The Annihilation of Foreverland

I wasn't really sure what I was going to think about this book.  It was technically a young adult books I suppose, but I felt like the issues and everything that was being faced was much more adult themed.  This book starts out with boys waking up on an island with jumbled memories about their past and even who they are.  The boys are sent into an alternate reality called "Foreverland."  They are told that they must go into Foreverland to heal themselves.  Danny Boy is the newcomer to the island and  he is about to find out what exactly "Foreverland" entails and how much being healed can cost. 

This book starts out intensely with one of the boys being tortured.  This books wasted no time in jumping into the story.  And a very imaginative story it is.  Set slightly in the future, but not too far off in the realm of possibilities, it delves into a new type of "virtual reality" of the mind.  I have never read a story quite like this.  It was very descriptive and very intense and not afraid to venture into some sensitive topics. 

I don't want to give away too many details.  I definitely recommend this book, more so to adults than even young adults.  There are many messages and great lessons in this book, and yet upon finishing I was still left with a feeling of unease in the way that people think and what lengths people will go to in order to obtain what is most important to them. 

The Annihilation of Foreverland is written by Toni Bertauski and has a sequel that I started on today called Foreverland is Dead.  I was swept into this story from the beginning and somehow managed to finish it in a few short days.  I loved how the book was broken up into Rounds with a newspaper clipping at the beginning of each to leave clues and insight into the direction the story is going.  I loved the ending and it left it open for many questions.  I must commend Mr. Bertauski on his incredible imagination. 

I highly recommend this book with a 5/5 stars.  It is very innovative and has a Matrix-esque feel to it.  It tackles a lot of societal issues.  It was written with great flow and could be made into an amazing movie with the right script writer.  If you are interested in things like virtual reality, lucid dream states, or dystopian fiction, than I would highly suggest that you check this book  out.