The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey, #1) in YA and Beyond

Jul 06, 2011 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Richard Paul Evans ruined Christmas for me one year. I sat in the corner of the living room, reading The Christmas Box and cried. In fact, I was in a rather obsessive mood and considered how it would look if I disappeared for a couple of hours and drove to the cemetery to see if the grave marker really existed. How much of this story was true? Then I calmed down enough to just be ticked off at him for making me cry. I hate contrived tragedies which is why I never watch Little House on the Prairi Richard Paul Evans ruined Christmas for me one year. I sat in the corner of the living room, reading The Christmas Box and cried. In fact, I was in a rather obsessive mood and considered how it would look if I disappeared for a couple of hours and drove to the cemetery to see if the grave marker really existed. How much of this story was true? Then I calmed down enough to just be ticked off at him for making me cry. I hate contrived tragedies which is why I never watch Little House on the Prairie, anymore. By the end of it, Pa is always crying. Still, others have found his books endearing and he spends an inordinate amount of time on the New York Times Best Sellers. Fortunately, this book did not leave me in tears nor did it leave me with an uncontrollable urge to drive to Meridian, Idaho (it's a real place) or Pasadena, California. Not only that, Evans is a brilliant story teller.

I loved that Michael Vey, the protagonist has a neurological disorder. Michael has Tourette's. The kind that has him blinking and gulping in tics. I am of the mind this may come into play as to why Michael is so special but until then, Michael is an excellent example of a boy with a socially unacceptable disorder yet he does not allow it to paralyze him.

Character development for the main characters and many of the minor characters is well played. The humor, particularly in the dialogue, is unexpected under the dire conditions. Ostin, Michael's sidekick is like a astronomically smart, myopic, and slightly overweight Sam Wise. Everybody should have a friend as devoted as Ostin.

The antagonists are truly spiteful. Motivation is introduced but not clarified but there are other antagonists from other parts of the world we have not yet met. This is the first book of a series. What the antagonists are willing to do to gain control of the electric children is chilling and psychopathic. Although I will admit the psychological brilliance of it.

I completely loved it. It completely cleared the Mom-o-Meter.

Swearing - none.
Sex - none.
Drug use - some underage drinking met with surprise.
Violence - abundant.
Blood and gore - minimal, if any.

As long as we don't make this reader cry and take an unplanned trip to a cemetery, I will continue with this series.

Get this one. Really. ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Nancy rated it it was amazing

My take: Richard Paul Evans ruined Christmas for me one year. I sat in the corner of the living room, reading The Christmas Box and cried. In fact, I was in a rather obsessive mood and considered how it would look if I disappeared for a couple of hours and drove to the cemetery to see if the grave marker really existed. How much of this story was true? Then I calmed down enough to just be ticked off at him for making me cry. I hate contrived tragedies which is why I never watch Little House on t My take: Richard Paul Evans ruined Christmas for me one year. I sat in the corner of the living room, reading The Christmas Box and cried. In fact, I was in a rather obsessive mood and considered how it would look if I disappeared for a couple of hours and drove to the cemetery to see if the grave marker really existed. How much of this story was true? Then I calmed down enough to just be ticked off at him for making me cry. I hate contrived tragedies which is why I never watch Little House on the Prairie, anymore. By the end of it, Pa is always crying. Still, others have found his books endearing and he spends an inordinate amount of time on the New York Times Best Sellers. Fortunately, this book did not leave me in tears nor did it leave me with an uncontrollable urge to drive to Meridian, Idaho (it's a real place) or Pasadena, California. Not only that, Evans is a brilliant story teller.

I loved that Michael Vey, the protagonist has a neurological disorder. Michael has Tourette's. The kind that has him blinking and gulping in tics. I am of the mind this may come into play as to why Michael is so special but until then, Michael is an excellent example of a boy with a socially unacceptable disorder yet he does not allow it to paralyze him.

Character development for the main characters and many of the minor characters is well played. The humor, particularly in the dialogue, is unexpected under the dire conditions. Ostin, Michael's sidekick is like a astronomically smart, myopic, and slightly overweight Sam Wise. Everybody should have a friend as devoted as Ostin.

The antagonists are truly spiteful. Motivation is introduced but not clarified but there are other antagonists from other parts of the world we have not yet met. This is the first book of a series. What the antagonists are willing to do to gain control of the electric children is chilling and psychopathic. Although I will admit the psychological brilliance of it.

I completely loved it. It completely cleared the Mom-o-Meter.

Swearing - none.
Sex - none.
Drug use - some underage drinking met with surprise.
Violence - abundant.
Blood and gore - minimal, if any.

As long as we don't make this reader cry and take an unplanned trip to a cemetery, I will continue with this series.

Get this one. Really. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2015 Becky rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, library, junior

This was a fun book about children that were born with Electric Powers. It's interesting to see all of the different things that can be done with electricity and how each child utilizes them. Kinda like the Justice League working together to take out the super powered villains.

Michael Vey was a wonderful protagonist and I really liked when the book was told in his POV. I didn't like when it switched from his POV to third person to tell about Taylor's happenings. I wouldn't have minded once in a ...more

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Mar 03, 2021 Erin rated it liked it

Michael Vey is special- he has the ability to shock people. He's worked to keep it secret, but after being attacked, his attackers and a witness find out his secret. He finds out that there are others like him and has to use his powers to try to free them from a group that wants to control them.

NC MBOB 2020/2021 selection. I had a really hard time getting into this. It just felt too trope-y. Kid with powers, geeky best friend, enemy becomes friend, average looking guy gets the hottest girl in sc ...more

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Nov 13, 2012 LeBoldus Librarian rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, series

Fans of I am Number Four will probably enjoy this series by Richard Paul Evans. I The Prisoner of Cell 25, Evans introduces us to a world of electrically enhanced children, secret societies bent on global domination, high school angst, and even a little romance. Fast-paced, high-energy and full of memorable characters, this book entertained me from cover to cover.

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Feb 26, 2015 Kara rated it it was ok

Shelves: y-a

There were parts of this book that were exciting, but lots of it was very much like Percy Jackson. I was interested for the 1st two thirds, then what was supposed to be the big climax just seemed to lose steam. Its more a middle grade read than young adult, but if you have a 10-13 year old reader in your life, I suspect they will tear through it and be begging for the next part.

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