What do you think?
Rate this book
Pleasant Grove
Welcome to Pleasant Grove, a quiet small town where neighbor helps neighbor and doors are left unlocked at night-an unspoiled paradise with one peculiar feature: It's enclosed by a glass dome.
No one can leave.
No one can enter.
No one can survive beyond the dome.
But then, a visitor arrives from the outside.
When 12-year-old Agnes Goodwin discovers a strange boy with no memory, she teams up with her best friends to unravel the mystery. Their extraordinary adventure will threaten everything they know...and everyone they love.
No one can leave.
No one can enter.
No one can survive beyond the dome.
But then, a visitor arrives from the outside.
When 12-year-old Agnes Goodwin discovers a strange boy with no memory, she teams up with her best friends to unravel the mystery. Their extraordinary adventure will threaten everything they know...and everyone they love.
385 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2020
176 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 23, 2020
Pleasant Grove may be small, but it has everything you need. And you can't survive outside the dome, so no one can ever leave and no one new ever arrives. Until the day 12-year-old Agnes sees a mysterious boy from outside the dome. The premise of this book is very intriguing and despite some pitfalls, it has a very interesting, engaging plot.
In general, I had a good time with this middle grade novel and I think the basic ideas behind the plot were interesting and unexpected. (I won't spoil it!) As a self-published novel it's among the better ones with a narrative that keeps you reading and a cast of characters + plot that would make a very cool TV adaptation. However, I do have some critiques.
First, this is pitched as middle grade and the characters are the right age for that, but the vocabulary, sentence structure and pacing read much older. Frequently, complicated language is unnecessarily used and there is an excess of description and internal monologue that drag down the pace of an otherwise interesting story. This is particularly an issue for a middle grade novel where you really want things to move along at a fast pace. Pacing again becomes an issue near the end when the place that feels the narrative would naturally end (leaving space for another book in the series) is not the ending and things feel dragged out a bit to yet another twist. (And I enjoyed the way it did end! The pacing just felt weird.)
There are also some inconsistencies and gaps that don't make sense or at least go unexplained. It's unclear what kind of education the kids are getting for instance, or what their response to new technology should be. It seems like a practical, agrarian education, but they seem to have no problem with some advanced scientific concepts while being mystified when they encounter a radio. There are other similar examples where the world-building feels under-developed or conflicting.
Overall, I think this reads like a very strong start that could use additional editing, and decisions about whether this is actually intended to be for a middle grade audience or should be aged up. (for the record, I think this story could easily be aged into lower YA) Still, it's an intriguing story and did not go where I expected. I received a copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
In general, I had a good time with this middle grade novel and I think the basic ideas behind the plot were interesting and unexpected. (I won't spoil it!) As a self-published novel it's among the better ones with a narrative that keeps you reading and a cast of characters + plot that would make a very cool TV adaptation. However, I do have some critiques.
First, this is pitched as middle grade and the characters are the right age for that, but the vocabulary, sentence structure and pacing read much older. Frequently, complicated language is unnecessarily used and there is an excess of description and internal monologue that drag down the pace of an otherwise interesting story. This is particularly an issue for a middle grade novel where you really want things to move along at a fast pace. Pacing again becomes an issue near the end when the place that feels the narrative would naturally end (leaving space for another book in the series) is not the ending and things feel dragged out a bit to yet another twist. (And I enjoyed the way it did end! The pacing just felt weird.)
There are also some inconsistencies and gaps that don't make sense or at least go unexplained. It's unclear what kind of education the kids are getting for instance, or what their response to new technology should be. It seems like a practical, agrarian education, but they seem to have no problem with some advanced scientific concepts while being mystified when they encounter a radio. There are other similar examples where the world-building feels under-developed or conflicting.
Overall, I think this reads like a very strong start that could use additional editing, and decisions about whether this is actually intended to be for a middle grade audience or should be aged up. (for the record, I think this story could easily be aged into lower YA) Still, it's an intriguing story and did not go where I expected. I received a copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
May 6, 2023
Wishlist | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Ko-fi
Thank you to the author, Jason Price, for sending me a copy of his book, Pleasant Grove, in exchange for my honest review. Pleasant Grove was a very interesting, fast and pleasurable read.
Synopsis:
Welcome to Pleasant Grove, a quiet small town where neighbor helps neighbor and doors are left unlocked at night-an unspoiled paradise with one peculiar feature: It’s enclosed by a glass dome.
No one can leave and no one can enter.
No one can survive beyond the dome.
But then, a visitor arrives from the outside.
When 12-year-old Agnes Goodwin discovers a strange boy with no memory, she teams up with her best friends to unravel the mystery. Their extraordinary adventure will threaten everything they know…and everyone they love.
My Thoughts:
From the moment I read the synopsis, Pleasant Grove reminded me of the Simpsons movie, when they have a dome put in Springfield. No one can come in. No one can come out.
[image error]
And honestly, with a synopsis like that, curiosity got the better of me, and I wanted to know everything! Why is the dome there? Why are the parents not saying anything? Who is this boy and how did he come in? And most importantly, what is outside the dome?
Pleasant Grove is aimed for middle-grade, YA audience, and it won’t disappoint. The writing is very vivid, and every chapter leaves you wanting to know more. From the very first moments, I was hooked with the description of the town. The people leave idyllic lives, everyone is minding their own business, and all seems to be perfect. During lockdown, I could actually understand being in this dome in a while new level. The whole reading experience felt a bit surreal as well, and I enjoyed it! But 12-year-old Agnes can feel something is wrong, despite her family denying it. When one day she sees a boy that she knows does not belong to this town, she knows something’s up. And if no one can give her the answers, she’ll have no choice but to find the answers for herself.
Agnes perfectly portrays the curiosity I feel in the book.
She is looking for answers, and she is determined and not afraid to look for more clues and ask questions. I also loved her determination to help this boy that she doesn’t know.
“Agnes liked asking questions, and had always assumed answers would lead to understanding. But sometimes, she now realised, answers only led to more questions.”
Alongside her, there are her friends and her brother, that are helping her on this adventure and the chemistry of this group is amazing! I loved their chats and when they were making plans, I loved their bickering, but most of all, their ability to keep encouraging each other and stay together. It was also interesting to see how each of the friends had a small story, or a small challenge they were dealing with at the moment – it added a bit of refreshing diversity from the actual plot and its intensity.
I even enjoyed the scenes when the bully Ruth was involved with her friends. It was interesting to see the fear she awoke in many people, and their personal growth when they would slowly start overcoming this fear. There were a few things left unsaid I felt like, especially in the end and regarding Ruth, that I wish were explained more. I have my theories for now though.
The reveal in the end was very pleasurable to read about.
For me, the ending was somewhat predictable because of books I have read before and movies I’ve seen, but there were still a lot of unexpected elements in it that I really enjoyed. I feel like we got all the answers that we were looking for. The last part felt a bit slow, but it left some space for another book I think, which may have been the reason why it was slower. If you are a fan of YA fantasy, with sci-fi elements, this is definitely the perfect book for you!
Thank you to the author, Jason Price, for sending me a copy of his book, Pleasant Grove, in exchange for my honest review. Pleasant Grove was a very interesting, fast and pleasurable read.
Synopsis:
Welcome to Pleasant Grove, a quiet small town where neighbor helps neighbor and doors are left unlocked at night-an unspoiled paradise with one peculiar feature: It’s enclosed by a glass dome.
No one can leave and no one can enter.
No one can survive beyond the dome.
But then, a visitor arrives from the outside.
When 12-year-old Agnes Goodwin discovers a strange boy with no memory, she teams up with her best friends to unravel the mystery. Their extraordinary adventure will threaten everything they know…and everyone they love.
My Thoughts:
From the moment I read the synopsis, Pleasant Grove reminded me of the Simpsons movie, when they have a dome put in Springfield. No one can come in. No one can come out.
[image error]
And honestly, with a synopsis like that, curiosity got the better of me, and I wanted to know everything! Why is the dome there? Why are the parents not saying anything? Who is this boy and how did he come in? And most importantly, what is outside the dome?
Pleasant Grove is aimed for middle-grade, YA audience, and it won’t disappoint. The writing is very vivid, and every chapter leaves you wanting to know more. From the very first moments, I was hooked with the description of the town. The people leave idyllic lives, everyone is minding their own business, and all seems to be perfect. During lockdown, I could actually understand being in this dome in a while new level. The whole reading experience felt a bit surreal as well, and I enjoyed it! But 12-year-old Agnes can feel something is wrong, despite her family denying it. When one day she sees a boy that she knows does not belong to this town, she knows something’s up. And if no one can give her the answers, she’ll have no choice but to find the answers for herself.
Agnes perfectly portrays the curiosity I feel in the book.
She is looking for answers, and she is determined and not afraid to look for more clues and ask questions. I also loved her determination to help this boy that she doesn’t know.
“Agnes liked asking questions, and had always assumed answers would lead to understanding. But sometimes, she now realised, answers only led to more questions.”
Alongside her, there are her friends and her brother, that are helping her on this adventure and the chemistry of this group is amazing! I loved their chats and when they were making plans, I loved their bickering, but most of all, their ability to keep encouraging each other and stay together. It was also interesting to see how each of the friends had a small story, or a small challenge they were dealing with at the moment – it added a bit of refreshing diversity from the actual plot and its intensity.
I even enjoyed the scenes when the bully Ruth was involved with her friends. It was interesting to see the fear she awoke in many people, and their personal growth when they would slowly start overcoming this fear. There were a few things left unsaid I felt like, especially in the end and regarding Ruth, that I wish were explained more. I have my theories for now though.
The reveal in the end was very pleasurable to read about.
For me, the ending was somewhat predictable because of books I have read before and movies I’ve seen, but there were still a lot of unexpected elements in it that I really enjoyed. I feel like we got all the answers that we were looking for. The last part felt a bit slow, but it left some space for another book I think, which may have been the reason why it was slower. If you are a fan of YA fantasy, with sci-fi elements, this is definitely the perfect book for you!
October 22, 2020
Originally published on nightingfae's blog
★★★★☆½
What a wonderful discovery this book has been! A great read with an easy writing, very descriptive, filled with action, tension and spooky moments –even for me, a 23-year-old grownup. When I started reading it I thought it would be a middle graders's version of Under the Dome by Stephen King, but it ended up being an incredible mixture of The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Under the Dome and The Martian by Andy Weir, but of course it all comes from Jason Price's own imagination, which is amazing.
I usually write a lot of notes throughout a book I'm reading to review, but Pleasant Grove got me so hooked that I couldn't stop reading, not even to write notes, and especially since I couldn't find a single thing to criticize in this book. I read its 377 pages in one single day, which is a big milestone for me, a really slow reader. So that would be more than enough for you to go get this novel and read it –especially since it will be for free on Kindle between October 26 and 30! This book hasn't incredible plot twists, but the story develops so naturally that it seems to be writing itself, it all makes perfect sense and has no loose ends. The only thing I can't believe is that cliffhanger at the end of the book, what does it mean? Now I need a second part because Pleasant Grove cannot finish like that!
Pleasant Grove is inclusive and teaches children to be so, to accept that nobody is perfect, that we're human, and we all have strengths and fears. That we shouldn't judge a person for their actions, because everyone has their reasons and their past and we should help them as far as we can. And also that we all should learn to forgive, because memories are what will remain of us, and it's better to be remembered as someone who learnt to be good and to forgive, even if it was at their last moment, than someone who passed away as mean and cruel as their first day. And finally, this novel teaches us all that friends and family are the most important thing, no matter if you're in this world or in another, and that love is what really motivates us.
So basically, you should read this book if you:
1. Like science fiction, either in books or in films/TV series.
2. Enjoyed The Maze Runner by James Dashner and/or The Martian by Andy Weir.
3. Are looking for a middle grade novel to spook you and your children on Halloween.
4. Believed there was a monster inside your closet or under your bed when you where a child.
5. Would like to be between the first humans to step on Mars.
6. Like books with cliffhangers at the end.
Thanks to Jason Price for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
★★★★☆½
"A promise is something you never break."
What a wonderful discovery this book has been! A great read with an easy writing, very descriptive, filled with action, tension and spooky moments –even for me, a 23-year-old grownup. When I started reading it I thought it would be a middle graders's version of Under the Dome by Stephen King, but it ended up being an incredible mixture of The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Under the Dome and The Martian by Andy Weir, but of course it all comes from Jason Price's own imagination, which is amazing.
I usually write a lot of notes throughout a book I'm reading to review, but Pleasant Grove got me so hooked that I couldn't stop reading, not even to write notes, and especially since I couldn't find a single thing to criticize in this book. I read its 377 pages in one single day, which is a big milestone for me, a really slow reader. So that would be more than enough for you to go get this novel and read it –especially since it will be for free on Kindle between October 26 and 30! This book hasn't incredible plot twists, but the story develops so naturally that it seems to be writing itself, it all makes perfect sense and has no loose ends. The only thing I can't believe is that cliffhanger at the end of the book, what does it mean? Now I need a second part because Pleasant Grove cannot finish like that!
"We're all different. That's what makes us special."
Pleasant Grove is inclusive and teaches children to be so, to accept that nobody is perfect, that we're human, and we all have strengths and fears. That we shouldn't judge a person for their actions, because everyone has their reasons and their past and we should help them as far as we can. And also that we all should learn to forgive, because memories are what will remain of us, and it's better to be remembered as someone who learnt to be good and to forgive, even if it was at their last moment, than someone who passed away as mean and cruel as their first day. And finally, this novel teaches us all that friends and family are the most important thing, no matter if you're in this world or in another, and that love is what really motivates us.
So basically, you should read this book if you:
1. Like science fiction, either in books or in films/TV series.
2. Enjoyed The Maze Runner by James Dashner and/or The Martian by Andy Weir.
3. Are looking for a middle grade novel to spook you and your children on Halloween.
4. Believed there was a monster inside your closet or under your bed when you where a child.
5. Would like to be between the first humans to step on Mars.
6. Like books with cliffhangers at the end.
Thanks to Jason Price for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2021
Twelve-year-old Agnes Goodwin lives in Pleasant Grove which is a town under a dome. Everything they need can be found in the dome. Their food is grown there and everyone works. Everyone knows each other and all the children go to school together. One day, Agnes sees a boy that she’s never seen before. This makes her start to wonder what is outside the dome. This strange boy must have come from somewhere else since she doesn’t know him. She brings her friends to investigate the dome, but what they discover threatens their town and life as they know it.
This was a thrilling science fiction story. It had a lot of similarities to the show Stranger Things and the Stephen King book Under the Dome. The people of Pleasant Grove had everything they needed in the dome, but there had to be something outside it. The story has a science fiction ending that made sense for the story.
This story is classified as a middle grade story, but the writing was more mature than writing for a middle grade reader. Just because the main character is of middle grade age, doesn’t mean the story has to be targeted to a middle grade reader. Some of the descriptive words were strange and unusual, such as “a family of strawberries” instead of a few or a handful of strawberries. The language could have been simpler and it would have made more sense.
This is a great story for fans of Stranger Things! This ebook will be free on Amazon from Feb. 22-26, so go check it out!
Thank you Jason Price for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a thrilling science fiction story. It had a lot of similarities to the show Stranger Things and the Stephen King book Under the Dome. The people of Pleasant Grove had everything they needed in the dome, but there had to be something outside it. The story has a science fiction ending that made sense for the story.
This story is classified as a middle grade story, but the writing was more mature than writing for a middle grade reader. Just because the main character is of middle grade age, doesn’t mean the story has to be targeted to a middle grade reader. Some of the descriptive words were strange and unusual, such as “a family of strawberries” instead of a few or a handful of strawberries. The language could have been simpler and it would have made more sense.
This is a great story for fans of Stranger Things! This ebook will be free on Amazon from Feb. 22-26, so go check it out!
Thank you Jason Price for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2021
I feel like I've read this story before. A community cut off from the outside world, and the youngesters decide to find out what's outside. (Can you guess what they find? Yes, you can, almost immediately.) It's been done many times before, and done better.
December 27, 2020
Wow!! Pleasant Grove pulls you into Agnes’s world within the dome, her desire to learn what is beyond its walls, and SO MUCH MORE! Predictions were incorrect and developments were amazing!! Loved this #mgread!!
August 29, 2020
Thank you so much to the author for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You know the comfortable light hearted feeling you get watching the first part of Stranger Things? Like before all the monstery business goes down? That's how I felt the first few chapters of Pleasant Grove, and then the story makes a gradual shift and that warm feeling becomes ominously monstery instead. I love that so much!
I enjoyed the rag-tag group of kids trying to save the world amongst parents who refuse to see sense trope. I did become somewhat frustrated with the parents who watched their children's behavior become progressively more excessive but still refused to communicate and therefore put their children and eventually, the entire town, in danger. But, it does propel the plot forward and for that, I appreciated it.
I liked the writing style and this is a quick read even though it's close to 400 pages. We follow Agnes for the majority of the story but I did notice the perspective changes at times, jumping into another character's head for a brief sentence or two but I didn't really mind. The writing seemed to flow well with Agnes as the leader of the friend group and ultimately the heroine.
I wasn't sure how dark this narrative was going to become and it did go into scenes which were briefly gruesome. I appreciated the author's willingness to go that route, as the story remains impactful, though the consumer should be aware of these scenes if younger children are reading or listening. The ending left the story open to a further book and I'm so excited to see where the author takes this story next.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable middle grade unlike most middle grades I have read previously. If you like groups of kids taking circumstances into their own hands, mysterious environments, and monstery bits, I think you'll have fun with this one. It's just what we need to fill that Stranger Things void and I have a feeling it's only going to get better from here.
You know the comfortable light hearted feeling you get watching the first part of Stranger Things? Like before all the monstery business goes down? That's how I felt the first few chapters of Pleasant Grove, and then the story makes a gradual shift and that warm feeling becomes ominously monstery instead. I love that so much!
I enjoyed the rag-tag group of kids trying to save the world amongst parents who refuse to see sense trope. I did become somewhat frustrated with the parents who watched their children's behavior become progressively more excessive but still refused to communicate and therefore put their children and eventually, the entire town, in danger. But, it does propel the plot forward and for that, I appreciated it.
I liked the writing style and this is a quick read even though it's close to 400 pages. We follow Agnes for the majority of the story but I did notice the perspective changes at times, jumping into another character's head for a brief sentence or two but I didn't really mind. The writing seemed to flow well with Agnes as the leader of the friend group and ultimately the heroine.
I wasn't sure how dark this narrative was going to become and it did go into scenes which were briefly gruesome. I appreciated the author's willingness to go that route, as the story remains impactful, though the consumer should be aware of these scenes if younger children are reading or listening. The ending left the story open to a further book and I'm so excited to see where the author takes this story next.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable middle grade unlike most middle grades I have read previously. If you like groups of kids taking circumstances into their own hands, mysterious environments, and monstery bits, I think you'll have fun with this one. It's just what we need to fill that Stranger Things void and I have a feeling it's only going to get better from here.
October 26, 2020
Adult readers who might stumble across Jason Price’s Pleasant Grove are undoubtedly going to think of Stephen King’s Under the Dome, as the story takes place within a town which is isolated from the rest of the world by a strange gigantic dome. Why is the town of ‘Pleasant Grove’ cut off? Good question, which main character twelve-year-old Agnes Goodwin asks of her parents, friends and teachers and never truly gets a straight answer. This is one of those novels where adults seem to sleepwalk through the story and do not do much of any interest. All Agnes is really told is that the outside world is dangerous and that the safest place to be is within the dome. However, once this sinks in Agnes wonders whether she wants to spend her entire life within a town where everybody knows everybody’s business and all the days are identical. Although Pleasant Grove was an entertaining enough read, it felt very long and at certain points became a slog, I felt it would have been stronger if it were significantly shorter. The town itself was deliberately bland, all the days blend into each other, and this was reflected in the writing which became repetitive and one wonders whether many kids would have the patience for it.
However, there were lots of plus points and the author drops lots of breadcrumb style clues over what the bigger picture is; namely what is outside? Young teen readers, unless they find Agnes slightly immature, should enjoy spending time with her and her gang of friends and will be intrigued when she discovers a boy, with no memory, who seems to have come from outside and plays a big part in solving the developing mystery. Although the plot meanders, it has some nice twists and heads into slightly unexpected deep science fiction territory but simply takes far too long to get there. AGE 11/12+
However, there were lots of plus points and the author drops lots of breadcrumb style clues over what the bigger picture is; namely what is outside? Young teen readers, unless they find Agnes slightly immature, should enjoy spending time with her and her gang of friends and will be intrigued when she discovers a boy, with no memory, who seems to have come from outside and plays a big part in solving the developing mystery. Although the plot meanders, it has some nice twists and heads into slightly unexpected deep science fiction territory but simply takes far too long to get there. AGE 11/12+
November 9, 2020
Awful writing
The premise sounded interesting but the writing is awful. This is a poorly written book and character reactions were not believable. It also just seemed to drag on and on.
The premise sounded interesting but the writing is awful. This is a poorly written book and character reactions were not believable. It also just seemed to drag on and on.
January 2, 2021
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to the author for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I’m a big sucker for apocalyptic books. I’m always a little hesitant going into dystopian stuck-in-a-dome books, because I feel like I’ve been burned as many times as I’ve found books I enjoy, but boy am I glad I picked this one up, despite any misgivings!
Pleasant Grove blends horror and sci-fi with a dystopian world full of mystery and secrets, with young, inquisitive minds that want to know all the wrong things for all the right reasons. They just might not like the answers they find, though.
This was a fairly quick read, a little slow to get started but once it was underway, I didn’t want to put it down. The ending is a bit open, but in a way that feels perfectly like older style horror, where it feels like the real nightmare might just be beginning (which is a style I enjoy). It feels nicely wrapped up, but I also wouldn’t be opposed to another book in this world!
My Thoughts:
- Price takes old, well-known tropes and twists them in fun, new ways. The basic tropes of this will likely feel familiar: trapped in a dome, secret catastrophic disaster that makes outside uninhabitable, adults keeping secrets, monsters lurking in the dark. None of these in and of themselves are particularly unique, but the way they’re shaped and put together was something different and interesting. Tropes are tropes for a reason: readers enjoy this particular idea. Rather than being stale and overused, Price gives common sci-fi tropes a new life. Monsters in the dark is one of my favorite tropes of all time, so I was super excited in the way this develops and how it ends up!
- This book really plays on the fear of the unknown, which is always an effective horror tactic, in my opinion. This is slightly more effective due to the fact that, for the characters (and, in a lot of ways, the reader too), pretty much everything is unknown except for the safe little bubble these characters live in. Of course, there are unknown parts of that, too, and half the fun is getting to see these kids break the rules to explore the unknown.
- The sibling bonds and squad vibes in this was fun and made the adventure all the more enjoyable. Agnes is the main character and obviously a go-getter. She’s the sort of child that a modern-day teacher would love: curious, inquisitive, eager to go seek out answers. Of course, in a town like Pleasant Grove, where the adults have secrets, this is problematic, to say the least. So what does Agnes do? Get her friends involved in her shenanigans, of course! Agnes and her friends are nicely varied, which makes the adventures they go on all the more fun, as they react differently to it. There’s even more fun dynamics between Agnes and her brother, since they’re in that stage where they argue all the time. Siblings are still siblings, though, right? I loved seeing them grow together, at least some.
- There’s definitely a bit of gore and death in this, so I’d caution parents about whether their kid is ready to handle that. It’s not particularly gory, and it mostly takes place off-screen. This bad thing is about to happen, so cut scene to a character’s reaction about it. There are, I think, definitely things that are a bit more on the older, gorier side. Not so much where it would necessarily qualify as YA, but enough where I took notice. Price does a good job of glazing over the details and just saying that things happen rather than describing them in depth. Still, I would just caution parents to make sure their kids are ready for this level of horror!
Many thanks to the author for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I’m a big sucker for apocalyptic books. I’m always a little hesitant going into dystopian stuck-in-a-dome books, because I feel like I’ve been burned as many times as I’ve found books I enjoy, but boy am I glad I picked this one up, despite any misgivings!
Pleasant Grove blends horror and sci-fi with a dystopian world full of mystery and secrets, with young, inquisitive minds that want to know all the wrong things for all the right reasons. They just might not like the answers they find, though.
This was a fairly quick read, a little slow to get started but once it was underway, I didn’t want to put it down. The ending is a bit open, but in a way that feels perfectly like older style horror, where it feels like the real nightmare might just be beginning (which is a style I enjoy). It feels nicely wrapped up, but I also wouldn’t be opposed to another book in this world!
My Thoughts:
- Price takes old, well-known tropes and twists them in fun, new ways. The basic tropes of this will likely feel familiar: trapped in a dome, secret catastrophic disaster that makes outside uninhabitable, adults keeping secrets, monsters lurking in the dark. None of these in and of themselves are particularly unique, but the way they’re shaped and put together was something different and interesting. Tropes are tropes for a reason: readers enjoy this particular idea. Rather than being stale and overused, Price gives common sci-fi tropes a new life. Monsters in the dark is one of my favorite tropes of all time, so I was super excited in the way this develops and how it ends up!
- This book really plays on the fear of the unknown, which is always an effective horror tactic, in my opinion. This is slightly more effective due to the fact that, for the characters (and, in a lot of ways, the reader too), pretty much everything is unknown except for the safe little bubble these characters live in. Of course, there are unknown parts of that, too, and half the fun is getting to see these kids break the rules to explore the unknown.
- The sibling bonds and squad vibes in this was fun and made the adventure all the more enjoyable. Agnes is the main character and obviously a go-getter. She’s the sort of child that a modern-day teacher would love: curious, inquisitive, eager to go seek out answers. Of course, in a town like Pleasant Grove, where the adults have secrets, this is problematic, to say the least. So what does Agnes do? Get her friends involved in her shenanigans, of course! Agnes and her friends are nicely varied, which makes the adventures they go on all the more fun, as they react differently to it. There’s even more fun dynamics between Agnes and her brother, since they’re in that stage where they argue all the time. Siblings are still siblings, though, right? I loved seeing them grow together, at least some.
- There’s definitely a bit of gore and death in this, so I’d caution parents about whether their kid is ready to handle that. It’s not particularly gory, and it mostly takes place off-screen. This bad thing is about to happen, so cut scene to a character’s reaction about it. There are, I think, definitely things that are a bit more on the older, gorier side. Not so much where it would necessarily qualify as YA, but enough where I took notice. Price does a good job of glazing over the details and just saying that things happen rather than describing them in depth. Still, I would just caution parents to make sure their kids are ready for this level of horror!
October 26, 2020
Pleasant Grove is an awesome adventure story about a group of children who are determined to uncover the truth about the town they live in. It’s a fun read for all age groups and it’s a story I will be reaching for time and time again.
Agnes Goodwin and her friends have been raised in Pleasant Grove, a quiet small town enclosed in a glass dome, and they have never once questioned the strangeness of it, until one day Agnes discovers a strange boy with no memory who has found a way to enter the dome. After getting cryptic answers from her parents, Agnes sets out with her friends to investigate the dome and uncover its secrets. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was completely gripped by the mystery that is Pleasant Grove and was just as determined as Agnes to find out why the town is enclosed in a glass dome that no one can leave or enter.
My favourite part of the story was the friendship between Agnes, Dakota, and Maddie. I loved how they rallied around one another and all supported each other. Their different personalities all really worked well together and it was easy to see why they were best friends. Agnes is a fiery character for a 12-year-old. She is confident, smart and determined to uncover the truth about Pleasant Grove. Then we have Dakota, who was definitely the sassy friend. I loved her cheeky personality and how she was always making light of the situation. She’s easily the most supportive friend and probably her and Agnes are the ones who cause the most trouble. Finally, we have Maddie, who I related to the most. I found her to be the most cautious and sensible one out of the three, however, she was very unsure of herself and not at all confident in any situation. She goes through excellent character development though and I was delighted to see her confidence build with each new adventure they had.
We also have the strange boy who’s unable to offer any information about who he is or where he has come from and this was another part of the story that captured my attention. He was completely wrapped up in mystery and I was eager to find out how he had been able to survive outside of the dome and whether there was a massive conspiracy surrounding Pleasant Grove. The story is very much kids vs the world. I also couldn’t help but be suspicious of the parents. They all seemed to be hiding something and they weren’t very forthcoming when questioned about what’s outside of the dome.
The story is split into seven parts and each part was significant in its own way. The excitement gradually builds throughout the story and it wasn’t long before I found myself unable to put the book down. I had all sorts of ideas about what led the dome to be created, but none of them were true. I would never have guessed the ending and it’s actually rather spooky as the kids come closer to solving the mystery, which makes it the perfect adventure story to read over Halloween. The last final pages were especially shocking and it definitely leaves it open for a sequel. I really hope there is another book as I truly enjoyed this adventure. I’m excited to see what Jason Price writes next.
*Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book for review.*
Agnes Goodwin and her friends have been raised in Pleasant Grove, a quiet small town enclosed in a glass dome, and they have never once questioned the strangeness of it, until one day Agnes discovers a strange boy with no memory who has found a way to enter the dome. After getting cryptic answers from her parents, Agnes sets out with her friends to investigate the dome and uncover its secrets. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was completely gripped by the mystery that is Pleasant Grove and was just as determined as Agnes to find out why the town is enclosed in a glass dome that no one can leave or enter.
My favourite part of the story was the friendship between Agnes, Dakota, and Maddie. I loved how they rallied around one another and all supported each other. Their different personalities all really worked well together and it was easy to see why they were best friends. Agnes is a fiery character for a 12-year-old. She is confident, smart and determined to uncover the truth about Pleasant Grove. Then we have Dakota, who was definitely the sassy friend. I loved her cheeky personality and how she was always making light of the situation. She’s easily the most supportive friend and probably her and Agnes are the ones who cause the most trouble. Finally, we have Maddie, who I related to the most. I found her to be the most cautious and sensible one out of the three, however, she was very unsure of herself and not at all confident in any situation. She goes through excellent character development though and I was delighted to see her confidence build with each new adventure they had.
We also have the strange boy who’s unable to offer any information about who he is or where he has come from and this was another part of the story that captured my attention. He was completely wrapped up in mystery and I was eager to find out how he had been able to survive outside of the dome and whether there was a massive conspiracy surrounding Pleasant Grove. The story is very much kids vs the world. I also couldn’t help but be suspicious of the parents. They all seemed to be hiding something and they weren’t very forthcoming when questioned about what’s outside of the dome.
The story is split into seven parts and each part was significant in its own way. The excitement gradually builds throughout the story and it wasn’t long before I found myself unable to put the book down. I had all sorts of ideas about what led the dome to be created, but none of them were true. I would never have guessed the ending and it’s actually rather spooky as the kids come closer to solving the mystery, which makes it the perfect adventure story to read over Halloween. The last final pages were especially shocking and it definitely leaves it open for a sequel. I really hope there is another book as I truly enjoyed this adventure. I’m excited to see what Jason Price writes next.
*Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book for review.*
November 4, 2020
Agnes Goodwin is a 12-year-old girl living in Pleasant Grove, a small town where families live in peace... and under a glass dome. The adults are all keeping a secret from the kids of Pleasant Grove, and Agnes is determined to find out what that secret is, especially after spotting a strange boy in a field one day. There are no new families in Pleasant Grove, you see; and when word of the boy gets out, the adults are determined to find him. Agnes, her brother, Charlie, and her group of friends set out to find the boy, see the alleged "wasteland" beyond the dome, and learn the secrets of Pleasant Grove for once and for all, but are they prepared for the truth?
Keeping readers guessing from the beginning, Pleasant Grove is a little bit Stephen King's Under the Dome, a little bit Stranger Things, and a splash of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. I thought the narrative was going in one direction, but I was wrong: the plot twists were unexpected and clever, keeping me wondering until the very end. Agnes is a smart, capable character who is determined to get to the bottom of the Pleasant Grove mystery; her brother and her friends have strong personalities that readers will take to and identify with, whether it's the timid friend, the smart-aleck friend, or the protective older brother who still isn't sure about the whole business. Good for tweens and early teen readers who enjoy being kept off balance with their sci-fi/fantasy/horror thrillers.
Keeping readers guessing from the beginning, Pleasant Grove is a little bit Stephen King's Under the Dome, a little bit Stranger Things, and a splash of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. I thought the narrative was going in one direction, but I was wrong: the plot twists were unexpected and clever, keeping me wondering until the very end. Agnes is a smart, capable character who is determined to get to the bottom of the Pleasant Grove mystery; her brother and her friends have strong personalities that readers will take to and identify with, whether it's the timid friend, the smart-aleck friend, or the protective older brother who still isn't sure about the whole business. Good for tweens and early teen readers who enjoy being kept off balance with their sci-fi/fantasy/horror thrillers.
October 30, 2021
The premise was intriguing, but there are just way too many problems with the pacing, character development, wiorld building, and the mystery reveals for me to recommend this.
Why the situation is kept a secret from the kids makes no sense. That an antagonist went entirely out of character, with no explanation, to save the protagonist was contrived. Places where the plot just seems to skip beats leaving me confused as to the situation, and a resolution of the big crisis that was just, accidentally leading the monsters out of the dome?
And the ending, the seemingly mindless creatures managed to take control of a spacecraft and end up on Earth?
I read to the end hoping for it to wrap up with something interesting to say or all the explanations for things to finely make sense. But it never coalesced.
Based on reviews and recommendations I expected a lot more.
Why the situation is kept a secret from the kids makes no sense. That an antagonist went entirely out of character, with no explanation, to save the protagonist was contrived. Places where the plot just seems to skip beats leaving me confused as to the situation, and a resolution of the big crisis that was just, accidentally leading the monsters out of the dome?
And the ending, the seemingly mindless creatures managed to take control of a spacecraft and end up on Earth?
I read to the end hoping for it to wrap up with something interesting to say or all the explanations for things to finely make sense. But it never coalesced.
Based on reviews and recommendations I expected a lot more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2020
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pleasant Grove by Jason Price is a delightful Middle Grade sci-fi novel with just the right amount of horror and mystery. It's nearly a perfect read for the spooky season. Plus, given the whole lockdown element that made it feel even more suitable for these times. This novel takes a little while to really get going but once it does it doesn't let up and it really keeps you hanging on to the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down. I was eagerly along for the ride alongside Agnes and company. Overall, this book is perfect for fans of Stranger Things, 1980s Steven Spielberg movies, and Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone. I'm looking forward to seeing more of what Jason Price comes up with in the future.
Pleasant Grove by Jason Price is a delightful Middle Grade sci-fi novel with just the right amount of horror and mystery. It's nearly a perfect read for the spooky season. Plus, given the whole lockdown element that made it feel even more suitable for these times. This novel takes a little while to really get going but once it does it doesn't let up and it really keeps you hanging on to the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down. I was eagerly along for the ride alongside Agnes and company. Overall, this book is perfect for fans of Stranger Things, 1980s Steven Spielberg movies, and Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone. I'm looking forward to seeing more of what Jason Price comes up with in the future.
October 27, 2020
2.75 stars
Reminded me of Ember series where youth figure things out and make it better for everyone else after uncovering unpleasant truths. Pleasant Grove isn't as pleasant as the adults would have everyone believe. There are secrets the adults want kept hidden at all costs and they don't like kids asking questions ... especially when those secrets reveal uncomfortable truths. This book could work as a stand-alone or the beginning to a series. Not sure it is my thing but I know others would/could like this.
Reminded me of Ember series where youth figure things out and make it better for everyone else after uncovering unpleasant truths. Pleasant Grove isn't as pleasant as the adults would have everyone believe. There are secrets the adults want kept hidden at all costs and they don't like kids asking questions ... especially when those secrets reveal uncomfortable truths. This book could work as a stand-alone or the beginning to a series. Not sure it is my thing but I know others would/could like this.
January 7, 2023
I wanted to like this book. Interesting premise. Decent characters with meaningful interpersonal conflict. A solid group of young characters breaking rules and banding together to discover a mystery kept hidden by the adults. But when the ultimate reveal came I was so frustrated that I stopped reading. Closed my reading app and went to sleep angry about the time I wasted. It was almost like the author didn't have an idea of what the reveal would be and at the last minute decided to settle for a well-worn trope. Really happy it was a library borrow and not a purchase.
July 1, 2022
Agnes lives in a dome and has only ever been told a wasteland exists outside the dome. Agnes is curious and questioning by nature so when she sees a boy she has never seen before she knows something isn't what it seems. Agnes and her friends go in search of the truth. I downloaded this book for free so wasn't expecting much so I was surprised when I got really invested in this book early on. I was expecting to rate it 4 or 5 stars through most of the book but the ending fell short for me.
December 12, 2020
A very good book
An excellent story, intriguing from start to the end. I am not a big fan of sci-fi however, this book by Jason Price I would recommend to all readers. Outstanding work Jason
An excellent story, intriguing from start to the end. I am not a big fan of sci-fi however, this book by Jason Price I would recommend to all readers. Outstanding work Jason
March 5, 2021
Great book
I don't often give 5 star ratings. This was a great book with strong characters. There is plenty of action and a few surprising plot twists. Definitely enjoyed this one.
I don't often give 5 star ratings. This was a great book with strong characters. There is plenty of action and a few surprising plot twists. Definitely enjoyed this one.
June 25, 2021
This book was interesting. Reminded me of the tv show, Under the Dome. Not usually the kind of book that I read, but I stayed with it till the end and was glad I did. If you like sci-fi with a bit of mystery thrown in, then you will enjoy this book.
June 25, 2022
This book was a pleasant surprise. The story is more of a young/teen genre full of mystery, suspense, adventure, and a group of curious teenagers. The book should've come to a full circle conclusion without any doubts in the reader's mind.
September 25, 2020
Compelling book from a talented author. Highly recommend!
January 29, 2021
I wanted to like this, it started off interesting but then I feel like it tried to be too many things at once.
March 1, 2021
Agnes and her crew
I loved reading this book. I was really shocked at the last few chapters. No way would I have guessed how it would end. A must read.
I loved reading this book. I was really shocked at the last few chapters. No way would I have guessed how it would end. A must read.
March 16, 2021
I was really enjoying this story until they got into the tunnels then it got a bit silly.
June 8, 2021
This was a great story up until the end. The ending seemed rushed. It was also confusing. I was left with so many questions.
June 3, 2022
Very enjoyable
Starts off a little slow but eventually pulls you in and you can’t put it down! So many twists on so many levels sure keeps you on your toes! Lots of surprises!
Starts off a little slow but eventually pulls you in and you can’t put it down! So many twists on so many levels sure keeps you on your toes! Lots of surprises!
August 1, 2022
Five things:
- They live under a dome
- But the adults are lying to them
- This stranger shows up
- It's got short chapters
- Fast read overall
- They live under a dome
- But the adults are lying to them
- This stranger shows up
- It's got short chapters
- Fast read overall
January 15, 2021
Great dystopian short story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews