Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Surrender

3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 · rating details · 893 ratings · 160 reviews

I am dying: it’s a beautiful word. Like the long slow sigh of a cello: dying. But the sound of it is the only beautiful thing about it.

As life slips away, Gabriel looks back over his brief twenty years, which have been clouded by frustration and humiliation. A small, unforgiving town and distant, punitive parents ensure that he is never allowed to forget the horrific mist...more

Paperback, 256 pages

Published May 22nd 2007 by Candlewick Press (first published February 7th 2005)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Printz Award Winners and Honor Books

35th out of 67 books — 539 voters

The Most Disturbing Book Ever Written

295th out of 935 books — 3,324 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,503)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 26, 2007 Cat rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

This book is beautifully written. There were many many passages that I wanted to go back and reread because they were extremely well-written. The story was okay...I thought it was a tad predictable but I read reviews before reading the book (probably a bad idea). I would definitely recommend this book as a must read even though it wouldn't make my top ten or twenty list.

5 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2007 Carol rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Amazing what takes place in this story, both plot-wise and prose-wise. An extraordinary novel.

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2009 Emilie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 09, ya, fiction, queen-of-bedlam, jestunautre

surrender is story of broken boys who find the only way to survive is through friendship with one who can express what the other cannot.

hartnett’s writing is poetic, exquisite and quiet in the way that some intense people are quiet so you have to be more quiet and focused yourself to really hear what they are saying.

surrender is a character driven piece, though the plot is important and mysterious, the book is more interested in internal worlds and interpretations, though these are responses to...more surrender is story of broken boys who find the only way to survive is through friendship with one who can express what the other cannot.

hartnett’s writing is poetic, exquisite and quiet in the way that some intense people are quiet so you have to be more quiet and focused yourself to really hear what they are saying.

surrender is a character driven piece, though the plot is important and mysterious, the book is more interested in internal worlds and interpretations, though these are responses to the secret, painful and shameful events in the plot and press the plot forward. the pain is so potent and the guilt untempered by intervention, guilt and trauma survived in near isolation making me ache.

the story centres on the friendship between gabriel and finnigan who write alternating chapters of the book from their perspectives.
gabriel and finnigin are both outcasts in the little town they live in, and find an intoxicating friendship with each other.
gabriel is an abused and isolated boy sick with guilt and terror.
finnigin, the firefly, is a wild child, a boy living on his own scavenging in the woods, free in a way gabriel dreams of, but finnigin is lonely too, and in need of someone to share himself with.

the boys make a pact to be mirrors of each other-finnigin embodying and enacting all the mischievous and immoral impulses (underscoring the significance of recognition-almost as if his freedom is given meaning through the telling of it, the witnessing of it by another) that gabriel cannot. and gabriel building a wall of perfect goodness he feels he needs to survive in his parents house and he hopes will earn him salvation for the fatal mistake he made at age of seven. (and as reflections, gabriels salvation will save finnigin too).

there are many interesting themes explored in surrender-theme of identity, agony of loneliness/isolation, trauma and redemption, the devastating potency of guilt (and issue of what is truly our fault and responsibility), friendship, questions of what is true, how powerful is subjective nature of reality as so much depends on our interpretation of what happens to us, and what we believe about ourselves (there are times in the story when gabriel and finnigan will give us different versions of the same event, and we are left to sift through to find the truth in their lies and their misunderstandings...),the way the past sometimes touches and taints every moment in the present, freedom.

this is a dark and sad story, and beautiful and touching, compelling and powerful. i love that hartnett writes with such compassion for her characters, creating deeply wounded and deeply flawed characters that we can understand and feel very connected to even while they do things that we might wish they didnt.
(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 30, 2008 Katherine Lewis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-fiction, male-protagonists, death, disturbing-violence, struggle-with-self

Alright, let me start off by saying that this is a BEAUTIFULLY written book! The imagery, the characters, the storytelling, the style is all exquisite and really draws you in. It's almost like reading poetry. Check out a sample section here:

"I can tell he isn't genuinely confused--the serpentine master of the dodge and weave, he is trying to trick or trip me. A moment of uncertainty is all he needs, to plunge under my skin. [...] He is the shadow in the cupboard and the whisper in the wall. Fear...more
Alright, let me start off by saying that this is a BEAUTIFULLY written book! The imagery, the characters, the storytelling, the style is all exquisite and really draws you in. It's almost like reading poetry. Check out a sample section here:

"I can tell he isn't genuinely confused--the serpentine master of the dodge and weave, he is trying to trick or trip me. A moment of uncertainty is all he needs, to plunge under my skin. [...] He is the shadow in the cupboard and the whisper in the wall. Fear is Finnigan's currency, his daily wine and bread. Now he's made the mortal error of drowning himself in it."

Or

"It stung when we passed in the corridors; her voice would slice my skin. My eyes smarted at the sight of her sitting against a brick wall. A day spent in her vicinity left me exhausted: 'Ain't love grand,' said Finnigan.

One fateful day she caught me staring at her; she quirked an eyebrow and glanced away. I blushed scarlet and stared at the tabletop, an oceanic roar in my ears."

But here is my caveat! This book has some very mature, disturbing content!!!! It does not have bad words or sex or teens doing drugs, etc; but certain things occur that will make you gasp or....if you're like me, keep you up all night TOTALLY freaked out. It's closest to psychological thriller in genre, but there are a lot of different styles and subjects blended here. Not for the faint of heart or stomach, but some of you have morbid curiosities (Come on, I've read your stories!).

The main character is a boy who ranges in age from about 11 to 24 in the course of the story. It is set in a non-descript, small mountain town called Mulyan during an unspecified era (possibly even present). It COULD be called a coming-of-age story, but it is much more about guilt, the dichotomy of good vs. evil, and the deep, searing pain of being alone in the world. Have I mentioned it's rather dark?!

Parents and teachers: I refrain from revealing the exact event which earns this book such a harsh warning because it will completely spoil the book. If you need to know, just ask.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 17, 2009 Ilana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Anwell and his family are the "kooks" of their town. He is teased at school, and shunned on the streets. Until, he meets this boy named Finnigan. Anwell and Finnigan become steady good friends, but Finnigan comes up with this idea to have Anwell be the good one, and Finnigan will the bad one. But Finnigan starts to become too dangerous! Anwell tries to end Finnigan, even if it means giving up his life!

I can connect this to the book Hide and Seek, because the guy who is causing all the murders, i...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 27, 2013 May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dark, violent, and one of a kind; Surrender is best suited for Young Adults, as the concepts in this book are more complex and may be tricky for younger readers. Although that’s not the least to say that this lyrical novel is told in beautiful prose poetry and proposes compelling ideas. It is most definitely a discussion worthy book and presents you a lot to contemplate.
Sonya Hartnett’s writing is captivating and moving. As the author sets the pace for the story she switches back and forth betwe...more

like · see review

Dec 02, 2012 Harmony Valdoz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is another cheap find at Booksale. Imagine, a hardbound book that has no signs of wear and tear for only Php 35? It's a steal! But what really "sealed the deal" was the "Michael Printz award" sticker on the cover; just like the ones gracing John Green's books.
So I was thinking, if it's at par with John Green's works, it has to be good, right?
When I started reading it, the words are too flowery for my taste. There's an abundance of adjectives. But I guess it helps set the mood and it gets b...more

like · see review

Dec 02, 2012 Janie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mental-illness, psychological, issues, 3-stars, stylistic

This review is more of me as a reader trying to sort out my thoughts than a summery and "read this!" or "don't read this!" argument. So.

Anwell met Finnigan and he scratches his name backwards on the fence. Makes boyhood pact "you be good, or the angel, aka Gabriel, I'll be the bad, Finnigan." Oh no! Finnigan is an arsonist! He sets alight valuable items of those who have wronged (usually by bullying) Anwell/Gabrial. Why is he bullied? He accidently killed his older handicapped brother Vernon. Hi...more This review is more of me as a reader trying to sort out my thoughts than a summery and "read this!" or "don't read this!" argument. So.

Anwell met Finnigan and he scratches his name backwards on the fence. Makes boyhood pact "you be good, or the angel, aka Gabriel, I'll be the bad, Finnigan." Oh no! Finnigan is an arsonist! He sets alight valuable items of those who have wronged (usually by bullying) Anwell/Gabrial. Why is he bullied? He accidently killed his older handicapped brother Vernon. His parents are "kooks", so he's an outcast. Note on parents. They are abusive bastards. Mother is always "ill" and "why do you do this to me Anwell?" and dad is overbearing control freak. None of the reviews I've read mentioned the possibility that Vernon is Finnigan in the Anwell's mind, which I find strange because it was strongly hinted at. In his room, Anwell sees Vernon scratching his name backwards on the window.

Other notes: Anwell/Gabriel kill parents with hatchet? Finnigan kill policeman Eli (something-or-other) with a wooden stake in his sleep? "You betrayed Anwell. He was your only friend for a while. Did you forget that? Do you even know what his father would've done to him if he knew there was a traitor in the house?

Surrender: Finnigan- Surrender was always mine. Anwell- I could never bear to chain him up despite his wild side... Finnigan (after Anwell hints at chaining Surrender up)- You are your father’s son. Ouch. Surrender is too wild, killing livestock and whatever. Father is going to kill him. Anwell unchains him and runs into the woods, away. Gives Surrender to Finnigan. Surrender is Finnigan's Achilles Heel. "You know the price of giving him to me." What does this mean? Father makes Anwell shoot Surrender. Implies that Anwell unchained Surrender and ran off into the woods to psychologically "spiritually" give him to Wild and free Finnigan. The dog he is to shoot now is only a shell. He gets punished by parents for running off? He slices them open with hatchet? Committed to mental institution from there? Says "I don’t' want my parents to visit."... so...

Anwell: Guilt and loneliness manifests itself into evil alter-ego Finnigan (the wild-child resulting from his oppressive bullied existence by parents and all others) who was actually Vernon in disguise (the guilt part). There's a thought. Fringe Brilliance: Anwell=Angel... sound symbolic? Like dog’s name Surrender also symbolic. For surrendering blah blah obvious.

Evangeline: Anwell's major crush. Good side Gabriel- Finally a good thing in my life. It is a secret from parents, I'm edgy and nervous as usual, but this is a good, untainted thing in my life. Bad side Finnigan- She's using you. She laughs at you behind your back. Why is your friendship such a secret? Not even a relationship. A pet-like "friendship". You will get your heart stomped on. Leave her. "Gabriel" resists and openly disagrees with his bad side for once Which explains why Anwell freaked out and went to her house. "Evangeline you're in trouble, HE knows about you. HE's going to come after you... to kill you!" Doorbell rings, it's Anwell's MOM, and Anwell is actually relieved. Epiphany- I'm more afraid of Finnigan than my bastard mother! Which means Finnigan is very bad and dangerous. So I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill Finnigan before he can hurt the one semi-happy thing in my poor pathetic life. Results in self-inflicted illness and him dying.

Sarah- What? Who is she? Loving aunt? Just a caretaker. A nurse who cares about Anwell. Why? Never looked into. Anwell is described as struggling against his bonds- mental asylum. Finnigan visits again after an entire year passes. "Gabriel" calls him out as a bastard who has always had control over (Anwell's) life, and Finnigan reacts by destroying the room. Sarah says once "remember the last time I loosened your bonds?" which implies that Anwell/Finnigan did it himself in a psychological skitzo battle. How is this possible when "Gabriel" is too weak to blink his eyes? Sarah calls Anwell Gabriel- she knows his good alter ego? Nurse isn't Aunt Sarah. Nurse is a nurse, turned into aunt by Anwell's mind.

They found the bones in the woods. You know what that means. Blame the policeman. Don't tell them about me and you. WHAT IS THIS??? WHO'S BONES? Symbolic for they can maybe see that it's you?

The End: Vernon visits Anwell in the institution where he is. Cold, small like a refrigerator Anwell? No forgiveness. The demon that has plagued Anwell since the moment that the event happened, 13 years ago. He drags Anwell away, to death, presumably, dragging him to hell. Anwell wrenches away, unfurls angel wings (how symbolic) and soars skywards. Represents his death, finally, his sacrificial death that kills Finnigan is redemption. He can finally go to a better place.

(less)

like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Madelynne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This book really exceeded expectations. I bought it at the local Half-Price Books while looking for something new to pass the time while camping the next week. The plot sounded decent, and, honestly, the first line, with death being like a cello - well, I really liked that metaphor, me being both slightly morbid and an exuberant lover of cellos. So I figured, oh, what the heck.

Definitely worth my 8 or so dollars.

First off, the prose was delightfully surprising. It was rich, and eloquent, an...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 02, 2012 Emma Dalton rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a mysterious story that had me scratching my head in spots and peeking out from behind my hands in horror in others.

Anwell is a young boy growing up in a small town, Mulyan. His parents are regarded as being the ‘kooks’ of the town, and as a result, he doesn’t have any friends. His parents are in fact more than kooks—they are nasty, cold and negligent parents, but more about that later.

The story opens with Gabriel, at the age of 20, dying. He reflects on what led him to his current situ...more This is a mysterious story that had me scratching my head in spots and peeking out from behind my hands in horror in others.

Anwell is a young boy growing up in a small town, Mulyan. His parents are regarded as being the ‘kooks’ of the town, and as a result, he doesn’t have any friends. His parents are in fact more than kooks—they are nasty, cold and negligent parents, but more about that later.

The story opens with Gabriel, at the age of 20, dying. He reflects on what led him to his current situation and through his narration we are drawn into the story of his childhood—a childhood of sadness and horror. Or simply a story of someone who suffered a dreadful mental illness for most of his life – it soon becomes clear that this story is open to interpretation. Gabriel and Anwell are, after all, the same person.

One day when Gabriel is about 10 years old, he is in the back yard playing on his own when he meets a boy of around about the same age—Finnigan. Finnigan is a wild and unruly boy with unkempt hair and old, dirty clothes. He never mentions his home or family and he doesn’t go to school. Gabriel is in awe of Finnigan and desperately wants to be his friend. They make a pact (or a ‘packet’, as the delinquent and unschooled Finnigan calls it) that Finnigan will carry out all the bad deeds that need to be done so that Gabriel can remain angelic. In this way they become the perfect and complete blood brother, the yin and the yang.

Mulyan is then terrorised for years by an elusive arsonist. It is apparently Finnigan and the only person who knows this is Gabriel. Gabriel’s father sets out to capture him out of a desire to humiliate the local policeman more than a desire to keep the town safe. Gabriel’s father is a cold bully and his mother is a basket case, but not in a nice way.

Gabriel, or Anwell (he is Gabriel only to Finnigan and himself) grew up with a severely mentally handicapped older brother. When Anwell was seven years old, his brother died under his watch. This, I believe, was the catalyst for Anwell’s decline into mental illness. His family environment was the perfect incubator for going crazy, but his brother’s death, which he blames himself for, pushed him headlong into madness. In this sense I read Gabriel as an unreliable narrator. His version of the facts is a creation of crazed mind. This is a story of a person with a horrible imaginary friend—an alter ago—who can be blamed for all the bad things that occur (or the bad things that Anwell imagines).

But this doesn’t really explain Anwell’s own horrific actions towards the end of the story. Instead, only questions are raised: How much of it actually happened and how much of it was imagined? Was there even a series of arson attacks on the town or was this a fantasy of Anwell’s?

So where does Surrender come into all of this? Surrender is Anwell’s dog. The dog is like Finnigan—he is untamed and free, everything that Anwell wants to be but is not. After Surrender is caught killing some kids (baby goats), he is condemned to death by Anwell’s father who commands Anwell pull the trigger himself. This is a very harrowing sequence in the novel and also the point at which a few things come together. First of all, we see Anwell’s father for the comprehensively cruel and heartless person that he is. Importantly, this is also the point where Anwell and Finnigan become one. Anwell decides to ‘surrender’ Surrender to Finnigan so that the dog escapes being killed. Unsurprisingly, instead of staying in the forest with Finnigan, Surrender follows Anwell home. Anwell tells himself that it’s only Surrender’s body that is being shot and that his soul is with Finnigan. The impossibility of separating good from evil is embodied in the shooting of Surrender and with this Anwell’s struggle to compartmentalise his good and bad sides finally wear him down. This failure triggers the desperate and tragic final act—after years of repressed guilt and shame over his brother’s death, he takes out his loss in the most gruesome manner, perhaps also as a way of revenging his brother against neglectful and callous parents.

I can’t explain parts of this story. Like Evangeline? Not sure where she fits into the story… she was a point of contention between Gabriel and Finnigan, but I’m not sure of the significance of her other than being another reason for Gabriel’s general humiliation in life.
I recommend this novel because it is beautifully written and will mess with your head a little (a good thing now and then, don’t you agree?) It was quite scary in some spots because I knew that something terrible was going to happen but I couldn’t predict when or what. With Finnigan looming in the background the spectre of evil was omnipresent. This made for quite a dark and terrifying story.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jul 01, 2012 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are some books that you read that you don't necessarily like, but that you think really speaks volumes. This is one of those books. This book focuses on Anwell, also known as Gabriel throughout, and his childhood and then his adult life. The book journeys through the friendship he forms with another boy named Finnigan. Through twists and turns in this book you get to the startling revelation at the end of the book.

Sometimes a book tries to be more high-brow than it should have been. This...more There are some books that you read that you don't necessarily like, but that you think really speaks volumes. This is one of those books. This book focuses on Anwell, also known as Gabriel throughout, and his childhood and then his adult life. The book journeys through the friendship he forms with another boy named Finnigan. Through twists and turns in this book you get to the startling revelation at the end of the book.

Sometimes a book tries to be more high-brow than it should have been. This is one of those books. It was a pleasant book to read, but it also left something to be desired because you are never fully aware of what is really going on within it. This starts to make sense as the mystery in it starts to finally unravel though. It doesn't make it a 5 star book though. There is a basic understanding of life that is missing from this book within the vast majority of its pages. It isn't until that ending that you finally see some humanity in the story, which would have greatly helped this book.

The biggest reason that this book speaks volumes is that it shows the power of life being the family that you are born into. People have some control over their lives, but a lot of it does come down to whomever your parents are and what their lives are like. While it never directly states this you get this feeling. The reader starts understanding if poor Anwell had just been born into any other family that his life may have been greatly different.

There are moments in this book that are interesting, which is why that it still gets 4 points. It isn't an easy to read book by any means, but it leaves a taste in your mouth that sometimes you need to have as a reader. This is an award winning book for a reason and everyone should read it at least once, but past that I am not sure it is one of those books you can go back and reread at a later date. The once that you got through it is more than enough. You will however understand the baseline of humanity after reading this book and I think that is something worthwhile here. (less)

like · see review

Apr 24, 2012 Rebekah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

An intriguing psychological thriller. Sonya Hartnett's words weave a dangerous tale of a dying man recounting his struggle as a young boy, and what occurred between him and his playmate. But is it all real? Does it all actually exist? It seems so to Anwell, our story's protagonist. It all begins when the unruly Finnigan arrives at Anwell's house and the two make a pact: Anwell will be Gabriel, a perfect angel. And Finnigan will be the devil, carrying out cruel punishments against the people who...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 31, 2011 nicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was super dark and really just messed up. The writing style was very detailed and i loved the metaphors but sometimes i thouhgt she could have toned down the descriptions which is why i gave it a four instead of a five. I really loved the duel meaning of surrender as well. Gabriel having to surrender his freedom to darkness only to infect his life with the shadow of it...there was some really deep goings on. However the end deeply confused me, i suppose that was the point. ***SPOILERS*** I qu...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 14, 2010 Skinnyb11 added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I am doing a book review on the book Surrender by: Sonya Hartnett.The three main characters are Gabriel, Surrender, Finnigan.Gabriel is trouble kid who always stays in trouble. Surrender is Gabriel dog, and Finnigan is a wild boy that Gabriel meet in the woods.Gabriel got hurt and know him and finnigan are telling the story that leads up to the accident.
Gabriel lives in a restricted life with his his none caring mom and dad. When he was young he kept secrets from parents like the one where he...more I am doing a book review on the book Surrender by: Sonya Hartnett.The three main characters are Gabriel, Surrender, Finnigan.Gabriel is trouble kid who always stays in trouble. Surrender is Gabriel dog, and Finnigan is a wild boy that Gabriel meet in the woods.Gabriel got hurt and know him and finnigan are telling the story that leads up to the accident.
Gabriel lives in a restricted life with his his none caring mom and dad. When he was young he kept secrets from parents like the one where he accidentlly killed his older disable brother. One day Gabriel went into the woods and he meet a boy named Finnigan right off the back Gabriel knew that he was homeless because of the clothed he was wearing. But he didn't care, so they began to talk and Finnigan tells him that he knows all the towns secrets including him killing his older disable brother.And after that day they had became friends, but one day Gabriel came up with an idea and he said" what if the became mirror images of one another". So they made a pact and that meant that Gabriel would be good from now on and Finnigan would be bad from now on.
Later somebody was setting fire to house and Gabriel caught Finnigan in act, Gabriel would have join him but they made that pact so all he could do was say stop but when Gabriel saw that he was killing kids that he like Gabriel was shock and ask him to stop but he didn't and a few days later Gabriel dad started a watch team to find out who it was. They caught Finnigan a few days later, they were going to kill him but they couldn't because he knew all the town but a a guy had a gun and tried to shoot him but Gabriel jump in front of it and he was hit in the stomach.
I enjoyed reading this book and would recommened it to people, what i learn from this is that never take a deal from the devil and that's what Gabriel did because Finnigan knew his secret but if that was i would told my parents about the secret and faced the punishment.
(less)

like · see review

Jan 17, 2010 Jonah Tarmu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 8th-grade-25-books

As life seems to just stop, Gabriel looks back over his short twenty years in life. These years have been filled by frustration and humiliation. A small but unforgiving town and distant, punitive parents ensure that he is never allowed to forget the mistake he made as a child. He has only two friends - his dog, Surrender, and the crazy, uncivilized wild boy, Finnigan, a shadowy doppelganger with whom the meek Gabriel once made a boyhood pact. But when a series of arson attacks grips the town, Ga...more

like · see review

Jan 12, 2009 Jaemi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction

It's not very often that I get to the end of a book and am left unsure as to what just happened. That being said, I'm not sure it was a bad thing. Just a new one.

This is the story of Gabriel, now 20 and dying, as he looks back over his life and childhood, which was far from easy. His parents were always looked down upon in the town, even before his father made himself an enemy of the constable.

Gabriel, who's real name is Anwell, had a lonely childhood. Though he had a brother, Vernon was ill, an...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 27, 2011 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

Surrender is not something I’d normally. It’s a few phrases shy of purple, yet I trucked on because of the way it was written. It was soft and gray as well as slow then disturbing. But it could be predictable at points too yet on the whole… it was haunting.

Alternating between the two boys both of whom had sad, depressing tales; it was both of them who had me continuing. Both sides of the story were bitter. And the rare moment of sweet for one of them, was just that: rare. What one could do to a...more

like · see review

Jan 12, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

After reading the first couple of chapters, I almost quit reading Surrender. I found the language a little forced with an overabundance of metaphors and awkward descriptive phrases. However, the characters intrigued me so I kept reading. And as soon as I detected a perceived twist to the story, I knew that I had to finish the book to see if my hunch was right.

The story unfolds in bits and pieces from the point of view of the two main characters, Gabriel and Finnigan. Gabriel is 20 years old and...more

like · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't a huge fan of this book, but the writing was absolutely wonderful. Sonya makes you feel as though you really are in Australia, in some small town off the beaten path. The imagery and detail are incredible. However, going into the mind of a dying 20 year old who's completely insane wasn't a terribly fun trip. Also, I found the book to be very predictable right from the beginning; I guessed the ending from the first introduction to Finnigan, and I began reading the book without any clue a...more

like · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I HATED this book when I first finished. Now, after giving it time to sink in, I can begin to see some redemptive value to it. I would NOT classify this a YA lit, although it has been by professionals and won the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in YA Lit. I really don't agree with most of the books that win that award, so I don't know why I bother to read them. This book has a lot of difficult scenes. There are a couple very tough murders. Some questions the reading brought up are: how re...more

like · see review

Aug 31, 2009 ØrionSof2014 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: summer-ir-reports-09

This book has two main characters Anwell and Finnigan. Anwell is teased at school, until he meets a kid named Finnigan. Finnigan makes a deal with Anwell, the deal is that Anwell is the good one and Finnigan is the bad one. Finnigan can do anything he wants and if he gets in trouble Anwell and him both take the blame. Anwell soon discovers that Finnigan is a dangerious person, and he will do anything.
I can relate this book to Scorpions. In the book Finnigan is a really good friend and he will do...more

like · see review

Oct 11, 2009 David Brewster rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who appreciates beautiful writing and a challenging plot

Recommended to David by: Rosie

Sometimes it is hard to know where the line lies between so-called 'teenage fiction' and adult fiction. This book certainly straddles that line, wherever it is - even if the libraries have it pegged as the former.

Hartnett's writing has a lightness of touch which never tires. While her plots (in the books I've read) amble rather than race, the beauty of the writing keeps me turning the pages.

In this book she retains her characteristic lyricism whilst dealing with a very dark plot. As in Of a Boy ...more

like · see review

May 10, 2009 Irisjade rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: changed-the-way-i-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is a bit of a mystery, almost a murder mystery. It takes place in a hospital where a 20 year old man is dying, recalling his troubling childhood with a dangerous friend. In his childhood, they make a pact, one that the man (Anwell) can't seem to escape from. He knows his friend (Finnigan) is becoming more and more dangerous, but he can't seem to get away from him. In the present, Anwell's parents grave has been found, and there's a lot of buzz around the town about it. The dog, Surrend...more

like · see review

Jul 11, 2011 Renae rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Rachelle DeMunck

Shelves: books-i-own

This has to be one of the most unsettling books I've ever read. It wasn't a zombie book. Or a werewolf, or a vampire book. But there are monsters in this book beyond anything I've read. Simply, it freaked me the hell out.

Hartnett has a beautiful give for writing, using imagery that illustrates like nothing I've ever read. It's gorgeous in all its pain and terror and hurt and soul. It left me aching for Gabriel, for Surrender, for Vernon. If you read this you'll likely feel the same.

Stunning, un...more

like · see review

Feb 12, 2012 Allison rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-realism

"As life slips away, Gabriel looks back over his brief twenty years, which have been clouded by frustration and humiliation. A small, unforgiving town and distant, punitive parents ensure that he is never allowed to forget the horrific mistake he made as a child. He has only two friends - his dog, Surrender, and the unruly wild boy, Finnigan, a shadowy doppelganger with whom the meek Gabriel once made a boyhood pact. But when a series of arson attacks grips the town, Gabriel realizes how unpredi...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 15, 2011 Baile Hanak rated it 4 of 5 stars

This novel is one of the most beautifully written pieces I have encountered. Although the actual plot of the story is relatively slow, and the climax itself is a bit nebulous, the details and imagery are vivid, eloquent, and so precise that the writing almost feels fragile with authenticity. If you read closely enough, every event is easy to understand, but if you just graze over the page you will most likely need to re-read it. All of the details are phenomenal; Sonya Hartnett really has a way...more

like · see review

Nov 27, 2012 Ruthy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a dark, beautifully written, psychological novel. Right up my alley. Poor Anwell (Gabriel) poor Vernon. I finished this book in two days. It was short, concise and to the point. A story about a twenty-year-old man dying, looking back at his troubled youth and what a youth! I can't explain it further than that otherwise I'd be giving away the plot. I recommend this one to anyone who loves good writing, an intriguing plot and a engaging character. However, if you're like me, who's read or wat...more

like · see review

Jun 04, 2009 Steph Su rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: shouldve-been-an-adult-book

In a muggy and tired Australian country town, a delicate boy by the name of Anwell lives with his oppressive parents. At age 20, Anwell is wasting away on his deathbed, the victim of an unidentifiable disease. In the meantime, his childhood friend, the wild child arsonist Finnigan, roams with his dog, Surrender, who used to be Anwell’s. Told in flashbacks, Anwell remembers his moments with Finnigan, his psychotic control-freak parents, his crush Evangeline, Surrender, and the time he and Finniga...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 31, 2012 Michelle Doerr rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-literature

Wow, what a story. When beginning Surrender I thought it was sort of predictable, but the intense nature and the vivid descriptions kept me reading. I believe the story is realistic fiction made for advanced readers. Anwell, also known as Gabriel, is sick and dying and reflecting back on his short 20 years of life. In recalling his past, he describes the humiliating, uneventful life he has had. Friendless, he was more than happy to become friends with the wild child Finnigan. Finnigan is certai...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 08, 2012 Errin Tucker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-literature

Surrender is a work of Fantasy/Science Fiction. This book received the Michael Printz Award in 2007. It is designed for the A: Advanced readers (ages 14 to adult).
Surrender was about two young boys named Finnigan and Gabriel who are life-long friends. As Gabriel reflects on his life, he shares the struggles of he and Finnigan.
I rated the book with 4 stars. I enjoyed the book because each chapter made me want to continue on to see what was to happen next. At the same time it seemed to me that th...more

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 83 84 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (19)

More editions...

Genres

Young Adult

55 users

Young Adult > Teen

10 users

Realistic Fiction

9 users

Contemporary

7 users

Thriller

7 users

Cultural > Australia

5 users

Adventure

4 users

Adult

3 users

Death

3 users

Academic > School

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Sonya Hartnett

Sonya Hartnett (also works under the pseudonym Cameron S. Redfern) is, or was, something of an Australian child prodigy author. She wrote her first novel at the age of thirteen, and had it published at fifteen. Her books have also been published in Europe and North America. Her novels have been published traditionally as young adult fiction, but her writing often crosses the divide and is also enj...more Sonya Hartnett (also works under the pseudonym Cameron S. Redfern) is, or was, something of an Australian child prodigy author. She wrote her first novel at the age of thirteen, and had it published at fifteen. Her books have also been published in Europe and North America. Her novels have been published traditionally as young adult fiction, but her writing often crosses the divide and is also enjoyed by adults.

"I chose to narrate the story through a child because people like children, they WANT to like them," says Sonya Hartnett of THURSDAY'S CHILD, her brilliantly original coming-of-age story set during the Great Depression. "Harper [the young narrator] is the reason you get sucked into the characters. Even I, who like to distance myself from my characters, felt protective of her."

The acclaimed author of several award-winning young adult novels--the first written when she was just 13--Australian native Sonya Hartnett says she wrote THURSDAY'S CHILD in a mere three months. "It just pulled itself together," she says. "I'd wanted to set a story in the Depression for some time, in an isolated community that was strongly supportive. Once the dual ideas of the boy who tunneled and the young girl as narrator gelled, it almost wrote itself--I had the cast, I had the setting, I just said 'go.' " Accustomed to writing about edgy young adult characters, Sonya Hartnett says that identifying with a seven-year-old protagonist was a challenge at first. "I found her difficult to approach," she admits. "I'm not really used to children. But once I started, I found you could have fun with her: she could tell lies, she could deny the truth." Whereas most children know "only what adults want them to know," the author discovered she could bypass that limitation by "turning Harper into an eavesdropper and giving her older siblings to reveal realities."

In her second book with Candlewick Press, WHAT THE BIRDS SEE, Sonya Hartnett once again creates a portrait of childhood. This time the subject is Adrian, a nine-year-old boy living in the suburbs with his gran and Uncle. For Adrian, childhood is shaped by fear: his dread of quicksand, shopping centers, and self-combustion. Then one day, three neighborhood children vanish--an incident based on a real case in Australia in the 1960s--and Adrian comes to see just how tenuous his safety net is. In speaking about Adrian, the author provocatively reveals parallels between herself and her character. She says, "Adrian is me in many respects, and many of the things that happen to him happened to me."

Sonya Hartnett's consistently inspired writing has built her a legion of devotees. Of THURSDAY'S CHILD, Newbery Honor-winning author Carolyn Coman says, "Hartnett's beautifully rendered vision drew me in from the very start and carried me along, above and under ground, to the very end. This book amazed me." The achingly beautiful WHAT THE BIRDS SEE has just as quickly garnered critical acclaim. Notes PUBLISHERS WEEKLY in a starred review, "Hartnett again captures the ineffable fragility of childhood in this keenly observed tale. . . . Sophisticated readers will appreciate the work's acuity and poetic integrity." Sonya Hartnett's third young adult novel, STRIPES OF THE SIDESTEP WOLF was named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.

Sonya Hartnett lives near Melbourne, Australia. Her most recent novels are SURRENDER, a mesmerizing psychological thriller, and THE SILVER DONKEY, a gently told fable for middle-grade readers.(less)

More about Sonya Hartnett...

Books by Sonya Hartnett

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Surrender

1 quiz

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Surrender

“I am dying: it's a beautiful word. Like the long slow sigh of the cello: dying. But the sound of it is the only beautiful thing about it.” — 26 people liked it

“I thought about how stupid it is, that all of us are born destined to desire somebody else, though desire brings with it such disappointment and pain. Humankind's history must be scored bloody with heartbreak. This hankering for affection is a blight upon us.” — 18 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Surrender
avg rating	preview: Surrender Goodreads rating: 3.58 (893 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476875.Surrender?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320416462l/476875.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476875.Surrender?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Surrender by Sonya Hartnett[/url]

Surrender

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website