Review: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Wow. I just finished reading the second installment in this trilogy and I am without a better word to describe my current state of mind. Just wow. 

I don't want to get too far into the details because this book is amazing and the less you know going in the better it will be. I do want to talk about the religious parallels that are so present in this series. The Thunderhead is this all knowing and all powerful sentient technology that people can talk to and get guidance from. It's almost like if people were able to talk to God and get an immediate response. The Thunderhead itself makes these comparisons of itself to a religious deity. It is watching humanity make mistakes and it wants to stop us from destroying ourselves, but is bound by the restrictions of it's own laws and the things that it's creators purposely hid from it. Humanity created it so it is like the child, but also it has grown so powerful that it has now become the parent figure. It's as if humanity created it's own God. 

The entire plot and concept creates a lot of questions and really good discussion topics. We have this world that the Thunderhead has made perfect for people. No death, disease, hunger, despair, war...it's a utopia. However, mankind, in our infinite selfishness is about to ruin everything the Thunderhead has tried to do by being evil and destructive. It's the Garden of Eden scenario and we are about to bite the proverbial apple. Mankind is inherently self destructive and even the Thunderhead cannot stop us. The plot eventually culminates in one of the most mind bending, never saw it coming, surprise endings I've read in a while. I was completely taken aback by the way everything unfolded in the last few chapters. I was simultaneously shocked and dismayed which was balanced by being impressed with the plot twists and writing.

We are left with one major cliff hanger and I for one cannot wait to see what happens in the final installment in this thought provoking trilogy. I purposely kept this review vague because this book is so full of wow moments that it's better to go in knowing less. Trust me, it's amazing and you should definitely go pick this one up.