No Safety In Numbers

Aug 08, 2012 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya

first things first. look how cool this book is when you take the dust jacket off:

and i appreciate that attention to detail, but when all is said and done, this is just another book that has a great premise, but suffers under any real common sense scrutiny applied to its plot.

this is a puppy-dumb YA book that reminds me that these books aren't written for me. i think younger readers will appreciate a book about people being quarantined in a mall after an attack by unknown enemies where a bomb sta...more
first things first. look how cool this book is when you take the dust jacket off:

and i appreciate that attention to detail, but when all is said and done, this is just another book that has a great premise, but suffers under any real common sense scrutiny applied to its plot.

this is a puppy-dumb YA book that reminds me that these books aren't written for me. i think younger readers will appreciate a book about people being quarantined in a mall after an attack by unknown enemies where a bomb starts pumping deadly disease in through the vents and the confusion and death that ensue. teens, trapped in a mall with other teens and prospective love-interests = fun!! me, trapped in a mall with roving gangs of teens with their friends and prospective love interests = no way, get me out of here.

and i can't help but point out the flaws in the crowd-control elements, and the unrealistic passivity of the detainees, for the most part, and especially the employees who are just at their registers for hours and hours, waiting patiently for a quarantined individual to come in and buy a pair of pants. why are these people still working at the stores? just hanging out, manning the registers waiting for someone to maybe wander in and buy a book? i work retail and i can tell you that these systems would have broken down much earlier than this. when there is a rainstorm, people go helpless. i have heard all manner of uncivilized behavior explained away by "but it's raining out." can you imagine these people being locked up in a mall for a week without access to showers and proper food and clean bathrooms (because the cleaning crew only works at night? seriously? so in this mall, not a single janitor is on hand during the day in case a pipe leaks or a kid throws up on the merry-go-round. really??) they would not still be buying their clothes, let me tell you.there would be way more looting and resentment and probably more violent crimes and i guarantee you no one would still be running the stores. i would, because i am an incredibly devoted worker bee, but most people would not still be there, biding their time, punching in their timecards.

and eventually, people do begin reacting in ways that are less-civilized, but seriously - too little, too late, too unrealistic. i am telling you - people are animals.

and then to find out that this is just the first book in a continuing series? nooo. at 263 pages, this hasn't really earned itself being a part of something. write more of this book and then you may write another one.

i'm being overly harsh here - it's not bad. it is a fun idea, and the big reveal towards the end (which also makes no sense, realistically, but whatever) is shocking (mostly because it makes no sense, realistically) but maybe the next book will be stronger.

it's fun, really. just dumb-fun.(less)

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Apr 06, 2012 Ruby rated it 4 of 5 stars

(Review based on Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of the book.)
Hundreds of people go to the mall everyday, but for four teens, a trip to the mall could be deadly. Marco, Lexi, Shay and Ryan have come to the mall for reasons all their own. Marco works as a busboy at a mall restaurant. After being chased by school bullies in the parking garage, he discovers a device attached to the AC unit for the mall. Lexi is out with her parents for some family time, which rarely happens because her mother is a state...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Emily Brown (TheBrownReviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reads-of-2012

UPDATE: I'm excited to announce that I will be posting an author interview with Dayna on my blog shortly. She accepted an interview request from me, so I just have to email her the questions! Check out my blog! Coming soon :)

Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Writing Style: 4/5

An interesting read, none the less. I loved the idea for this book. A bomb in a mall that causes a toxin to make people ill? Whoa.

The mall being shutdown with people locked in it in solitude and sick...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Amber Joyce rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-for-boys

This is drivel. I am so disappointed; the premise of a bioterrorist attack on a suburban mall resulting in a lock down of all the patrons really sounded good. The writing is awful. The teen characters are vapid, and annoyingly forced ethnically diverse--- really--- an Indian girl with no friends, a white bully football player boy, a black girl whose mother is the governor, a Mexican illegal who works at the burger joint. The adults are idiots. My 9th grader and I both gave up about half way thro...more

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May 28, 2013 Drew added it

Book review for “No Safety in Numbers”.
The plot of the book was very amazing. It all started out as a normal day and you started to meet the characters. But then the mall goes on lockdown and nobody knows what is going on.
The book “No Safety in Numbers” is very amazing in my opinion. The author Dayna Lorentz seems like an author that I would read more of. The book again I will state has been a very good read.
The story is given in the eyes between four teenagers, two boys and two girls, all of...more Book review for “No Safety in Numbers”.
The plot of the book was very amazing. It all started out as a normal day and you started to meet the characters. But then the mall goes on lockdown and nobody knows what is going on.
The book “No Safety in Numbers” is very amazing in my opinion. The author Dayna Lorentz seems like an author that I would read more of. The book again I will state has been a very good read.
The story is given in the eyes between four teenagers, two boys and two girls, all of the same age, but very different lives. One of the boys is named Marco and he is Mexican. The only reason I do state this is because he is attacked and bullied for it a bit. But as he is being chased in the parking lot of the mall trying to get to work he hides in a janitor room. He quickly looks into one of the air ducts to hid in. As the coast is clear he sees a small machine in it. “That can’t be good” he said and then called 911.
You then meet Lexi who is the daughter of the state senator. Her mother the senator never seemed to care anymore but her father did. Lexi was a bit nerdy like him. Her and her family are at the mall trying to eat a lunch when for the millionth time her mother’s cell phone rings. But this time it seems bigger then usual. “Her expression changed…. “The found what?” She quickly ran out from her family after that.
Then you meet Ryan. He is a jock but pretty cool at the same time. Not some meat head like the rest of them. He is just looking around the mall at random. He goes into a store and looks into a rack and finds a girl inside that is just reading a book and listening to music. Her name is shay; She has a henna tattoo of a rose wrapping around her neck then blossoming on her cheek. He finds her very attractive but at the same time knows that she is different. Somewhat of a no no for him. But that’s just another thing that makes her attractive. Her being different and a little bit off limits. Only because she is not the same as everyone else. But then the mall is on lock down all of a sudden; Nobody is allowed to leave. She asks him to come with her to find her grandmother and little sister. She walks towards the entrance to the parking garage. They are not even to leave the store that they were in. there were to guards at the doors but he followed anyway even though he might get into trouble. The guards yell at them even as shay pleads to be allowed to go through. As they are forced to walk away shay gets a text from her grandmother saying that they were at the food court. As Ryan leaves her because he is afraid of getting into more trouble Shay gives him her number and the book she was reading full of poetry.
Shay you then get to follow in the book as she heads towards her family. She is upset for many reasons. One that she is confused about her feelings for Ryan, two that he kind of bailed on her because of the guards and three because she just gave him the book of poetry that was over fifty years old that she had just recently received from her grandmother. As she is thinking about all these things she comes up to the the food court and sits down with her grandmother and watches her little sister play.
I am really enjoying this book because the mall is just getting worse and worse. Lexi’s mom gets even more distent. Marco trys to keep figuring out the truth. Shay’s grandmother is getting sick, possibly from her diebities, and Ryan is caught between shay and his friends, and other kids he rivals. Lexi does gain a new friend and Marco does learn new info. But much more has yet to get figured out. Now hazmat suited people are in the mall getting blood samples from people. Things are not looking good.
Escape attempts have been futile. Ryan does have two other guys with him, Drew and Mike, the two guys that attacked Marco at the beginning of the story. But then the three of them try and team up with Marco to escape but no success. Ryan and Shay continue to build there relationship. Drew does ask who she is and tell him “my girlfriend”. No hesitation at all.
Lexi finally finds out what is going on. She was able to pry the secret out of her mother, who admits it is her fault. But she will continue to fight that she at the same time is not to blame. But Lexi doesn’t care. She makes sure that she keeps herself clean along with her newfound friends.
Shay is still at constant battle to keep her family safe. It seems that she finally gets it that even though Ryan does truly care, we will not set forth his entire effort to help her family to, but she does still like him none the less. Ryan and his friends do find another opportunity to escape. A couple of guys are down in the parking garage that are about to attempt to ram their cars through this wired door that is blocking the exit. There seems to only be plastic on the other side. He tells Shay to meet her there, but she never does show up. They start up the cars to prepare to leave. As they start the convoy and head towards the door they continue to speed up. As the first car hits the door it just smashes the front end and flips the car. The 2nd car behind it hit the car and the third one that Ryan is in Steers out of the way and rolls. Nobody gets to hurt but they all get caged up right in the garage. But Drew is able to create enough of a whole in the cage that Ryan is able to slip out of the cage and take out the guard. He gets the keys and helps everyone else escape.
Later Marco runs down to the garage with Shay. They are gone but Marco grabs the walkie-talkie from the guard and his master key.
Ryan and all the others from the caravan wonder to through the mall towards the rock wall. But he is feeling sick. He has a fever and is very dehydrated. They go inside a sporting goods store where a man threatens to kill him. Eventually Mike is able to sneak up behind him and shoots him with a gun. He had stolen it from the cop without anybody else noticing. Ryan then passes out.
Shay and Marco stay together. Marco still does like shay but she does not feel the same way. They head towards the first aid area to check on her grandmother. She was getting even more and more sick. As she gets there she sees that her little sister is still ok. But soon her grandmother’s machines have a freak-out and doctors take her away. Shay and her sister freak out. Marco stays with them. Now Shay and her sister are starting to feel sick also but do not dare to tell the doctors. Soon another riot starts up and this time it is headed towards them at the first aid center. The doors break through and the people start to break in. Shay gets knocked onto the ground and is trampled. Marco carries her to safety.
Ryan wakes up. He is covered in blankets. He drinks some water and they start to think of a new way to escape. Ryan looks at the rock wall and thinks of an idea. There is a skylight right above it. They hook themselves up and everybody climbs up to the top and smash the glass. Many people at the bottom cheer. As Ryan climbs on top of the building a helicopter comes down upon them.
Shay wakes up and finds her sister. She is safe. She demands a doctor that was left behind in the riot to take her to her grandmother. As they pass through rows of dead bodies they see her body on a bead cold and stiff. She has also passed away.
The Senator sneaks away from everyone. She goes towards the ice rink that has been closed do to a malfunction in the coolant. As she opens the door it is plenty cold. She turns on the lights and sees hundreds of dead bodies.
This is the end.
I cannot wait to read the second book.
(less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Ashley rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was definitely an interesting concept. I think I'd go mad if I were stuck in a shopping mall for more than a few hours - especially if there were a bunch of crappy teenagers and some biological agent in the air vents making people sick.

The characters were interesting. That is not to say I liked all of them - I am not a fan of Ryan or Marco - but I found them to be fairly believably written teens (although I did eyeroll a bit when one of them was talking about "pwning" someone. Does anyone o...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-kayla

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A story that’s absolutely possible in this day and age. Survival and composure compete in a mall that could be near you.

Opening Sentence: You know it’s a bad day when you pull into the parking garage at work and someone tries to run you over.

The Review:

This book is eerily plausible, especially right now with the flu “epidemic” currently sweeping the nation. It’s almost exactly like a modern Lord of the Flies, where your own survival overrid...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a quick paced story that really captures the what if of a disaster. Marco, a Latrino teen from a family that is struggling economically, is one of four teens who take center stage in this novel that highlights what might happen if a biological weapon were used on a mall. While coming into work one day, he ends up being accosted by a group of typical football jocks, including Ryan (one of the other stars). As he is trying to get away, he ends up in a closet that houses some of the HVAC sy...more This is a quick paced story that really captures the what if of a disaster. Marco, a Latrino teen from a family that is struggling economically, is one of four teens who take center stage in this novel that highlights what might happen if a biological weapon were used on a mall. While coming into work one day, he ends up being accosted by a group of typical football jocks, including Ryan (one of the other stars). As he is trying to get away, he ends up in a closet that houses some of the HVAC system and comes across something that shouldn't be there. He tells the authorities, and the mall is quickly set into lockdown.

Lexi, and African American girl, is another one of the main characters. Her mom is a US Senator, and that means her mom ends up becoming the point person for dealing with the disaster. Lexi, who has not been popular at school finds herself pairing up with one of the more popular girls while everyone is stuck inside. She starts to find out that maybe she is not as different as she thought.

Shay is a South Asian girl who has just moved to the area because of her parent's change of employment. She really doesn't have any friends yet. She had gone shopping with her diabetic grnadmother and her younger sister when everything goes horribly wrong.

Ryan also ends up matching up with a group of people, though they are other football players who are hoping to find their way out of the mall, which seems to be getting more and more isolated. That doesn't prevent him (and Marco) from meeting Shay, and both start to woo her.

At first, most of the people stuck at the mall find it to be an inconvenience and pretty much listen to the authority of Lexi's mother and the mall manager, but as hours shift into days, tensions run wild. This leads to food shortages, cranky people, and riots. This becomes particularly true as word start to spread that they are likely in quarantine from some sort of flu-like plague. Panic starts to ensue, and the mall turns into a very dangerous place. The question is who will survive and will it be the disease, which seems to be quite gruesome and deadly, or the other people in the mall that everyone has to worry about.

This is a first novel, and it ends on a cliffhanger. I definitely can't wait until the sequel No Easy Way Out, which is supposed to be coming out in July! I think this is an easy sell to the targeted teen audience since disaster movies and stories are so popular. The four different perspectives will allow most to find at least one of the narrators they can relate to. I couldn't read this one fast enough, and the cliffhanger just left me in hurry to read the next book.

On a deeper level, I thought the book has an interesting take on the concept of perception. Obviously readers get a look at Marco, Lexi, Ryan, and Shay, but the other teens don't necessarily seem them in the same way as they see themselves. For example, Ryan sees himself has pretty much a nice guy, which he sort of is. Marco, on the other hand sees him as just another of the jerk jocks who pick on him for being poor and different. It will be interesting to see how this type of perspective interplay continues to play out.(less)

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Dec 23, 2012 Thea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was really good, very fast-paced. I only wished for a little bit more action in the beginning, I was hoping it would skip right to the good part where people are gunning each other down for food and other supplies, but alas, it was not like that until the end. And even in the end I wished it could have explained more about the desperation the people trapped in the mall was. I wished the main characters were faced with more danger. But I hope a lot of these problems are just because she...more

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Nov 09, 2012 PEI Public Library Service rated it 3 of 5 stars

No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz
Dial Books, 2012

I don't like malls and I won't want to have to stay in one for more than a couple of hours. So I found this teen novel quite horrifying and suspenseful. It depicts what happens when a biological bomb is discovered in the garage of a busy suburban mall. The authorities quarantine everyone who was in the mall at the time of the bomb's discovery in case they were infected and serious barriers are erected to make sure the shoppers and staff stay t...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Kimmy rated it 3 of 5 stars

(I would actually give this 3.5 stars)

I picked this up at the library last night when I was there looking for a different book, and started reading it right there in the aisle. Here is the summary:

A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall. At first nobody knows if it’s even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there’s no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are...more (I would actually give this 3.5 stars)

I picked this up at the library last night when I was there looking for a different book, and started reading it right there in the aisle. Here is the summary:

A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall. At first nobody knows if it’s even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there’s no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are four teens. These four different narrators, each with their own stories, must cope in unique, surprising styles, changing in ways they wouldn’t have predicted, trying to find solace, safety, and escape at a time when the adults are behaving badly. This is a gripping look at people and how they can–and must–change under the most dire of circumstances. And not always for the better.

I’ve mentioned before how much I love reading survival-type stories, and when I learned that this book was a survival story set in a mall, I knew it would end up on my TBR list. The mall is one of my favourite places!

The story follows four teenage protagonists: Marco, a busboy at a restaurant in the mall; Lexi, who is spending the day at the mall with her father and mother, a senator; Ryan, a high school football player who bumps into two older boys on the team; and Shay, who is at the mall with her grandmother and her younger sister.

When a bomb is discovered in the mall’s parking garage, Lexi’s mother takes charge and quarantines everyone while mall security and, eventually, the government try to figure out what kind of bomb it is. The people in the mall are not told anything at first except that there is a security concern and they are not allowed to leave the mall. As you can imagine, the longer they’re trapped inside, the panic grows and things seem ready to turn into chaos.

As the time turns into days spent in the mall, people begin getting sick, and on top of that, they still don’t know exactly why they’re stuck in the mall or when they can get out. They’re hungry, uncomfortable, and the mall bathrooms are dirty. The staff of the various shops and restaurants begins to shrink as they either get sick or desert their jobs. Some people turn violent. When hazmat crews show up, it’s a sign that things are definitely worse than a mere security concern.

Our four protagonists cross paths over the course of the novel. Marco and Ryan have a few uneasy encounters, as the two other football players that Ryan teams up with don’t like Marco, but try to turn to him for help escaping the mall (as an employee, Marco knows the ins and outs of the building). Shay and Ryan have a blossoming romance, but Marco has feelings for Shay as well, and Ryan finds his loyalty to his football friends in conflict at times with his feelings for Shay. Lexi, a tech genius, crosses paths with the others briefly, but spends most of her time either fighting with her mother, or hanging out with Ginger and Maddie, two popular girls also trapped in the mall. Lexi finds herself wanting to impress them and, for a time, thinks that she’s made friends, but as the situation in the mall worsens, these friendships may be called into question.

For a while, I thought this was a pretty fun survival story, but when the nature of the bomb is revealed to the people trapped in the mall, after five or six days, things got pretty scary. The situation in the mall just turned into utter chaos, and the government aid suddenly disappeared. Our protagonists struggle with, variously, trying to escape from the mall, trying to find their loved ones from whom they were separated, the death of a loved one, trying to help the sick, and, of course, just trying to survive as the violence in the mall increased.

I liked this book – the plot moved quickly and kept me reading (I finished it in one sitting), and of course, I love the whole survive-the-mall idea. LOVE IT. I liked that the story followed four protagonists, and seeing how each one reacted to the situation. My big issue was that, silly me, I didn’t realize that this was the first in a series until I got to the last page of the book. So while I was reading anxiously, hoping to find out who placed the bomb and why, and whether our protagonists would finally get out of the mall after spending six days trapped inside, it looks like I’m going to have to wait until the next book comes out and hope it answers those questions.

However, after sleeping on it, I am looking forward to reading more about these characters and how the authorities will handle things. Maybe the people in the mall will have to create their own mall society…who knows! All I know is I’m now eagerly anticipating the sequel, No Easy Way Out, whenever that comes out.
(From http://pingwings.ca)(less)

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Aug 27, 2012 Anna Silver rated it 4 of 5 stars

My daughter picked No Safety In Numbers up at Barnes & Noble, insisting it was meant to be as the dedication read, "For Evelyn" and her name is Evelyn. Typically, I read whatever books they get plus my own, since they're all YA, unless I find their choices utterly unappealing.

I will say, this one did not jump out at me. And I kind of ho-hummed my way through the beginning. I'm not a fan of differing perspectives, male protagonists, or shopping malls, so Lorentz left a lot to be desired. Tha...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Yes, this book is dumb. (Really dumb. "It's not safe anywhere but the Apple Store. The police can protect us there.") Everything about this book is deeply implausible: the situation itself, the way the government handles it, the behavior of the people trapped in the mall (not to mention their families outside the mall). But if you are good at turning off that part of your brain, it's pretty entertaining actually! This was definitely a fun, quick read.

That said: I would have rated this book highe...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Allie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I fell in love with the premise of the book. Thousands of people trapped inside a mall because of a biohazardous bomb? I imagined fights, epidemics, gangs, and characters I'd cry out, "NO!" to whenever something horrible befell them. And I got most of those things.

The plot was pretty good. I liked how it switched "perspectives" and kept track of several people rather than just one. I enjoyed the plot twists, and the illness totally had me freaked out. Put together, I did enjoy it. But I had a fe...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Pamela Kramer rated it 5 of 5 stars

"No Safety in Numbers" by Dayna Lorentz is a thrilling action story for young adults. It's about what might happen if a terrorist plot unfolded in a local mall. Be forewarned: it's not a pretty picture.

Told from the point of view of four very different teens, the story, all in third person narration, works alarmingly, scarily well. There are two boys and two girls -- and before the terrorist attack even starts, all four are clearly dealing with personal issues.

Lexi, whose mother is a state senat...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Monica! rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, reasonably-realistic, what-is-this-feeling, yippie-kay-ai-motherf-cker, your-reality-alarms-me, but-wait-theres-more, iceberg-right-ahead

Friends, this book illustrates a particular nightmare of mine.

I’m the type of girl who has not shared a drink with a friend since 1992, who routinely hand sanitizes up to the elbows while at work, and who has been known to duck under tables to avoid a hacking passerby.

So the thought of being trapped in a shopping mall filled with hundreds of gradually-increasingly-sick individuals lurching about, their fingertips slowly turning blue, the blood vessels in their eyes dramatically bursting, their...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Angela rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Thousands of people trapped in a mall after a biotoxin is released? Sounded like a tense action/thriller/suspense story.

That's why I'm so disappointed that this novel, with such a great concept, felt like such a snooze.

I felt like the chapters were starting to repeat themselves: Marco doesn't like the jocks; Ryan likes Shay; Shay is worried about her grandma; Lexi is a shy computer whiz. Lorentz reiterates these points again and again, but the plot stagnates. So much page space is devoted to est...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dysfunctional, teen, quarantine

Oh no! Another series!!!

This book was a guilty pleasure for me. There is so much I could pick apart, yet I was totally sucked in and finished it in two days.

Hundreds, no - thousands of people are suddenly stuck in a three-level shopping mall when a biological weapon bomb is found. Chaos reigns amongst the people stuck in the mall - gangs of teens rule the roost and very few adults play much part in the story. Very few people have any redeeming qualities, and most everyone is portrayed as selfis...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Bookphilia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: disease-and-illness, bombs

I really wanted to like this, and honestly, sometimes I did.

I love how the author talks about reading with such passion. I love that she mentions Tagore and some other great reads. I really love how Indian (but not) Shay is and how pressured Ryan feels; how much he contradicts his own wants for his brother's reputation.

But the stereotypes, my god, they were awful. I mean, sure there's little diversity in this small, white city (I can relate), but is everyone so predictable too?

Lexi has a big bu...more

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May 31, 2012 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really wanted to love this book. The premise was great, people trapped inside a mall, quarantined after a biological bomb goes off. Unfortunately, after that exciting idea, not much happened.

The story is told through four viewpoints. I like the way the author goes for diversity. The main characters are:

Marco - a Hispanic boy nicknamed "Taco" by his enemies (imagine being the guy who found the bomb that leaves you trapped inside an enclosed mall with other guys who hate your guts).

Shay - Shaila...more

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May 24, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of the TV show 24

I was shocked with No Safety in Numbers.

The biggest surprise in my opinion, and this doesn’t give away anything, was that this is the first in a series, and not a stand alone book. I was shocked by this, and can’t wait to see where the series takes the characters.

Speaking of characters, Lorentz does a fantastic job creating engaging characters that really keep the story going. In my opinion it’s the characters that make the book what it is. Unlike most books with rotating narrators, readers will...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Sara Grochowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I arrived at work today to find a package of No Safety in Numbers waiting for me in my mail slot. I had never heard of it, but, inside the package, I found a face mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer, which, luckily, piqued my interest. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the cover art on the galley I was sent. Personally, I think a black background with a red title would look cleaner. The crinkled yellow background that it features now makes it look almost childish, not serious, which I feel wou...more I arrived at work today to find a package of No Safety in Numbers waiting for me in my mail slot. I had never heard of it, but, inside the package, I found a face mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer, which, luckily, piqued my interest. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the cover art on the galley I was sent. Personally, I think a black background with a red title would look cleaner. The crinkled yellow background that it features now makes it look almost childish, not serious, which I feel would be more fitting of the plot. BUT if you find the cover off putting like I did, whatever you do, don't dismiss this debut!

I love the concept of this novel, though it isn't necessary something you've never seen before. It's a movie plot that's been done more than a few times and is being pitched as Contagion meets Lord of the Flies, though, in all honesty, it leans a bit more towards Contagion then the latter. Still, Dayna Lorentz focuses on a group of teens trapped in this dangerous situation, which keeps what could be tired idea fresh.

I don't know a lot about biological warfare, or warfare in general, but I know enough to be terrified of the possibilities it could create. The setting of No Safety in Numbers makes the idea more present and realistic. The reactions of those quarantined, with little explanation and virtually no information, were, simultaneously, understandable and unbelievable. Being an outside observer, while still being able to put oneself in the position of the character, the reader is at an interesting crossroads. I realized that I would probably try some of the same things if I were trapped inside, but I also know, as the reader, it would all be pointless and lend itself to chaos.

I appreciated that each of the characters had relatable and realistic feelings about the situation. At one point, one yearned for a leader, even one lacking stability, one wanted to help others, one didn't want to feel alone, and another felt separate from everyone else... The next moment feelings would seem to switch between the characters as more unforeseen events developed, lending the characters greater personality.

No Safety in Numbers is the first in a planned trilogy, but the ending of book one wrapped up nicely while still leaving me craving the continuation. Towards the end of this book, I was feeling more of a Lord of the Flies vibe, which definitely caused some excitement and leads me to believe the next installment promises good things. I'd definitely add this one to your 2012 to-read list... you'll never think of a weekend trip to the mall the same way again!(less)

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May 15, 2013 James rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-young-adult

the book was good and a very quick read. this second point is due to the fact it is less than 300 pages. However, because of that, it is also an incomplete story in my opinion. The book starts with several thousand people getting quarantineed in a mall because of a bomb threat. By the end, one week has passed. I know there is a sequel coming and I think they could probably have combined the two books for a more complete narrative. This book didn't even have much of a climax even if the author di...more the book was good and a very quick read. this second point is due to the fact it is less than 300 pages. However, because of that, it is also an incomplete story in my opinion. The book starts with several thousand people getting quarantineed in a mall because of a bomb threat. By the end, one week has passed. I know there is a sequel coming and I think they could probably have combined the two books for a more complete narrative. This book didn't even have much of a climax even if the author did try and go for a "big secret" reveal at the end to build anticipation for the second book. The reveal wasn't particularly significant or unexpected and came on the heels of a lack of climatic ending. I'm also curious about the authors knowledge of bioterrorism agents as it seemed to be lacking and based more on "what are the names of things that sound scary" as opposed to an working knowledge of bioterrorism agents, dissemination techniques, and analysis methods. Also, given what the actual agent is and how similar agents have been handled in real world situations, the actions in the book seem a little overreactive. One particular example of lack of working knowledge, let's assume you have a biological agent released in a building and you are concerned that the agent is airborne transmissible, why wouldn't you turn off the HVAC system in the building so you aren't exhausting potentially contaminated air into the outside environment you are trying to protect by isolating the building in the first place?

I also just realized that the story is told primarily from the viewpoint of 4 unrelated teenagers (okay, I didn't just realize that but what comes next), and all 4 of these 4 teenagers could be classified as "outsider/loner/new kids" in their respective school/social environments. Could have been a bit more variation in the primary population as opposed to them all being the same, just changing gender and ethnicity. I will probably read the sequel but as with this one, I'll wait for the library to get it.(less)

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Nov 12, 2012 Katie Massiah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, for-teens, action-or-suspense, diversity-bonus

This is a tough one to judge.
I'm pretty unhappy with the type of cliffhanger ending used here, as there is zero resolution. While the story does try to come to a natural pause, I'm not buying it. The annoying thing is that I like the characters and the premise and the action.
A couple other things bothered me. This is a lockdown situation in a mall. On the first day I can see people continuing to work and shop but once people have to stay overnight in a locked-down mall, it an emergency situatio...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Shelley Daugherty rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s a perfect day to hang out at the mall, but no one could know this day would be different than any other. This day would change their lives forever and show them how they would react in a crisis; when the shoppers’ lives spin out of control. What starts as a security incident turns into a nightmare when one mall employee discovers what appears to be a bomb in one of the HVAC machines in the parking garage. Lucky for them, there is a senator in the mall, so she will be able to handle the prob...more It’s a perfect day to hang out at the mall, but no one could know this day would be different than any other. This day would change their lives forever and show them how they would react in a crisis; when the shoppers’ lives spin out of control. What starts as a security incident turns into a nightmare when one mall employee discovers what appears to be a bomb in one of the HVAC machines in the parking garage. Lucky for them, there is a senator in the mall, so she will be able to handle the problem quickly and calmly, or will she? Instead of evacuating the shoppers, they are forced to stay in the mall until further notice, but that time runs into an indefinite amount of time. Days pass, food supplies start to dwindle, people need medication, and now those trapped inside are getting sick. Suddenly people are coming in with Hazmat suits and conducting blood tests, quarantining people who are sick, and everyone in the mall is getting restless. It won’t take long for there to be a riot. Then their world begins to really fall apart.

The book revolves around 4 main characters and their friends and family who happen to be with them at the time of the incident. Lexi the senator’s daughter, Marco the mall employee, Shay and Indian girl there with her little sister and grandmother, and Ryan the football player, are the eyes for the reader. Through the characters the reader gets a variety of viewpoints to the crisis going on. Since they are all teens they do run across each other from time to time so their lives become entwined. Each has their own agenda but they all want one thing, to get out alive. The book really thrives on action and relationships between the characters. It is an easy read and the storyline moves quickly from chapter to chapter. I found myself wanting to read it all in one sitting because I hated to put it down. I really felt invested in these characters. The one thing which disappointed me was to find out this is only book one. I had hoped this would be a story that summed itself up quickly but I am interested in reading the next book in the series. The author does a nice job developing a cliffhanger which will keep the reader ready for the next book.

Content – I think this is something that will really appeal to both boys and girls. The content is actually pretty tame. Language-wise there was nothing other than the word “a**hole”. There is really no sexual content other than a reference to kids playing spin the bottle (nothing other than kissing) a reference to porno mags, and one kid gets a hard on. I would say this is appropriate for junior high probably 7th grade and up.
(less)

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Jul 18, 2012 Dolores rated it 3 of 5 stars

There were things about this book that I thought were done very well. Crowd behavior, for example. I read reviews that said they thought people were too calm for too long. Sorry, I disagree. Basic Crowd Psychology 101. No one wants to be the first person to say something, so no one says anything. Then, once the ice has broken, panic spreads like wildfire. I felt that was portrayed accurately here. I also appreciated the development of Mike and Drew. Instead of continuing to harass Marco, they ac...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Christie rated it 3 of 5 stars

For a full review, check out my YA lit blog: http://theyoungandtheliterate.com/blog/

No Safety in Numbers can be commended in many ways for its modern, young adult twist on a familiar story. A situation in which people are forced to remain in one space as those around them become either infected and contagious, or brutal, selfish, and violent? It’s definitely reminiscent of most zombie films in the last decade—28 Days Later, Contagion, Zombieland, the list goes on—with a dash of the power structu...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Sally Kruger added it

When a strange device is discovered strapped to a ventilation duct in the Stonecliff Mall, the decision is made to immediately quarantine every shopper and employee in the shopping complex. Security announcements suggest that shoppers stay in the stores until the emergency situation can be investigated. Amazingly, people don't panic. Instead, they keep shopping and business carries on.

Four teens become involved in the chaos that follows. Marco, Lexi, Ryan, and Shay each have their own problems a...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Courtney rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: chose-not-to-finish

This book is filthy. My daughter heard it was good, so I thought I'd read it real quick (it's super short) to see if it would be good for an almost 13 year old. If you want your child to start speaking like a sailor, let them read this book.

I am shocked that in my quick skim of comments that this is not a bigger deal to other parents. I am not just talking about the constant use of the f bomb, which is my cue that a writer lacks creativity, but the sexual-demeaning of girls was cringe-worthy at...more

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Jun 06, 2012 P.M. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Four teenagers (the computer nerdette, the football jock, the immigrant, and the drama queen) are all at the mall when some type of mechanism is found feeding into the ventilation system. A US senator is also at a family outing in the mall when she is informed about the bomb. She decides to lockdown the mall until the bomb is evaluated. Suddenly people start turning blue and dying after being wracked by horrendous coughing. The mall becomes a scene of survival from an unidentified danger. Told f...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Ryan or Marco	2	11	Dec 05, 2012 08:23pm
Teens AGAIN!!	13	18	Sep 06, 2012 04:12pm
What did you think?	1	6	Jul 01, 2012 09:39am

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