Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jan 02, 2014 Megan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2014, young-adult, 2014-series-challenge

I loved this book SO much more than I thought possible! The first chapter was chilling, in such a good way, that after reading it I just couldn't put it down!

The point of view alternates every chapter between Amy and Elder, which I usually don't like but in this book I greatly enjoyed! Instead of being confusing it added to the story and helped to describe things that would otherwise have been harder to understand.

The story had so many moments that shocked and surprised me. For quite a bit of th ...more

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May 01, 2012 Jessie Marie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-read

2013 Review: "OMG. Why did I wait to start this series!?" 5+ stars

2018 Review: "Sweet jeebus. Five years really can make the difference. I have just one question: why is it that near-rape, sex, racism, ageism, etc. can be discussed at length in a YA novel.... but we have to make up new swear words, seemingly because of the intended audience's sensitivities? Seriously. Plus, that male narrator was... atrocious." 2.5 too-generous stars ...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Darlene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, read-in-2012, 2012-ya-audiobook-challenge

Amy is a 17 year-old teenager, whose parents are going to be cryogenically frozen so that they can travel in space for 300 years to land on Centauri Earth. Her mother is a geneticist, and her father has a military background, and the government has hand-picked them as well as other essential people who will help colonize and conquer Centauri Earth. Amy and her father watch as her mother undergoes the cryogenic procedure. Her father gives her the chance to back out by going next, telling her that Amy is a 17 year-old teenager, whose parents are going to be cryogenically frozen so that they can travel in space for 300 years to land on Centauri Earth. Her mother is a geneticist, and her father has a military background, and the government has hand-picked them as well as other essential people who will help colonize and conquer Centauri Earth. Amy and her father watch as her mother undergoes the cryogenic procedure. Her father gives her the chance to back out by going next, telling her that he wants her to be free to make her own choice without their influence: Whether to go with them on their journey through space to be reunited in 300 years, or to remain on Earth with her aunt and uncle. Unbelievably, even after watching her parents drown in cryogenic goo, she still opts to go through with it!

Amy is jolted back to reality when someone turns off her cryogenic chamber and she begins to thaw. Rather than awakening on Centauri Earth, she finds that she is still on the spaceship, Godspeed, and that it is still approximately 49 years before it will land. With her parents still cryogenically frozen, Amy realizes that her parents will outlive her since she will be in her late 60s or possibly even dead before her parents return to the land of the living. As Amy looks for answers as to why someone would want to kill her, she uncovers a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal.

The story is told from alternating points-of-view between Amy and Elder, and I do tend to like these types of books. I feel like it gives the reader an opportunity to get to know the characters on a deeper level.

I really liked the character of Elder, who is Eldest’s successor in governing the people on the ship. He is only 16 years old but was born and trained to fulfill this position of leadership. At the end of the book, I thought he faced his responsibility with maturity and a clear vision of what it means – to him – to be a leader. I found this quote to be particularly poignant:

Elder's thoughts: “Eldest thinks power is control, that the best way to be a leader is to force everyone into obedience. Holding Amy against me, I realize the simple truth is that power isn't control at all-power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn't someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others so that they may have the strength to stand on their own.

This is what I've been looking for since the first day I was told that I was born to lead this ship. Leading Godspeed has nothing to do with being better than everyone else, with commanding and forcing and manipulating. Eldest isn't a leader. He's a tyrant.
A leader doesn't make pawns-he makes people.”

It didn’t knock my socks off, but I still really enjoyed Across the Universe. I thought that it was a solid series opener. The pace of the book was good, and Revis hooked me right at the beginning with her graphic description of the cryogenic procedure which left me squirming! I thought that the antagonists were quite vile, and they became more and more repugnant as Amy uncovered the extent of their deceit. It will be interesting to see where Revis takes us with the next in the series, A Million Suns. I have a feeling that the series is only going to get better!

This is my first narration by Lauren Ambrose and Carlos Santos. I thought that both portrayed the teenage roles convincingly.

MY RATING: 4 stars!! It was really good, and I would recommend it! ...more

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Dec 10, 2013 Iris rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2014

This is the secret of the stars, I tell myself. In the end, we are alone. No matter how close you seem, no one else can touch you.

3.5 stars
An OK book, I guess. It was enjoyable, but I didn't find it amazing.
Across the Universe has a very interesting premise, but the slow paced writing ruined it for me. I didn't connect with the characters very well, Amy was annoying worrying about "Daddy" but didn't give an ass rat about her mother. Elder showed a side of him, then switched and was another perso ...more

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Jun 29, 2015 Desiree M ~*~*~ LiveReadCollect rated it really liked it

Shelves: borrowed-from-library, 4-star-reads, young-adult, favorite-heroines, mystery, futuristic-setting, emotional-read, 0-2011-release-date, science-fiction, 00-silver-gray-covers-00

I ended up really enjoying this book.

During the first 100 or so pages I wasn't too invested. The mystery of what was going on was keeping my attention and I liked Amy's chapters. It took me a bit of time to get into Elder's perspective and what was happening now so many years in the future.

However after those 100 pages, I couldn't put the book down.

I'm very curious about the next book and how things unfold now that secrets have been revealed. ...more

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Jan 26, 2019 Mandi rated it liked it · review of another edition

"Because I like a little chaos."

"Because I like a little chaos" is one of my favorite lines in this book. You will see the ending coming from a mile away. The whole book is predictable to be honest. It was a good read though. But it wasn't good enough to lose sleep to read it. Amy is the best character to me. Harley was my second favorite. ...more

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