Age Range: 8+ (middle-grade readers to infinity and beyond!)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / Dystopic
Part of A Series: SNEAK is book #2 in the Swipe Series.
Part of A Series: SNEAK is book #2 in the Swipe Series.
Release Date: 9.4.12
Pages: 288
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Tag Line: In a future United States under the power of a charismatic leader, everyone gets the Mark at age thirteen. The Mark lets citizen shop, go to school, and even get medical care—but without it, you are on your own. Few refuse to get the Mark. Those who do . . . disappear.
Summary: Logan Langly went in to get his Mark, but he backed out at the last minute. Now he’s on the run from government agents who will stop at nothing to capture him. But Logan is on a mission to find and save his sister, Lily, who disappeared five years ago on her thirteenth birthday, the day she was supposed to receive her Mark.
Logan and his friends, a group of dissenters called the Dust, discover a vast network of the Unmarked, who help them travel safely to the capital city where Lily is imprisoned. Along the way, the Dust receives some startling information from the Markless community, opening their eyes to the message of Christianity and warning that humanity is now entering the End of Days.
When the Dust finally arrives in the capital, it seems that all their careful planning is useless against a government that will do anything to bend its citizens to its will. Can the gentle words Logan has found in a tattered, banned Bible really stand against the most powerful military the world has ever known? Can Logan even sacrifice his own freedom, choosing to act through faith alone?
Writing - Evan Angler grips you with every word penned, and in SNEAK his writing only gets more gripping!
Character Development - The dichotomy between Logan Langly (an unmarked runaway) and Erin Arbitor (a marked daughter of a DOME agent) places us in a position to see the bigger picture. We then clearly see the picture from all angles when we glimpse the story through the eyes of Peck, his band of Dust and the members of the Underground River.
I also loved that Hailey Phoenix actually shows up more in SNEAK than she did in SWIPE as I've really come to love her character, brave and loyal and sassy as she is. And Dane, I love Dane and his jealous, humorous, singin' self!
Honestly, I saw improvement of character and growth and maturity from all angles within every individual character, and I loved each character even more than I did when I first met them in SWIPE.
There were aso a couple of new characters that I absolutely fell in love with, namely: Bridget, Mama & Papa Hayes, Grandma Langly, Mrs. Phoenix (Hailey's mom), Shawn, Tabby and Hans.
Symbolism - I loved that the Dust and the River used old radios as an "underground" form of communication to get messages back and forth between them and other unmarked individuals. The symbols (pictured above) that the River used were also really well thought out, and I loved that Evan Angler decided to use the ichthys and so many other nautical symbols in his "underground river" system.
Storytelling & Pacing - The storytelling only got better this time around, as I was instantly drawn into the world of the AU, once again, from moment one. I did not, even once, want to put this book down. Seriously (though I had to at times to sleep.)
Worldview - The Worldview is definitely Christian as there are such strong morals and Biblical references sprinkled throughout this book (even more so than in book #1 - Swipe), but the hints and references in SNEAK weren't overly preachy or disguised, which I really liked.
I am even more so a fan of the Swipe Series and Evan Angler than I was after having read SWIPE! I am REALLY looking forward to reading book #3 in the series...whenever that one will be released!?
What I Didn't Like So Much: The last chapter seemed a little rushed, fragmented and disoriented. It was almost as if the story should have either wrapped up sooner, leaving us with more of a cliff hanger (can't believe *I* just said that!), or it should have given us more details as to what all exactly was going on.
I’m recommending this book… If you love dystopic novels like The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and Matched by Ally Condie or The Left Behind Series by Lahaye and Jenkins then SNEAK is definitely a book you’ll want to read over again and soon as you've finished it! Let's just say that I'm going to give SNEAK a whopping 5 stars AND confess to ya'll that I'm currently going through a serious "Book Hangover!"
* In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson through Team Novel Teen. *
Who is Evan Angler?
Evan Angler is safe, for now. He lives without the Mark, evading DOME and writing in the shadows of Beacon.
As a kid he was quiet and well-behaved, having grown up in a town not unlike Spokie, where he enjoyed music, drawing, hover-dodge, astrophysics, hiking, virtual reality . . .
None of that matters now.
Evan Angler is the author of SNEAK. But if anyone asks, you know nothing about it, and you didn’t hear anything from him. Don’t make eye contact if you see him. Don’t call his name out loud. He’s in enough trouble already.
And so are you, if you’ve read his books.
Also, check out these other Team Novel Teen bloggers ( below ) to see what they had to say about Evan Angler's novel SNEAK.
ADD Librarian • Blooming with Books • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Christian Book Review Blog • Heavenward Reviews • Jill Williamson • Labor Not in Vain • Maniacal Bookworm • Oh, Restless Bird • The Pen and Parchment • Reviews by Jane • Shadow Writer World
Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Sneak by Evan Angler by clicking on the links above, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.
Looks awesome, especially since I loved all the Hunger Games, Matched, and the Left Behind books. I'll have to give it a try. xo
ReplyDeleteYes, I daresay I like the Swipe Series just as much as The Hunger Games (which is really saying something!)
DeleteAw, so sorry you missed the chance to review Sneak! You simply must read it though, especially since you loved Swipe! FYI The Maniacal Bookworm is giving away a copy of Sneak -> http://themaniacalbookworm.blogspot.com/2012/09/sneak-blog-tour-and-giveaway.html
ReplyDeleteSarah, this post is amazing! Well done!
ReplyDeleteI love that map and those logos. Did you get those from Evan's site? So cool.
It's funny, I felt there was less character development in this one because there were so many new characters. But I agree that the books are fabulous and fun. I can't wait for book three!
:-)
Jill
Thanks, Jill! And yes, I did find the photos and logos on Evan's site and the Swipe Series FB page. Yes, I am also REALLY looking forward to reading book #3! :-)
ReplyDeleteOoh, looks interesting! I'll have to look into it. :) I loved The Hunger Games, so this may be my type of read. :D
ReplyDeleteYes, please do look into the Swipe Series, Bree! :)
DeleteLove the review! And the pictures! (that sounds weird doesn't it?) :) Great review, great post! :D
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the review, Brenna! And I really like those pictures too...makes me think of The Hunger Games!
DeleteGreat review! I also agree with your thoughts! I especially liked Grandma, she was amazing, and I liked how this book had more symbolism and action! Thank for the review!
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed having more of Hailey and Dane in the book. Just something about those two I guess. For the ending, I had the same feeling as you. It just seemed a bit disjointed and jumpy to me. It didn't flow very well. But, I'm psyched to read the last book and will look forward to whatever Even Angler will write after this. Great review.
ReplyDeleteYes, *squeals* there's just something about Hailey and Dane. Sigh.
DeleteI agree, I loved this book and Hailey and Dane :) And the information you included was really cool! I loved the map!
ReplyDeleteI really like your review! You noticed some things I didn't! And I *love* those city logos!!
ReplyDeleteLoved the review and that you included the map! I want to learn more about those pre-Mark shots and how they were going to handle the under 13 Un-marked?!!!
ReplyDeleteThis book looks so good! If it's anything like "The Hunger Games", I'll love it! It also sounds a lot like a story that I'm writing now.
ReplyDelete