The Park Service (Park Service Trilogy, #1) in Q&A with Ryan Winfield

Oct 15, 2012 Shelly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As you may know, I have been patiently waiting for this book, even without knowing what they genre was going to be. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that it was a YA Dystopian, I was even more surprised when I read it. Now that we know it's going to be a trilogy I am sure that Mr. Winfield will get incredibly tired of us bugging him to finish the next one so we can see what happens next!

You don't get many YA books that are written from the by a man and from a male first pers As you may know, I have been patiently waiting for this book, even without knowing what they genre was going to be. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that it was a YA Dystopian, I was even more surprised when I read it. Now that we know it's going to be a trilogy I am sure that Mr. Winfield will get incredibly tired of us bugging him to finish the next one so we can see what happens next!

You don't get many YA books that are written from the by a man and from a male first person POV, and I love that about this book. I think that it was a refreshing change from so many YA books being told from the female POV.

The world that Mr. Winfield creates here is very well thought out and perfectly captured down to the last detail. This story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world nearly 900 years from present day. Aubrey is a young man on the verge of truly becoming a man. Little does he know how much his life is going to change. He is faced with challenges that will shape him into the man who will hopefully be able to change the world he knows for the better. Early on he meets Jimmy and forges a friendship with him that is stronger than any other relationship he has had previously. Then Hannah enters the picture rounding them out to a trio on a mission to save their world and hopefully humankind along with it.

It's so hard to do this review without posting spoilers so I am going to have to keep my comments to a minimum as far as the plot is concerned. Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed the book. The character development is very well done and really I think the plot moved along a really nice pace all through the story. Ryan is excellent with description and didn't let us down with this book.

The only thing I had a problem with, and it's really tiny, is that suddenly about 1/2 way through the book Jimmy starts cursing and he only does it a couple of times, but it seemed unnecessary and kind of out of the blue. Other than those couple of words, one use of the F word, this is a really clean YA book. I don't mind cursing in the books that I read, but my 12 year old daughter wants to read this one and I really have to think about whether I want to let her read it.

This book is the start of a great series. It has a little bit of everything in it and can really appeal to a pretty wide audience. I know that I can't wait for the next book! ...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Carol rated it it was amazing

WOW! Ryan Winfield has done it again!

With a complete 360 from his first book, WINFIELD takes us on a journey of a brave new world. 900 years after nuclear war, we follow young Aubrey has he discovers everything he thought he knew were lies told by an insane doctor that takes being an environmentalist to the extreme.

Winfield writing is so visually stunning. The book easily plays out like a movie and the flow of it makes you not want to stop reading. You will be laughing out loud on one page and t ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Kara Miller rated it it was amazing

Ryan Winfield's second novel, "The Park Service" was highly anticipated by many--myself included--and he didn't disappoint.

"The Park Service" is a Young Adult novel set in a futuristic, post-apocolyptic world and has already been compared to "The Island" and "The Hunger Games." I've never read "The Island" but I have read "The Hunger Games" and all I can say is there is NO comparison whatsoever. "The Park Service" is by far MUCH better than "The Hunger Games."

Winfield does a wonderful job creati ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Gina's Escape and Reality rated it it was amazing

Disclaimer: If Mr. Winfield published a book about dirt, I would read it and love it. All the words are put together in such a beautiful and rich way you will feel satisfied.

What an adventure this was! This is my favorite kind of story. It’s the kind of book that plucks you up from wherever you are physically and drops you into this newly created world. This is what a great novel is all about…taking you somewhere new and exciting and in this case totally imagined. Yet, the authors way of writin ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Jen Newby rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book. It's not my typical genre but if I am going to read sci-fi/fantasy/futuristic novels, I like ones that are dystopian type stories. This was very interesting and creative. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes, so I'll be reading the other two books for sure. It's well written and I think what surprised me so much about this book was how different it was from his first. Ryan has a pretty creative mind to go from "South of Bixby Bridge" to "The Park Service". I gu ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Theresa rated it it was amazing

Fun and futuristic! Maybe it was reading the reviews, but it did remind me a little of Brave New World (read many years ago in high school). It also reminded me of Wall-e at least in the beginning. But what was different was the humor and even sadness at times of what Aubrey was going through and all because he blindly answered the last question.

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Oct 15, 2012 Kelly rated it liked it

On the edge of my seat so far.. Finished now, enjoyed it mostly. A very creative story with a likable protagonist- a must, in my book (no pun intended).

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Oct 15, 2012 Amanda rated it it was amazing

All I can say is, is the next book out yet. I mean wow that was an amazing plot all the twists and everything I can not believe it. The whole time I was reading I did not want to put it down even when I had to. I saw give this book 10 stars and 10 thumbs up cant wait for the second one.

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Oct 15, 2012 Tina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Three words describe The Park Service. "A Page Turner"! I anxiously anticipated what would happen next in the 15 year old, Aubrey's adventures in the unknown & unexpected. I purchased the book as soon as it was released in October. However time was limited until a few days ago opening the opportunity for me to curl up with a blanket, some hot tea and this most intriguing story to dig into. And dig in I did! Much like the impatience I felt in delving into each book that followed in The Hunger Gam ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Laurie Traverse rated it really liked it

Looking forward to book #2!

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Oct 15, 2012 Lori Feeney rated it really liked it

I had read Ryan's "South of Bixby Bridge" so I was very excited when this book came out. The topic was such a departure from that of Bixby Bridge that I wasn't sure what to expect. But Ryan delivered again! I am a huge fan of his writing style AND his ability to twist a plot. Ryan's books are always going to be on my "must-read" list. He never disappoints. ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Brigett Scott rated it it was amazing

Ryan I absolutely loved this book...your writing never disappoints. The story was wonderful but it's really your writing style that makes it work so well. ...more

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