If We Survive

Mar 01, 2013 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, netgalley

i read this because i was curious how christian themes would assert themselves in a survival story with guns and revolutionaries and the dangers of the jungle, and i was wondering how far the "turn the other cheek" and "the meek shall inherit the earth" would hold up in a pressure cooker.

better than you would think, but don't worry - "the lord helps those who help themselves," so this is not a "sit around and wait for divine intervention" kind of story. there is plenty of action, and i think it...more
i read this because i was curious how christian themes would assert themselves in a survival story with guns and revolutionaries and the dangers of the jungle, and i was wondering how far the "turn the other cheek" and "the meek shall inherit the earth" would hold up in a pressure cooker.

better than you would think, but don't worry - "the lord helps those who help themselves," so this is not a "sit around and wait for divine intervention" kind of story. there is plenty of action, and i think it is a good book for those reluctant reader boys who are smart, but just don't really like to sit down and read. because while there are a lot of great action sequences, there is also a fair bit of deeper-meaning stuff - some political, some self-reflective, and, yes, some religious, so it is a touch more substantial a story than a lot of the books geared towards the reluctant male YA crowd with the "piew piew piew!" (those are laser-gun noises)

the religious elements are definitely present; there is a pastor character, a lot of praying, and some ruminating about the soul and man's limitations and possibilities in the greater plan of the divine.

but it wasn't overly distracting. it does slow down the pacing, but my concern before reading was that it would be ham-fisted and didactic, and it wasn't.

to backtrack into plot-territory.our hero, sixteen-year-old will peterson, goes on a philanthropic retreat to build a school for children in costa verde, along with his pastor, and some other kids from his school - a shrill and pretty shallow fancy-girl named nicki, and a boy named jim, who is all starry-eyed for the plight of the revolutionaries and probably has a million posters of che guevara in his bedroom. joining them at the site is a slightly-older woman named meredith, who oozes competence and serenity, and is more like a unicorn than a human girl. ordinarily, a character like this would irritate me,but i really liked her, and i appreciated her calm, but still very brave, presence.

because there is a lot of need for courage. on the day they are scheduled to leave, revolutionaries take over costa verde, and the kids find themselves caught up in a civil war and must rely on the experience of palmer,a bitter ex-marine who was supposed to be their pilot outta there, to guide them to safety. again and again.there are so many dangers to be faced: dinner-plate-sized spiders, snakes, crocodiles (or maybe a caiman), firing squads, heat and thirst, and mendoza, the head of the local revolutionary group, who has it in for them in a big way.

so, naturally, the kids are gonna learn some harsh realities through hardships, and there will be much growth and many challenges and many selfless acts. but it's not an after-school special. and it's not super-proselytizing, which was a relief.

occasionally, the "teen-voice" in this rubbed me the wrong way: so many things are "really" this or "really" that, and there is a forced quality to the tumbling, repetitive speech patterns, especially at the beginning, and nicki is mostly just a cardboard "privileged girl has eyes opened in difficult situation" construction, but overall, i liked it, and i thought it was an interesting slant on the typical survival story.(less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Daniel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This is probably the most political, emotional, and intense action ride I've ever read in a Young Adult novel. Andrew Klavan has done it again with this stunningly beautiful epic that lays open the truth about some misunderstood politics. Here is the plot...

"High schooler Will Peterson and three friends journeyed to Central America to help rebuild a school. In a poor, secluded mountain village, they won the hearts of the local people with their energy and kindness.

But in one sudden moment, ever...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, ya

Will is part of a group of teens going over to Central America to rebuild a school. They are lead by Pastor Ron and what they witness there is life changing from the minute they step off their plane. They think their adventure is over as they head up into the cantina to enjoy their last minutes with the locals and meet up with their driver, but something else is about to set their journey on another route. Thundering footsteps, screaming and armed men barge into the cantina and block their exits...more Will is part of a group of teens going over to Central America to rebuild a school. They are lead by Pastor Ron and what they witness there is life changing from the minute they step off their plane. They think their adventure is over as they head up into the cantina to enjoy their last minutes with the locals and meet up with their driver, but something else is about to set their journey on another route. Thundering footsteps, screaming and armed men barge into the cantina and block their exits. Time has frozen and like something taken from a motion picture, the group has been caught up in a nightmare. The revolutionists have started to take over the country and nothing is stopping them. Will and his group only want to get back to the U.S. and want no part in this take over and when they try to explain this to the rebels, they don’t care. The rebels only have one mission and nothing will get in their way. With a wide variety of teens accompany the group, the insurgents try to take control of Will and his group but with the help of their driver and the antics of the group, this control is hard to handle. This is where the adventure for Will and his group gets started and the adrenaline starts rushing until the final pages of the book.

I didn’t realize this is a Christian fiction book until I was reading it but I liked the way that aspect was woven into the reading. Nothing preachy and nothing overpowering and overdramatic about it just like subtle things thrown in since they are in a dangerous situation.

I really enjoyed the part where Will was reflecting on life when he thought he was going to be shot. I know when people go through a rough patch in life say something like: “I will do things different if I can get through this” well, Will was reflecting on life and you have to remember that he is kid and his comments were:
“Everything looked different to me now. Everything looked clearer, much clearer, as if I had been watching the world steaming through a bad wireless connection and suddenly was watching it in hi-def or on Blu-ray. The incredible new clarify made even the littlest thing seem kind of beautiful.
And the faces—people’s faces—they are looked so amazing. So clear and beautiful. And everyone seemed different to me than they had before.”
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Apr 09, 2013 Joyreader rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't realize this was Christian YA when I picked up the book at the library. I was pleasantly surprised that the author inserted aspects of faith in the story without beating anyone over the head with it.

The author also handled the non-stop action scenes very well and I did find it a page-turner. The reason for three stars is really some of the believability problems I had with this book. (Ex: Ridiculous deadly spiders, someone walking out of a hospital four days after being shot in both leg...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: survival-tales, tag-nominees-2012-13, ya-2012

Sixteen-year-old Will has spent the past week on a mission trip helping rebuild a school in a small village in a fictitious Central American country marred by civil and political unrest. While he and the four others on the trip wait for their driver/pilot to pick them up on their last day, rebel activity erupts in the village and across the country. Will, Pastor Ron, Jim, Meredith, & Nicki are caught up unexpectedly and terrifyingly as the revolutionaries consider what to do with 5 American...more Sixteen-year-old Will has spent the past week on a mission trip helping rebuild a school in a small village in a fictitious Central American country marred by civil and political unrest. While he and the four others on the trip wait for their driver/pilot to pick them up on their last day, rebel activity erupts in the village and across the country. Will, Pastor Ron, Jim, Meredith, & Nicki are caught up unexpectedly and terrifyingly as the revolutionaries consider what to do with 5 American hostages who could be bargaining chips or useful for sending a message to the rest of the world about the seriousness of their cause. The situation becomes grim in no time. Klavan writes not only a plausible plot, but also a captivating page turner that hums with adrenaline packed energy. Bel Canto<\i> by Ann Patchett is one of my favorite adult books and this YA entry evokes some of the same themes.
I will admit that I was skeptical after reading some of the blurbs on the jacket as this is touted as "Christian" fiction, something I generally try to stay away from in my collection development for a public school. However, I was intrigued by the premise and decided to give it a go. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I didn't find the religious elements to be too preachy or moralistic. If I hadn't read that it was "Christian" fiction, I doubt I would have really even given it a raised eyebrow. It wasn't about faith per se but about a character whose faith helps him endure some incredibly frightening and arduous experiences. In that regard I think it presents a universal "human" experience that anyone can relate to regardless of their spiritual affiliation. The story is definitely told through an American lens but Klavan does incorporate other points of view. Jim has a thorough knowledge of the the rebel leader and supports his ideology. I think what Klavan does well here is to present the complexities of the situation. No one's motives are entirely pure, not good or bad. The fact is that the US has historically supported or thwarted political/military leaders in Latin America depending on the advantage to the US agenda, often with horrible consequences to average citizens. Palmer's character is complex, struggling with conflicting loyalty to his marine ideals versus a disdain for the way he was treated by the US government, sending him to Central America for a more pura vida. And I think Klavan adeptly illustrates a very common phenomena that occurs during these mission trips for a lot of participants. Jarred by poverty, lack of sanitation, and lack of resources, Americans, myself included though I majored in Latin American studies, have their eyes opened to consider a bigger world view, feel outraged that these conditions are allowed to exist while simultaneously feeling grateful for what they have, and vow to make the world a better place. This effect lasts for a few weeks until they return to the anesthetized cocoon and it loses some of its urgency and potency, becoming a memory of a moving experience. I think the author acknowledges this. It would be interesting to know how Will and the others are impacted by these events in their future lives, but this is not where Klavan takes us. Instead he creates a survival story that is realistic and plausible, tricky to accomplish in this age of communication where it is practically impossible to be off the grid and cut off from aid in the wilderness, facing real threats to your survival. (less)

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Feb 23, 2013 Abby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Where do I begin? I love this book. So much. As I read it I really felt like I was reading some altered Call Of Duty story line. :P The action was flawless. There are some writers out there who just cannot write a good action packed book but Andrew Klavan is a master with it. The characters. Will was pretty cool. He was a neutral character to read the point of view from.For some reason I usually don't get into books that are written in the males point of view but this I liked. Jim was annoy...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Melissa Proffitt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, suspense, young-adult, religious

In this YA thriller, five people go as a church group to rebuild an orphanage in a fictional South American country and are caught up in that country's civil war. It's an exciting and well-paced novel with plenty of action, and I think it hits its mark exactly. The main character, Will, is a realistic 16-year-old: full of uncertainty yet driven with a desire to do the right thing. Palmer, the group's pilot, ends up being their reluctant guide and protector as they try to escape the country, and...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Wisteriouswoman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! Wonderfully fast-paced and exciting. It was hard to put down—an almost never ending action movie with some breaks for introspection. I liked it better than the Homelanders series.
The characters all have flaws and we see how much Will criticizes them in his mind. It is so realistic. We see how events strain each person’s ability to cope and in the end there is a true sense of growth as well as appreciation for each person as a human being. Nicki’s behavior gave me some great ideas on h...more Loved it! Wonderfully fast-paced and exciting. It was hard to put down—an almost never ending action movie with some breaks for introspection. I liked it better than the Homelanders series.
The characters all have flaws and we see how much Will criticizes them in his mind. It is so realistic. We see how events strain each person’s ability to cope and in the end there is a true sense of growth as well as appreciation for each person as a human being. Nicki’s behavior gave me some great ideas on how to play my next ‘victim’ role at a CERT disaster preparedness drill. The book is great about showing that each of us doesn’t really know how we will react in a life-threatening situation. I know I can totally fall apart in tense situations but find strength at other times. This is something the book excels in showing readers and gets them thinking about: ‘How would I react?’

What I like about the book is that there is a sense of prayer as an act of seeing beyond the human circumstances and simply recognizing a higher power. This is what many people do even though they don’t call themselves Christians. There isn’t ‘Jesus talk’ in this book but rather a sense of the character struggling to realize the pure spiritual sense of all of us—even those causing harm. As a teen I wanted to see this too. The simple cry of reaching out in times of crisis with ‘God help me’ is something that many teens need to read about. Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated.

There is an US-centric view point that may not feel comfortable to many but still gives teens a chance to think about what they have in their cushy American lives and how the struggles in other countries are extremely gritty with no clear “good guys’. Americans cry over any incident where there is a bombing or a school shooting in the US without realizing this is everyday life for much of the world. I’m grateful that this book gives a small window into the horror of this.

We also learn that Meredith is fearless and that it is because she has been tested by tragedy and made it through. I loved her as a pivotal character in the story. Her sense of peace and compassion is a great juxtaposition to Wills teen testosterone driven anger and fighter instinct. This is perfect teen ‘book group’ material and the study notes in the back are a great starting point for that.
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Jan 06, 2013 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Will is in a small, South American country helping to rebuild a school through a combined school/church group. Just as he and his coworkers are getting ready to leave, Mendoza, head of the local rebel group, bursts into the cantina where the group has met, and shoots the owner dead. Pastor Ron advises praying, Palmer (a former Marine and local pilot) seems to be about to abandon the group, Nikki screams annoyingly, Jim thinks that Mendoza is in the right, and Meredith is oddly quiet and controll...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Medeia Sharif rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Will is a teenager helping to rebuild a school on a mission for his church. He’s with other Americans in Costa Verde when the country breaks into a revolution. The first heart-breaking thing to go wrong is when Pastor Ron, the supervisor of the group, is shot dead. Rebel leader Mendoza is after all of them while Palmer, an ex-marine who’s also a pilot, protects them during their escape efforts. With every turn they make something goes wrong, the rebels are everywhere, and with each ray of hope t...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Renn Shearin rated it 3 of 5 stars

They came on a mission of mercy, but now they’re in a fight for their lives.

High schooler Will Peterson and three friends journeyed to Central America to help rebuild a school. In a poor, secluded mountain village, they won the hearts of the local people with their energy and kindness.

But in one sudden moment, everything went horribly wrong. A revolution swept the country. Now, guns and terror are everywhere—and Americans are being targeted as the first to die.

Will and his friends have got to ge...more They came on a mission of mercy, but now they’re in a fight for their lives.

High schooler Will Peterson and three friends journeyed to Central America to help rebuild a school. In a poor, secluded mountain village, they won the hearts of the local people with their energy and kindness.

But in one sudden moment, everything went horribly wrong. A revolution swept the country. Now, guns and terror are everywhere—and Americans are being targeted as the first to die.

Will and his friends have got to get out fast. But streets full of killers . . . hills patrolled by armies . . . and a jungle rife with danger stand between them and the border. Their one hope of escape lies with a veteran warrior who has lost his faith and may betray them at any moment. Their one dream is to reach freedom and safety and home.

If they can just survive.

If We Survive by Andrew Klavan was an exciting and suspenseful novel that filled with action, some romance, and mystery. The plot line flowed well and moved at a quick and exciting pace. There was a good mix of action, suspense, and a little romance as well. There were several surprising occurrences and unexpected twists that kept me glued to the pages. The story was told from the perspective of Will Peterson, and all the events were displayed along with his thoughts and feelings.

The characters of If We Survive were interesting and somewhat realistic. I liked how Palmer was initially viewed as a wicked, uncaring man but as the book progressed his true colors were revealed and his character began to improve. All of the characters were very different and each had their own unique flaws and weaknesses. However, as the story continued the characters each discovered their strengths and became heroes as they all contributed to their escape from danger. All of the characters experienced growth and development throughout the novel, and I really enjoyed watching their changes.

There some aspects of this novel that I did not like. I was not too enthusiastic about how Christianity and God were portrayed by some of the characters. I thought that some of the comments they made were untrue, and I felt let down by how the book concluded and what Will thought about God. I did appreciate the honesty that was portrayed about the harm can occur when governments intervene with other countries before they know all the facts.

Overall, I thought If We Survive was very exciting, suspenseful, and interesting and that the characters were realistic and developed over the course of the novel.

I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review from Booksneeze.com and Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Read more of my review on my blog http://hearttoheartbooks.blogspot.com (less)

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Mar 29, 2013 Teresa Bateman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I'd never read anything by Andrew Klavan before and now I'm anxious to see what else he's written. 16-year-old Will is with a small team of teens in Central America on a mission to rebuild a school wall. He'll earn some service points and he can put up with the other kids--Nicky and Jim--who are almost stereotypes of the "cheerleader" and the "nerd." Then there's Pastor Ron, and Meredith. It was supposed to be a simple act of charity, then a revolution swept through the country. Now they're...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Itsjustme-wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

SCORE! Another touchdown for Andrew Klavan! I have nothing but good things to say about this author's books. They are simply amazing, all of them. This is my 6th book by him and I have not been disappointed yet.
This story starts right off with a bang and just keeps getting more suspenseful throughout the book. I don't think there is a slow or boring sentence in the whole book. I don't think Klaven knows the meaning of the word "slow". Reading one of his books is like taking a ride on a new and...more SCORE! Another touchdown for Andrew Klavan! I have nothing but good things to say about this author's books. They are simply amazing, all of them. This is my 6th book by him and I have not been disappointed yet.
This story starts right off with a bang and just keeps getting more suspenseful throughout the book. I don't think there is a slow or boring sentence in the whole book. I don't think Klaven knows the meaning of the word "slow". Reading one of his books is like taking a ride on a new and exciting roller coaster. This books keeps you guessing and jumping around every bend. What a thrilling ride!

"I tried to protect myself, covering myself with my arms, but the tip of his heavy boot drove into my gut and then pulled back and drove into my forehead. I felt a double explosion of pain, saw a double explosion of light and then sparkling darkness. I couldn't catch my breath. I couldn't think about anything except how much I hoped this would stop, how I would do anything - say anything - to make it stop.
When I managed to look again, tears blurred my vision. I saw Mendoza. I saw him pull the pistol from his holster. He was going to shoot me where I lay."

"... I've already told you what I think of Cobar: a psycho killer."
"But in his book..."
"I know," said Palmer, lifting a hand. "But a killer who writes a book is still a killer - even if it's a book about peace and justice. A thug with a lot of high-blown political ideas is still just a thug in the end."
"But he's at war with a brutal government..."
"Gangsters get in wars with each other all the time," said Palmer. "That doesn't make one side good and the other bad."

The character development is great. Klavan really gets into the heads of his characters. They all have such deep feeling and personality. I was so scared for these kids. I felt like I was right there with them. And the bad guys... well Klavan sure know how to create a bad guy. I kept wanting to shout at the book "Get him! Just shoot him already!" With such an adventure filled book, such as this, it may be hard to believe that it also has heart. There were places where I had tears running down my face.There was so much feeling in this story, the kids were so scared, scared for their lives and it really showed in the writing.

This book was also written in a very believable voice. It really felt like it was coming from the mind of a seventeen year old kid and not a 59 year old man. Klavan does a great job in making all the characters ages very believable, and you know this is a pet peeve of mine.

THE ALL-IN-ALL -
All in all this is a great, exciting, adventurous story about a few American kids with their pastor on a mission trip that goes very bad! This book really wallops a punch. Great "on the edge of your seat" writing that anyone would enjoy.
This is a very clean (no swearing, no sex) book that any age (there are a few violent and graphic scenes, but not too bad) person would enjoy. I would say I would especially recommend this for teen boys, but certainly girls would enjoy it too because a couple of the main characters are girls. But don't think this is just a YA book, I enjoyed it immensely!(less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Shyla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, christian, kick-butt-heroine, survival-tale

This book reminded me a lot of "My Hands Came Away Red" which is also a tale of a teen missions trip that goes awry due to rebelling political climates in far off villages in a country that is definitely not the USA. Unfortunately, this book fell a little short.

The storyline is exciting and fast paced and the characters, or some of the characters anyway are interesting and unique. Some of the other characters were total stereotypes such as Nicki and the nerdy kid whose name I have already forgot...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bfl, review-books, kindle

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/RA7QE94Y...
Review on my blog (to be posted 11/24): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

If We Survive is the third book I've read by Andrew Klavan (the first two being The Last Thing I Remember and The Long Way Home) and definitely my favorite so far! It was a thrilling ride and held my attention throughout!

I loved how realistic the characters were - one in particular was very dramatic and got upset a lot (to the point of being annoying), but giv...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was a fast adventure read. I enjoyed the story of the small short-term missionary group caught in a country just as a rebel group overthrows the government. It is written for a young adult audience and for that audience, is an excellent book, though there is violence, and the main character shoots and kills a rebel in self-defense. As an adult, I felt the characters were a bit over the top, especially the 22 year old Meredith, who appears to be completely unafraid of the rebel leader t...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-12-19, adventure-survival, fiction, 2013-book-challenge

Well, I'm a sealed fan of Klavan's now. My 5th book of his to read and just as enthralling to me as the other 4. Nice to see everything tied up in one book instead of a series (for these days series can wear me out). Will is a very different character/narrator Charlie. He's at a different place in life, and has different lessons to learn of and about himself in his particular trial than Charlie did. I really liked that. I almost felt like I could relate more to Will and his insecurities/fears/la...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book didn't only get two stars for the writing style: I would have give it one but the author is great at telling an exciting story! I wanted to like this book, but couldn't avoid being very offended by the worldview offered through this story. As someone who lives in Latin America, I thought the story was extremely prejuidiced towards American views. The rebels were painted as evil: no consideration of their personalities or desires they might have to relieve suffering in their country and...more

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Jim You say "American views" as if there is something wrong with it. This review says more about you than it does Klavan.
Mar 11, 2013 09:32am

Lisa Rachel,
I agree that the story is definitely told through an American lens. However, I disagree that the other point of view is not included. Jim has a...more Rachel,
I agree that the story is definitely told through an American lens. However, I disagree that the other point of view is not included. Jim has a thorough knowledge of the the rebel leader and supports his ideology. I think what kola an does well here is to present the complexities of the situation. No one's motives are entirely pure or bad. The fact is that the US has historically supported or thwarted political/military leaders in Latin America depending on the advantage to the US agenda, often with horrible consequences to average citizens. Palmer's character is complex, struggling with conflicting loyalty to his marine ideals versus a disdain for the way he was treated by the US government, sending him to Central America for a more pura vida. And I think Klavan adeptly illustrates a very common phenomena that occurs during these mission trips for a lot of participants. Jarred by poverty, lack of sanitation, and lack of resources, Americans, myself included though I majored in Latin American studies, have their eyes opened to consider a bigger world view, feel outraged that these conditions are allowed to exist while simultaneously feeling grateful for what you have, and vow to make the world a better place. This effect lasts for a few weeks until you return to the anesthetized cocoon and it loses some of its urgency and potency, becoming a memory of a moving experience. I think the author acknowledges this. It would be interesting to know how Will and the others are impacted by these events in their future lives, but this is not where Klavan takes us. Instead he creates a survival story that is realistic and plausible, tricky to accomplish in this age of communication where it is practically impossible to be off the grid and cut off from aid in the wilderness. So, if you look at it as that, the geography and historic conflicts that have marred the region lent themselves quite well to the objective. It would a great book to discuss as you could bring out the points you make. Lisa(less)
Apr 06, 2013 08:49am

Rachel Great comments and perspective, Lisa. Very well thought-out. What you say is very true. I just want to clarify that the part that offended me and appe...more
Apr 06, 2013 09:11am

Nov 19, 2012 Gillian Adams rated it 5 of 5 stars

When four American teens journey to Central America to help rebuild a school, they're prepared for the usual mission trip hardships - blisters, hard work, culture shock, and forgoing accustomed comforts like hot showers, cell phones, and facebook!

But when a revolution blazes through the country, it burns a bright red bullseye on the backs of all Americans, and what started out as a simple mission trip turns into a desperate fight for their lives.

This is the sixth young adult novel by Andrew Klav...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Nick Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought this was a well written book by Andrew Klavan, it was more relate able to the Homelanders series. The only complaint I have about this book is that it was more christian biased, talking about God a lot bugged me because I am an atheist. The plot followed a small group of people from a church group that went down to Costa Verdes to help rebuild a school. Right before leaving the country however, a revolution that has been building up for months starts, and overthrew the government. The...more

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Nov 07, 2012 W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, arc

A mission trip takes a drastically unexpected turn when the country Will and his friends are in experiences a revolution and they must escape the insurgents and flee through the jungle to safety.

Then the leader of the firing squad barked an order, and the three other gunmen lifted their weapons and pointed them at us. My mind stopped My thoughts stopped. There was nothing left to see now or to think about besides the four black bores of the rifle barrels pointed at me, about to spit death.

My hu...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Addison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Will Peterson, his youth pastor, Ron, and three of his friends go to Costa Verdes to build a wall. A school really, but Will thinks of it as a wall because of the minority in size. They won the hearts of the villagers with their kindness and preaching. However, a revolution suddenly breaks out! An evil man named Mendoza kills Pastor Ron. Will and his three friends must trust the pilot of the plane that was supposed to fly them back to America as they flee across the country and attempt to reach...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Masha K. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller

Andrew Klavan offers another great work in the improbable genre of "noir Christian fiction," this one in the YA category. Too bad, really, because I don't foresee a lot of adults picking it up, and it's their loss. All the elements from Klavan recent writing are there- non-stop action, not-so-subtle moral lessons (unabashed references to Christianity included) and above all, vibrant, memorable, characters. Every character is flawed to a degree, some even damaged seemingly beyond repair, and asid...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, boys-will-like, christian-fiction, survival, young-adult, suspense, terrorism

I just put this book down and I feel like I can finally breathe. This book's pace is full throttle, racing the reader through the pages. I think this might be my favorite Klavan book for YAs. The story is simultaneously believable and unbelievable. A group of teenagers have gone to a third world country to help build a school. On the day they are sceduled to leave, a revolution breaks out and the find themselves fighting to survive. A great read for anyone...except maybe people traveling to a th...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Rebekah Gyger rated it 3 of 5 stars

Andrew Klavan is a great writer. This book, along with all the others of his I have read, are described so that I feel like I am there. Usually I really enjoy his books. However, I did not care for this one a whole lot.

Immediately, I was drawn into the story with the description of Mendoza and the Cantina. Will is a great hero and feels a lot of emotions that I would probably feel myself. The problems came soon after this.

I did not care for any of the other characters. They were all either idiot...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Raya Whitehouse rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksneeze

This is a story of how 5 Americans went to help Santiago re-build a wall for their school, and how they get caught in the "revolution". The prologue really draws you into what is going to start to happen. The first chapter is all about introducing the characters and explaining why they were there.

This is an awesome book, I just got it this morning (at 8:15am) and read it till it was through. I would recommend this book to many people. Any who like reading action type books, this would be a good...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Bobbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, action-adventure, ahmazing, awesome-ya-fiction, absolute-favorites, ya, yesssssssss

I was excited for If We Survive from the minute I read the synopsis. However, I honestly wasn't expecting to like it so much. I went into it expecting a cliche Christian action/adventure novel for teens. I was so wrong.

This was probably one of the best Christian fiction books meant for young adults that I've ever read. It was really well written.

I'm kind of an action junkie. I read action/adventure books like a little kid eats candy, and I won't deny I read through this one at a really fast pa...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Angelina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, ya, read-around-the-worl, first-reads

I received this via First Reads and greatly appreciated the opportunity to experience Klavan's work. I'm a litle conflicted about this book.

The only character I really like or connect to in this story is the narrator. My first instinct was to feel this was a result of bad character development. But upon reflection, I'm not so sure. I think the characters are developed via the worldview and perspective of the teenager who is telling us his story.

In the beginning the characters all seem a little...more

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May 07, 2013 Melody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: addicting, christian-fiction, cultural-fiction, espionage, humor, no-holds-barred, swoon

Started out super cliche, but I pushed myself to make it past a few chapters. And then I was absolutely hooked. Klavan puts his characters in tight situations, and he doesn't hold back. His four missionary characters remain a little cliche, but Palmer was interesting (and swoonworthy) enough to make up for it. I've read a lot of Christian fiction, and this one gets its point across without being in-your-face preachy--well done. Definitely going to be searching out more books by this author.

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Mar 09, 2013 Kiirsi Hellewell rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was not quite as likable or easy to get into/read as the "Homelander" series, but after a few chapters, I was engaged with the reading...though I read with a kind of horror feeling of "oh no, what awful thing is going to happen to them next?"

I liked the way the seemingly-stereotyped characters mostly seemed to grow and change throughout the book, and the main character was pretty likable. All in all, a fairly exciting adventure story with some morals and principles.

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