Review (Becky): The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To

Title: The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To

Author: DC Pierson

Pages: 226

Genre: Science Fiction

Audience: Young Adult

Rating: Four stars: I'd get coffee with this book and brainstorm time travel ideas.

Goodreads Summary When Darren Bennett meets Eric Lederer, there's an instant connection. They share a love of drawing, the bottom rung on the cruel high school social ladder and a pathological fear of girls. Then Eric reveals a secret: He doesn’t sleep. Ever. When word leaks out about Eric's condition, he and Darren find themselves on the run. Is it the government trying to tap into Eric’s mind, or something far darker? It could be that not sleeping is only part of what Eric's capable of, and the truth is both better and worse than they could ever imagine.

My Thoughts:

This book was not quite what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it anyway. The plot wasn't especially original ( much like the matrix), but it was written so honestly and unpredictably that it felt new. The characters seemed painfully real in all of their awkward, insecurities. Readers should be forewarned that there are many red flags, and this is not for the younger or more sensitive teen.  Sex, violence, drugs, explicit and offensive language all crop up a lot.

Only the two main characters saw any real development, but it was refreshing to have both of them portrayed as unpopular, unexperienced freshmen and see how they evolved.  This story is undeniably geared more towards boys, though some girls might enjoy it as well (myself included).  I think it would have been five stars from me if it had been realism instead of sci fi. The emotions the MC felt were easy to relate to and I found myself sympathizing with him much more than I initially expected.

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.