Encounters

by Jason Wallace

Zimbabwe, 1994. A group of children spot peculiar lights in the sky over the grounds of their school.
From this moment on, six young people's lives are changed forever.
Gary hides the anguish he feels now his mum's left, acting out in fury and hatred. Chloe has no words for the thing she fears most every day. Karl is the headmaster's son, now fallen from grace. Tendai knows he can never live up to his grieving father's ideals. And Sixpence watches all, knowing he'll never be like these other children. All of them have seen something they can't explain.
In amongst these tangled, tortured lives, comes a group of psychologists to verify the spookily similar claims of every witness. Their daughter, Holly, can tell there's more to it than aliens or mass hysteria – can she reveal the dark truths that haunt them?
Inspired by true accounts, this is the long-awaited new novel from Costa-award-winner Jason Wallace.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Aliens, Fiction

297 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2017

About the author

Jason Wallace is related to Tolkien and a descendant of one of the first International English cricketers, and also of the world-renowned Victorian circus owner 'Lord' George Sanger. He was born in Cheltenham in 1969 but moved to London after his parents split up. Aged 12 his life was turned upside down when his mother remarried and the family emigrated to Zimbabwe. It was this experience in a tough boarding school during the aftermath of the war for independence that forms the foundation of his incredible first novel, Out of Shadows. And he did actually meet Robert Mugabe when he visited his school.

Jason is currently a web designer, living in South West London with his partner and son.

Reviews

[Amene · Rating 3 out of 5]

شروعش خیلی جذاب و پرکشش نیست،اما در ادامه‌ خیلی بهتر میشه و به نظرم پایانش بسیار خوب بود.
در مجموع اینکه راوی ها تغییر می‌کردند خوب بود اما در بخش‌هایی هم کاملا کلیشه‌ای و با پیش‌داوری بود.

[Elaine Mullane || Elaine and the Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 - 2.5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I was eager to get my hands on this novel. On reading about it, I thought it had great potential and was interested in the story. In 1994 in Zimbabwe, six children spot a U.F.O. over their school. The book details how each character is affected by the same event, providing us with insight into their individual lives as the story progresses.

If you are expecting this to be a strictly sci-fi story of an alien encounter, you are in for more. This story runs much deeper. Encounters examines the often complicated and often dark lives of these young kids. At times, it was quite unsettling to read. I found it a little challenging to get in to, which surprised me. Getting beyond the opening narrative of a boy who is portrayed as homophobic, sexist and racist took some effort, although I should point out that this isn't representative of this book as a whole. Although I was a little unnerved, I continued reading. It certainly isn't a fun read - there are themes of abuse and grief here - and there is a lot going on with the different narratives. It was a lot more emotional than I thought.

What I took from this book is that it is a story about discovery. We, as readers, learn more about the event in question as we move through the narratives by each character, and the characters learn more about themselves as the story progresses. It looks at reliable (or unreliable) narrators and, likewise, trustworthy (or untrustworthy) storytellers, which is usually the case with books about people assessing an event or incident from their own viewpoint.

I found Encounters to be thoughtful in how it examined how the lives of people are affected by a single incident. However, I just felt it was lacking in its overall delivery. This was a book I really should have loved but, for me, it was missing something.

An interesting and thought-provoking read, but one I won't be recommending.

[Rasta Nasseri · Rating 5 out of 5]

فضایی
ترس ناک
اکشن
غم انگیز
ما جراجویانه
زیبا
اموزشی
رئال
اینها ویژه گی هایی بودند که این کتاب دارد شاید هم بیشتر داشته باشد
عالی بود
کسی که به موجودات فضایی اعتقاد داشته باشد
و
به کتابخوندن علاقه
این کتاب برایش یک کتاب محشر می شود
و
همه ی اون ویژگی ها
یک توضیح از ساختار کتاب :
داستان شش بخش دارد که هر بخش یک را یک نوجوان توضیح می دهد
وهمه ی کتاب توی یک زمان اتفاق افتاده است که اون زمان را کسانی مختلف از دید خودشان توضیح می دهند
واین طوری من خواننده می فهمم که فلان شخص از نظر این یکی چه جور آدمی است
یا فلان شخص با خودش چی فکر کرد که این کار را کرد یا حرف را زد
برای مثال :
گری : به کلویی تنه زدم٫ به این دلیل ...
کلویی : گری به من تنه زد ٫فکر می کنم ...
تندای : از دور دیدم که گری به کلویی تنه زد ٫تازگی ها ...
کارل : از کنار کلویی می گذشتم که دیدم گری به هش تنه زد ...
شش پنسی: آمریکایی ها برای تحقیق از جای سفینه فضایی به لدا آمده بودند ...
هالی : اون پسره ی چندش به یک دختر گوگولی تنه زد ...
(البته 👆🏻اینها را قسمتی ازش را خودم نوشتم )
یک خلاصه ای از داستان :
یک تیم از روانشناسان به زیمباوه سفر کرده اند تا درباره ی گزارشاتی باورنکردنی از یک برخورد با خارج از زمین تحقیق کنند بیش از پنجاه کودک ادعا می کنند که شاهد فرود آمدن یک سفینه ی فضایی نزدیک زمین بازیشان بوده اند این احتمالا چیزی جز یک حالت عصبی نیست اما چیزی در این گزارشات وجود دارد که نادیده گرفتن آن غیر ممکن است بچه ها دقیقا یک داستان را بار ها و بارها تعریف می کنند آیا واقعا توانسته اند به طرز بسیار قانع کننده ای دروغ بگویند
در میان این وقایع باور نکردنی زندگی شش نوجوان برای همیشه تغیر می کند آنها در میابند بیش از آن چه که فکر می کردند به هم مرتبط هستند

این دو خط آخر درباره ی خود کتاب بود و خود اتفاق واقعی نیست اما نویسنده این شش نوجوان را در ذهنش بر اثاث آن رویداد ساخته و پرورش داده
این کتاب را حتما پیشنهاد می‌کنم
👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Fa Tme · Rating 4 out of 5]

️ اگر به داستان‌های ترسناک و تخیلی علاقه دارید از وسط‌های این داستان میخکوب میشید
پ.ن: متاسفانه این کتاب خوب، ایرادات ویراستاری زیادی داشت.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 16/20

This is my winner. Or, so far, anyway. No doubt about it, this by far the best book that I have read on this longlist, apart from maybe Release by Patrick Ness. But I loved this a lot. It was creepy and unusual and altogether a perfect blend of greatness. And that cover? I am obsessed, and I'm not sure why. And it is based on true events! Which I think was handled really well - I'll go into that more in a minute.

The book has six parts (plus a really short bit at the end) which are each narrated by a different character. I personally really liked this - it made the book a slow unravelling, small things were picked up with every new part, and you learn all different sides of each character, both from their own POV and other's. I will admit, it did have a few problems - each part overlapped, and then carried on the story a little further, and in places conversations were repeated without giving much more insight, but I didn't really mind this very much. I think my favourite part was Chloe's. This was the darkest and creepiest part of the book and it really does leave you quite scared when you finish it. Chloe was also my favourite character. I didn't like Gary - though I do think that his part was important to be in there - and another thing that ruined him for me was that I swear instead of the word "said" EVERY SINGLE TIME the author used "tuned". I don't know why - it was only in Gary's part! But then I have visions of people just singing conversations and I don't know. I don't really mind, as this was only in the first part of the book.

What I also love is the way the author handled the fact that this is based on true events. I don't think anyone really knows what the children saw that day, and I like how Jason Wallace neither confirms nor denies anything. There are also some super awesome talks about the universe and all these big questions we ask ourselves and it was just really interesting to read about. The whole concept of this book is interesting - and even though it is based on true events it feels original.

This book gave me shivers and I left it feeling distinctly creeped out. But at the same time, I think the story was really clever, and I definitely think that this one should have made the shortlist. It is the best one of the lot that I have read so far, and I think it is unique and clever and thoughtful (and in places, shocking). Definitely something that I would recommend.

[Mina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and it was very cleverly put together so that it was always learning something knew yet overall it was only two days.
The way the book is laid out, there is one big event and it tells it from everybody's point of view several times.
however, I felt there was unnecessary characters and strange side plots that didn't need to be their. The first three characters stopped when he big event happened, almost like a cliff hanger but the others didn't so it felt like that was where their story ended.
KARL- somebody needs to explain to me what he was doing there, nothing. He had a backstory that was interesting and emotional blah blah. But it didn't come up again, neither did he. it was all pointless.
GARY- he has the most problematic home and life around the school, however once that was out of the way his name was mentioned twice after in the whole book. he was the first character but didn't actually have a key role in the events in the book. actually he did nt have any role in the story of the book.
HOLLY - the American visitor which talked to everybody, was their in every event and was watching everything. yet when it was her turn to explain it turns out she didn't notice a thing- the biggest disappointment ever.
the thing that I love about this is that each thing, isn't left unsaid or avoided,. it was just cleverly missed. The problems that would have saved dum dum dum duh weren't unsaid which normally makes you scream at the characters, but cleverly left alone, I think the authors reasoning would be better than this, but why not answer a question if the question wasn't asked and why ask the question if they weren't there. in much better terms than that.
Tendai- he was important but on the edge of being there
Chloe- you couldn't say she wasn't there, but it messed up the ordering a bit because she is the most important character yet at the front of the book
it takes you awhile to realise her part stops moments before, I wanted her grandfather to be more present, if not to her but Tendai because just from a few sentences of dialog he is easily the best character of them all. I think it was really sad everybody else's troubles ceased, yet their is no way of telling of her parents, and that her big problem only was discovered by the characters after it was too late (I am probably spoiling a lot, you can discover more by seeing how somebody avoids)

At the end, the most important characters were talked about by the other characters, so you knew where they were and what they were doing. So the only purpose was to get their point of view and back story. Which, wasn't really necessary or interesting. at the end the main event had been repeated so much in annoying lack of detail which is made it boring. a secret is only interesting for so long, if you don't actually know it. The book jumps a bit and avoids the full event, before and after but not really the thing itself.
The funny thing about this is that it is really enjoyable and interesting, though it dips in places it is uniquely different from so many other books it is fascinating, something happened and it wont tell what, there was different perspectives, much more than the 6 main ones.

[Hannah Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expertly crafted, with each character's story adding another layer of emotional depth & helping to unravel the dark secret of one of them. It's tough going at times but is nevertheless an exceptional, unforgettable book.

[Carmen Haselup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encounters by Jason Wallace (Andersen) is a story of layers and discovery. Each chapter covers the same time period told from the point of view of different characters. Their stories overlap and as a reader you learn more details as you see events from different perspectives. It raises the question of reliable witnesses and trustworthy storytellers and reminds you that each character is telling their story from their own ideological viewpoint. It's an interesting technique that I found challenging as a reader - the first character was particularly unlikeable and hard to read and there were other characters I didn't want to leave behind - but it was ultimately rewarding as all the viewpoints built and layered, drawing you further into the story.

'Zimbabwe, 1994. A group of children spot peculiar lights in the sky over the grounds of their school. From this moment on, six young people's lives are changed forever. Gary hides the anguish he feels now his mum's left, acting out in fury and hatred. Chloe has no words for the thing she fears most every day. Karl is the headmaster's son, now fallen from grace. Tendai knows he can never live up to his grieving father's ideals. And Sixpence watches all, knowing he'll never be like these other children. All of them have seen something they can't explain. In amongst these tangled, tortured lives, comes a group of psychologists to verify the spookily similar claims of every witness. Their daughter, Holly, can tell there's more to it than aliens or mass hysteria - can she reveal the dark truths that haunt them? Inspired by true accounts, this is the long-awaited new novel from Costa-award-winner Jason Wallace.'

Encounters is full of ideas of abuse and trauma and inequality. It doesn't provide answers, rather it shows how people's lives are affected. It lays the foundations and lets the reader find their own position.

This is by no means an easy book to read. At times it is almost Brechtian in it's difficulties. But it has a lot to say and it has left me thoughtful and wiser and glad that I gave it the time it deserved.


Source - review e-copy kindly sent by Penguin Random House.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid I was obsessed with UFOs.

My dad witnessed the unexplained object streak across the sky at his home in Clark's Harbour Nova Scotia in 1967. It would be known as the Shag Harbour UFO incident because many locals claimed to have seen a craft crash into the ocean. Some told stories of thick orange foam covering the top of the water and Russian ships suddenly converging on the area.

Whatever it was, it was an experience shared by others and the stories remain to this day.

Encounters is all about a shared experience. Based on the Ruwa, Zimbabwe UFO incident when dozens of school children claimed to have seen silver discs land behind their school, Encounters follows the journey of six children that have their lives changed forever because of the alleged alien encounter.

To read the rest of my review click here! http://bit.ly/2tJawlw

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I read the words 'Inspired by true accounts' I knew I wanted to read this book. I expected a story in which everyone questioned the children and what they saw. I did not expect a novel that would have me gripped by much darker events. 

Told by multiple characters, the rapidly changing narrator means the story progresses quickly and I felt a greater insight and understanding of the characters.  In turn, I had a stronger connection with them, increasing my concern for all of them and Chloe in particular. 

An unexpected read that I'm glad I took the time to read.

[cj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a complex, subtle, intricately plotted bit of beauty. The writing is SO GOOD. It's layered and multi-dimensional. The 'Chloe' section near the start of the book is really startling and powerful - it captures the confusion of a child navigating trauma so well, I'm left kind of awed at how Wallace pulled it off.

It's potentially a challenging read, for sure, but it really rewards the attention you give it, and I love that it doesn't compromise or condescend to its audience. It's the book it needs to be, and I'm sure it'll find the readers who need it.

[Sophie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encounters is a book inspired by true events. The event being, 60 students at a school in Africa claimed to have seen aliens. Jason uses this backdrop to create a mystery of his own. You follow six characters through the book and learn about their stories. Each one offers a unique perspective on the overarching mystery.

When I first started this story I really struggled to get into it as the first character is just horrible! Language is horrible, the personality of the character is horrible and their beliefs are horrible. Despite this, I ploughed through and eventually, Gary softens and you understand where all his hate is coming from. The book then flicks to Chloe, who is perhaps the most central character. I won't go into their individual stories as I don't want to spoil it. What I will say is each character is strongly unique. Their narratives are their own and each one offers a change of pace and something new. Each character's story is depressing though. They each have individual heartbreaks and have faced extreme trauma.

The book was amazingly written and the mystery was captivating and kept you hooked. The added backdrop of mysterious aliens also kept me on tenterhooks as Jason wrote several scenes about them visiting each character. However, it is never really set in stone if they really saw them or not. The alien sections do add an interesting layer of depth and fear when reading.

This book is not an easy read. Compared to other books I've read, which have been twice the size, Encounters took me an age to read. At times it did feel a bit laborious as I was fed up of the misery and injustice. Also sometimes I didn't see the point of some characters journies.

That aside, this is an enthralling read with plenty of layers to unpick. It has a sort of happy ending (justice prevails!). A hard read but a good one.

[cerys · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the full review and many more, check out my blog: https://hundredsandthousandsofbooks.b...

Encounters was a haunting take on alien encounters in science fiction. It definitely wasn’t you average sci fi read! It’s also based on true events…

It’s written in what seems to be a popular YA style at the moment where you flick between perspectives (they also do it in ‘All the Bright Places’ by Jennifer Niven, which there is an amazing review of here ). At first it was quite difficult to get into the style – the different perspectives weren’t really written as relatable, and the first viewpoint was quite racist and homophobic. However the finale was amazing, everything came together very cleverly. It reminded me of ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.‘

As the book progressed it became more about what causes people’s actions and the thoughts behind everything. There were pretty strong themes of grief and abuse, comparing the thin line between fiction and fact. It was pretty deep really for a book about aliens!

However, I felt like it didn’t fully deliver on the science fiction front – its there in the genre! You don’t have to have green blobs flying around in UFOs to make it sci-fi, but I felt like there wasn’t enough alien action (yes thats a thing now.) It was just a lot of hiding round corners and spooky speculations. But on the other martian antennae, it was really creepy. I loved the mix of technology and African folk tales and there were a lot of unexpected plot twists…

It was shortlisted for the Costa Book Award, which is pretty prestigious and everything blah blah blah – but you know if a book is even a runner up for that prize, it’s not going to be bad. And Encounters wasn’t bad! It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but I really enjoyed it. It was clever, creepy and a very original take on sci-fi. I would highly recommend it for fans of The Pheonix Files and I am Number Four.

For the full review and many more, check out my blog: https://hundredsandthousandsofbooks.b...

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really mixed feelings about this book most of which hang around the fact that Jason Wallace is an excellent author and this book is a Carnegie shortlist title. That, plus a great cover should have made it a 5* for me but it didn't. I twigged early on that Chloe was being abused and her story really touched me and the way the book ended tied that up well but the rest was quite muddled. I get each individual character and I liked that the characters got their own chapter to tell their own story but there were too many side stories and back stories going on that the thread of the 'alien' visit got lost. I'm not sure the kids in my library will get it, sadly I can see it being put down after a few chapters.

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I think this one might be going on the ‘Best Books of 2019’ list. Set in Zimbabwe in the 1990s, it’s about a group of kids connected to the sighting of an alien spacecraft. As each of their stories unfolds, though, they become less about the supposed UFO and much more about the kids’ personal lives and struggles. Nothing is quite what it seems for bully Gary, rich boy Tendai, thief Sixpence, cute Chloe, perfect Karl or even visiting mouthy American Holly.

Wallace doesn’t shy away from some pretty tough topics, especially the myriad ways parents can mess their kids up, intentionally or otherwise.
I was utterly gripped by each story, and could have read a full novel about each kid.

Deserves way more than a mere 5 stars.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly inspirational, I love how Jason was able to put together all these age groups together and show that we really all are connected. I think Chloe was the pivot of the whole story and moreso my favourite character even though she had to die but I believe that it was all symbolic to represent how the truth just dies when we find out and all but I really connected with this story, it's my favourite...piece of art, yeah beacuase it truly is a piece of art, anyone who plans on reading it, you will enjoy it🤞🏾

[Good Night To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delighted to hear that Jason Wallace had written a new novel as his previous book, 'Out of Shadows', also set in Zimbabwe, was a phenomenal, shocking and searing portrait of boys at war with themselves and each other, influenced by a charismatic teacher manipulating them like puppets. Its clever opening engages the reader from the start and the gripping plot hooks them all the way through.

Wallace delivers an equally compelling read with 'Encounters', using the real life incident of a reported extra-terrestrial encounter at Ariel School in Ruwa in 1994, as an umbrella to hang his narrative on. While the cover and title might suggest a science fiction narrative the book offers a different experience. This talented author skilfully crafts a powerful psychological drama as his six protagonists battle with fraught parental relationships, hidden emotions, secrets and lies.

8 year old Chloe is tortured by traumatic events in her life but too scared to utter the terrible truth.12 year old Gary is wrestling with anger issues and under the influence of a racist older brother. This has turned him against his friend Tendai, who is also dealing with grief, pain and loneliness. They all attend Leda School, built behind forbidding gates opening out on to a busy road and backed by heavily wooded terrain. 18 year old Karl, the Headmaster's son, is battling with his own demons. In their midst, creeping about the grounds, is village boy Sixpence who is compelled to steal but why?

As the plot unfolds Wallace skilfully intertwines each story taking care to adopt a distinctive voice for each of his key characters. They are satellites orbiting around each other, deeply conflicted by their circumstances and longing to speak. Just what have they observed and experienced? When American psychologists arrive at Leda with their daughter Holly in tow to investigate a possible alien encounter each of them is drawn into the drama.

While Holly's parents set about questioning the children who claim to have witnessed strange happenings and examine their drawings depicting the supposed incident, deeper issues are at stake. As an outsider can the teen who has travelled to Zimbabwe reluctantly be the one who discovers the truth lying beneath the surface? Who is not whom they appear to be? What happened at the landing site? What is the significance of stars? Why has Karl left boarding school?

The reader is engaged throughout the novel as Wallace cleverly controls multi perspectives and manipulates diverse plot strands. Evil is present but what is at the root of it? His setting is vividly realised as he builds up an atmosphere that crackles with tension, fear, lost hopes and repression.

If you want an absorbing read try 'Encounters'. It is just another example of the calibre of the Carnegie Medal long listed choices.

[Horror Sickness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going to give this book 3,5 but it is really close to 4 stars

A story based on real events about over 50 children that claimed to see an alien ship as well as some shadow looking creatures in a school in Zimbabwe.

In the book we follow the story of some of those kids and each of them gets a part in the book to explain their story. Great writing connecting all the stories and even though it is a pretty linear story with less action or twists, it keeps you interested.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a little uncomfortable to get into the swing of, however, it was worth being patient with. I loved the 'each chapter from a different angle' approach.

The tag line on the cover 'just because no one believes you, doesn't make you a liar' has haunted me since putting the book down. Overall a moving read.

[Stargazer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An uncomfortable read strangely enough 'saved' by the horror chloe was undergoing. I found it difficult to like anyone, it'd be better as a film i reckon - the right casting might bring some more life to the characters. It just had a grey dusty feel to me, i didn't enjoy it much but was rooting hard for chloe, poor wee mite, and her wee thieving pal.

[Karen King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this. It’s definitely YA and not children’s, but it involves issues of identity, racism, homophobia and leaves the central question of what the children really saw as almost incidental. Cleverly done and intriguing.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

YAF.

[Claire Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars 😄

[Andrew Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. It's not an easy read and I think most teens would struggle with the timeline. It's still brilliantly written and each chapter reveals new depths.

[Atefeh Dehghani · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I wanted to DNF it soooo bad but after the first kids POV I was really invested in the story.
And man I really loved it.
And the ending...... Ahhhhh perfect.

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off slow but got better.

[Elfa · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don’t remember much from this book because i read it a while back however i do remember how much i really enjoyed it

[Kalilah]

Review to Come

[Raz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Complete review available: Encounters

It was interesting and novel, but it took me an age to get through (full disclosure: we're talking a year and a half) and so many perspectives got a little confusing. I think I was expecting more from Wallace after the wonder that was "Out of Shadows".

[K Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encounters is a story of a group of children who claim to have seen something peculiar in the sky just beyond the school gates. Set in Zimbabwe in the ‘90s, and told from the perspective of six different characters, this story is multi-layered, and packed with back story.

There is an overall feeling of sadness and empathy, as we meet each character and learn about the problems in their life. There are a range of issues are touched on here, but one thing is consistent - the adults in their lives are the source of their problems.

Wallace shows his ability to immerse himself in the characters, whose voices are distinctive from one another. We are transported to the setting - a hot, unforgiving and dangerous landscape of Mugabe’s Zimbabwe - through the author´s writing. A landscape given veracity by his own experience of growing up there as a child.

A refreshingly different read, I found it absorbing and difficult to put down. More please.