Neverworld Wake
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Families need to know that Marisha Pessl’sNeverworld Wake is psychological thriller that follows five estranged friends who reunite at an isolated seaside mansion a year after graduation from a New England prep school. Beatrice Hartley, who narrates the story, has come because she needs closure about the death of her boyfriend, Jim. Did he really kill himself or could it have been murder? The first night the friends spend together is interrupted by a knock at the door. A mysterious man who calls himself the Keeper announces that they are now stuck in time -- in a Neverworld where they will live the same day over and over. The only way out? A vote that will let one person live while the other four must die. This is a dark story with characters whose emotional troubles are only magnified as time passes. The friends regularly drink and get drunk, and one is revealed to be a drug dealer. A death is described in some detail, characters buy guns and storm a police station, a man is tied up and threatened with a knife, a family is held at gunpoint, a person hangs himself. Strong language includes single uses of "goddamn," "damn," "s--t" and "f--k." The plotline is intricate and filled with unexpected twists and turns, so readers need to pay close attention.
Community Reviews
Wow
Report this review
What's the Story?
In NEVERWORLD WAKE, Beatrice Hartley is in search of the truth about her boyfriend Jim’s death, and it’s a terrifying trip to that truth. A year after graduating from a tony New England prep school, she and four estranged high school friends reunite at Wincroft, an isolated mansion on the Rhode Island coast. There’s Whitley, whose family owns Wincroft; Cannon, a techie; Kip, who’s gay; and Martha, who’s on scholarship at MIT. After a night of partying and drinking, they return to Wincroft and a knock on the front door. A man who calls himself the Keeper announces, "You’re all dead." Only to amend that to "nearly dead." He then tells them that they are now in limbo, trapped in a Neverworld where they will repeat the same day over and over until they take a unanimous vote that will allow only one person to live. While they'll be able to leave Wincroft (they travel as far as Greece), they must return within a specific period of time and that time gets shorter and shorter as the days pass. Shattering secrets are revealed and some of the friends turn to violence as they desperately try to find a way out of the Neverworld and unlock the mystery behind Jim’s death.
Is It Any Good?
This "what just happened? I never saw that coming" psychological thriller is filled with moral dilemmas and enough twists and turns to captive almost any reader. While Neverworld Wake has a cast of emotionally flawed characters whose actions may be disturbing to some readers, these same characters and their actions can also open the door to serious conversations between parents and teens. How does drinking effect your ability to make good decisions? Is violence ever justified? What kind of secrets should never be kept? The novel has a complex plotline, so it may not be the best choice for those looking for a casual easy read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the part drinking plays in Neverworld Wake. Do you think the characters would have made different choices if they hadn’t been drinking? How do you think the story would have unfolded if drinking had not been involved?
Is there a day in your life you would like to live over again? What would you do differently?
A number of violent acts are committed by the friends. Do you think they acted out of desperation? Is desperation ever any excuse for violence?
Book Details
- Author: Marisha Pessl
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Book Characters, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Delacorte Press
- Publication date: June 5, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 18
- Number of pages: 327
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: May 23, 2018
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Leaving
Fast-paced thriller seeks to solve mystery of missing teen.
-
The Future of Us
Fun time-travel twist teaches importance of now.
-
And Then There Were None
Masterful murder mystery takes dark view of justice.
-
Lost
Excellent, sometimes scary drama for fearless families.
For kids who love thrillers
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate