From the Bookshelf of Amazon Editors' YA Book Club…

The Serpent King

Jeff Zentner

Start date: July 7, 2016

Finish date: August 1, 2016

Why we're reading this: Overwhelming response for The Serpent King. This should be something a little new and different for us--d…more
[close] Overwhelming response for The Serpent King. This should be something a little new and different for us--don't think we've read anything set in the South yet...

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Mar 25, 2016 Amanda [darjeeling_and_jade] rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-and-na-literature-i-love, contemporary, read-in-2016, favorites-of-2016

The only reason I'm not bawling (more) is that I'm at work and my coworkers already think I'm weird for sniffling about this book all day. Review to come. But for now, READ IT.

Full review found on [a cup of tea and an armful of books]

I knew within the first few chapters of The Serpent King that I was going to love it. The Serpent King is a novel about three teenagers living in Southern Tennessee who long to escape. Lydia, her college aspirations riding on her quirky (for the South) fashion blog The only reason I'm not bawling (more) is that I'm at work and my coworkers already think I'm weird for sniffling about this book all day. Review to come. But for now, READ IT.

Full review found on [a cup of tea and an armful of books]

I knew within the first few chapters of The Serpent King that I was going to love it. The Serpent King is a novel about three teenagers living in Southern Tennessee who long to escape. Lydia, her college aspirations riding on her quirky (for the South) fashion blog; Dill, the boy who longs to escape the notoriety of his name in a small town; and Travis, the boy who always has his nose in a book to escape the hardships at home. The stress of their own problems on top of the stress of upcoming college brings them together and drives them apart in equal measure. The Serpent King brought me back to those moments when you’re preparing for what’s next in your life during your final year of high school, as you’re eager to escape but also terrified about what it means for the people you’re with now.

Oddly enough, when I first heard about The Serpent King, I didn’t think it was for me. Even with the hype, I didn’t think that I’d like it because of the religious tones. When I received a copy of it in my very first OwlCrate box, it was with equal amounts excitement (Oo, new book! It smells so good!) and trepidation (Ehh, I’ve heard about this, haven’t I? Shoot, is this the one that I didn’t request on NetGalley because of reasons?). I am very happy to admit how wrong I was. The Serpent King pulled me in so quickly that my plan of reading things on my TBR list in order was shot. Everything about the story was what I really want young adult books to be. The setting was extremely vivid. I’m not from the South and I don’t have much experience with it, but Jeff Zenter painted a wonderful picture with his words. It was easy to see the places that the three visited during their last moments in high school.

The writing was superb. Between the setting and the characters, I felt that everything was well rounded and full of depth. I enjoyed each of the characters and the chapters that were written in their point of views; I never had a moment where I was disappointed that there was a switch to a different point of view. I felt that each of the characters were unique in their own way. Some of the situations they went through reminded me of how difficult it is to grow up and how you can feel stuck in high school when you’re ready to move on to the next thing, whether that’s staying in town and working or moving to college.

As with a lot of books there were things that were predictable but not necessarily in a bad way. I was still able to emotionally connect with the story and characters. I ended up reading it in the span of a couple of days because I just could not put it down. The coming of age story within the pages was done really well. It was crafted in a way that foreshadowed future actions but also kept the reader in the present time of the story. There were lots of great lines that I really liked. I’m excited to see what Jeff Zentner comes up with next. I hope the next books he writes have a great setting like this one did.

5 stars. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2016 Joyce Yattoni rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction

I started this book then stopped for a bit as I was re-reading two class novels with my students. Jeff Zentner can write. Although this might sound like a fantasy novel, it is anything but. If you like sarcastic then Lydia is the character for you. Lydia and her two friends Travis and Dill are outsiders at their high school. Those obnoxious kids who "think their all that" take every chance to put these three amigos down. Are they different? Yes. Weird? NO. Lydia has a gift for writing, Travis lo ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 03, 2016 Alicia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Read this!!! Loved the style, the relationship among three friends, and the number of subjects woven together in this heart wrenching story. I'd give this book as many stars as would be available! Excellent character development. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 09, 2016 Jill Bonham rated it liked it · review of another edition

There are 3 star books that aren't so good, and 3 star books that are pretty good. This falls into the latter category. I read this because it was the July pick for the Amazon YA book club and I had purchased it awhile back when it was on sale. From the title, I thought it was going to be fantasy, but it's not, it is contemporary YA, not my favorite genre but I thought I'd give it a try. I was also a bit leery because there was some religious fanatics in it, again, not my favorite theme. The boo ...more

Like · see review

Sep 28, 2016 Amy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction, ya

I listened to the audiobook version of this text.

Dill, Lydia and Travis are not your typical teenagers. They don't fit in with the others at their small Tennessee high school and all of them are anxious as their senior year begins. Dill wonders what will happen at the end of the year and if he'll be able to make enough money to help support his family. Things have been tight since his Pentecostal preacher father was sent to jail. Lydia is looking forward to escaping to NYU and starting what she ...more

Like · see review

Jun 22, 2016 Laura Mauro rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like · see review

Jul 19, 2016 Ingrid Gibson rated it really liked it

4.5

Like · see review

Nov 12, 2021 Erika rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars.

Like · see review

Mar 26, 2016 Marissa added it · review of another edition

Apr 19, 2016 Caitlin Pearl rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Apr 23, 2016 Shaley Hart marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 25, 2016 Samantha James marked it as to-read

Shelves: own-physical, standalone, subscription-box, ya-contemporary

Apr 30, 2016 Suzanne Kowalski rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: abusive-relationship, alcoholism-drug-abuse, realistic-fiction, audiobook, friendship, music, bullying, alternating-narrators, poverty, grief