Hana by Lauren Oliver [Review]

February 29, 2012 in Children's & Young Adult, Dystopian, Reviews

Hana by Lauren Oliver [Review]

Synopsis

Lauren Oliver’s riveting, original digital story set in the world of her New York Times bestseller Delirium.

The summer before they’re supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss.

But on the surface, Hana must be a model of perfect behavior. She meets her approved match, Fred Hargrove, and glimpses the safe, comfortable life she’ll have with him once they marry. As the date for her cure draws ever closer, Hana desperately misses Lena, wonders how it feels to truly be in love, and is simultaneously terrified of rebelling and of falling into line.

In this digital story that will appeal to fans of Delirium and welcome new admirers to its world, readers will come to understand scenes from Delirium through Hana’s perspective. Hana is a touching and revealing look at a life-changing and tumultuous summer.

Review

This short story doesn’t really tread any new ground (apart from a shocking reveal at the end) retelling as it does, events that took place in Delirium but from Hana’s perspective. But where is does succeed is in really rounding out Hana’s character.

You never truly get to know someone, until you’ve walking in their shoes, and this story allows us to do that with Lena’s best friend. In Delirium we saw Hana as a beautiful, strong girl who liked parties. In Hana we see her insecure side, her desire to know more, even about the Deliria,

It’s not really a necessary read to the series, but for that alone is one I feel is worth it.

Rating

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Buy: Hana by Lauren Oliver

Tags: Hodder & Stoughton, Lauren Oliver, Read in 2012

11 Comments »

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11 thoughts on “Hana by Lauren Oliver [Review]”

Kailana says:

February 29, 2012 at 6:17 am

It’s good this actually serves a purpose. The obsession with e-stories and novellas in this digital age is a good thing, but sometimes it is really just a rehash of events that have all ready been touched on in the book… Sort of disappointing.

Iris says:

March 2, 2012 at 4:46 pm

I enjoyed Delirium when I read it, but I have to admit that I had to think hard to remember who Hana was again, until you mentioned the parties. I’m curious now, about the reveal at the end..

Cliona says:

March 3, 2012 at 2:43 pm

I loved this! Great review

Darren says:

March 5, 2012 at 10:43 pm

Thanks! It was a fun little ‘insert’ into the main story arc.

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GrazingPages says:

March 4, 2012 at 6:04 pm

I’m really excited to read this one. I loved delirium and cannot wait to read it from Hana’s perspective.

Darren says:

March 5, 2012 at 10:28 pm

It’s obivoiusly a lot shorter than Delerium, so only covers some of the details, but it is an interesting examination of Hana’s motivations.

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Aik says:

March 5, 2012 at 12:58 pm

I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never read any of Lauren’s books, but I’ve been hearing nothing but praises regarding her publications. Plus, Hana sounds really good. I think I’m going to give it a try.

Darren says:

March 5, 2012 at 10:22 pm

She’s got a nice writing style. This one may not be the best one to start with, as it would spoil quite a bit of book one for you!

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Julie S. says:

March 5, 2012 at 2:19 pm

I thought it was a pretty interesting little side story because it helped explain why Hana made the choices she did. It was a little predictable in the original plot but it was good to have confirmation.