The First Reviews of Déjà View Are In—and They’re Pretty Good!
The OGs.Well, it’s been a month since Déjà View was released, and the reviews are slowly trickling in. How are they so far? Not bad, actually! I was seriously expecting worse since I knew this book was a harder sell than Danger Peak. It doesn’t move as quickly, and it’s not exactly a “feel-good tale.” Nevertheless, most folks had kind things to say about it. Here are the reviews so far, in no order:
To crack the spine of Déjà View is to unearth a time capsule filled with one’s own 1980s childhood. Perone’s novel earnestly depicts both the pop-culture spectacle of the decade and the joy and anxiety of coming of age during that era. Filled with nostalgia, emotion, and unpredictable twists, Déjà View is sure to delight the most sardonic of ‘80s kids.
—Will Padilla, host of 1980s Now, a Top 200 TV and Film podcast
Deja View: A Kid Nightmare is written in a perfect tone to capture the attention of a middle-grade audience. Bobby’s narrations are strikingly authentic, and the trials readers experience alongside him are all too familiar for anyone who is currently or has already gone through the treacherous tween years of junior high. The bullying, body insecurity, and drifting of childhood friendships are things that most readers will be able to identify with, and this helps make Bobby a sympathetic narrator you want to root for… Bobby’s visions give the book a spooky twist that also helps add a dose of thrill which will resonate with readers of Bobby’s own age… (Déjà View) is a bittersweet story about a kid who is struggling on the cusp between childhood and adulthood, and that’s something pretty much any reader can relate to on some level.
—Reader Views
Perone’s sophomore novel, following Danger Peak, is a slow-burn, time-warped Atari-and-MTV-era nightmare with heaps of heart, all centered on middle-schooler Bobby Dalton, a kind-hearted late bloomer who isn’t quite ready to grow up… Perone’s story twists into unexpected directions…eventually becoming a science-fiction thriller with a terrifying conclusion reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Throughout, though, Déjà View is attentive to character and the everyday impact of the fantastic on real lives, with engaging prose and sharp, funny dialogue… (The) climactic battle to save the fate of humanity, when it comes, is exciting and surprising, a mind-bender complete with lasers, evil scientists, and even love at first sight. (Déjà View) is (a) character-driven sci-fi mind-bender centered on the pains of growing up.
—Publisher’s Weekly
Evocative, well-written, and emotionally stirring… Perone weaves a captivating story set in the 1980s, where changing social dynamics and fear of growing up set the stage for a journey full of anguish… Perone delves into the typical struggles of a middle schooler, from making friends to grappling with topics like mental health issues, anxiety, home life, tormenting, and childhood distress… (Bobby’s) heartbreak over his fractured friendships makes him an authentic, sympathetic character, and readers will want to engage with him. This is an affecting exploration of childhood angst.
—The Prairies Book Review
Déjà View is at turns hilarious and heartbreaking. It follows the journey of 12-year-old Bobby from kiddom to young adulthood, but his trip is far from ordinary (or at least the second half of this book is). Bobby doesn’t want to grow up and is having a hard time adjusting to his new life in junior high. After convincing his two best friends Joe and Max to bury a time capsule to commemorate the end of the 1980s, he starts being haunted by ghostly apparitions, and they all look like copies of him, his friends, and others in his life. What’s more, no one else seems to see them or believe that they’re real, so he needs to figure out what it all means before he finally loses his mind. Those expecting a repeat of Danger Peak, Perone’s debut novel, may be disappointed, as this book isn’t anywhere near as fast-paced (it’s not really an action-adventure until the very end), but if you go in with an open mind knowing this book is its own thing, you’ll be pleasantly surprised, especially by a certain twist I won’t reveal here.
—Amazon review
Such a fun sci-fi/YA story! This story follows 12-year old Bobby as he desperately tries to hold onto his childhood and is thrusted into a nightmare of dueling realities he has to navigate. True to form, Perone delivers tons of nostalgia and fun characters. Truly enjoyed this read!
—Amazon review
As a fan of Michael Thomas Perone’s debut novel, Danger Peak, this was an unexpected read but no less enjoyable. He almost seems to be playing with a different genre (namely sci-fi), though it’s still in his wheelhouse of ‘80s nostalgia and coming of age. In fact, I’d say this novel is more coming of age than his last one, and that’s saying something. I agree with the other reviewers who said the book isn’t as fast-paced as Danger Peak, but the story grows on you the more you progress through it, and I certainly wasn’t expecting the slam-bang ending—despite warnings from those same reviewers! Overall, I enjoyed this book as much as the last one, despite the story being much darker. Give it a try if you liked Danger Peak. You won’t regret it.
—Amazon review
I found Déjà View funny and strangely affecting. You don’t realize how moving the story is until you get to the very end. I won’t recount the plot since you can read it in the book’s description and other reviews here, and I also don’t want to spoil anything. Needless to say, this coming-of-age story has a way of sneaking up on you. First, you’re laughing along at the hijinks and especially the dialogue (the bits about Chuck E. Cheese and “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue” are hilarious), and then the next moment, your heart goes out to Bobby, the main character. By the end, it’s downright poignant and even made me miss my own childhood. Highly recommended.
—Amazon review
This is the second book I have read by Michael Thomas Perone, and I admit that even though I am not a child, I enjoyed reading it. Yes, it is dedicated primarily to young readers, but if you let your imagination flow, this book will also be enjoyable and exciting for adults. It makes you think about your life when you have wishes, dreams, and hopes. I recommend it to anybody who enjoys the exciting and mind-blowing way of fictional thinking. Just let your imagination flow, and enjoy the ride.
—Amazon review
Two words: Get. Help.
—my wife
Yes, even that last one was real. Was she right? Read Déjà View, and judge for yourself!
In other news, Déjà View is currently in the middle of a 2-week blog tour, which you already knew if you read my last blog. So far, the following blogs about the book have been posted:
Book Review Virginia Lee Blog (post and book giveaway)Rockstar Book Tours (excerpt and book giveaway)YA Books Central (interview and book giveaway)Two Chicks on Books (excerpt and book giveaway)If you click on only one link above, I’d go with my interview at YA Books Central. Also, I failed to mention this in the original post of my last blog (it’s since been updated), but the blogs during this tour are giving away 10 free copies of Déjà View, so make sure to check them out and enter the contest. Good luck!
MTP
P.S.: Next week’s blog: Read a Deleted Chapter From Déjà View
P.P.S.: Déjà View is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble:
AmazonBarnes & Noble
