Inside Out (Insider, #1) in Nothing But Reading Challenges

Mar 16, 2010 Brenda rated it liked it

Why I read it: Dystopia challenge, had 2nd book on my e-reader for review
The Plot: Trella is a scrub--she's one of thousands of people who live and work on the lower levels of what the reader can only assume is a giant building. The people who live in the upper levels seem to have it all. But one day Trella is introduced to a prophet who says he has evidence for "Outside". Even though Trella doesn't believe him, she sets out to help him find his evidence, if only to prove to her best friend that Why I read it: Dystopia challenge, had 2nd book on my e-reader for review
The Plot: Trella is a scrub--she's one of thousands of people who live and work on the lower levels of what the reader can only assume is a giant building. The people who live in the upper levels seem to have it all. But one day Trella is introduced to a prophet who says he has evidence for "Outside". Even though Trella doesn't believe him, she sets out to help him find his evidence, if only to prove to her best friend that Outside doesn't exist. That's when it gets interesting. Without meaning to, Trella starts a rebellion.
The Characters: I liked Trella. There were times when it was a bit frustrating as a reader because someone would have information about Trella, things she didn't even know herself, but she never wanted to hear them. That bit of annoyance aside, Trella was a really strong, smart girl, which is always nice to see in young adult books. The characterization was done very well in Inside Out, and you can't help but care for these characters.
The Setting: Absolutely fabulous setting. So much of it is mysterious. We don't really know where these characters are. We only know they are in some type of structure that has levels. We have no idea what it's like outside of the structure, and even though most of the characters don't even believe there is an outside, we, as readers take our suppositions into the story with us, and assume that Earth is outside--but we don't know what state the Earth is in. It adds some psychological suspense to the story.
Who Should Read This? Fans of dystopia should really like this one.
Final Thoughts: I tried another book by Maria Snyder one time (Storm Glass, I think it was) and didn't really care for the writing, so I gave up on it. I'm glad I had the opportunity to give this author another try because the writing was excellent and I really enjoyed this book. I stayed up really late to finish it, and as a mother of young kids that's something I rarely do. It was so good that I went on to read the second one immediately.
Grade: A
Cover Thoughts: The cover is okay, although I think it could have been a little more interesting. It does seem to be fairly eye-catching. ...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Kaity rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, library-book, dystopia, science-fiction

Review originally posted on Bitten Books and given 5 stars.

Trella, a scrub and Queen of the Pipes, has agreed to humor her only friend another time and listen to a new prophet babble on about Gateway in hopes that she can prevent Cogon from getting into trouble. Only this time the prophet doesn't seem to be a Pop Cop ploy or completely delusional man. The prophet asks Trella to break rules restricting the scrubs to the lower levels and steal back important computer files, files that possibly pro ...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-and-a-half-to-5-stars, science-fiction, young-adult, part-of-a-series, rrrc, dystopia, teen, ebook, kickass-spirited-strong, book-shelf-bingo

4 1/2 stars.

I haven't really read many dystopian novels, so this was a nice change for me. When I had first started I was unsure if I was going to like it but as I got further into it I hooked.

Trella, the "Queen of the Pipes" as her fellow srubs call her, did not believe that there was something else, something/place better, the gateway as they call it. In her mission to prove it's non-existence or even existence, meets Riley, an upper, and discovers that what she has always believed isn't wha ...more

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Jun 02, 2010 Jacalyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: autographed, know-author, 2010

Maria V. Snyder strikes again! I simply could not put this book down! When I first saw it, I knew I needed it without even reading the back blurb. I trust Maria to always give me an enjoyable read and I was not disappointed in the least! The story was compelling, the world well thought out, and the writing superb... all the things I love about Snyder and in a whole new setting then her other novels.

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Oct 28, 2011 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian-fiction, needing-attention, read-2012, reviewed, stolen

Wow.
Trella's story is full of twists and turns, just like the pipes she likes travelling. The ending is... A cluffhanger, gutwrenching. A story about trust or the lack of, love, hate and confusion. ...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Deyara rated it really liked it

Light read, which is a bit odd for a dystopian world, but there wasnt really anything that stayed with me after finishing this book. I liked it, it was just... light.

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