Name: alexandra's review of The walls around us by Nova Ren Suma
Item: The walls around us
Rating: 1
Author: alexandra

Nova Ren Suma

Orianna and Violet are ballet dancers and best friends, but when the ballerinas who have been harassing Violet are murdered, Orianna is accused of the crime and sent to a juvenile detention center where she meets Amber and they experience supernatural events linking the girls together.

a novel

The walls around us

Wiktoria Balcerak

alexandra

originally posed on twirling pages

if i had to describe this book with one word, it would be ‘haunting.’

the walls around us was like nothing i’ve ever read before. it’s very mysterious, and half the time, you don’t even know what’s going on. the story starts with the lock of a juvenile detention center being broken. the forty-one girls inside become crazed and i’m instantly reeled in, curious to know what happens next. we specifically follow three girls, one alive, one dead, and one connecting them together. (however, even after finishing the book, i’m still unsure who is dead/alive.) throughout the entire book, you’re uncovering the truth behind their crimes, mainly told in flashbacks. i was often confused while reading because i wasn’t sure if the people/things they were seeing were ghosts, hallucinations, flashbacks, or real. everything was very murky and i couldn’t exactly understand what was going on.

i think one of the main reasons i was confused was due to the author’s writing style. the words and sentences were very beautiful and poetic, but hard to interpret. the sentences were symbolic to the point i couldn’t tell if she literally meant it, or it was simply a metaphor. 90% of the time, i loved her writing style. there were multiple times i’d physically pause and stop reading to admire her compilation of letters and words. the other 10% of the time, i was confused. in short, it was beautifully written and simply a masterpiece.

the story is told from two povs. in some parts, it’s the same actions told from a different perspective. because of this, it got kinda slow in the middle and was this close to dnf-ing the novel. at first, you’re curious to know how the two girls are connected. when the stories merge and collide, i found it interesting, but anti-climactic.

i especially loved that two of the main characters were ballet dancers, and the other was a book lover. (ME!!!) i’m always excited to see ballet/dancing in novels because it’s such an important aspect in my life. i’ve read many other books that incorporate ballet into it, but it was clear the author had no idea what he/she was talking about. none of the terminology made sense, and it was obvious that it was written by someone who’d had no experience in the art. however, to my delight, this novel was not the case! nova ren suma portrayed ballet extremely accurately – the way we feel on stage, how we act during class, the commitment to it, everything. it made me enjoy reading it 100x more. i also found ballet very symbolic in this novel. most people find ballet to be clean, pure, and graceful, but it was ironic and clever to see the truth and horror behind it. (similar to black swan, but still different. this story was focused more on the actual horror of things and less on the dancing.)

although i enjoyed the characters characteristics, i couldn’t understand their morals or reasoning. i couldn’t understand them period. i was never sure if she was lying or in denial or anything, and that was for all the characters. because of that, there were parts that felt two-dimensional and flat. there was one main character, orianna (ori), who we don’t hear from. i was really hoping to see things from her perspective because i couldn’t decipher her at all. the other two would constantly speak about how good and innocent she was, but was she really good? or was it all an act? i wanted to see some negative, some human part of her. there was no way she could’ve been the “perfect person,” but apparently she was.

overall, i enjoyed this book, but i wouldn’t reread it. it’s different from what i normally read, so i wasn’t completely comfortable. the characters weren’t too bad, but i couldn’t understand them and it frustrated me. although the writing was gorgeous, there were often times i was left confused. even now, after finishing the novel, i don’t know what to make of the plot or the ending. i suppose it’s meant to be mysterious that way.

– alexandra
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Emily Orlando

** spoiler alert **
           The middle part was a little (Never mind a LOT) confusing (as I thought the author wanted it to be) because well, we don't know all the people in the detention center are dead yet. I understand why it needed to be confusing but, when I was reading that part, I was like "Wait a minute! How does this event match!"
It was very well written in the way that if this was any other book it wouldn't be well written. It kinda felt like we were in their brains, hearing them ramble and the like throughout the book and I liked that.

Taryn Quigg

I honestly didn't know what this book was about when I first got it cause I didn't read the back but I was pleasantly surprised. I liked how the point of view changes every few chapters so we were able to see into three people's minds instead of just one. The main twist in the book was one that I definitely didn't see coming but I was happy that one character got the justice they deserved in the end. Would recommend if you like books about murder, deceit and lies.

jess

Avery Baumel

apparently i stopped adding books in FEBRUARY so i have five months of backlogs from lib return pictures to do!!!!!!!! think i didn't like this much

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

A great read for lovers of true crime and/or hauntings. Eerie, claustrophobic examination of life in juvenile detention centers for young women mixed with the cut-throat world of modern ballet. Unreliable narrators, one girl is alive and one girl is dead, alternate in telling the tale centered on horrific murders centered on abuse and betrayal, coupled with the unrelenting tensions between talent, dedication, and ambition that can explode in violence. A suspenseful page-turning read till the last chapters, and the ending stops you in its tracks, at once compelling yet incredibly confusing. So much so that I would likely have to re-read most of the book to figure out what actually happened. But the sinister tone and shifting perspectives of the characters was truly thrilling and unsettling in the best possible ways, and my 16 year-old daughter really enjoyed talking over all the voices, details, supernatural elements, and the knotty twist at the end.

And the cover for the Dutch translation is fabulous:

madina

the blurb isn't kidding when they say the prose sings word to word because my skin crawled with how raw it is

& im just left gaping, speechless, because it's so?????? and i love it so?????? much????

probavly should be more coherent but

“With evocative language, a shifting timeline and more than one unreliable narrator, Suma subtly explores the balance of power between the talented and the mediocre, the rich and the poor, the brave and the cowardly . . . To reveal more would be to uncover the bloody heart that beats beneath the floorboards of this urban-legend-tinged tale.” —The New York Times The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices--one still living and one dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old ballerina days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries: What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve--in this life or in another one? PRAISE FOR THE WALLS AROUND US: “A gorgeously written, spellbinding ghost story.” —Chicago Tribune "Unputdownable . . . the well-paced plot reveals guilt, innocence, and dark truths that will not stay hidden." —The Boston Globe “Suma excels in creating surreal, unsettling stories with vivid language, and this psychological thriller is no exception. Along the way, Suma also makes a powerful statement about the ease with which guilt can be assumed and innocence awarded, not only in the criminal justice system, but in our hearts--in the stories we tell ourselves. A fabulous, frightening read.” —Booklist, starred review “The wholly realistic view of adolescents meeting the criminal justice system is touched at first with the slimmest twist of an otherworldly creepiness, escalating finally to the truly hair-raising and macabre. Eerie, painful and beautifully spine-chilling.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review #1 Spring 2015 Kids’ Indie Next List Pick A Junior Library Guild Selection

The Walls Around Us

Sophia Owen

this book was so amazing. i cried at the end. i’m a mess

A #1 New York Times Bestseller An NPR Best Book of 2015 A Boston Globe Best Book of 2015 A Chicago Public Library Best Teen Fiction of 2015 A BookRiot Best Book of 2015 A 2016 YALSA Best Book for Young Adults A Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of 2015 A School Library Journal Best Book of 2015 A 2015 Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult “With evocative language, a shifting timeline and more than one unreliable narrator, Suma subtly explores the balance of power between the talented and the mediocre, the rich and the poor, the brave and the cowardly . . . To reveal more would be to uncover the bloody heart that beats beneath the floorboards of this urban-legend-tinged tale.” —The New York Times The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices--one still living and one dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old ballerina days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries: What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve--in this life or in another one? PRAISE FOR THE WALLS AROUND US: “A gorgeously written, spellbinding ghost story.” —Chicago Tribune "Unputdownable . . . the well-paced plot reveals guilt, innocence, and dark truths that will not stay hidden." —The Boston Globe “Suma excels in creating surreal, unsettling stories with vivid language, and this psychological thriller is no exception. Along the way, Suma also makes a powerful statement about the ease with which guilt can be assumed and innocence awarded, not only in the criminal justice system, but in our hearts--in the stories we tell ourselves. A fabulous, frightening read.” —Booklist, starred review “The wholly realistic view of adolescents meeting the criminal justice system is touched at first with the slimmest twist of an otherworldly creepiness, escalating finally to the truly hair-raising and macabre. Eerie, painful and beautifully spine-chilling.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review “This haunting and evocative tale of magical realism immerses readers in two settings that seem worlds apart . . . Suma’s unflinchingly honest depiction of the potentially destructive force of female friendship and skillful blending of gritty realism with supernatural elements is reminiscent of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Wintergirls, and the eerie mood she evokes is unnervingly potent.” —School Library Journal, starred review “In lyrical, authoritative prose, Suma weaves the disparate lives of [the] three girls into a single, spellbinding narrative that explores guilt, privilege, and complicity with fearless acuity. . . The twisting, ghostly tale of Ori’s life, death, and redemption is unsettling and entirely engrossing.” —The Horn Book Magazine, starred review “Gratifyingly disturbing . . . Suma craftily sets the two stories against one another, moving between Violet’s fiercely grounded account and Amber’s hauntingly destabilized one, enticing readers to figure out how the pieces go together.” —Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books, starred review “Powerful . . . The compelling narrative, written in scintillating prose and featuring incredibly real characters, brings the two stories together in an explosive finale with a supernatural twist that results in a satisfying resolution.” —VOYA, starred review “Gripping . . . Just try to put this down.” —Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review “A suspenseful tour de force, a ghost story of the best sort, the kind that creeps into your soul and haunts you.” —Libba Bray, author of The Diviners and A Great and Terrible Beauty “Fearlessly imagined and deliciously sinister, The Walls Around Us is hypnotic, luring the reader deeper and deeper into its original, shocking narrative.” —Michelle Hodkin, author of the Mara Dyer Trilogy “Written in luscious and deliciously creepy prose not easy to forget . . . This is a story about guilt and innocence, about secrets and how deep we let people into those places within us, and it’s a story about how the past can define our present, even if we try desperately to keep that past under wraps. Put it on your radars now; this is an outstanding literary young adult novel more than worth the wait.” —Book Riot #1 Spring 2015 Kids’ Indie Next List Pick A Junior Library Guild Selection

Hannah Derzanovich

2 1/2 stars.

There's just something about this type of story that's so vague and plotless, it's difficult for me to really enjoy it. The writing was good and I liked the characters. Might be a better read for someone who likes scary stories?

Jen Estrella

I had no expectations when I started reading this book. I just wanted to finish a standalone because the exam I scheduled persistently sends me notifications, as if I was not already well aware of its existence. I delved into this book wondering what in the world was wrong with this portion of the plot: 
  ...a supernatural tale of guilt and of innocence, and of what happens when one is mistaken for the other.
 I thought it was such an unnecessary reveal that I wondered whether this novel even carried any element of surprise. 

I thought wrong. It's not so much a thriller as it is a mishmash of paranormal and mindfuckery (I'll let you know when I come up with a more decent term). As for the writing, well, everyone knows I'm a sucker for prose, and the writing is as everyone says it is - haunting (to the extent where one may even consider horrid disturbing deaths as peaceful).


  Not one of us was truly innocent, not when we were made to stand in the light, our bits and cavities and cavity fillings exposed. 


There's so much probing around the inner workings of a girl's mind which is both pretty interesting and unsettling if you ask me. I also liked how the author paced the entire story, the alternating POVs, and the all-powerful narratives. I found myself drawn to Ori, and I kept wondering whether such a person exists and how I would love to drink tea and just talk with a person of such character. 

Reading this book feels so much like watching Inception and Black Swan all over again, but don't fret. This isn't some drama involving self-harm brought about by psychological distress, although it does come pretty close. Regardless, the feeling of being brain blotched becomes all too familiar as the novel draws to a close. 

And I'll have you know that the best parts of the story are not those detailed exploration of thoughts, or the more-than-decent characterizations. The ending (the last three chapters to be specific) after all, is the best part. It was a thrilling and satisfying end to an intricately designed piece. Look forward to it. 

So if you want to read something incredibly freaky yet disturbingly beautiful, go forth and read this book. 

Well, this is just me trying to express my thoughts more coherently. My actual reaction after finishing this book was: Oh dear. I underestimated this book, and look where that got me. It is almost 1 in the morning, but how am I supposed to sleep when this book just freaked the hell out of me. WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED.

Anastaciya

2.5☆
There has to be a separate genre for stories about twisted ballet dancers

Cortnie

Helena

This is one of the most confusing books I've ever read, damn.

Jessica Nottingham

Hmmm... I still don't really know exactly how I feel about this book, and I've been mulling it over for a few hours now. Admittedly, I didn't read the blurb before starting The Walls Around Us. I simply noticed that it had a ton of love thrown at it, plus that I hadn't yet reviewed it as a NetGalley book, and decided to make it my next read. It's nice to go in with no preconceived notions, and just really let a book sweep me away. This one just didn't do that as easily as I expected it to.

The base story, the story that goes back and forth between the calculating Violet and the slightly lost Amber, was pretty spot on for me. I loved this story of two girls, in such different circumstances, each facing the truth trapped inside themselves. It's tough to imagine such young girls committing any type of atrocities, but Nova Ren Suma weaves this story that makes you feel for them. It makes you understand, even if you don't necessarily forgive.

What lost me, and what I afterwards realized was in the synopsis, was the "ghostly" aspect of this book. It's difficult to explain without spoiling anything, and I absolutely want to leave this vague for anyone still interested in this book, but this portion of the book just felt like it was missing something. I can't put my finger on what, exactly. It was like at some point the book wandered off into the forest, and I lost track of it in the trees. After the first few chapters, I had already figured out the main plot points that were to come. So the "mystery" aspect of this wasn't really there for me. Plus I all but despised Violet. So I didn't care all that much if something terrible were to come her way.

Then there was the ending. Which, although it actually did fit with the book as whole, really felt unsatisfying to me. I was confused at first. Then, after reading through it at second time, I finally understood what had happened. Still, I didn't feel like it was what I wanted. Redemption is great. Revenge is understandable. This, however, was really confusing. I'm sure there are plenty out there who will appreciate the vagueness of it all. I really wanted solid closure though.

So, I'm going to settle this right at 3 stars. If anything, I'm going to say that this book has peaked my interest in terms of Nova Ren Suma as an author. This is the first book of hers that I have read, and now that I see how solidly she can build characters, I'm intrigued so see what else is out there. Rest assured, this all my opinion. As I mentioned above, there is a ton of love for this book and I see a lot of things other people will love. It just wasn't exactly what I was looking for.

Gretchen Gomez

The only reason why I gave it two stars is because the writing is beautiful but other then that? I didn't care what happened with the characters. I kept feeling "Black Swan" vibes and I didn't like Black Swan. I only liked Amber's POV but I didn't care for Violet.

I would recommend going into this blind because the synopsis gives away TOO MUCH!

Wiktoria Balcerak &
The walls around us by Nova Ren Suma

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The walls around us by Nova Ren Suma