Reading: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

"It's our choices that matter in the end. Not wishes. Not words. Not promises." - Alexandra Bracken, Passenger

Title: Passenger

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Published: 2016

Rating: 4 Stars (Really Liked It)

My interest in this book was piqued when the bookstagram community discovered its beautiful cover and went on a month-long photo spree. As the cover-mania slowed I noticed people complaining that the book was "slow" or "boring." I'm here to say that I did not find that to be the case at all.

For starters: Pirates, Time Travel, History. Somehow the universe has conspired to bring me these 3 things (which I love) in every book I've read this month!

The world created in Passenger was brilliant. I wasn't as interested in the mechanics of time travel in this story (and neither was Alex from what I can tell), but the world it existed in and the corruption that can be created through such power. She does address some of the major issues anyone would bring up in a time-travel story, such as "can I make myself cease to exist?" but aside from that it was very character and story driven.

The main characters: Etta and Nicholas. Etta is a 21st century girl with a tense mother-daughter relationship, no knowledge of her father, and a close loving relationship with her violin instructor. Nicholas is a freed slave living through the American revolution and trying to make his way as a sailor. There's a stark contrast between these two characters' lives before they intersect. Throughout the entire book the language styles they use were consistent which meant that Bracken had to switch between centuries constantly. Impressive.

The difference in race and time period also created an opportunity for some great social commentaries. Even the unlikeable Sophia brought some great perspective as a 20th century female. Until she had the opportunity to time travel, Etta probably would not have considered herself blessed.

I felt like the story progressed quite well. You can clearly see Bracken's love of history coming across in the time periods she selected for her characters to witness, but we didn't dwell too long in any.

I agree that the writing style was beautifully detail-oriented to the point where I skipped some sentences that were flowery descriptions, but I think that's a compliment to how much I wanted to know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

I'm excited for #2

4 Stars (Really Liked It)

We went to the same school... TRIBE PRIDE!

#nerd #book #youngadult