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    The Bane Chronicles
    The Bane Chronicles
    The Bane Chronicles
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Bane Chronicles

    Written by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson and Sarah Rees Brennan

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    About this audiobook

    Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, with an exclusive new story and illustrated material.

    This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

    Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print and includes a special eleventh tale, as well as eleven comic illustrations.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateNov 11, 2014
    ISBN9781442372627
    Author

    Cassandra Clare

    Cassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles. She is also the coauthor of the bestselling fantasy series Magisterium with Holly Black. The Shadowhunter Chronicles have been adapted as both a major motion picture and a television series. Her books have more than fifty million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and three fearsome cats. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.

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    Reviews for The Bane Chronicles

    4/5

    344 ratings35 reviews

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    • 3/5
      A dystopia crossed with Harry Potter means I tagged this book 'dystopia' and 'fantasy'. That's a change, since dystopias are so often science fiction. Anyway, it wasn't bad. It's a middle-grade book, which I don't tend to like as much as YA ones. It has a good ending, in that it feels like it can stand alone as a book just fine, you don't need to keep reading the series. I don't know if I will or not.
    • 5/5
      This book is just glamorous as Magnus is! I love it so much. My favourite chapter is the voicemail of magnus bane.
    • 4/5
      Reason for Reading: I am a fan of the author and basically catching up with her books.This was a pleasure to read and a book that every once and a while gave me little ripples of pleasure coursing through me body to read such a fine example of middle grade fantasy. I hate to use this comparison but it highly holds up to the "Harry Potter" model. Here there isn't a boarding school as such, but the children (13yos) are sent to live in a large magical building where they attend school learning magic, have strange instructors, are surrounded by large magical creatures and this is their new home. This live-in school atmosphere has traditionally been a successful formula for books aimed at this age group and with the addition of magic it becomes quite beguiling. I simply adored the set-up for this story. It is being described as dystopian in some circles however that I do disagree with, as there is no evidence this is our world, in fact it quite seems to be an alternate world but as in the dystopia fashion an event has happened to change to structure of society leaving it miserable and under the total control of one self-appointed leader.McMann is a wonderful writer and at this point I just don't think I wouldn't enjoy one of her books, even though they do sometimes rate a 4 with me. The characters are engaging and inviting, leading you to connect with them right away. The magic is fun but must be learnt as it is a skill. The leader of the land of magic, Artime, is charismatic but often shows glimpses of sadness leaving the reader with a sense that he has a secret that will eventually come to life. A pleasure to read, though I will say there were some spots where the plot seemed to drag for a while and as much as I enjoyed it I wouldn't call it a page-turning. However I have book 2 in the tbr pile and will be reading it in the near future, before her new book comes out.
    • 4/5
      When Alex turns 13, he knows that he will be deemed "Unwanted" by his parents and doomed to execution shortly there after. His twin Aaron, however, is a perfect "Wanted." As Alex travels through the gate of the death farm, instead of dying he is welcomed into the hidden community of unwanteds sheltered by magic. All too soon, Alex misses his brother and the connection between the two threatens the secret existence of his new home. Clever idea - definitely a good recommendation for someone who liked both Harry Potter and the Hunger Games. It has the magical quality of Hogwarts with the "fight for your right to live" of Hunger Games...only less violent, but also a bit less captivating.
    • 5/5
      I loved reading about Magnus and his adventures in his life. This was a great audiobook as well. I loved the narrators.
    • 4/5
      When I got an invitation to review this one a couple of weeks ago, I jumped at the chance. It may very well be the first (and only?) dystopian middle-grade book out there. But wait! It's not just dystopia. It's fantasy as well, which is new to me. The combination, not fantasy itself, just to clarify.

      This one brings the best of both worlds out to play and I loved the way it meshed so nicely. We get a nice taste of what Quill is like (using words like 'quillitary' instead of military, which Ithought was seriously awesome) and an even better taste of Artime. I thought it was very nicely done.

      I've read other things by Lisa McMann, and this is by far my favorite. In fact, it's one that I plan on buying. I can picture reading it aloud with my kids and having them love it like it do. It's very appropriate for middle-grade readers and I can see where it would have classroom use as well as personal.

      The characters are kids that young readers will relate to and see themselves in. Heck, even I could pick out things about them that I related to, and they're only 13 for the most part! They're just really likable overall. The adults too. They're not stuffy, jump in to fix the problem kind of people. They're very much about letting the kids have a stake in their world. I think that's very important. Kids need to feel invested, and this book is a great example of that.

      Because I really loved it and because I think kids will love it too, I'm giving this a 'Pick Me' rating.
    • 4/5
      This was a good book, but it did suffer from an overly hyped tag line. It was described as being a combination of Harry Potter and the Hunger Games but any resemblance to these titles it is purely superficial. At first I was very disappointed as I was expecting a much "heavier" story, but I did grow to like the characters and the clever way "creativity" was used to control magic. I would still recommend this book but would definitely downplay the resemblance to other great series it has been compared to.
    • 5/5
      Best of all the Shadow hunter books! If like me you need more about Bane… here it is.
    • 4/5
      I wasn’t really sure what to expect from The Unwanteds. I had read one of McMann’s older YA novels (part of a series that I need to get back to) and I liked the cover. To be honest, this probably would have stayed on my TBR list if I hadn’t gotten #2 to review. (Nothing against this book, but trying to focus on reviews more than “fun” reading.) But I really enjoyed this one. I can’t say that I was sitting on the edge of my seat with excitement. But, I was definitely into the story and it was a world that I was able to slide into easily. This is mean for children and I can see how they would be drawn to Artime. This was a pretty quick read for me. I loved that this wasn’t necessarily a light and fluffly read. Alex and Aaron’s story had some meat to it, and I am sure that there is stuff that the first book didn’t go into. The characters didn’t seem like they were completely alive, I mean there was enough to picture them but they were missing a little bit of something. Depth! That’s the word I’m looking for. Now I loved the story, and it’s one that I will recommend to people looking for children’s books with substance and fun. I’ll even have this in my library when I start teaching. But it felt like it was an introduction to the characters, it really felt like the beginning. There’s a very good reason for that – it is the first book. I only mention that because the story reads as if it could be a stand –alone and I don’t want readers to expect that whole character arc where the characters have gone from point a to point b and have grown in the process. Don’t get me wrong, all of the characters grow, especially Alex and Aaron. Even though this could be a stand-alone, it leaves you wanting more. You want to know what happens next in their life and you want to know more about the characters (good and bad) because you start caring about them. But all of that is not necessary to enjoy the story –to stay in the here and now. (Sorry for the tangent) There’s an assortment of characters – both good and bad. Alex and Aaron share the magic of being twins. When they end up on opposing sides they discover that they don’t really know each other as well as they thought that they did. This is such a new experience for Samheed, Lani, Meghan and the rest of the newly Unwanteds. But we get to experience it with them and that makes it even more magical. Recommendation: This was a quick and fun read. I think it was an excellent pick for older elementary students, especially those who don’t particularly enjoy reading. What’s Next? Island of Silence4 STARS ****Always Shine, Starr K
    • 4/5
      The Unwanteds is a middle grade dystopian fantasy. It takes place in a dystopian world but there is magic as well. It was a fantastic and fun ride with witty and charismatic characters. Alex is the character we see the most of, and he's certainly like-able, but we get to see his less like-able side as well and see that he as faults just like anybody else. We see the mistakes he makes and the consequences for his actions. None of this book was horribly intense (which I was actually happy about) but plays out in a somewhat lighter manner and tone. I actually quite liked the whole style and tone of the book and while it felt middle grade it was still engaging for me, an adult. I also enjoyed the twists that Lisa was able to throw in. We know that Alex has a twin but is his twin evil? Or is he good and should be in Artime? Artime is full of magical creatures. From the amazing stone flying cheetah and the other living statues, to the octogator (octopus/alligator), to the squirrelicorn. They were all crazy and unique and definitely added the fantasy tone to the story. I enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up until the second I set it down. It was a fast and engaging read and I highly recommend it to readers of middle grade fantasy.
    • 5/5
      A great option for students who are not ready for the Hunger Games quite yet. I very much like this book and thought while reading that this may be a series to hook students on prior to or after Harry Potter. Perhaps this series could get students unstuck from another series and is a great suggestion for a student who likes series. I also like that the main characters were boys. While Tuesdays at the Castle may appeal to female students, this book although suitable for both genders may be a hook for boy readers.
    • 5/5
      Positively enchanting, and every bit the wonderful work that I have come to expect when I pick up a book by this author. I loved Lisa McMann's Dreamcatcher series and Cryer's Cross, so I was excited to see what she would do for a middle grade audience. I was certainly not disappointed. I love the premise of this, and I especially love how this story was conceived---it came about when the author found out that several art programs were going to be cut out of her kids' school. I hate how often I hear about this kind of thing happening everywhere, but love that it became a story sparker for McMann!The Unwanteds certainly has a dark and hopeless feeling at the beginning. You first meet the main character and his twin brother as they are basically sent to a sort of "judgement" ceremony to decide who will be a useful addition to the society of Quill...and who will be disposed of. Literally. Those who are rejected are sent the Death Farm to be thrown into a lake of boiling oil. Yikes. Needless to say, one twin is excepted and the other is not. As soon as the rejected children are sent away, the rest of Quill, including their families are ordered to forget all about them. Harsh. Especially harsh is the fact that the reason these children are disposed of is because they showed some sign of creativity and imagination.Thankfully, the kids are all shocked when they find themselves, not boiling in a lake of oil, but secretly transported to a hidden land called Artimè, where creativity and imagination are encouraged. The kid are taught to enhance whatever their individual strengths are, and are ultimately taught to use their gifts along with magic to both create and defend themselves in the event that their world is ever discovered.The whole story was such great world-building: the wonderful layered characters that you never quite knew where their loyalties would lie in the end, the many quirky and mysterious teachers, the cold, unfeeling conditioning of the people of Quill, and the many surprises that popped up throughout. It was heartbreaking at moments, especially where the two brothers were concerned, and I loved the little hints of young love thrown into the mix. While I don't like to make the comparison---I would definitely say that this as close to the feel of Harry Potter as I've read yet. A similar feeling of wonderment is there: the magic of finding this whole new world that was right out outside your door, the intense, unpredictable relationships and wonderful characters that are learning to be themselves and appreciate their different gifts. Yet the Unwanteds is, without a doubt, an amazing and unique tale that deserves to be appreciated in it's own right. This is definitely a great start to a series that I'm excited to continue!
    • 3/5
      In the highly regimented land of Quill, children who exhibit even the slightest leanings toward creativity are Eliminated at the age of 13, sent to the Death Farm. Alex Stowe, who has been known to take a stick and draw in the mud, knew he was going to be Eliminated, but he consoled himself with the thought that his twin brother Aaron would not be. But Alex soon learns that the Death Farm is really the land of Artimé, where creativity is encouraged and magic is possible. Alex embraces his new life, but he wonders: why couldn't his twin have come, too? Will Alex's desire to rescue his brother from his gray, dingy life in Quill precipitate a war between the two lands?I had a really hard time getting into this book. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Simon Jones. I've listened to other books Jones has read and enjoyed them, but even his narration was not enough to save this one for me. I just found the premise too hard to swallow: death for all children caught exhibiting creativity? Really? And everyone just went along with this? I also found the wise old wizard who rules Artimé way too Dumbledore-esque. Maybe that's because the publisher made the mistake of touting this at Harry Potter meets The Hunger Games, a level of hyperbole that's bound to get a mediocre book into trouble when harsh reality meets with high reader expectations. I do think some young readers will enjoy the art-based magic of Artimé and the interactions between the young characters, but it's not one I'd particularly recommend.
    • 3/5
      Some of the stories I absolutely loved...others not so much.
    • 5/5
      On the island of Quinn your future is decided at the age of thirteen. Once a year all the youths and their families gather for final judgment. By this point most know what role they will be assigned to. If you have been reported to the council as one who has expressed undesirable qualities, artistically inclined, then you are one of the Unwanteds. Alex had known for three years, his parents kept him informed that he was an Unwanteds. So, as he and his twin brother Aaron sat waiting for their names to be called out, he was reconciled to being sent on the Purge.
      Aaron was a “Wanted,” he had a bright future at the university and probably in the future government. Many of Alex’s friends joined the ranks of the Wanteds and the Necessaries, the rest of them where loaded on to the bus for the drive to The Death Farm.
      Once the Eliminator got their hands on these Unwanteds they would join a succession of generations of poor souls cast into the Great Lake of Boiling Oil. Shaking in their shoes and ready for the worst, they were surprised as their shackles magically fell to the floor and a white-haired, old man strode toward them and delivered the news, that he was Marcus Today the ruler of Artime, and they were all now part of the biggest ruse of all time.
      By the time they met all the other residents however, it did not take long to assimilate into their new life. Now circumstances happen—as they always do with twins—that brings to the attention of the residents of Quinn that something is just not right behind the gate to The Death Farm.
      “The Unwanteds” is the first in a series of a delightful world of young adult stories that feature a young male wizard. For my money this story is actually better than the other wizardry tales that came before and is an absolute gem that should not be missed by adults or teens.
    • 4/5
      Hmm... Usually when i finish a book in one day it ends up in my absolute favorites section, but this one didn't quite make it. Perhaps it's the fact that i'm a twenty five year old reading a book made for those half my age. Perhaps i set my hopes too high. I don't know. That is not to say the book is bad per say. It's a pretty solid four. Just not good enough to be a five and absolute favorite.The book is basically the story of Alex stowe who on his thirteenth birthday was deemed "unwanted". See in the world of Quill a person is either Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Those who are deemed "unwanted" are sent to their death. Basically to possess a creative mind is to be unwanted. It would seem that Alex's fate was set except it wasn't really. Marcus Today aka The Death Farmer aka the great mage of Artime saves every being deemed unwanted by transporting him to his made up world of Artime. There all kinds of magically creatures live and the residents learn "Art" based magic. The thing is that Quill doesn't know about Artime and it must stay that way. Otherwise Quill's army would attack. And it does. Take in some evil twins, sometimes eye rolling names, and a kiddier friendly version of Harry Potter and you get this book.In a way i think in some area the author was trying to hard. The cover reads "The Hunger Games met Harry Potter" and it really isn't. It may have some similar features, but it isn't comparable. It's miss-leading and perhaps raised my expectations way! too high. Some of the names are just plain dumb "Claire Morning" and i find myself rolling my eyes a bit. I think take ten years off my age and i would find this book fabulous. It's completely kids friendly and has no "black magic" per say. That is not to say it's Winnie the Pooh magic. More of Classic Disney magic. People die, things happen, but completely kid friendly.Final rating. 3 stars. I was a bit bored with it at some times, but i'll come back for the next book.
    • 4/5
      Artime is a land that doesn't exist...at least not to some of the members of Quill. McMann introdueces us to Alex and other unwanteds in this new middle grades book. We see them at the Purge where the Unwanteds are sentenced to death becuase they are creative and have shown their creativity in Quill. This is definitely something one does not want to be reported for. Alex and the other Unwanteds quickly realize that death is not their fate. Please read The Unwanteds to see how creativity can be one's greatest weapon! :O)
    • 5/5
      The Unwanteds is a very creative and entertaining fantasy story that involves magic and an epic battle between the forces of magic and the rulers of Quill that fear the creative people of the Quill.
    • 5/5
      There has been much hype surrounding “The Unwanteds”, so when I saw that Simon & Schuster had it available on Galley Grab, I downloaded it instantly…and I’m glad that I did. “The Unwanteds” was a fantastic read. Imagination as a powerful weapon? Yes, please!The High Priest, Justine, rules Quill. Every year, she has the thirteen year olds sorted into categories: Wanted or Unwanted. Those that are Wanted are sent to the Wanted University and those that are Unwanted are sent to their death. Or so it’s believed. The Unwanteds are in for a surprise upon meeting, Mr. Today, the man behind Artime.Alex and Aaron, thirteen year old twin boys from Quill, are separated during the Purge. Aaron is dubbed Wanted while Alex is dubbed Unwanted. When a child is deemed Unwanted, the family is supposed to forget about them, they are supposed to accept the fact that they will die. Aaron accepted it easily; he was above them all – his parents, his brother – for he was Wanted. He sees himself taking over for Justine when she passes and he’ll do whatever is needed to assure he’s next in line.The story fast forwards, as it is told over a year, but it doesn’t feel rushed what-so-ever. We see the training that leads to the battle at the end and how the residents of Artime grow and develop their talents. There are plenty of secrets that reveal themselves through out the story, although most seem to hit you at the end. While the ending leaves you with plenty of questions, for the most part the story does wrap up quite nicely.
    • 5/5
      Loved it. Very amusing. I enjoyed it very much. Wish there was more about Alec and Magnus's relationship.
    • 3/5
      In the land of Quill, any child who shows any type of artistic talent is considered a threat to the government. To be artistic shows a tendency to be a free-thinker, which, in turn, could cause a problem for the government. At the age of thirteen all children are categorized as wanted, necessary or unwanted. Thirteen-year-old Alex has known for months that when the time comes, he will be listed as unwanted and be sentenced to death. His twin brother, Aaron, however, is selected as a wanted and will be sent to university to study and eventually serve on the cities government. When Alex and the other unwanteds are shipped off to the death farm, they are surprised to find that something special awaits them. A secret, magical land called Artime is hidden behind the gates of Quill, hidden by magic. No one in the land of Quill knows about Artime, and the government assumes the children have all been put to death when in fact they are being trained in the arts, allowed to think freely and learning to use magic.Though Alex is ecstatic to have found a place where he can be himself, he can’t help but miss his twin brother, and wonders if somehow he can bring Aaron to join him in Artime. What Alex doesn’t realize is that Aaron is happy with his new position and strives to one day become the ruler of Quill. When the existence of Artime is threatened, the members must fight to keep their beloved freedom, and much to Alex’s disappointment, this fight will pit him against his twin brother.This book is marketed as a cross between Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. While I’m sure this is great for marketing, and will entice curious readers, I’m afraid these readers may be disappointed. While Ms. McCann’s book is enjoyable and certainly has its merits, it is neither of the before mentioned books. The only similarity it has to The Hunger Games is the dystopian setting of Quill. While the magical land of Artime, and the magic the children learn in school could be compared to the magic of the Harry Potter series, McCann’s world is not nearly as immersive. I read this book expecting something more because of the blurb on the cover. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to be enjoyed within the pages of The Unwanteds. McCann’s Artime is rife with potential. The talking blackboards, the transportation tubes and the “artsy” magic the children learn are all enjoyable. I think I may have enjoyed it more had I not had such high expectations. I also felt the book was rushed. There is a lot happening in the book, and I would have liked more in the way of the magic lessons, and I would have liked the mystery to have been a little deeper. I felt a lot of this was glazed over to reach the battle at the end. All in all the book is enjoyable, and it will definitely appeal to the targeted audience provided they are not die-hard Harry Potter fans.(Review based on an advanced reviewer’s copy courtesy of the publisher via Simon & Schuster’s GalleyGrab)
    • 5/5
      This was a fun book, perfect for young fans of "Harry Potter" style stories. It's a blend of dystopia survival with magical elements and intrigue. While it's action packed and suspenseful, it's not frightening or gruesome, and would be an excellent read-aloud or independent read for grades 4-7.
    • 4/5
      The Unwanteds are the young people of Quill that show any signs of creativity…singing, drawing, acting, sculpting, writing, if you are caught doing any of it you will be unwanted!At thirteen everyone goes to the purging ceremony. All thirteen year olds are put into one of three categories, “Wanted”, “Necessary”, and “Unwanted”. All the unwanted go to the death farm where they are to be dropped into a lake of boiling oil. Lovely, huh?Without revealing too much, let me suffice it to say that the “Death Farm” is not what it seems! This book is completely different from Lisa McMann’s other works. This is more of a middle grade adventure and it was a very fun, fast, and easy read for an adult. The galley I read had a preface from Ms. McMann that explained where the story came from. That alone was worth the price of admission for me. That glimpse into how an author’s mind works was fascinating because I have always wondered where author’s do come up with their ideas. I’m truly hoping that couple of pages she shares ends up in the finished product!!!The story teaches some very important and timely lessons about the arts and their importance, as well as other life lessons like teamwork, honesty, and bullying…but does it without preaching. My son is anxious to read this one and I’m very happy to oblige! I’m sure he and many other boys and girls his age will enjoy this book as much as I did.
    • 4/5
      Children's LiteratureLife changes forever when you turn 13 in the land called Quill. You are either selected as "Wanted" and go to University, kept around as "Necessaries" to do the menial work of the community, or purged as "Unwanted" and sent for elimination. Identical twins Aaron and Alex may look alike but there the resemblance ends. At "the Purge," Aaron is chosen to go on to University, and he plans to move up in the political hierarchy with no consideration for love or loyalty—except to the supreme ruler, High Priest Justine. Alex, who has been denounced for drawing is sent to the Death Farm, only to find instead a land of magic and refuge for the Unwanteds, Artime, which is kept hidden from the citizens of Quill. Although the revelation of this secret when Alex tries to entice his brother to join him is inevitable, as is the triumph of the magical over the military, this is still an enjoyable ride with fantastical characters and possibilities set in stark contrast to the drab, highly-regimented world of Quill. The ending begs for a sequel that will be an even more dramatic confrontation between the brothers as they gain power in their respective realms. Quill resembles totalitarian governments throughout history that have tried to hold onto power through censorship of thought and action. This story could serve as the impetus for discussions on forms of government, freedoms of speech and assembly, and even the value of the arts in education and society.
    • 4/5
      The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann is narrated by Simon Jones. Simon Jones has a very full resume that spans from t.v to stage to the big screen. After reading that he starred in films such as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life I had high hopes of being entertained. I was not disappointed. Simon Jones did a great job. He really made this book come to life. His reading was flawless and he really gave each character their own voice. I was highly entertained by this audio book. One of the reasons why I wanted to read this novel is because it's described as 'The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter'. I'm a fan of both series so it definitely peaked my interest. After reading the book I can see why The Unwanteds was compared to those books.The Unwanteds begins in the town of Quill. Think of the most boring, most bland, most beige place you can think of and you've mostly pictured Quill. The town of Quill discourages any form of originality. There's no art, no music, no being creative in any way. The citizens of Quill are split into three categories when they turn 13 years old: The Wanteds, the Necessaries and The Unwanteds. The Unwanteds are sent to their death. However what the people of Quill don't know is that The Unwanteds don't actually die. Instead they enter the hidden world of Artime. Artime is completely different from the world that the children have known. In this new world their creative talents are celebrated and cultivated. It's full of color, magic and mystery. Alex and Arron Stowe are twins. Alex is an Unwanted and sent to his 'death' while Arron is a Wanted and sent to the University. Alex can't really relax in his new life without his twin. He would do anything to see Arron again and try to convince him to come to Artime. However this is a great risk. If anyone were to find out about Artime, it could be disastrous. I really like Alex's character. He has a devotion to his brother that's heartwarming. I also like his curious nature. His journey through this book is not an easy one and he has to overcome many obstacles.The story line to this book was good. It has mystery, intrigue and action. Was it as good as Harry Potter or The Hunger Games? For me, it's not. However it does possess some of the magical and dystopian elements of those books. It is a good story especially for the recommended ages 8-12. I think Lisa McMann did a wonderful job creating the magical world of Artime. There are a few action/battle scenes that are violent but it's not over top. The Unwanteds is a magical adventure that kids of all ages will enjoy.
    • 3/5
      I picked up this book because of the review displayed on its cover: "The Hunger Games Meets Harry Potter".I was prepared to be transported again into a totally unique, fully formed fantasy world, as with those two series.While "The Unwanteds" succeeds in some respects, I felt a bit cheated.The story started off promising for me, with children showing any spark of creativity being sorted into a portion of society called the Unwanteds.I did enjoy how the various creative outlets (art, music, acting, writing) are used as weapons. Interesting characters.But problems seem to resolve too quickly. I would have liked more build-up to resolutions. My public library has this book categorized as YA, but I really felt that it was more of a juvenile fiction book in both language and themes.
    • 3/5
      I loved the short stories idea although alot of the people reading the stories threw this reading off for me. Some were far more interesting in making it an experience and some sounded like they were in need of an afternoon coffee because they were half asleep at work.
    • 4/5
      Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.
    • 3/5
      I think I'm going to start this review with a confession: I didn't like Lisa McMann's Wake series. I know, I'm such a horrible person, but I just couldn't get into it. It was pain to pull myself through the first book, which was really short. After that, I haven't touched any of her other novels, like Cryer's Cross. But since I had the chance to check out The Unwanteds on Galley Grab, and I'm a huge sucker for all things dystopian, so I thought it was worthwhile.I think that I just wasn't the right age group for this book. The writing was incredibly simple, as was the plot. The good thing is that this made the book go really fast, but it also just felt like it never really got under the surface here and lacked depth. To my understanding The Unwanteds is meant for middle grade readers, which can sometimes be difficult for me to get into because of the significant difference in the genre's target audience and my reading level. This was the issue with the book for me, not to mention there was some things in here that I thought were just too simple and didn't make sense when placed in the real world.For example, the society here divides children into two groups: the Wanteds, who are supposedly more practical, intelligent and scientific in their thinking, and the Unwanteds, who are the "useless" creatives. Now, while the book's concept is to battle the perception that these people aren't "useless," I felt like making such a distinction as McMann did doesn't make sense. Usually, the creatives are the smart ones and, in certain ways scientific thinkers such as engineers need to be really creative in their thinking in order to solve problems. So, wouldn't getting rid of the "creatives" be more harmful to the society than anything else?Then there's the fact that, at the end, it felt like some of the main conflicts in the story weren't really resolved. The Unwanteds never seem to really gain acceptance from their Wanted counterparts, and their worth doesn't feel like it's fully realized. And besides, why don't the Unwanteds just go off and build their own society?While The Unwanteds might work for the younger crowd, it just doesn't work past that, which hurts the book's appeal. Also, unfortunately, I just wasn't won over by McMann here. Her writing is just too simple and her concepts felt somewhat underdeveloped to me. In the flood of YA dystopian, I'd give this a pass.
    • 3/5
      In the land of Quill, all thirteen-year-olds are sorted into one of three categories: Wanteds, Necessaries, and Unwanteds. Wanteds and Necessaries remain in Quill to keep the land running, and the Unwanteds are disposed to their deaths for their violations of creative expression.Twins Aaron and Alex get separated when Aaron is chosen as a Wanted and Alex is Unwanted. But “Death” is not at all what Alex and the other Unwanteds expected. Instead, they are transported to the magical world of Artime, run by Mr. Today, who teaches the Unwanteds how to use their creativity in magical battle. For Artime is in danger of being exposed, and the Unwanteds will need all of their creativity and magic to overcome Quill’s armies.A book being touted as the next Harry Potter certainly has a lot to live up to, and while Lisa McMann’s first middle-grade fantasy THE UNWANTEDS doesn’t quite have the immortal boy with the lightning bolt scar’s charm and uniqueness, it nevertheless will be an enjoyable read for the younger reader.Reading THE UNWANTEDS felt as if I were carrying out my childhood dreams. When you were little, did you ever daydream of living away from home in a magical mansion where every one of your whimsies was right at the tip of your thoughts? Yeah, that was probably the number one thing I thought about during my free time. In that sense, then, reading THE UNWANTEDS was almost a literal return to my childhood. The youthful delight of having near-complete control over your own life; of having magic at your command; of attending an eternal summer camp…that’s part of what you get, reading THE UNWANTEDS.But not all of it. THE UNWANTEDS contains distinctly dark themes of creativity versus logic, imagination versus asceticism, that make it darker than your usual magical children’s tale. This is part dystopia, after all. More sophisticated readers might find the literal impending war between creativity and pragmatism in the book a little too literal in terms of the book’s themes, but younger readers will probably get a kick out of the minimalization of gray areas.My biggest problem with THE UNWANTEDS, the one that made me unable to finish the book, was that I simply didn’t connect with or care for any of the characters. Alex and his Unwanted friends tended to blend indistinguishably into one another, and were being pretty snippy and immature pre-teens for the most part. That’s not the problem—after all, Harry Potter was pretty unbearable for many of his adventures; it was more the fact that I couldn’t bring myself to feel bad for the characters or to care about how they ended up.It is unfortunate that the power of such a magical premise was diminished by bland and unsympathetic characters. This won’t deter all people from reading and enjoying THE UNWANTEDS, but as far as I’m concerned, my lack of connection to the characters draws me away from this adventure and towards more character-driven fantasies.