Winter's End [Hardcover]

Jean-Claude Mourlevat (Author), Anthea Bell (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2009

In a gripping dystopian novel, four teenagers risk impossible odds to fight against tyranny in a world of dangerous choices — and reemerging hope.

Escape. Milena, Bartolomeo, Helen, and Milos have left their prison-like boarding schools far behind, but their futures remain in peril. Fleeing across icy mountains from a terrifying pack of dog-men sent to hunt them down, they are determined to take up the fight against the despotic government that murdered their parents years before. Only three will make it safely to the secret headquarters of the resistance movement. The fourth is captured and forced to participate in a barbaric game for the amusement of the masses — further proof of the government’s horrible brutality. Will the power of one voice be enough to rouse a people against a generation of cruelty? Translated from the French, this suspenseful story of courage, individualism, and freedom has resonated with young readers across the globe.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—In a dystopian world, an oppressive revolutionary group has taken over. Four teenagers escape the "boarding school" where they have been held since their parents were murdered 15 years earlier for being part of the Resistance. Milena and Bartolomeo become romantically involved and run away together, as do Helen and Milos, separate from the other two. Ultimately, Helen, Milena, and Bartolomeo are reunited in the capital city where they find work at a restaurant doubling as a front for the Resistance movement. However, Milos is imprisoned and sent to a training camp from which he will be forced to compete in one-on-one, barbaric arena fights to the death. As a translation from the French, this book is successful, with only occasional minor awkward moments that do not detract from the story's compelling setting, mood, and tone. Most characters are adequately drawn but some disappear and never return. For example, fierce dog-men are carefully introduced, kill a man, run off to the mountains, and vanish. Also, a few circumstances stretch belief, such as the teens riding buses without being recaptured. Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games (2008) and Catching Fire (2009, both Scholastic) and John Marsden's "Tomorrow" series (Houghton) are stronger books.—Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* In this timeless, dystopian tale of hope in dark times, four teenagers seek freedom from an oppressive society as well as the truth about their parents’ mysterious deaths. Helen, Milena, Milos, and Bartolomeo are all students at gender-segregated boarding schools established by the repressive Phalange government. After Milena and Bart secretly escape, Helen and Milos set out to find them, a search that they hope will bring them in contact with the still-active, underground resistance movement. The teens’ dangerous journeys bring terrifying enemies, unexpected allies, heartbreaking tragedy, and a discovery of both the elemental strength of the human voice and the resiliency of the human spirit. In his first novel for adolescents, French children’s book author Mourlevat deftly blends fantasy, realism, and moments of violence as he explores broad themes of freedom, repression, and redemption. Translator Bell’s visually evocative prose alternates third-person viewpoints among the diverse cast of engaging, sometimes fantastical characters, whose compelling personal stories skillfully build to a dramatic conclusion. An award winner in France, where it was first published, this absorbing, fablelike story celebrates the infinite power of love and courage to inspire others, build a community, and make a difference. Grades 9-12. --Shelle Rosenfeld

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (November 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763644501
• ISBN-13: 978-0763644505
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #907,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, August 15, 2010

By 

Pam G. Edwards - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winter's End (Hardcover)

I'm 15 and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Firstly, this is a very long novel. I ended up finishing it in only two days because it was so captivating. The writing style wasn't irritating, but there wasn't anything special about it either. It's the story that makes this book brilliant. ( I understand that the book was translated from french, but it was translated very well and you couldn't tell)

Anybody who likes apocalyptic or tyrannical government stories will like this. A fair warning though, later on there will be a few scenes not for the faint of heart. There is a large ammount of killing that you may not expect from a teen novel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, February 14, 2010

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter's End (Hardcover)

Four students - Helen, Milena, Milos, and Bart - have run away from their respective prison-like boarding schools. Each of the four have something in common; their parents were all murdered fifteen years ago, which is why they are in these schools to begin with.

But only three of the teens make it to Jahn's restaurant, the headquarters of the Phalange resistance movement. The fourth is captured and forced into playing a barbaric game. If he doesn't play, he'll die. Can one voice stir a change of the brutal ways of the government?

This novel was brilliant. I loved every moment of it. There was never a dull moment. This book was fast-paced and kept me wanting more until there was no more left to read. My only disappointment was the Epilogue, but only because it didn't explain much about Helen, so I was somewhat confused after reading it.

Various parts of the novel seemed awful. Not bad awful, just awful. I couldn't believe how adults could be so rude to teens, just because of their parents! All in all, I enjoyed this book a lot. It wasn't the type of story I normally read, but I was pleasantly surprised by it.

Reviewed by: Ashley B

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Instense Story That Will Draw You In, January 13, 2010

By 

Darcy Wishard "libraryloungelizard.com" (Kelso, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter's End (Hardcover)

Winter's End is a young adult novel by Jean-Claude Mourlevat of France. The dramatic intricate story line follows the life of four teenage students (Helen, Milena, Milos and Bart) who have been forced into prison-like orphanages by the controlling Phalange. The Phalange keeps a tight rein on the students, allowing them only three short visits a year to a `consoler', someone who acts as a parent, to give the students a tiny glimmer of hope in order to control them further. The four conspire to run away. First Milena and Bart leave, with Helen and Milos following within days. Throughout the story the Phalange struggles to maintain their weakening hold over the country, but the Resistance is gaining in strength, numbers and spirit. Milena and Bart learn of their parents and the leading roles they played with the Resistance in an earlier rebellion against the Phalange, which we later discover is the reason the children are taken away to begin with. Inspired by their parents Bart and Milena secretly inspire the community and encourage old allies to reunite against the Phalange.

Meanwhile on their journey Milos and Helen are separated and Milos is taken captive and forced to participate in the barbaric fights held tri annually. Helen meets up with Bart and Milena with the help of secret local resistance fighters and though consumed with worry over Milos she aids in the fight as well. The four are always in each other's thoughts and the three are determined to rescue Milos before he must fight to the death. The story weaves in and out of different character's lives offering brief insights here and there. The characters grow and develop, drawing the reader in so that you find yourself worrying and cheering for them. Winter's End is a slow, deliberate, intense building novel that I would recommend to other readers.