From the Bookshelf of Mock Printz 2026…

The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, #1)

Rick Yancey

Start date: June 1, 2013

Finish date: June 30, 2013

Discussion: Mock Printz 2014

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 21 topics — 203 comments total

Mock Printz 2014

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
By Whitney · 4 posts · 56 views

last updated Feb 20, 2014 04:49PM

The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
By Whitney · 3 posts · 66 views

last updated Feb 05, 2014 11:32AM

What Members Thought

Mar 26, 2013 Sara rated it it was amazing

I can't wait to pass this to some of my eager students who I think will get as swept-up in the story world as I did. There are few books that I can confidently say appeal across gender - this is absolutely one of them. Loads of action though it takes some extended set-up for us to understand what we have been "dropped into" with Cassie. Loved this book. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2012 Brandi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: teen, favorites, random-reads-column, librandian-blog, 2013, science-fiction, aliens

It started one day while Cassie was at school. Not only did her classroom lose power, everything with electrical components stopped working, including cars and cell phones. People panicked, of course, but they had no idea of what was to follow. Shortly after the 1st wave hit, giant ships appeared in the sky. The power loss was not a terrorist attack from another country; it was an attack from another world. Without showing themselves to their victims, the visitors continued to passively attack t It started one day while Cassie was at school. Not only did her classroom lose power, everything with electrical components stopped working, including cars and cell phones. People panicked, of course, but they had no idea of what was to follow. Shortly after the 1st wave hit, giant ships appeared in the sky. The power loss was not a terrorist attack from another country; it was an attack from another world. Without showing themselves to their victims, the visitors continued to passively attack the humans. The 2nd Wave resulted in a massive tsunami that destroyed most of America’s coastline. The 3rd wave involved a horrible disease that killed off a majority of the population worldwide. Now as the 4th wave begins and leads way to the 5th wave, Cassie must do what she can to survive. The best way to survive is to trust no one.

Several events occurred which resulted in her solitude. People died, but there was no time to dwell on that. Those people remaining may be human, but they also might be Them. With no way to tell for certain, Cassie simply removes herself from the situation by traveling and living in the woods. Cassie has only one goal; she must track down the bus that took her brother. He is the only one she has left in the world. Despite who or what she encounters, Cassie is determined to find him.

Zombie used to be a normal high school student. Now he is a soldier. The children and teen survivors are round up and forced into a heinous boot camp that teaches combat strategies and how to fire weapons. The soldiers are taught not to ask questions, but still, Zombie contemplates exactly what is going on. Whose side is he fighting on? Is anyone ever truly safe anymore?

The 5th Wave is an amazing version of an alien invasion. Yancey combines several different techniques recognizable from other well-known alien films and books and combines them into one unpredictable story. Yancey refuses to allow the reader to successfully predict the ending of the Cassie/Zombie story by including several false leads which basically leaves you as confused and uninformed as the characters. You will not believe the mind-boggling ending which will leave you straining for the next titles in the series. The 5th Wave is not a book to be ignored or missed.
...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 17, 2013 Rebecca rated it it was ok

Shelves: children-ya, dystopian, science-fiction, compulsively-readable, 2013

Evil Aliens / The End of Human Civilization / Star Crossed Love.

Cliche ridden & conceptually huge - I do wish the specifics had been written with a more sci-fi voice & less of a 'let's write another series for the Twilight crowd to buy' voice.

Definitely better written than Twilight though. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2013 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: teenbooks, science-fiction, dystopia

I have long been an admirer of Rick Yancey's writing. I absolutely loved the Monstrumologist and the sequels. Yancey is brilliant in his use of powerful and evocative language.

I was excited to see that his latest book is a science fiction dystopia. It does not disappoint. Yancey takes us on a fascinating ride where Earth has been invaded by aliens who are not exactly ET. These aliens are out to exterminate the human race, and they are doing it in successive waves, using their own weaons, germ wa ...more

Like · see review

Jun 05, 2013 Shawna rated it it was amazing

I love Evan Walker. He's my book crush of the moment. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 25, 2013 Christina Getrost rated it really liked it

Shelves: science_fiction, actionadventure

Gritty, action-packed, somber thriller of a story! It's a few years after an alien spaceship parked itself in orbit above the Earth, but instead of alien greetings or visitors, the First Wave strikes: a pulse that knocks out all electronics and power. Then the Second Wave causes massive tsunamis and devastation. The Third Wave, pestilence, killed Cassie's mother. Now she is desperately trying to survive on her own, in a world where anyone she meets might kill her--the 4th Wave has brought out ki ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 10, 2013 elissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: youngadult, sciencefiction, my_10s_reads, 2013favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Solid 4 stars, for plot and easy readability. This review is slighty spoiler-y (so I've hidden it). Excellent characters--I like Cassie, Evan, Ben and Ringer (Sam is OK, but necessary--he symbolizes hope). Tightly plotted, compelling and exciting. I read it in a day, which is rare for me, but I WAS on vacation! The aliens seem to have no "soul" (heart? love?) and do not appear to know that everything is connected, even the cockroaches (I realize that's controversial, but it's my belief). Maybe t ...more

Like · see review

Aug 11, 2013 Dana Berglund rated it really liked it

Shelves: youngadult

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

Like · see review

Jul 07, 2013 Mary rated it really liked it

This science fiction page turner will be quite popular with teen readers. The pacing, writing, and characterization are all outstanding. The graphic scenes and creepiness reminded me a great deal of The Monstrumologist. Not a good choice for late night reading.

Like · see review

May 11, 2013 Tamsyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fms, youngadult, best-of-the-year, boys-book-club, science-fiction, adventure, suspenseful, war-stories

This book grabs you from the first page, and rarely loosens its grip. The earth is under attack by an alien race, and the reader starts after the 4th wave. Through a series of memories from 16 year old Cassie, we experience each stage in the attacks to seemingly wipe out human life on the planet. Mostly told through Cassie's and Ben's (a boy from her high school) point of views, this was an exciting, suspenseful, mysterious ride. Wonder where Rick Yancey will take us next? ...more

1 like · Like · see review