Crazy House (Crazy House, 1)

First let me saw that I am a big James Patterson fan and pre-order all full length books. I wish I had known this was a book for teens before ordering. Once I began reading it caught my interest and I actually was enjoying even though I felt it was vaguely eminiscent of a Hunger Game storyline *******WARNING SPOILER ALERT******* it seems as though Mr. Patterson who lives in a "Forbidden Land" was in my opinion somehow trying to send a message at the end in a somewhat slanted way. If you are successful and make money you are bad. If not you are either a minion who lives in a controlled cell who makes everything for the successful or are an Outsider who will rise up against those who are successful. As this book is geared towards teens I would have expected the very, very "successful" James Patterson to have a more positive message for young readers. Sad to say that this book has put me off from purchasing/reading future James Patterson books...guess I'm officially an Outsider who no longer needs to add to Mr. Patterson's wealth.

This story is focussed on twin sisters in their senior year of high school. Their parents had each had serious problems. The mother was taken for "help" but never returned. The father was in a coma following an attempted suicide. The girls had very opposite reactions, yet had managed to keep the roof over their heads and food in the kitchen.Then one twin disappeared. The other changed her perfect student behavior for a determined search for her twin. She found a nightmare.Both girls learned very painful lessons. They fought for their freedom. Eventually the found their way home. Saw their father one last time. The learned that they were not welcomed to their own home.Will you be able to predict the outcome?

Are you missing the Dystopian genre since it seems to have faded away lately from the YA trend? James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet have banded together to present teens a new YA dystopian series. Crazy House I first thought would be a mystery novel, a bit of a serial killer type that James Patterson is often famous for but then I noticed his co-author as she normally helps write his romance novels. In Crazy House, some suburbs have been cornered off, and everyone must follow the rules to survive. For twins Becca and Cassie Greenfield, they have been busy trying to keep things under control as their mum was removed years ago for a mood adjustment and their father tried to kill himself and now is in a hospice waiting to die. Becca goes joyriding one night and ends up kidnapped and transported to a place known as the "Crazy House" where the only way out is death by execution. Cassie being the good twin decides to search for her sister and save her. During her search, she will discover that her sister was part of the Outsiders which include of course the son of the leader of their dystopian society - cliched I know as the son always ends up being a rebel. Cassie will eventually land herself in the Crazy House too, but can she with Becca's and her newfound friends find a way out of the house alive? Find out in Book #1 Crazy House by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet. A Good start to a new Dystopian series.

I can't tell you how disappointing this book was to me. I kept thinking it was going to get better, but obviously with the rating I gave it, it didn't. The ending was quick and seemed to be thrown together for a fast conclusion. I always seem to gravitate to Patterson's books, and I do enjoy them...but I can honestly say this book about the future and the "cells" and the mind altering was not for me. I'll stick to the present, thank you. I wasted my time reading this book.

This wasn't like any James Patterson book I've ever read. The biggest problem I have with the book is that I want the rest of it. There has to be a sequel or you feel like you're left hanging, wondering what happens next. That's the disappointing part of reading this book. Yes, I can use my imagination but that's not really the point. Reading stimulates my brain. I go into the world the writer has created, become concerned about the characters, cheer the heroes and boo the villains. I'm in another world, one of James Patterson's making. This book needs a sequel or it's like reading a book and finding the last chapter missing.

Stupid story line. Kept reading because I thought it might get better - it didn't. By the end of the book, I could tell there was going to be political rhetoric involved. If I want political rhetoric, I'll watch the news on TV. And, OMG, there's a sequel! I wasted my time reading Crazy House, don't waste yours. James Patterson should not collaborate with this Gabrille Charbonnet person ever again.

This is a great post apocalyptic story. Society reestablishing it self. Quick read. Enjoyed it thoroughly. If you like read the second book. Both huge page turners.

Just finished reading Patterson’s CRAZY HOUSE, this may be one of the worst books that I have ever read. I have read almost all the Patterson series books including those for the young adult readers, but now I will be very careful in the future. I don’t know how Patterson collaborations work with other writers, but this is pure NOT Patterson. There was a reason why I didn’t read or watch HUNGER GAMES, guess that I expected better from Patterson. What a waste of my money.

I have been a huge fan of the author for many years, and his books always shoot straight to the top of my to be read list as soon as they come out. I was delighted to get the chance to read this book before it was published. As a fan of YA and dystopian stories I was even more happy to discover that this story was both.The premise is an interesting one. Children are being snatched and taken to a prison. They are told they are in death row and forced to survive by going up against each other. They have to watch some horrific things happening to people they regard as friends as well. However all is not as it first appears. The author has created something which drew me in, and I was delighted to reach the end to discover there is more to come. I can't wait to read future parts of this story.Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Review taken from bookpolar.wordpress.comDISCLAIMER: I love James Patterson, he is definitely my most owned author. When I saw Crazy House on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to request it. But my impatience got the better of me and I rushed out and bought the hardcover as soon as possible. Whats more it is YA dystopia... and that is my jam.The book is set in the future where people live in fenced self-contained towns called cells. Each being in charge of a different sector, in the case it was agriculture (think Hunger Games districts). The plot follows two twins Cassie and Becca, both raised in the cell, having no knowledge of life outside.When Becca vanishes Cassie will do everything in her power to find her sister, in turn setting the wheels in motion for something much bigger.I loved the dual points of view and really enjoyed the relationship between the twins. It was nice to read a book that was equally plot and character driven. As a bonus to the heavy dystopia vibe there was also minimal romance, which is a big win for me.The story was perfect parts intrigue with out being overly complicated. I enjoyed the simple writing style and it was a great pallet cleanser between heavy reads.I just loved this book. It was perfect me and exactly what I look for in a book. I think this is a stand alone but I would love for there to be a second!!**copy provided by NetGalley for review**

I Loved this Book!!I used to be a huge James Patterson fan but had found over the last couple of years that his books just weren’t holding my attention the same way they used to, so it has been a while since I have read anything he has written.When I read the synopsis for this book I found myself intrigued and decided to give it a try, and I can say with all honesty I’m glad I did.I found the story compelling, and often found myself pondering what was going to happen next whenever I had to put the book down.The story alternates between both sisters points of view giving us an inside view of where Becca is whilst Cassie still fruitlessly searches for her. We also get a couple of chapters from the point of view of Nathaniel another Boy from the cell and potential love interest of Cassie, and from the point of view of Ms Strepp who appears to be the one running the “crazy house” but who of course is in no way that two dimensional.I am loath to give away much more information on the fate of the girls or their Journey as I think this book is best served by reading without spoilers, what I will say is that by the end of the book these two sisters who categorised each other by their differences are very much a united team.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to hopefully following more of Cassie and Becca’s journey.Please Please Please can we have a book 2

I am surprised that this book is by James Patterson. It so obviously resembles the Hunger Games trilogy that I was expecting an ending that would dismiss my disappointment. The fighting amongst the characters would be enough to either kill someone or disable them permanently. They are beaten, starved tortured and killed and for what. I won't say anymore in case you are about to read it. But if they had been told in the beginning what they are told at the end they would have got the same result without all the beatings. There are so many things unanswered at the end of the book that I was expecting them to say it was just a dream. Not a good read.

I have read every book written by James Patterson and loved them all until I got his one!This is like no other book written by Patterson and I wish I could give it no stars. It really is the biggest pile of rubbish that I have read in years and not worthy of his name on the cover.