Review: Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon

Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon

Strangelets
by Michelle Gagnon

Genre: Sci-Fi, Young Adult, Mystery
Published: April 9th 2013 by Soho Teen
Pages: 288 (Hardcover)
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:
17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…

17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…

17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving. 

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life

My Thoughts:
Strangelets is a very unique story; full of strange, weird, odd, bizarre things, in a good way. The story follows three 17-year-old teenagers who woke up in a place that looks very much like a hospital, only weirder. We could turn on/off the lamps just by commanding it out loud, which I think is kind of fun. They should have died at the exact same time yet found themselves there with three other teenagers. And, they were all completely strangers. I feel the creep, guys. Being alone inside a hospital-like building with strangers is so not for me. And the 'something' wandering outside, looking for humans to eat. Worst, being trapped in the future without knowing how to go back and make things right.

Sophie is from California, US. She is a strong-willed character who was dying because of Cancer.

Anat from Israel has the toughest and bravest personality. As far as she could remember, she was running on an underground tunnel that goes to Egypt to meet her Palestinian boyfriend, Hazim. I like how Anat and Hazim are couple. I mean, they came from two opposite countries and were supposed to be enemies. But I dislike her for treating Sophie badly just because she is American, like, don't you know that she's sick? She even protect Yosh 'cause she considered her weak and not dangerous at the slightest.

Then there's the very sarcastic Declan Murphy from Ireland. He keeps on saying weird things like 'feckin' and calling the girls 'bird' and all he could remember is that he (nearly) got shot by a Russian man 'cause he stole a box he didn't even know what was inside.

The three others were Zain from India, Nico from Swiss, and Yosh from Japan. It was hard to choose a favourite character 'cause none of them fits me well but mine so far is probably Declan.

The story itself was interesting, with some plot twists and all, but it left me questioning a lot of things. I totally get that everything won't be just normal after this whole strangelets adventure, but there are some things that really need an explanation such as Declan's girlfriend, Katie, Nico's fate, what happened to Yosh, and Anat's life.

Strangelets was a very suspenseful, thrilling ride. Michelle Gagnon has done a really good job at entertaining the reader by making it feel like a movie. The writings are just fine and the dialogue is easy to understand. Recommended if you like young adult sci-fi, time travelling story, with tiny bits of romance. I don't know if there will ever be a sequel, but if there is, it will probably explain the not-too-satisfying ending.

This is one of those hard-to-review books and I can't tell you much simply because I don't want to spoil the story for you. Just read it by yourself and enjoy :-)

3.5 out of 5 stars