and it is famous for allowing many things to happen. For example, people fall in love, find passions, find lifelong friends etc. So in order to capture people's attention Marissa essentially holds the students who are within the building hostage and chains herself (along with 4 others) to all exits effectively trapping the students inside. This is the crisis I believe because she effectively discovered the reefs nearby where she lives are dying and the parents of the students at this school have the power to change this. There is another potential crisis which is much later in the book and it is where Marissa's leg is broken by someone falling on it and at that point she has to make the decision of either giving up and only having a few of her demands met or continue on but possibly face worst health complications later since she will need surgery for her leg. But of course she continues on for her belief in her cause since she wants to get rid of that atrocious hotel which is ruining the reef and oceans she loves so much. Anyways, before this gets far too off the rails this is where the good of the books ends and now the dismantling of it begins. To continue, one huge detriment to the book is the fact is that it is too idealistic and lives too far in fiction. A seventeen year old girl managed to effectively smuggle in chains and remove any kind of tools that might've been able to be an issue to her plan all without a single person noticing. Not only is this ridiculous, BUT officials quite literally could not get students out because in essence plot convivence. So the police could not break the windows? Or how about someone could pick a lock inside? And while this did happen how about use violence as a threat against Marissa. While I should not condone this if lets say they decided they threatened to hurt one of her coconspirators, this is not too far out of the realm of possibility. Jordi did manage to convince on of his lackeys to harm Marissa, perhaps not intending to break her leg in the process but they did in fact willingly go to those lengths. Furthermore, for the longest time there is no real suspense of conflict. To say this story is boring would be an understatement. It goes for long periods of just world building and developing characters and does not have any real conflict until a student decides to throw a shoe at Marissa and turns into a mob. It could be said that the conflict is the internal strife that all the students are dealing with realizing they are losing their precious festival for a lack of better words. Well that conflict is resolved rather quickly, while yes they do get the traditional party that comes with this "festival," they still have lost and are nothing but pawns in this game Marissa is playing with the city. Which brings me to my final point which frustrates me the most, which is what is the main conflict and support conflict? For a brief explanation, stories may have up to two conflicts or more with one being the main conflict which is the main focus of the story and the rest in some capacity support this "main" conflict. So with this information, is Marissa eco-protest the main story? Is how the students cope and change from this the main story? In the first half this is so confusing because the author spends so much time focusing on the supporting cast and their own individual problems. Even in the second half as the students have changed I found myself wondering, "is this the real story." Seeing how Kenji Pierce stood up to his father (Arthur Pierce Ceo of the company constructing the Hotel) and tell him to stop construction or Arthur Pierce would never see him again. How he revealed to his father how he never felt like his father never listened to him made me wonder is the story focusing on teenagers problems and such. The eco-protest was just a ploy to get them into a setting to explore their problems and possibly see a resolve for this. Maybe I am just missing the point in all of this but the book is not very good. To conclude, Adi Alsaid delivers a subpar book that is far too monotonous and delivers a very unrealistic story.
July 20, 2020
2.5 stars. (why do I keep doing this to myself??) Some of the characters were mildly interesting, but overall, I felt like nothing happened in 300+ pages? I get what the message is supposed to be - fight for your cause and don't let up, but this didn't feel like it was all that inspiring towards that message? I actually nodded off during the audiobook and had to go back and listen. I may just be an old fart who this isn't really geared towards, but this did nothing to stoke my activism fire.
April 1, 2020
I just finished the book now and I have to say WOW. I’m amazed by this novel. And I’m not sure that I’m able to put everything in words. It’s probably going to be weird. Well, let’s see.
I loved the writing style. It was easy to understand, easy to read and especially it managed to have me glued to the story. I honestly did not stop reading this book, unless you count the time where I had to stop because I had a lecture, but other than that I read this one in one sitting. I also loved the third POV style. It helped me get to know Marisa and the other characters better. And it especially made me understand why Marisa is doing all of this. While I think that she got probably way too extreme and that she might have been able to handle it otherwise I’m still a hundred percent behind her. And yeah, I know that this is a character of a book but many other teenagers are fighting for the world and I think that it’s a great initiative but I also strongly believe that there is no need to take hostages. Even if Marisa didn’t see it as taking her fellow students and teachers as hostages it felt that way for me. So my tip to activists, fight for what you believe but stay true to yourself and don’t go too far, take every win (be it small) and be happy about it. Every win is great! And especially don’t create a dangerous situation. Also: have a back-up plan. But now let’s get back to the review!
I also loved the fact that we got to see friendships happening. Students helping each other, students fighting for each other, protecting each other and so on. I liked this a lot. I really was invested in this story and I’m pretty sure that this is not happening often.
Overall, I think that “We Didn’t Ask for This” is an interesting story and reflects perfectly what Greta Thunberg did and what some teenagers worldwide do. I think that everyone can learn something new by reading this book so it’s not just a book for young adults but also adults. We definitely need to start paying more attention to our actions and finally, we need to take care of our earth and stop destroying it. I think it’s finally time that we encourage younger generations and help them and us get a healthier planet again. Enough is enough!
I loved the writing style. It was easy to understand, easy to read and especially it managed to have me glued to the story. I honestly did not stop reading this book, unless you count the time where I had to stop because I had a lecture, but other than that I read this one in one sitting. I also loved the third POV style. It helped me get to know Marisa and the other characters better. And it especially made me understand why Marisa is doing all of this. While I think that she got probably way too extreme and that she might have been able to handle it otherwise I’m still a hundred percent behind her. And yeah, I know that this is a character of a book but many other teenagers are fighting for the world and I think that it’s a great initiative but I also strongly believe that there is no need to take hostages. Even if Marisa didn’t see it as taking her fellow students and teachers as hostages it felt that way for me. So my tip to activists, fight for what you believe but stay true to yourself and don’t go too far, take every win (be it small) and be happy about it. Every win is great! And especially don’t create a dangerous situation. Also: have a back-up plan. But now let’s get back to the review!
I also loved the fact that we got to see friendships happening. Students helping each other, students fighting for each other, protecting each other and so on. I liked this a lot. I really was invested in this story and I’m pretty sure that this is not happening often.
Overall, I think that “We Didn’t Ask for This” is an interesting story and reflects perfectly what Greta Thunberg did and what some teenagers worldwide do. I think that everyone can learn something new by reading this book so it’s not just a book for young adults but also adults. We definitely need to start paying more attention to our actions and finally, we need to take care of our earth and stop destroying it. I think it’s finally time that we encourage younger generations and help them and us get a healthier planet again. Enough is enough!
April 3, 2020
A great book that really tackles the subject of radical action well. The characters are complex and to see the chemistry between them evolve is really something beautiful.
I especially enjoyed how Marisa Cuevas was shown to be a dedicated, smart activist firmly in the right but also a human being with regrets, love, and an ability to be surprised. All of the main cast was well-thought out, but it was especially notable with Marisa and (to a lesser extent) Peejay Singh.
After the time skip, there were a few pages where the plot seemed to drag, but it picked right back up after a short lull.
If you want to read a great book about activism that gets its themes across but also takes great pains to make its characters human, read this one.
I especially enjoyed how Marisa Cuevas was shown to be a dedicated, smart activist firmly in the right but also a human being with regrets, love, and an ability to be surprised. All of the main cast was well-thought out, but it was especially notable with Marisa and (to a lesser extent) Peejay Singh.
After the time skip, there were a few pages where the plot seemed to drag, but it picked right back up after a short lull.
If you want to read a great book about activism that gets its themes across but also takes great pains to make its characters human, read this one.
November 30, 2020
I hate to admit this, but I have not liked anything I've ever read from Adi Alsaid. He's an amazing writer with great stories . . . it's just generally not for me. With that said, I didn't really hate We Didn't Ask for This, there was an interesting story there. It was just severely flawed.
One thing that I loved about this book is that it covers an important topic: environmental concerns. Even the dedication is for the Greta Thunbergs of the world.
Now, here comes some of the flaws.
One of our main characters stages a literal lock-in during a lock in type of event that the school has every year. They chain the doors and all exists, etc. There are adults in the building . . . yet they do nothing. People of authority are doing absolutely nothing.
The demands are unrealistic. There's 20+ demands in order to loosen the chains and let all of the kids out. They are legitimate demands, and I support them. However, some of these demands would've taken time.
Then there was trying to follow along . . . we don't have just one point of view. We're following along with multiple people and they don't have their own chapters or anything like that. It's just a smorgasbord within each chapter. Trying to get into the mind of each character was too much of a chore. It made it difficult to really relate and feel any type of way with each character.
Overall, I liked the story. I just don't think any of it was realistic.
One thing that I loved about this book is that it covers an important topic: environmental concerns. Even the dedication is for the Greta Thunbergs of the world.
Now, here comes some of the flaws.
One of our main characters stages a literal lock-in during a lock in type of event that the school has every year. They chain the doors and all exists, etc. There are adults in the building . . . yet they do nothing. People of authority are doing absolutely nothing.
The demands are unrealistic. There's 20+ demands in order to loosen the chains and let all of the kids out. They are legitimate demands, and I support them. However, some of these demands would've taken time.
Then there was trying to follow along . . . we don't have just one point of view. We're following along with multiple people and they don't have their own chapters or anything like that. It's just a smorgasbord within each chapter. Trying to get into the mind of each character was too much of a chore. It made it difficult to really relate and feel any type of way with each character.
Overall, I liked the story. I just don't think any of it was realistic.
dnf
March 25, 2020DNF 18% - I thought this book opened pretty strong—I liked the way the perspective fluidly shifted between the students. However, we were introduced to about a dozen students and now I can’t remember half of them or what they want. Also, I don’t care. Despite the number of students, I don’t care about any of them.
Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2021
DNF - I couldn't get into this book. I felt confused about the characters as there were too many to keep track of. I did like the premise but I just felt that the pace was really slow. I also love the unique cover and I the premise of saving the environment. I just felt like the pacing could have been better.
*Thank you Netgalley for this copy for an honest review*
*Thank you Netgalley for this copy for an honest review*
March 29, 2020
I just wasn't able to get into this book. I DNFed it at 20%. This book just wasn't for me. I did want to like it because of the synopsis of the story.
September 8, 2020
L/G
•••
I almost DNF’d this book about 20% in. I’m glad I didn’t.
•••
I almost DNF’d this book about 20% in. I’m glad I didn’t.
April 1, 2020
First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Justine from Inkyard Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.
You have to know English isn’t my first language, so feel free to correct me if I make some mistakes while writing this review.
When I started high school the first year, there were two girls in my class from the previous year who had failed the class and had to repeat the year - that's how it works here in Italy. I don't know when and how the topic came up, but later we had learned that just the year before - so when I was in middle school - an occupation had taken place in my school complex.
It had seemed so unbelievable and so cool to me that I hoped it would happen again while it was me who was in high school. I still believed that everything would've changed, I believed high school would've represented a new beginning and I would have left middle school behind - that I would have made many friends, I would have had an adolescence like the one I had seen on TV shows and that an occupation would've brought that kind of magic that seemed to permeate the event even just by its name.
I would've soon changed my mind.
However, CIS' lock-in is not an occupation like the one that took place in my school complex. When it happened in 2002, students left teachers out of school for three days - so I was told - and they did it to protest against the war.
CIS' lock-in is a different kind of event and it occupies the entire campus, teachers "volunteer" to supervise and engaging the kids on a whole series of activities ranging from sports to audiovisual to theatrical ones.
It's the night towards the end of the school year that everyone is waiting for, the one in which all the kids are free to try new things, make new friends or mend up a relationship - maybe you can even find out that your crush on that person is reciprocated and not one-sided as you thought. It's a magical, legendary night where everything is possible.
CIS is an international school, attended by rich kids or diplomats' sons - kids who often attend only for a year, kids who frequently move due to their parent's work and that have already seen half of the world and taken on the inflection of dozens of different accents. This is why you must seize the moment on the night of the lock-in.
All our main characters have high expectations for this magical night.
Amira is a Muslim girl who has abandoned religion and she keeps it hidden from her mother. But that's not the only thing that she hides from her - Amira is an exceptional athlete, capable of breaking down even the gender division of the school decathlon race for which she has prepared so much ... but her mother doesn't know it. This is because there is the Amira everyone knows at school and the Amira who is a different person at home with her mother, who does nothing but repeat to Amira all the things that a girl can't do - all things that instead make Amira even more stubborn in her want to do them.
Celeste is new to CIS - or rather, relatively new since she has been attending school for eight months but has no friends. She hasn't traveled enough, doesn't have an exotic enough accent, it's not even good enough for Americans like her either. Celeste does nothing but think about the life she left in Illinois and in which she was sure she knew her place ... not so much here at CIS.
Kenji is a freshman and if Celeste can count on the support of her parents and feels better at home with them than at school, for Kenji it's quite the opposite. He loves the art of improvisation, he loves to stage infinite possibilities and go with whatever anyone has to say, he loves to say "yes, and ..." just because at home he has to deal with an always serious father who always says no.
Peejay is a senior with a huge charisma that makes everyone listen to him. He was chosen by the prior Partyer in Chief to organize the annual CIS party - the one that has to go unnoticed by the teachers' eyes, the one where you have to hide alcohol and music trying to give your peers an unforgettable party they will talk about for years. Peejay wants everything to be perfect because the role once belonged to his brother Hamish and all Peejay wants to do is organizing a party that is up to the challenge and making his brother proud.
Omar is one of Amira's main opponents at decathlon, or rather the only one. Tall and big, but also incredibly shy, so much so that he always tries to steal a look at the boy he has a crush on from a distance.
Then Marisa is there to wreck everyone's plans.
Marisa - the girl who loves the ocean, loves swimming, loves diving, loves the environment and suffers from seeing it so ruined. What better way to be noticed and to be heard if not blocking all the exits by chaining yourself to the doors along with your friends on the night most awaited by everyone?
The lives of those who remain inside the main building will no longer be the same after that night - not even the ones of those who remained outside, both observing the unfolding of the events and wishing to be inside to be part of whatever is going on inside.
When does a protest begin to turn into a situation in which those present are held hostages?
When does the fine line between activism and terrorism begin to blur?
I feel in conflict with this book because I feel in conflict with the girl who started the whole thing: Marisa.
On one hand, I appreciated her and her strength in resisting under the pressure of everything and everyone - even facing (without batting an eye) the anger shown by the kids she trapped in with her in the main building when it becomes violent and physical - that strength is certainly to be admired, as well as the strength of her beliefs. I mean, I recycle and do everything I can not to contribute to pollution - in fact, I am the first to scold a friend of mine who's a bit careless on that matter - but I understood very well the anger of her peers in seeing her stealing the magic of a night who they have been waiting since the beginning of the school year because she wanted to hit them right where it would've hurt. Just like she felt the last time she saw the reefs.
But it's an implausible story under many aspects - I understand an international school where safety must be top priority, but there can't be a school whose windows don't open and are made of a glass/plexiglas so shatterproof to be impossible to break through - it's not safe. Not that those from my school were, huh - most of the windows faced inner courtyards with no way out and they had slats that acted as a sunshade and when it was so hot you couldn't breathe, the only thing you could do was to punch them so that they slipped off their base and fell down into the courtyard. But at least they opened.
One of the things I didn't like so much were the too long phrases, the talking taken too far. There is a particular point in which we come to know that one of the requests from Marisa's list has been granted, but before telling you what it is, there's a whole discussion on how much Marisa didn't expect that it would even be taken into consideration because the she had put it down without thinking and to hide what she actually wanted to achieve ... and so on for at least four more paragraphs and I was there like "heck, tell me what it is and let's get it over with!"
The book is described as a sort of Breakfast Club, but in reality we hardly ever see kids interacting with each other - they are all too busy with their personal problems, but this is a positive aspect and it means they are well-developed. Its main flaw is that too much is told when it was supposed to be shown, so you don't really understand why all this sudden admiration - love - for Marisa.
The rest of the students remain in the background, a herd of sheep that only comes to life when Peejay speaks - and do I really have to believe that the teachers managed to keep kids in class working on assignments in the days following the lock-in? Please.
I would have liked to see more reactions, more rebellion or more solidarity, more concrete motivations for which someone has decided to join Marisa or to turn against her - and it will also be a silly motivation, but one of the things I most disliked about this book is that if most of all the other characters' nationality isn't mentioned or if it's done, it's only in passage to point out that, for example, despite being American, Celeste is not automatically accepted by other Americans or that Kenji's family is half Japanese and half English, coincidentally when one of the "bad" guys does something to hinder Marisa, it's stressed that he is Italian. Thanks, huh.
The starting and basic idea of the book is good: diverse characters by race, religion, sexual orientation, family, problems; a serious problem such as the environmental one that is leading the world to increasingly evident and devastating climate changes if we don't change something; kids who have the courage to fight for what they believe in when adults instead stand by and watch or wait for someone else to do it for them.
However, there are logistical and dynamic situations that are implausible: the parents are specks, caught by the mass hysteria or indifferent to the point of accepting that their children can remain trapped inside a school for an indefinite time; students who accept equally passively without rebelling while Marisa dictates the rules on two hundred people closed inside the building.
I don't know, there is something missing from this book or simply out of place - and it's a shame because the idea was good, especially the one of highlighting how environmental activism sometimes quickly turns into terrorism in the eyes of the most.
Perhaps three stars will seem generous to you given that apparently I demolished the book, but I thought about it and I gave a lower rating to books that had more serious "flaws" than this one.
You have to know English isn’t my first language, so feel free to correct me if I make some mistakes while writing this review.
When I started high school the first year, there were two girls in my class from the previous year who had failed the class and had to repeat the year - that's how it works here in Italy. I don't know when and how the topic came up, but later we had learned that just the year before - so when I was in middle school - an occupation had taken place in my school complex.
It had seemed so unbelievable and so cool to me that I hoped it would happen again while it was me who was in high school. I still believed that everything would've changed, I believed high school would've represented a new beginning and I would have left middle school behind - that I would have made many friends, I would have had an adolescence like the one I had seen on TV shows and that an occupation would've brought that kind of magic that seemed to permeate the event even just by its name.
I would've soon changed my mind.
However, CIS' lock-in is not an occupation like the one that took place in my school complex. When it happened in 2002, students left teachers out of school for three days - so I was told - and they did it to protest against the war.
CIS' lock-in is a different kind of event and it occupies the entire campus, teachers "volunteer" to supervise and engaging the kids on a whole series of activities ranging from sports to audiovisual to theatrical ones.
It's the night towards the end of the school year that everyone is waiting for, the one in which all the kids are free to try new things, make new friends or mend up a relationship - maybe you can even find out that your crush on that person is reciprocated and not one-sided as you thought. It's a magical, legendary night where everything is possible.
CIS is an international school, attended by rich kids or diplomats' sons - kids who often attend only for a year, kids who frequently move due to their parent's work and that have already seen half of the world and taken on the inflection of dozens of different accents. This is why you must seize the moment on the night of the lock-in.
All our main characters have high expectations for this magical night.
Amira is a Muslim girl who has abandoned religion and she keeps it hidden from her mother. But that's not the only thing that she hides from her - Amira is an exceptional athlete, capable of breaking down even the gender division of the school decathlon race for which she has prepared so much ... but her mother doesn't know it. This is because there is the Amira everyone knows at school and the Amira who is a different person at home with her mother, who does nothing but repeat to Amira all the things that a girl can't do - all things that instead make Amira even more stubborn in her want to do them.
Celeste is new to CIS - or rather, relatively new since she has been attending school for eight months but has no friends. She hasn't traveled enough, doesn't have an exotic enough accent, it's not even good enough for Americans like her either. Celeste does nothing but think about the life she left in Illinois and in which she was sure she knew her place ... not so much here at CIS.
Kenji is a freshman and if Celeste can count on the support of her parents and feels better at home with them than at school, for Kenji it's quite the opposite. He loves the art of improvisation, he loves to stage infinite possibilities and go with whatever anyone has to say, he loves to say "yes, and ..." just because at home he has to deal with an always serious father who always says no.
Peejay is a senior with a huge charisma that makes everyone listen to him. He was chosen by the prior Partyer in Chief to organize the annual CIS party - the one that has to go unnoticed by the teachers' eyes, the one where you have to hide alcohol and music trying to give your peers an unforgettable party they will talk about for years. Peejay wants everything to be perfect because the role once belonged to his brother Hamish and all Peejay wants to do is organizing a party that is up to the challenge and making his brother proud.
Omar is one of Amira's main opponents at decathlon, or rather the only one. Tall and big, but also incredibly shy, so much so that he always tries to steal a look at the boy he has a crush on from a distance.
Then Marisa is there to wreck everyone's plans.
Marisa - the girl who loves the ocean, loves swimming, loves diving, loves the environment and suffers from seeing it so ruined. What better way to be noticed and to be heard if not blocking all the exits by chaining yourself to the doors along with your friends on the night most awaited by everyone?
The lives of those who remain inside the main building will no longer be the same after that night - not even the ones of those who remained outside, both observing the unfolding of the events and wishing to be inside to be part of whatever is going on inside.
When does a protest begin to turn into a situation in which those present are held hostages?
When does the fine line between activism and terrorism begin to blur?
I feel in conflict with this book because I feel in conflict with the girl who started the whole thing: Marisa.
On one hand, I appreciated her and her strength in resisting under the pressure of everything and everyone - even facing (without batting an eye) the anger shown by the kids she trapped in with her in the main building when it becomes violent and physical - that strength is certainly to be admired, as well as the strength of her beliefs. I mean, I recycle and do everything I can not to contribute to pollution - in fact, I am the first to scold a friend of mine who's a bit careless on that matter - but I understood very well the anger of her peers in seeing her stealing the magic of a night who they have been waiting since the beginning of the school year because she wanted to hit them right where it would've hurt. Just like she felt the last time she saw the reefs.
But it's an implausible story under many aspects - I understand an international school where safety must be top priority, but there can't be a school whose windows don't open and are made of a glass/plexiglas so shatterproof to be impossible to break through - it's not safe. Not that those from my school were, huh - most of the windows faced inner courtyards with no way out and they had slats that acted as a sunshade and when it was so hot you couldn't breathe, the only thing you could do was to punch them so that they slipped off their base and fell down into the courtyard. But at least they opened.
One of the things I didn't like so much were the too long phrases, the talking taken too far. There is a particular point in which we come to know that one of the requests from Marisa's list has been granted, but before telling you what it is, there's a whole discussion on how much Marisa didn't expect that it would even be taken into consideration because the she had put it down without thinking and to hide what she actually wanted to achieve ... and so on for at least four more paragraphs and I was there like "heck, tell me what it is and let's get it over with!"
The book is described as a sort of Breakfast Club, but in reality we hardly ever see kids interacting with each other - they are all too busy with their personal problems, but this is a positive aspect and it means they are well-developed. Its main flaw is that too much is told when it was supposed to be shown, so you don't really understand why all this sudden admiration - love - for Marisa.
The rest of the students remain in the background, a herd of sheep that only comes to life when Peejay speaks - and do I really have to believe that the teachers managed to keep kids in class working on assignments in the days following the lock-in? Please.
I would have liked to see more reactions, more rebellion or more solidarity, more concrete motivations for which someone has decided to join Marisa or to turn against her - and it will also be a silly motivation, but one of the things I most disliked about this book is that if most of all the other characters' nationality isn't mentioned or if it's done, it's only in passage to point out that, for example, despite being American, Celeste is not automatically accepted by other Americans or that Kenji's family is half Japanese and half English, coincidentally when one of the "bad" guys does something to hinder Marisa, it's stressed that he is Italian. Thanks, huh.
The starting and basic idea of the book is good: diverse characters by race, religion, sexual orientation, family, problems; a serious problem such as the environmental one that is leading the world to increasingly evident and devastating climate changes if we don't change something; kids who have the courage to fight for what they believe in when adults instead stand by and watch or wait for someone else to do it for them.
However, there are logistical and dynamic situations that are implausible: the parents are specks, caught by the mass hysteria or indifferent to the point of accepting that their children can remain trapped inside a school for an indefinite time; students who accept equally passively without rebelling while Marisa dictates the rules on two hundred people closed inside the building.
I don't know, there is something missing from this book or simply out of place - and it's a shame because the idea was good, especially the one of highlighting how environmental activism sometimes quickly turns into terrorism in the eyes of the most.
Perhaps three stars will seem generous to you given that apparently I demolished the book, but I thought about it and I gave a lower rating to books that had more serious "flaws" than this one.
April 11, 2020
DNF 20 percent
Disjointed, too many characters, needs an editor
Disjointed, too many characters, needs an editor
August 29, 2020
I actually enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would!
March 30, 2020
Mostly nomadic because of her parents’ jobs, Marissa Cuervas has found scuba diving to be her passion. But the more diving she does, the more she can see how the human race is killing the oceans.
Central International School’s lock-in night is the most anticipated night in the entire school year. This year, Marissa and a few of her friends decide that it is the perfect time to make a statement. They lock themselves to the exit doors and refuse to let anyone enter or leave until their list of demands are met.
Not all of the students are onboard with Marissa’s plan. Many had other goals for the night: to win an athletic competition, to reveal intentions to a crush, to make friends, to try something new. Some focus their energy on getting the doors open and some turn a blind eye to Marissa and her cause and forge ahead with their own agenda.
The many shifting points of view make the reading confusing and burdensome from time to time. The message got lost a bit in the gooey “their eyes met and they saw that they had always love each other” vibe that sprinkled here and there.
While the idea was good, the telling fell a little flat for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
2 stars.
Central International School’s lock-in night is the most anticipated night in the entire school year. This year, Marissa and a few of her friends decide that it is the perfect time to make a statement. They lock themselves to the exit doors and refuse to let anyone enter or leave until their list of demands are met.
Not all of the students are onboard with Marissa’s plan. Many had other goals for the night: to win an athletic competition, to reveal intentions to a crush, to make friends, to try something new. Some focus their energy on getting the doors open and some turn a blind eye to Marissa and her cause and forge ahead with their own agenda.
The many shifting points of view make the reading confusing and burdensome from time to time. The message got lost a bit in the gooey “their eyes met and they saw that they had always love each other” vibe that sprinkled here and there.
While the idea was good, the telling fell a little flat for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
2 stars.
May 26, 2020
We Didn't Ask for This by Adi Alsaid is set in the Kingdom of Thailand at the Central International School. Once a year the seniors get to take over the school during a night time "lock-in." This year, though, things will go horribly wrong.
The lock-in, being planned by Peejay, is hijacked by Marisa Cuevas and her group of eco-protest students. They want to draw attention to a construction site that is threatening a reef. They have a list of demands and no one will be released until they are met.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
The lock-in, being planned by Peejay, is hijacked by Marisa Cuevas and her group of eco-protest students. They want to draw attention to a construction site that is threatening a reef. They have a list of demands and no one will be released until they are met.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
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