Lockdown: Escape from Furnace 1

Reviewed by Hayes aka Haute Librarian for TeensReadToo

Gold Star Award Winner! The future has arrived, and teen gangs are ruling the streets. Due to major carnage during the "Summer of Slaughter," authorities have cracked down and opened Furnace Penitentiary, a prison set deep underground for the worst teen offenders, where they will never see the light of day again. Alex Sawyer is sentenced to Furnace after being convicted of murdering his best friend, Toby. Alex says over and over again that he did not kill Toby, but his protests fall on deaf ears, even though it's the truth. Alex descends into Furnace, a prison hewn out of rough rock. He immediately notices the weak are prey and the strong will live, as the prison gang threatens his life and his new cellmate, Donovan, educates him on how to survive. There is more to fear than the prison gangs, or the slop called food served in the cafeteria. There are the black suits - enormous, hulking men with silvery-sheened eyes and shark-like grins who guard the prison. There are the wheezers - twisted, malformed creatures in leather overcoats, their faces obscured by gas masks literally stitched to their skin. And there is the bloodwatch - an eerie red light that will suddenly wash over the prison cells in the dead of night, letting the inmates know the wheezers are coming for one of them. Alex struggles to hold on to his humanity, his sanity, and his hope that he will survive Furnace, even if survival means hatching an impossible scheme that could kill him. LOCKDOWN is one of the best books I have read this year! Smith's debut of the ESCAPE FROM FURNACE series keeps the reader fascinated from the first page; this is the first of a fantastic series!

11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

This is book is great! I thought it would be much more scarier but no. Instead it was intense, mind-reeling great book. I enjoyed it more than what I thought I would.

We meet Alex who has been wrongfully imprisoned. Through the plot, the reader runs with Alex as he is trying to escape the furnace. In the furnace, Alex is quick to learns the in and out of things. Even I was doing my best to catch up with rules and trying to survive! I loved that the plot never once backed down. The plot just kept spinning around the winner bringing to a place of hot fury.

Fury? Why yes? Being wrongfully imprisoned changed Alex before the reader. He is no longer the stupid boy but now a man trying to survive. I loved how strong and bold he got. He never ceased to amaze me. He spied, broke rules, and is determined to escape.

Mr. Gordan has intrigued me with the world he created. Greatly written, I entered the world of The Furnace and rooted for Alex. Will he escape. Only the next book will know. Which I am going to get ASAP! Lockdown is an amazing book written to a degree I can not describe. I can still fill the hot air surrounding me as I write this review. Definitely pick up this book. If you want to be completely in the dark, air so hot and humid you can't breath,with your heart racing to escape, read this.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Excellent

The books cover and description do not disappoint! When I first picked up this book, I thought it sounded interesting, and different from the types of books I usually read. I never have gotten my heart racing from a book, but this one did it! Definitley read this book! You wont be disappointed. It is a little gory, so be warned!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Not Impressed

Although Lockdown is well written, I just could not connect with this story. Right from the start I really didn't get the point and could not believe what was happening; and it only got worse. Little kids in prison for life in what is the equivalent of hell? I don't thinks so. An adult would have a difficult time surviving such trauma and hopelessness but the author expected me to believe that children could endure?

3 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

I usually don't say this, but... Lockdown. Is. Amazing!!! *inser

I usually don't say this, but... Lockdown. Is. Amazing!!! *inserts hardcore-fan squeal*

Being super engrossing and totally un-put-down-able, I couldn't stop reading this book, and ended up finishing it by 4 o'clock in the morning, only when I closed the book with a satisfied smile on my face and went to bed dreaming about Alex's Escape.

What I love about this book:

1. A hero with a complex personality. Alex Sawyer is a school bully, a thief and a burgular --- but never a killer. After he is accused of murdering his partner in crime Toby, he is sentenced to a life behind bars in Furnace Penitentiary, a prison of criminal teens which is located deep beneath the Earth. Alex arrives along with two other inmates, Zee and Monty, both wrongly accused of crimes they never did. When Alex sees Monty being bullied by the Skulls, he couldn't restrain his temper and lashed out to save the poor kid. He does this partly because of his guilt --- he remembered the way he used to terrorize his classmates and saw the monster which was once himself. Alex is not someone you would like at the beginning, but by the end of the novel, you will find yourself taking his side.

2. The plot was entirely unpredictable. Quoting Donovan's own words on Furnace: You'll never know what will happen until it happens. I had a great experience of exploring Furnace, with its intimidating structure, scary proprietors, gory history and horrible inmates. Never once did this book disappoint me in any way. I was literally sucked into the gruesome yet fascinating world of the Furnace where the air is hot and scarce, the atmosphere creepy and frightening and the crushing weight of freedom comes down upon you.

3. The world-building is amazing! From his capture to his developing Furnace-survival-skills to his planned prison break, Alex displays his growth both mentally and emotionally. We also observe how his mind is capable of thinking and creating ideas out of nothing. He did not plan of escape from the first moment he set foot in Furnace, but an idea started to hatch in his mind when certain possibilities open up to him.

4. The literary devices are brilliant! Let me tell you, the author is very skilled in descriptive writing - he uses figures of speech such as metaphors and personifications with an unusual grace. Through his words, I had a clear image of Furnace in my mind's eye - I felt like I was in Alex's mind, seeing events unfolding through a glass.

5. True friendship comes unexpectedly. Alex found his best friend in Donovan, a kid who was sentenced to life imprisonment because of accidentally killing his mom's abusive boyfriend. Alex became good friends with one of the inmates who arrived on the same day with him - a boy called Zee. I really liked how the author wrote their friendship - it felt real and genuine. They always stick up for each other although things went awry. It makes me realize that true friendship is indeed precious.

Bottomline:
Exciting, thrilling and gripping, Escape from Furnace: Lockdown will leave you with nightmares / thinking about it days after you've read it. I'm glad to announce that this book just made its way into my 2012 best books list! Can't wait for book #2!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great Book

I teach 8th grade, and our school librarian recommended this book to my student. We watched a book trailer for it, and it look interesting, so I stopped by Barnes and Noble to pick up a copy. I must say that for a book that was recommended for my 8th graders, I could not put it down. A quick read, but very addicting.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I was addicted the second I read the sample of this book. I have

I was addicted the second I read the sample of this book. I have started reading a lot of dystopian society books as of late and this one is by far my favorite. The approach that is taken here is so much different than what has been circling around these days (not that those books are not great as well). This book will have you doing nothing but read from start to finish. The characters are extremely likable and the action never stops. The imagination that goes into this book is great as well. If you do not like strange creatures and some gore I would not recommend this for you. I have read all the books that have come out so far (4 of them) and none have come close to disappointing me.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book will send chills down your spine

This book is teaching a bully a lesson. The name of it is Lockdown. The bully’s name is Alex. Him and his friends were always pushing people around getting what they wanted from them. But very soon they regretted that. Alex does something that gets his friend killed and almost him with it. He gets blamed for the murder but truthfully he never did it, these people in black suits and gas masks on made it look like it was him. Alex gets blamed and sent to a place called furnace. Furnace was a huge jail underground that is filled with pschopaths. Alex has to try and survive and be careful about the choices he makes.
I really like this story because it scares you and it’s a really intense story through the whole thing. You kind of feel like you are in the story and you have to do your best to survive. If you put yourself in that perspective it makes it a lot better.
The only thing I didn’t like was how the story ends. Alex makes a few friends but he eventually finds out he wont be with them for too long. With just one little mistake his life could be ruined. I would really recommend this book if you like the feeling of being scared.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

BEst BOOK EVER

the author used so much detail i felt like i was in furnacce with alex READ NOW

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

best book ever

it will keep u on your feet. and youll problay be reading for hours and hours at a time

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

lockdown

Alex Sawyer has been condemned to life behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Although he's not looking forward to time spent in a sparse juvy institution - no, after murderous teenagers killed innocent victims on the streets, Alex has been sent to the imposing Furnace. A prison constructed to hold any and all dangerous youth. And the only sentence at Furnace is a life-sentence, basically a death-sentence. As Alex tries to navigate his way through the harsh reality of his new life - fear, hide, fear, work, fear - he begins to dream of the unthinkable: escape.

When asked about his inspiration for the horrific conditions of Furnace in an interview with The Discriminating Fangirl, Smith explained:
"I was thinking less about the news and more about my own worst fears. The thought of being convicted of a crime you didn't commit, and spending your life in jail, is absolutely terrifying."
And terrifying it is. From the heartless jailers to the complete lack of parental control or contact with the inmates on the inside, Furnace is a place directly out of anyone's nightmares (including this reviewer). That said, I was surprised to find Alex's story was full of heart. I know, cliche right? But I have to admit Alex's buff and gruff cell-mate Donovan and his fellow newbie Zee were bright spots in an otherwise red haze.

And for all of you who are scratching their heads with me over the cover? Please, please someone help that clip-art happy cover artist. Dogs! Barb-wire! Guns! Red strobe lights! I feel like I'm looking at some 10th grader's collage on nightmares and frankly it just gives me a headache. The UK cover is much better.

Let's just say after diving deep into the terrifying underbelly of Furnace, I think I'm going back to my original policy of no horror. Although it didn't exactly leave me with nightmares, I'll be the first to admit that I at least like the possibility of rainbows and a happy ever after. Which will never feature in a Furnace book. Never. Smith does a good job of dangling the possibility just out of reach, but it doesn't happen. That's not to say I'm not totally rooting for Alex to figure his way out of Furnace. I am. I'm just not crossing my fingers.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!

It all started many years ago in the playground, where Alex took Daniel Richard's money. That led him to start robbing houses with his friend Toby; now Toby is dead, and Alex was imprisoned in Furnace for a murder he didn't commit. Life in Furnace is hell, they make you work 'til you can't move from exhaustion, they feed you a tasteless mixture of rotten food, and you are in constant danger. But in Furnace, a gang beating you up is not the worst thing that could happen, mutant dogs could chew you to pieces, piggy eyed wheezers could take you in the night and turn you to some kind of monster. Alex is trapped with no chance of escape, but he refuses to accept that. He needs to find a way out. Soon.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book. I thought it was absolutely great! It had many twists and turns, I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next, every time my predictions were wrong. This book was like nothing I've ever read before, it was unique and interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, suspenseful, adrenalin-packed thriller.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely amazing!

I bought this book because it looked like something different from what I normally read (and I was right), but I never expected it to be nearly as good as it was. I couldn't put it down. Smith does a wonderful job of making the reader feel like they are in Furnace (the prison) at times, which is both terrifying and exhilarating. I can't wait to pick up the sequels!

I really liked this book. I like how the story line was it was f

I really liked this book. I like how the story line was it was from when he got in trouble with the smallest thing to him getting framed. It was every detailed in some ways. Like with the dogs and the warden and the other charters. How they were all framed and sent to the underground jail. So please read if you want a fun and exciting book to read to keep you at the edge of your sit. Read it.

I really liked this book. I liked how it started with how every

I really liked this book. I liked how it started with how every thing all started. Like when he stole his first thing. Then he started robbing houses. Then one day it all came down on him. His friend ended up getting killed and he was framed for it all. Then he ended up at furnace. Overall i think it is a good book to read it keeps you at the edge of your seat. Read the book to find out what happens.

I thought that Lockdown: Escape From Furnace was well written an

I thought that Lockdown: Escape From Furnace was well written and that I had a hard time putting the book down when I started. I like how Alex is falsely imprisoned for murdering his best friend. I also think that Alexander Gordon did a good job describing Furnace and the characters it really made me think I was right there in the prison with Alex and his friends. Also I like how he describes the dogs and the weezers on how there things from hell!

Best book EVER!!!!!

This book is amazing. It is fast paced and has lots of action! It will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Not sure...

Was a cool book to read, but it made me feel wierd inside. Iknow that sounds wierd but it made me feel bad for these young kids. Its unimaginable how evil it was for them, but it ended good and bad. But overall probably 2 or 3 stars. It wasn't bad, but like I said it made me feel weird.

Best Teen Horror

This book was creepily fascinating! It's very scary so if you have a wild imagination or hate nightmares, you might want to pass on this book. But Lockdown was great in my opinoin and I can't wait til Death Sentence comes out!!!



PS

that trailor is awesome

Addicting

The plot is mysterious and enticing. Once you start reading, it's difficult to put the book down. The characters have a quality that is familiar to me for some reason, and the setting is easily pictured in my mind. The only thing about this book that I don't care for it's the style of writing - simple and lacking an abundance of figurative language and appealing vocabulary. However, the words that are on the page are truly written well and they allow you to develop the right mindset to feel as if you are in Furnace. Great book and I highly recommend.