No Safety In Numbers [Hardcover]

Dayna Lorentz (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 29, 2012 | Series: No Safety in Numbers

Life As We Knew It meets Lord of the Flies in a mall that looks just like yours

A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall. At first nobody knows if it's even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there's no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are four teens.

These four different narrators, each with their own stories, must cope in unique, surprising styles, changing in ways they wouldn't have predicted, trying to find solace, safety, and escape at a time when the adults are behaving badly.

This is a gripping look at people and how they can--and must--change under the most dire of circumstances.

And not always for the better.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Think of the heart-racing chase of The Hunger Games but a giant mall is your arena and everyone is potentially a tribute."

(Seventeen.com )

"Engrossing...A whopping and disturbing cliffhanger serves as the conclusion. Readers will anxiously await the sequel."

(Kirkus Reviews )

"Foreshadowing and vivid staging build a sense of claustrophobia and desperation...readers will eagerly await the next installment."

(Publishers Weekly )

About the Author

Dayna Lorentz lives in South Burlington, Vermont.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Dial (May 29, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803738730
• ISBN-13: 978-0803738737
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #677,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars 'Crapaclysm' at the local mall July 2, 2012

By Cheryl Stout TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

"No Safety in Numbers" tells the story (scary in this day and age) of thousands of people caught in a shopping mall during a quarantine. A biological weapon goes off in an air duct and suddenly a Senator and her family are trapped in the mall with many others.

The story is told from the points-of-view of four teenagers that are in the mall - two girls and two boys. Character development of these teens is handled well. The reader really gets to know how each is feeling during the disaster and the teen "voices" seem realistic.

There ARE some gaping holes in the plot. The actual quarantine procedures do not seem too realistic at all. The book worked as a teenage angst story much better than a disaster story. And talk about a cliffhanger. Not even any warning - the story just ended; chopped off. I understand this is the first book in a trilogy but I definitely think the ending could have been handled better.

So, I mostly enjoyed the story even though handled clumsily in spots. I don't know that I enjoyed it enough to continue with the trilogy.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but Leaves You Hanging June 3, 2012

By OpheliasOwn VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

3.5 Stars

As a person who hates malls with every ounce of her being, I can honestly say the idea of being trapped in a mall with tons of other people and no way out might be my idea of the seventh layer of hell! Now add a possible biochemical weapon, and I am terrified by Dayna Lorentz's No Safety in Numbers!

As Marco was running for his life in the mall parking garage from the beefy jerk from school, he had no idea his hiding spot was also the hiding spot of something a lot more sinister. A bomb. Lexi's mom, The Senator, thought a family outing was going to make up for all the time she has to work, but she couldn't have predicted how wrong she would be as the mall had to be quarantined. Now tons of people are locked down in the mall with no idea what is happening.

At first it seems like a slight inconvenience for most, and maybe even a fun sleepover for others, but the novelty of being held captive in a mall wears off quickly. The bathrooms quickly become filthy, food starts to run out, and riots break out when people realize just how trapped they really are. When people start getting sick and the government agencies require everyone to submit to a blood test, people begin to realize there is something even scarier than being trapped in a mall- being trapped in a mall with a deadly virus rampaging through its halls.

This was an interesting story and one a lot of kids would not be able to stop thinking about. The mall is a place of fun, a haven for kids to shop and goof around and just be kids. So when it becomes a nightmare, it makes everyone reevaluate their previous beliefs. The story also does a good job of showing the progression of such a situation. People aren't panicked at first. They are bored and making the best of the situation.... But when things go south, they really get ugly. Looting, violence, and every other manner of human nature when people are scared and determined.

Although the story was good, it had some huge holes. First, I can't imagine it would take people 6 whole days to panic. I think a day, maybe two, and everything would just implode. People don't just accept a quarantine, and especially not when there is the threat of a deadly virus. I know FEMA and the other government agencies would be relatively good about locking things down, but no force could control tat many scared people. And why didn't anyone question the store that was taken over as a command center until the very end? And why did the credit card machines still work when the phones and internet lines were taken down? There were definitely some holes in the story, but it was still entertaining, which is all you can really ask for. It would be appropriate for any manner of student and has an average reading level. But be forewarned, it is apparently a trilogy, so there is no resolution at ALL at the end of the book. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Could This Really Happen? August 10, 2012

By Patricia ONeal

Format:Hardcover

No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz held my attention from beginning to end. A mall with 150 stores plus a bomb tends to spike interest. All types of people Saturday shop in their local mall. Most of the crowd in this mall have no clue of the reason police are isolating them. The rule is no one goes leaves and no one enters. This book looks at the reactions of people as they are trapped inside the mall.

Anger, discomfort, hunger, and greed seem predominant. How would you handle an angry teen who was no longer comfortable being trapped at the mall? With the no one in and no one out rule, food becomes a limited commodity. Mall restaurants begin to run low on supplies without normal daily deliveries. It does not take long before shoppers have spent all of their money. Some of them steal from the merchants.
Special medical needs create harrowing situations. Boredom rears its ugly head. What happens if one tries to escape or contact family and friends outside of the mall?

Dayna Lorentz tackles these issues and more in No Safety in Numbers. The story moves well and the characters are well-rounded. Dialogue and private thoughts give much character insight. Some of the events are true to a modern teen-age world, but use situational ethics. Even language becomes slightly rough at times. Sadly these events and slightly rough language are true to the times in which we live.

Ending of the book is a real surprise. Hopefully another segment is forth-coming in the near future.

Beware! This book could become an actual segment of our lives.
How would you handle life isolated in the mall?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll never think of a weekend trip to the mall the same way again June 20, 2012

By Sara VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I arrived at work today to find a package of No Safety in Numbers waiting for me in my mail slot. I had never heard of it, but, inside the package, I found a face mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer, which, luckily, piqued my interest. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the cover art on the galley I was sent. Personally, I think a black background with a red title would look cleaner. The crinkled yellow background that it features now makes it look almost childish, not serious, which I feel would be more fitting of the plot. BUT if you find the cover off putting like I did, whatever you do, don't dismiss this debut!

I love the concept of this novel, though it isn't necessary something you've never seen before. It's a movie plot that's been done more than a few times and is being pitched as Contagion meets Lord of the Flies, though, in all honesty, it leans a bit more towards Contagion then the latter. Still, Dayna Lorentz focuses on a group of teens trapped in this dangerous situation, which keeps what could be tired idea fresh.

I don't know a lot about biological warfare, or warfare in general, but I know enough to be terrified of the possibilities it could create. The setting of No Safety in Numbers makes the idea more present and realistic. The reactions of those quarantined, with little explanation and virtually no information, were, simultaneously, understandable and unbelievable. Being an outside observer, while still being able to put oneself in the position of the character, the reader is at an interesting crossroads. I realized that I would probably try some of the same things if I were trapped inside, but I also know, as the reader, it would all be pointless and lend itself to chaos....

I appreciated that each of the characters had relatable and realistic feelings about the situation. At one point, one yearned for a leader, even one lacking stability, one wanted to help others, one didn't want to feel alone, and another felt separate from everyone else... The next moment feelings would seem to switch between the characters as more unforeseen events developed, lending the characters greater personality.

No Safety in Numbers is the first in a planned trilogy, but the ending of book one wrapped up nicely while still leaving me craving the continuation. Towards the end of this book, I was feeling more of a Lord of the Flies vibe, which definitely caused some excitement and leads me to believe the next installment promises good things. I'd definitely add this one to your 2012 to-read list... you'll never think of a weekend trip to the mall the same way again! Read more ›