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121st out of 799 books
—
754 voters
Armageddon Summer
The world will end on Thursday, July 27, 2000. At least, that’s what Reverend Beelson has told his congregation. That’s why Marina and Jed and their parents have joined the rest of the Reverend’s flock at a mountain retreat to await the end of the world. But this world has only just begun for Jed and Marina, two teenagers with more attitude than faith. Why should the world...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
July 26th 1999
by Graphia
(first published September 15th 1998)
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185th out of 1,140 books
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1,248 voters
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Armageddon Summer provides a front-row seat for the type of event most of us only witness on a TV screen. Reverend Raymond Beelson is gathering 144 "Believers" atop Mount Weeupcut in Massachusetts to camp out, pray, and await Armageddon--July 27, 2000--when he predicts that his faithful flock will be saved as the rest of the world is set ablaze in fire and brimstone. We experience the month leading up to this climax through the eyes of two teenagers who have never met before, Jed and Marina, eac...more
The book that I read is Armageddon Summer and the author is Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville. The authors’ purpose for writing this book is showing people that religion is important but it’s not the end of the world. The authors intended audience is believers who want to know what is too much in believing. The narrators’ point of view is 1st person. Jud and Marina are telling the story. It is important that they are telling the story because it wouldn’t make sense if one of the parents or other chi...more
Marina and Jed are two children whose parents get wrapped up with a tiny religious cult. At first it's not so bad, but when that cult believes only 144 will survive the end of the world, and they go to a mountain to wait for it, what will happen?
It's very easy for authors to fall into the trap of demonizing religious people, but Yolen and Coville avoid that admirably. Every character is real and has a personality and motivation, and there are no cardboard cut-out fundies here. It's not perfect:...more
It's very easy for authors to fall into the trap of demonizing religious people, but Yolen and Coville avoid that admirably. Every character is real and has a personality and motivation, and there are no cardboard cut-out fundies here. It's not perfect:...more
Although I'm sensitive about books that portray anyone who believes in the Bible as a lunatic, I am also aware that cults exist that have used God's Word to justify weird and dangerous behavior. So this book is plausible although uncomfortable for someone like me who really does believe in the millennium. I hate to see people like Rev. Beelson who misuse God's Word. *Spoiler* Because of this, the main characters really end up rejecting any belief in Jesus or a personal God, only retaining a vagu...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Marina’s mother searches for meaning, and finds it in a strange cult preaching the end of the world, fostered by the cult’s charismatic leader. Jed’s father seeks healing in the same cult, healing from the shock of having his wife abandon him to run off with her lover. That’s how Marina and Jed end up together with the 142 “Believers” at a mountain retreat, waiting for the prophesied end of the world. The adventure they share ends in conflagration and death. Thought the protagonists are only 14...more
I read Armageddon Summer because it was recommended to me and I was told that it was a good book. After finishing it myself, I feel that I agree, more or less.
This book is about the joint protagonists Marina and Jed, who come from very different worlds that, as they grow closer, seem to acquire more similarities. Marina is one of six children (she being only girl and the oldest) who's mother drags her and the boys into a new Christian religion headed by Reverend Raymond Beelson. Jed, currently p...more
This book is about the joint protagonists Marina and Jed, who come from very different worlds that, as they grow closer, seem to acquire more similarities. Marina is one of six children (she being only girl and the oldest) who's mother drags her and the boys into a new Christian religion headed by Reverend Raymond Beelson. Jed, currently p...more
When a book has me so riveted that I stay up way later than I should to read it, I usually give it a 5, but this, being a teen novel, was a little too simplistic for me to rate it that high. Also, there were some parts at the beginning in which I thought, “Okay. We’ve met the two main characters. Now can they stop sneaking peeks at each other and get on with some dialogue?” Once they did, though, I was hooked.
The book is the story of a budding romance between Jed, age 16, and Marina, almost 14....more
The book is the story of a budding romance between Jed, age 16, and Marina, almost 14....more
What do you do when one of your parents tells you that the world is going to end in two weeks, so you must journey to the top of a mountain in order to be saved from the wrath of God? You go with them; at least, that's what Jed and Marina do.
Marina is thirteen years old. Her mom has found a new church of Believers whose leader has had a revelation that the world will end by fire in two weeks, and only 144 people will be saved. Marina wants to believe along with her mother, and although she stru...more
Marina is thirteen years old. Her mom has found a new church of Believers whose leader has had a revelation that the world will end by fire in two weeks, and only 144 people will be saved. Marina wants to believe along with her mother, and although she stru...more
Jed and Marina's parents have become Believers, members of a cult who believe the world is going to end on July 27. As they pack up and head to the mountains in the weeks before Armageddon, at first it's not so bad. Camping out, and stockpiling for the future, Jed and Marina become friends. But when the last believer, #144 enters the camp, the atmosphere changes. Now the fence they helped put up around the camp is electrified and the guards have guns. As the end of the world approaches, those le...more
Jul 26, 2009
Maggie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Maggie by:
I love Jane Yolen
Shelves:
july-09
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Hmmm... I'm not quite sure what to say about this book.
Overall, I liked it. The writing wasn't anything very special - a few parts made me chuckle. And the "romance" between Marina and Jed wasn't very believable, only because after their very first conversation she decided she was in love with him.
I guess what I did like about this book was that it dealt with teenagers trying to find out what they believe in. In a way, this was kind of forced on them because of their nutty religious parents. Bu...more
Overall, I liked it. The writing wasn't anything very special - a few parts made me chuckle. And the "romance" between Marina and Jed wasn't very believable, only because after their very first conversation she decided she was in love with him.
I guess what I did like about this book was that it dealt with teenagers trying to find out what they believe in. In a way, this was kind of forced on them because of their nutty religious parents. Bu...more
The plot follows two teenagers, Jed and Marina, as their parents drag them into a millennium cult known as The Believers as they prepare for the world to end on July 27th. The Believers, led by a reverand from Boston, decide to camp on a mountaintop in western Massachusetts where they believe they will be saved from the end of the world. The story is told in alternating voices between Jed and Marina who meet on the mountain and consequently fall in love. Neither teenager believes in the mission...more
Bruce Coville was one of my favorite authors as a kid, and though I wasn't as crazy about Jane Yolen, I generally liked her books, so I was surprised when I found myself not enjoying this one. The two main characters are fairly well-developed and there are some complex and interesting themes and ideologies addressed, yet it felt flat to me. Maybe it was the manner in which the issue of religious fanaticism was handled--the obvious effects and attitudes were addressed, but it seemed like they cou...more
It's a fairly good YA book - written in a dualistic narrative (Marina and Jed's perspective swaps back and forth each chapter.)
My only complaint is that the perspective is almost TOO real, with the blindsides and misused words that the 13/14 yr old naive narrators would actually use writing their story.
That, and after building all kinds of wonderful tension - it climaxes, and ends. (guess I'm just used to a coda/post-script.)
Definitely recommend for YA - but not so much for adults looking for 'a...more
My only complaint is that the perspective is almost TOO real, with the blindsides and misused words that the 13/14 yr old naive narrators would actually use writing their story.
That, and after building all kinds of wonderful tension - it climaxes, and ends. (guess I'm just used to a coda/post-script.)
Definitely recommend for YA - but not so much for adults looking for 'a...more
This story was very well written and I enjoyed reading it. It was one of the better cult type books that I have read. It was told from two perspectives, Jed and Marina, and their stories come together as one. They end up spending what people think are their last two weeks together on top of a mountain. The reverend has put fear in them that the world is ending and they can only survive if they stay on the top of the mountain.
I really like how the story was written and I like how the two perspec...more
I really like how the story was written and I like how the two perspec...more
Jun 05, 2013
Zack
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Zack by:
Lisa
Shelves:
read-in-2013
Synopsis: Two teenagers get caught up in apocalypse fever as a Christian doomsday cult sets up camp in Western Massachusetts.
Thoughts: A great story, well told. The chapters alternate in "authorship" between the two main characters, with an occasional false document sprinkled in. I'm not always a fan of the whole alternating-first-person-perspectives-deal when I'm reading fiction, but this one was really enjoyable. Perhaps it comes from having two alternating authors? I liked how the cult was de...more
Thoughts: A great story, well told. The chapters alternate in "authorship" between the two main characters, with an occasional false document sprinkled in. I'm not always a fan of the whole alternating-first-person-perspectives-deal when I'm reading fiction, but this one was really enjoyable. Perhaps it comes from having two alternating authors? I liked how the cult was de...more
Being a teenager is hard. Being a teenager when the world is scheduled to end on your birthday might make for the worst time ever.
This story is told in alternating first person point of views, starting in Marina's voice and continuing in Jed's. Marina is fourteen years old, with three younger brothers. Her parents are separated. Her mother is searching for something, and finds it in Reverend Beelson. The reverend believes the world is going to end, and gathers up one hundred forty-four Believer...more
This story is told in alternating first person point of views, starting in Marina's voice and continuing in Jed's. Marina is fourteen years old, with three younger brothers. Her parents are separated. Her mother is searching for something, and finds it in Reverend Beelson. The reverend believes the world is going to end, and gathers up one hundred forty-four Believer...more
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Fast-paced, even-handed YA novel about a religious cult that believes the world is going to end and only their group of 144 living on top of a mountain will be saved. The novel is mostly narrated by teenagers Jed and Marina, both the products of broken homes. Jed is a skeptic, Marina a believer. I felt a distance from most of the characters. Marina is likeable but seemed much older than 13. Rev. Beelson, Jed's father, and Marina's mother were important but flat characters. I didn't find the endi...more
It's always fascinating reading about a crazy religious cult that believes the world is going to end, and that's what I loved about this book. I love seeing hypocritical religious folks and was very fascinated (though not at all surprised) by the things they do on the mountain. I liked how the chapters alternated from Marina and Jed's perspective, especially since one was a believer and the other was not. However, this book was just alright for me. Interesting, yes, but not that great. It is adv...more
Format: 266 pages. Appx. 57,000 words. Dual author, multivocal.
Exceptionally well-written story of two teens caught up in their parent's search for spiritual meaning through their involvement with a millennial cult. Marina watches as her parent's marriage dissolves and her mother takes she and her four brothers up to camp Weeupcut to wait out the final two weeks before the end of the world - the same two weeks before Marina's fourteenth birthday. Jed on the other hand is still reeling from his m...more
Exceptionally well-written story of two teens caught up in their parent's search for spiritual meaning through their involvement with a millennial cult. Marina watches as her parent's marriage dissolves and her mother takes she and her four brothers up to camp Weeupcut to wait out the final two weeks before the end of the world - the same two weeks before Marina's fourteenth birthday. Jed on the other hand is still reeling from his m...more
Feb 05, 2008
Elizabeth Wallace
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who like to wonder why people do such stupid things sometimes
Recommended to Elizabeth by:
Hannah, my old friend who love books as much as I do.
I don't know about you, but I loved this book! Though I am an active Mormon (that's Christian too, in case you didn't know) and believe in all that entails, this was not offensive at all. It was an excellent book, sort of an older Evan Almighty story, except waaay more serious. Now, enough background, here's the book:
Jed and Marina are both very confused people and their parents both have problems, BIG ones, but this is not the only thing that links them. Guess what does? Their parents have bo...more
Jed and Marina are both very confused people and their parents both have problems, BIG ones, but this is not the only thing that links them. Guess what does? Their parents have bo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
What happens when a very religious man sees a vision of impending doom... he tells everyone to prepare for the end of the world.
Two kids caught up in the furore are Marisa and Jed
this story is told from their perspectives
Ironic that the end of the world as you know comes not from the outside but from within.....
It made me think about how my family see religion and what place it has in my world. It is a solid story and completely different to other YA novels I have read,
Two kids caught up in the furore are Marisa and Jed
this story is told from their perspectives
Ironic that the end of the world as you know comes not from the outside but from within.....
It made me think about how my family see religion and what place it has in my world. It is a solid story and completely different to other YA novels I have read,
I loved this book. This is one that I proudly say that I own. Good things about it:
1. I think that I just have a thing for cult books, but this was good. I liked how the two teenagers told their seemingly unrelated stories that convened together.
2. This book had some good symbolism and raised some questions.
3. I had a friend of mine read this, too and we had some good discussions on it. It seemed like a good book to discuss.
1. I think that I just have a thing for cult books, but this was good. I liked how the two teenagers told their seemingly unrelated stories that convened together.
2. This book had some good symbolism and raised some questions.
3. I had a friend of mine read this, too and we had some good discussions on it. It seemed like a good book to discuss.
...I wasn't a huge fan of the book. it was a good read but I had trouble getting into it personally. I really liked the characters though, as well as the ending climax. It was a good climatic ending but the actual ending that came after it felt a little...dry, compared to the climax. Over all, I wouldn't read it again. It was a time filler for me but it could be cool and great for someone whos into that type of religious book.
A great collaboration between two powerhouse authors. Two teens are caught in the fervor of a religious cult convinced that the end of the world is upon them. With two weeks to spare, the group heads to the mountaintop where they will be spared from the coming rain of fire. Struggling with their beliefs, the two young adults must grow up quickly in order to survive.
The ending was unexpected, and somewhat anticlimactic given the authors' reputations, but I enjoyed this foray into how some people...more
The ending was unexpected, and somewhat anticlimactic given the authors' reputations, but I enjoyed this foray into how some people...more
Great book :) I could very clearly see the last few scenes in my head. The romance is sweet and subtle, but you can still tell it's there. Here's hoping that doesn't happen in 2012 :/ (view spoiler)
This book deals with religious fanatics as they prepare for what they assume is the end of days. Stuck in the middle are 2 teenagers who must deal with what this means for them. Are their parents simply crazy or is the world really ending? It is told from both a pessimistic male perspective and a confused believer girl.
**may be disputed in library because of religious themes
**may be disputed in library because of religious themes
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Yolen was born at Beth Israel Hospital, the first child of Isabel Berlin and Will Hyatt Yolen. She and her family moved to California when she was young but returned to New York a few years later. After her younger brother was born, her father joined the army and served on the European front during WWII. Yolen spent her childhood taking piano lessons, ballet dancing and writing a neighborhood news...more
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“The thing I want to know is, if you tell your brain not to do stuff... and it keeps doing it anyway, does that mean your mind has a mind of its own? And if it does, then who's in charge here, anyway?”
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