– reviewed by Isabella Gonzalez Kaminski –
Courageous and inspirational, Vega Jane is one of those characters who will not give up until the end; she’s likeable, quick-minded and cheeky and often stands alone.
This dystopian-themed book is focused on the village of “Wormwood,” located in the middle of nowhere, but surrounded by “The Quag.” This mysterious, deathly forest often translates into eminent death for all who dare to venture within; it’s filled with the most hideous, vile creatures imaginable. Though this frightens her fellow “Wugs” (humans), as well as Vega herself, this fear of the unknown also compels her to seek the truth; her ambition to unveil the unknown is stronger than what she has always been told to fear. Through David Baldacci’s The Finisher, we venture through Wormwood on an inspiring expedition of bravery and persistence, in hopes of revealing the true answers Vega Jane is set on finding: who she is, where she is, and how she can escape.
Doesn’t this sound like an exhilarating read? The plot captivates, the characters inspire, the adventure is gripping – and though these may contribute to an excellent book, there is one catch: the writing. David Baldacci is known to be a remarkable author, with novels such as True Blue and Camel Club. Yet I found in The Finisher, Baldacci lacks explanations when introducing new fictional aspects of the story, and consistently uses incomprehensible lingo. Sure, eventually the reader will decipher his meaning, but it is not something that I wanted to be doing all through a 512-page book.
As I said earlier, Vega Jane is an inspirational character, having all of the perfect traits to make her a heroine: determination, drive and courage. However, I feel that Vega is an amazing character in the wrong book. As Baldacci’s first attempt at children’s fiction, understandably his writing style will be somewhat different, but by using his own idiom, this potentially extraordinary novel suffered.
New Releases – Available at Tanner’s Books:
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Finisher by David Baldacci
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My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish, the Seaquel by Mo O’Hara
Pete the Cat’s Big Easter Adventure by Kimberly and James Dean
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