The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, #1) in Mock Printz 2026

May 06, 2013 Becky rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, dystopia-and-or-post-apocalypse, multiple-narrators

I'm wavering between three and four stars with this one. I liked it, but I'm not sure it's going to match all the hype because it's not mind-blowing in any way. It doesn't really stand out in the still-growing market of post-apocalyptic YA fiction. It's, dare I say, a bit predictable.

The apocalypse has come by way of alien invasion. But not the alien invasion we have all envisioned (except we HAVE envisioned it in many sci-fi novels and movies, just not the ones alluded to in the book. (view spo I'm wavering between three and four stars with this one. I liked it, but I'm not sure it's going to match all the hype because it's not mind-blowing in any way. It doesn't really stand out in the still-growing market of post-apocalyptic YA fiction. It's, dare I say, a bit predictable.

The apocalypse has come by way of alien invasion. But not the alien invasion we have all envisioned (except we HAVE envisioned it in many sci-fi novels and movies, just not the ones alluded to in the book. (view spoiler)). First comes the first wave - a electromagnetic pulse and all electricity is out. Second is an enormous pole dropped from our upper atmosphere into a fault line, causing massive destruction on the coasts. Third is a plague spread by birds that is so terrible and gross I will describe it as Yancey-esque. Fourth is the drones, the alien snipers that search and take out the last survivors.
What is the 5th Wave? And where are the aliens?

Cassie, short for Cassiopeia, is the star of the 5th Wave, although it does have some notable secondary characters who carry scenes in either first or third person. The book unfolds as you read it, and can be described as twisty, though I don't think many of the twists are surprising. IN FACT, I was waiting for one big twist that never came ((view spoiler)) Anyway, the twists that come, the character reveals, the romance, and etc. are easily spotted by fans of the genre, and despite marketing efforts to convince me otherwise, the storyline is just not all that original.

But the layout and writing were well done. I like how the story is told and that we are kept at the same pace as the characters. There is a lot of action, but also time for relationship-building and a romance. (I've read other reviews say the romance isn't a big part of the book, but they're wrong. It's a big, major, honking part of the book; there's not much swooning, but it's there, like well, like most post-apocalyptic YA novels.)I like how the book ends. I believe there are sequels to come, but it would be interesting to end it just there, with kind of a play on what Cassie wants pre-apocalypse and what she gets post-apocalypse. Of course, I do want to know what happens next.
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Feb 11, 2014 Kristena rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, science-fiction, sequoyah-winner, dystopia, sequoyah-hs-nominee-2016, in-2016, sjhs-book-club-2016-17

Wow. Just when I thought I couldn't stand reading about another dystopian future, this one turned out to be great.

My students are obsessed with this book (which is why it took me this long to get to it--it's constantly checked out), and this week it won our state's book award. Nicely chosen, kid voters!

It's weird that I wound up reading this and The War of the Worlds at the same time. Didn't plan that. ...more

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May 05, 2013 Ann rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction, post-apocolyptic, aliens, survival, books-for-reluctant-boys, writing-style-compelling, tone-suspenseful, tone-bleak, storyline-plot-driven

I thought the parts involving Cassie's survival and the background about the invasions were really interesting, but once the male perspective was introduced I was so bored that I don't remember a single thing about the rest of the book. Maybe there were some training scenes? I don't know. 4 stars for the beginning, 1 star for the rest. ...more

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Nov 05, 2013 Chrissy rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen, post-apocalypse, scifi, dystopia

I rated this one high because I can tell it is written really well; great pacing, wonderful twists, and excellent characters. The massive uncertainty about what is happening, and the irony of humanities expectations about aliens, based on the works of Michael Bay, were smart and real. Unfortunately, this is just the kind of darker sci-fi that I really don't enjoy reading. My temper is too dependent on my reading material, and stuff like this just depresses me. I was definitely kept on the edge o ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Shawna rated it it was amazing

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

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Jun 10, 2013 elissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: sciencefiction, youngadult, 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

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May 07, 2013 Brooke rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, sci-fi, dystopia, adventure

Alien apocalypse! Aliens attack earth in a slightly less clique/somewhat realistic feeling way (hey, they aren't green w big heads...). With each new "wave" the aliens attack. Cutting off power...a horrible virus that kills millions etc...and so on. Cassie is one of the few left that must survive. But who can she trust? There are aliens out there that look just like people. There's a cute guy but something about him just doesn't seem right.... but he wants to help her save her brother... And the ...more

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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.

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Feb 15, 2013 Jennifer rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult-teen

At Reading Rants: http://www.readingrants.org/2013/02/1... ...more

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May 11, 2013 Tamsyn rated it it was amazing

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

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Jul 18, 2013 Chrissy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, ya

3.5 stars

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Jan 03, 2013 Josie rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, dystopian-future, aliens

Good read, fast paced, nice heroine. But...not sure I buy that we have any chance against these aliens AND why would the aliens go to such lengths to not hurt the other creatures on earth, but get rid of humans? As an advanced race, we wouldn't look much different to them...and if we are their host bodies OR they don't need bodies, why bother getting rid of us? Difficult to buy that line.

None-the-less, good read, recommended for Hunger Games fans. ...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Ricki rated it it was amazing

The 5th Wave will surely be very popular amongst readers. Aliens (and not the green, one-eyed ones we see in movies) invade Earth in waves. When the novel begins, the fourth wave has happened, and only the unlucky remain. If they wish to survive, they can trust no one.

This book takes readers for quite the ride.

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Sep 27, 2015 Kristin Fletcher-spear rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction, teen-young-adult, science-fiction, audiobook, 2016

enjoyed the first half so much but the last part is so meh that it took me months to get through it. i really liked the girl until the boys got involved. can we please have a strong female who doesn't need a boy to define her? ...more

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Aug 14, 2013 Lorna rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction-romance, sci-fi, young-adult, fiction-adventure-survival, ala-best-book, yalsa-top-ten, a-z-challenge-2014

Science fiction that is primarily a gritty war story. The non-stop action and the survival theme along with the romance kept me riveted to the very end.

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