THE AUGUST FIVE Sadly Did Not Get a Five From Me

Review by Leydy

THE AUGUST FIVE
by Jenna Helland
Age Range: 12 - 18 years
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (November 10, 2015)
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In a world rocked by revolt, your worst enemy can become your greatest hope

Fourteen-year-old Tommy Shore lives a life of privilege: he has the finest clothing, food, and education available and servants to take care of his every whim. He is the son of the chief administrator of Aeren-the most important man on the islands. Fifteen-year-old Tamsin Henry has grown up knowing only poverty, but she is the daughter of a revolutionary who longs to give her and their people more. 

Ordinarily, Tommy and Tamsin would never cross paths, but on the day of a violent and deadly revolt, chance brings them together. Now the world waits to hear the fate of the August 5, five men led by, and including, Tamsin's father and captured during the uprising. As tensions between the government and the rebels escalate, Tommy uncovers a brutal truth about his father. How will he ever get Tamsin to trust that he wants to help her cause, when she believes he stands for everything she's fighting against? 

She was told to obey.

He was told to comply.

They didn’t listen.

When I read these words, I immediately thought this book would be full of rebellion, action-packed, and I was hoping to swoon. Two individuals from two different worlds falling in love is my type of romance. Yet, The August 5 did not have any of these. Okay, maybe the book did have few of these elements but to get to those parts, you had to sit and read about politics. Don’t get me wrong, if I was in class learning about history and the world of politics then maybe I would appreciate this. However, I just wanted an action-packed story, a revolution and not just some ol’ boring lecture about politics. 

Less action, more politics. No bueno.

And let’s not even get to the part where Tommy, the kid with a privileged life and son of the chief administrator of Aeren, had to uncover the “truth” about his father. Let’s be real. It is obvious his father is a D-bag. That is no secret. There is no need to drag the story out about this big mystery. Also the fact that we, as readers, knew from the very beginning that Tommy isn’t a fan of his father or what he was doing, meant there wasn’t suspense about whether he would do the right thing or try to please his father. I think that was my biggest issue with this story.

Sorry guys, but The August 5 was very slow-paced which made the story seem to be in a monotone. With this said, this read felt more like a lecture from a professor than a enjoyable book. I wouldn’t be recommending this book to a friend.