Didn't realize until I read the acknowledgements that Robison Wells is Dan Wells' brother. I was struck by how this read sort of like a fanfiction of Divergent, though once you start in on the twists and reveals, it becomes similar to Dan Wells' own Partials series. Interesting read, though, and quick. Will likely read the next book in the series.

Nothing new here. Kept me reading though.

Variant is the first of a two-book series about an orphan named Benson Fisher who applied to the private boarding school, Maxwell Academy, in order to escape the foster system where he had lived in 33 foster homes since he was five years old. Soon after entering school, however, Benson finds that Maxwell Academy is more like a prison. In most cases, students would love a boarding school where there are no teachers or adults. Instead, the students have formed gangs or "societies." that hold the contracts for all of the jobs that needed to be done to keep the school functioning. Students who earn detention never come back to school and other punishments include food being withheld and beatings by one of the gangs. Benson decides he will escape, but finds it more difficult than he expects. The students don't know who to trust which makes Benson's attempts at escape that much more difficult. This is a very interesting story with lots of twists and turns. I can't wait to read the second book Feedback.