Overall Rating: 4.7
Characters: 4.9
Plot: 4.5
Cover Art: 3.9
Favorite Line:
"Things don't make sense, but that is to be expected. Life doesn't make sense. If it did, Mum wouldn't be dead, there wouldn't be people starving in Africa. None of it's rational. None of it strikes you as something all thought out, organised, put together. It's all just a mess. All just a mass of confusion."- Will Hodge
Synopsis:
London teenager Will Hodge is miserable. His mother is dead, his father's political leanings have grown radical, and his friends barely talk to him. To top it off, he's having nightmares about things like concentration camps. Then Will notices he's being followed by a group of people who claim to know him from another time in history. It turns out they are Returners, reincarnated people who carry with them the memory of atrocities they have witnessed in the past. Will realizes that he, too, is a Returner. But something about his memories is different, and with dawning horror, Will suspects that he wasn't just a witness to the events, he was instrumental in making them happen. Set in the near future, with the world on the verge of a new wave of ethnic cleansing, Will must choose to confront the cruelty he's known in his past lives, or be doomed to repeat it... again.
The Returners gives a new look into the way humans operate and why...
I truly believe that everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime. Gemma Malley's third novel is inspiring and a truly fantastic read.
I think I may be in love with Will Hodge. Throughout the story, his character is very emotional and raw. He's so haunted and affected by his dreams and the actions of those around him, and just so real. The way he thinks and feels towards others is unique, and... I love him. The entire story really does revolve around Will and his actions, even the decisions he's not aware he's even made. His voice rings out in every word, and it brings a new dimension to the story.
The plot is so intricately and expertly woven; it's perfection. The journey of self discovery, well somewhat at least, doesn't feel like it stretches on for days, like many books dealing with subjects similar to this tend to do. It's an incredibly interesting read for YA readers and will also be popular among adults.
I highly recommend The Returners, and can't wait to see what else Gemma Malley has in store!
