Fifteen years ago, the Mayor of the Education City was presented with an unwelcome surprise by his superiors: twin six-month-old boys. As ... read full description
reviews
Mar 21, 2011
Overall I did like the book. As most literature that is geared toward teens lacks the symbolism and literary rubbish that I hate. For the most part it is a book that is composed of the angst that teens feel toward the education system and how they manipulate students in order to maintain power and authority. It is very well written considering that the author was only 15 at the time. It was a very interesting read to observe how two people: identical twins reacted to their surroundings and how t
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Apr 23, 2010
Thomas
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Umasi and Zen are twin brothers who are alike in many ways: they both suffer under the cruelty of the school system, they both have a father whose too caught up in his position as Mayor of the city to properly care for them, and they both are shocked when they realize their father is the one causing all of their misery at school. Despite these similarities, Umasi and Zen are complete opposites. Zen has never really fit in with the educational structure - instead he decides to cut class and recei
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Mar 17, 2010
Cooper
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This book was only better than the first book was, as it answered most of my questions, but at the same time, giving me new questions which will be answered in the third book, which sadly is not out yet. But this book is about the history of the two most mysterious characters in the original book, about whom most of my questions were, and the farther I read, the more questions were answered, so, once more, I could not put this book down. Some of the characters from the previous book were also
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Sep 20, 2009
Nance
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This is an interesting YA book about two brothers who are brought up in “Education City” As they become teens they learn that the entire purpose of the city is to research the effects of discipline policies in education, such as punishing the whole class for the actions of one student. Zen runs away and begins a uprising called the truancy where he uses violence to try and take down the Educators. The brother Umasi wants to take a more passive approach but cannot convince his brother. The bro
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Aug 09, 2009
Sybelle
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This is one of those books that explains some of the things written in the one before it. I did not realize it, so I read this one before Truancy. I am positive that changed my experience, but not in a negative way. I think you could read tham in any order. Just know the author's intent is for you to read this one after the first one. I just totally love the "evil" twin/"good" twin thing he worked out in here. It definitely shows how "bad" people can have very good
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Oct 14, 2010
Aubree
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This book can be read with or without its companion "Truancy". It is supposed to be a prequel. Despite his age Fukui manages to create a compelling story. He is able to balance three, sometimes more, seperate stories at the same time while not creating any confusion. The fight scenes in this book read like they're out of an action movie, easy to follow and full of twists. He makes sure that anything that happens seems entirely plausable and the view of education that Fukui creates is e
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Jun 05, 2011
Nick
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When I finished Truancy Origins for the first time, this is the first thought that popped into my head: Oh my gosh how is it even physically possible that a book can be this good. I'm not joking. Truancy Origins is a must-read, with well written action scenes, a compelling plot, and amazing characters. Isamu Fukui has really outdone himself this time, writing a sequel even better than his compelling debut, Truancy.
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Jul 27, 2011
I actually liked this one much more than Truancy. I may have to go back and read it again. I also think that this is now a series that I need to have in my room for my boys. I think that they would really love it. I normally feel that prequals are odd and feel a bit contrived but I will have to eat my words on this one. I wasn't thrilled to read it at all I only read it because once again when I start a series I feel the need to finish it and well it was a series. I was wrong.
Jan 30, 2012
wallflowerfairy
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I thought the "The Truancy" had potential to be a great book, but just wasn't developed enough. However, I was still curious and captivated in the story enough to read this sequel, thinking that by the second book, Fukui's writing skills would have gotten better and that he'd have better ideas for the story. And I have to say, I was NOT disappointed by this book at all! It was sooo good! It explained so much that was missing in the first book and just connected everything together into
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Oct 05, 2010
Avery
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A well-designed, well-thought-out prequel to "Truancy", "Truancy Origins" adds more to the somewhat foggy backstory of the original book. I read "Origins" before "Truancy", and frankly, I'm glad I did. I felt if I hadn't read this, I would have been lost in Truancy. Fukui ups the ante for the final book in the trilogy by giving his readers a taste of what life was like for Umasi and Zen before they were set on their diverging paths.
Jan 06, 2012
Duncan
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In the City, The Mayor rules all, including the school system, but he's troubled. He has just discovered that the higher government has assigned him to take care of two twin boys, Umasi and Zen. He is worried because they will have to be put into the school system and treated like all the other students. Unable to let them know, the boys live life like all other children, until one day when they discover that their father was behind it. They both run away, Zen to form the Truancy in order to
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Jan 31, 2012
Jessica
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I found the story compelling enough to want to read the other Truancy book. The author has come up with a plot that is shocking and powerful. However, I felt that the execution of the plot, character formation, and writing style were not as good as I had hoped. In other words, the story is interesting, but the writing itself is a little underdeveloped.
May 25, 2010
Ricki
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This book had a very interesting plot. I normally love dystopian novels, but I felt like this one dragged and needed more editing. I was disappointed, as I was really looking forward to reading this, and I found the writing to be very poor.
Dec 14, 2009
Zac
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a great book in the truancy series although considerably longer than the first it is still easy to get into and read though the text may be intimidating to some if you get as hooked into the story as me you should finish it in a week
Nov 30, 2009
Sharon
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Not sure why I did not enjoy this one as much as the first. It did give a little more depth to Zen's (Ziad's) mind set at the end of the second book. I am more interested in hearing what happens after the Truancy revolution.
Feb 07, 2011
Chloe
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I knew that this book would be interesting, but I just couldn't get into it. I feel like the plot got slower, the book got longer, and the font got smaller the longer I read it-and not in the good way. Couldn't finish.
Nov 27, 2010
Twisted Forever in Darkness
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now this is what i call a good book i mean a really really good one.unlike the first one where i thought it was really really good, this one just took my breath away really it did :)
Nov 24, 2011
Haroun
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Usami and Zen. Two twin brothers that were given to the Mayor of Education City to be taken cared of. Fifteen years later the Mayor has young well-mannered boys, one who is overactive and one is quiet, who like everyones' elses kid is trapped in a twisted version of education or so he thought. One day Zen discovers that his father, the Mayor, has been in charge of the City his whole life. Disgusted Zen leaves the system and becomes a uneducated homeless child, a vagrant. There he begans his mast
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Jul 12, 2010
Wendy
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killer streetfighting scenes, a war, and how the weak have to grow up. only regret is that i didn't read the series in order.
Jun 11, 2010
McKinzey
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The plot was a good idea, but it was probably one of the worst written books I've ever read. The author did a horrible job of painting a picture for the reader and instead had to spell every single passage out for them. The characters were in no way interesting, and once I realized that 'Umasi' is 'Isamu' backwards, I just couldn't get over that. However, the plot was very interesting. If you're one of those people who can overlook bad writing and just enjoy the plot, this is the book for you. I
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Feb 25, 2011
Z
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An amazingly written book. A story that is one that shall not be forgotten soon. I recommend it to anyone looking for something equal to the Hunger Games and maybe even Harry Potter.
Feb 11, 2010
Christian
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This is the prequel to Truancy. It tells the stories of Zen and Umasi and how the truancy started. It gives you lots of different views in the lives of sevral characters but ties back nicely to the lives of the twin characters. It is a classic battle of good and evil with a good and unexpecting twist. Absolutly amazing book by a good up and coming author.
May 05, 2010
Dracolibris
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It took me a long time to get into this book. I think I read 6-8 others while slofgging my way through this one. But now that I am finished, I am glad I did. Things definitely picked up along the way, and for fans of martial arts, anime, or the new movie Kick-Ass, this would be a good recommendation.
Apr 05, 2010
This book is the most amazing book I have ever read, or at least one of them. The first book was good but this book is great. I got it not to long ago and there is not only action in this book, like the first book, but so much wisdom gained and seen. This is defenitly a most read.
Apr 24, 2009
Andrew
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this book is something that can be done. a student from school gets alot of students and revolts against the school.
Feb 16, 2010
Julia
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It wasn't really my style. I'm not too into kung fu sci-fi. It was interesting though.
