Review: Loss
Mar •
19 •
2012
Title: Loss
series: Riders of the Apocalypse # 3
Genre: Young Adult- Urban Fantasy
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Publisher: Graphia
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Book: ARC sent by publisher
“Fifteen-year-old Billy Ballard is the kid that everyone picks on, from the school bullies to the teachers. But things change drastically when Death tells Billy he must stand in as Pestilence, the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Now armed with a Bow that allows him to strike with disease from a distance, Billy lashes out at his tormentors…and accidentally causes an outbreak of meningitis. Horrified by his actions, Billy begs Death to take back the Bow. For that to happen, says Death, Billy must track down the real White Rider—who is lost in his memories.
In his search, Billy travels through White Rider’s life: from ancient Phrygia, where the man called King Mita agrees to wear the White Rider’s Crown, to Sherwood Forest, where Pestilence figures out how to cheat Death; from the docks of Alexandria, where cartons of infested grain are being packed onto a ship that will carry the plague, to the Children’s Crusade in France—all the way to what may be the end of the world. When Billy finally finds the White Rider, the teen convinces the man to return to the real world.
But now the insane White Rider plans to unleash something awful on humanity—something that could make the Black Death look like a summer cold. Billy has a choice: he can live his life and pretend he doesn’t know what’s coming, or he can challenge the White Rider for his Crown. Does one bullied teenager have the strength to stand his ground—and the courage to save the world?”
Riders of the Acpocalyse series is one of my fave series that is real. Each book goes in detail a situations that everyday teen faces. The first book Hunger dealt with eating disorders. The Second book Rage dealt with cutting and now this one deals with bullying. I can not express how much I love Jackie Morse Kessler. Her books are bold and loud yet exquisitely capturing every feeling of sadness, loss, rage, and humiliation a person goes through when facing a tough situation.
Bullying. It’s one subject that has be hushed and is now coming out. People don’t understand how mean and hurtful bullying is. Some think it just all fun and games but it’s not. I really loved getting into the shoes of Billy. To feel his anger built up little by little, to see him holding it in just waiting to burst. As the reader, I was able to feel empathy towards Billy. The way that he stood there and just took the taunting made my heart break. It also made me angry that I wanted to slap those boys faces off. Ms. Kessler really knows how to capture every emotion of the character so that you feel it yourself.
The plot line of the book is the same as the others. Billy rides his horse of Pestilence (disease) to try and save the world. I like that the plot took some unexpected twist and turns. The plot is filled with excitement, adventure and redemption. I loved that at the end, Billy is a whole new person.
Loss is an powerful story that all kids can relate to. It may not be pretty, but it’s life! Loss exposes the true torture of what bullying does to others. Loss is beautifully executed story that will bring you down to your knees. Bullying is real. Thus, everyone should read it.
I give it 5 BITES!
Happy Reading!
I’ve been hearing so much about this book and I hadn’t even heard of the series before! It definitely looks like my type of read too! I love the four horseman stories!!
Ahhhh! One more series I’m really far behind on! I need to blog full time so I can keep up with everything. Wouldn’t that be nice? I like that she presents the social issues in such a different way with the horsemen:) Thanks for the review Savy!
I would be so with you! Slapping those boys face off. I just know it! I still need to start this series. Sounds like it keeps going strong!
Book 3 already? Whoa. The emotional connection to the character sounds awesome.