All in all, probably not the most interesting or well-written YA dystopfic out there, but a perfectly readable entry for those who can’t get enough of the genre. The target audience will probably eat up the who-can-we-trust suspense, the action sequences (including paintball, of all things), the likable, outcast hero, and the romance. Then again, this is a book for younger readers, and I doubt too many will be concerned about that, or even recognize the creative property that Wells is, um, inspired by. Unfortunately, the twist that comes later would have been inexcusably silly in a grown-up novel. Not everything at Maxfield, of course, is what is seems, and, like Lost, it had me hooked. The truce that exists between them is tense at best, and Benson must choose his allies and adversaries carefully. Cue shades of Lord of the Flies, Never Let Me Go, and the TV show Lost, as our protagonist learns that the students have organized themselves into different factions, some bent on following the rules, some out to cause mayhem, and some with more pragmatic ideas.

However, upon arrival, he finds that Maxfield Academy contains no adults, is full of security cameras, is surrounded by a high wall, and has a few simple rules that students must never, ever break. The setup is intriguing enough: a teenage orphan from Pittsburgh named Benson looks to escape his dreary life by winning a scholarship to a high-end private school in New Mexico.

I will say that this YA novel kept me entertained during a long drive. SO well done! Couldn't ask for a better author or narrator! :( Any additional comments? What a fantastic book for my first audible experience.

How incredibly devastating for these children when they are betrayed by these very same 'parents'.learning those who profess to love them more than anything are really ending up being their biggest nightmares and adversaries. and without a doubt, will always strive to have their best interests in mind under any and all circumstances. Which character – as performed by Michael Goldstrom – was your favorite? Benson Fisher Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? I was ticked off at the adults throughout this book because they are the ones who taught their children they can always trust and count on them. He stepped up to every challenge, and I really could imagine him growing from a boy into a young man by the end. With an incredibly will written book like 'VARIANT', that's no easy feat! What was one of the most memorable moments of Variant? Following Benson's growth and decision making as his challenges kept getting bigger and bigger. Would you consider the audio edition of Variant to be better than the print version? I consider the audio edition to be EQUAL to the print edition. Goldstrom Nailed 'VARIANT' with A++ Narrating

Variant by robison wells