White Rabbit Red Wolf was very good and also such a wild ride your entire mind is going to get whiplash.
I did go in thinking this was a contemporary about an anxious mathematician. And it is. But it’s also a twisty spy-conspiracy thriller with a little bit of Xmen thrown in at some corners and so much math. Peter is literally trying to find the formula that will calculate his anxiety so he can understand why he’s always so scared. The kid counts in square roots to calm down!!
Sometimes if I try to do maths, my eyeballs bleed. I actually stayed playing music for such a long time because you really only have to count up to four. I don’t even count page numbers of books, ok, I let Goodreads do that for me.
So I really admired the math and (will confess) I got totally lost several times. I don’t think that is a problem for the enjoyment, but THERE’S MATH, OK PEOPLES. FAIR WARNING.
It’s such a mind bendy book!
One minute you’re reading about Peter, who lives with his twin sister and super intelligent scientist mother, and then the next — GUNS. BLOOD. KIDNAPPINGS. ATTEMPTED MURDER. REAL MURDER. RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE. CONSPIRACIES. DOUBLE-CROSSING-AGENTS. ANXIETY.
Confusion? I know it. Sometimes it was all I knew ha ha ha…ahem. But honestly the wildness really captivated me too! I wasn’t actually expecting this kind of book, but I was thrilled and addicted and trying desperately to work out the good vs badies. Who is who?! Or is everyone morally grey?!
It’s best not to go in with TOO much knowledge of the plot! But basically Peter’s scientist mother is shot and kidnapped and he and his twin are being rounded up by the British super secret intelligence. For their “own safety”. His twin sister has vanished though…and seriously who the heckkkk do they trust.
The whole book screws with Peter’s head — aka it screws with ours. And by the end?! I have so. many. questions. Open ending, hi, just hit me why don’t you.
Peter is the kind of narrator you fall in love with: total gangly, anxious, super genius and dork.
Peter is an Anxious Wreck On Two Legs™. He has a panic disorder (he’s not autistic) and an eating disorder (which I believe is #ownvoices rep from the author note). He’s a genius but bullied, and he’s always being beaten up and faking he’s not smart in class just to survive. His twin sister, Bel, absolutely DESTROYS anyone who touches him and I love that kind of relationship.
- There are so many epic intelligent women in this book!!
- Also Peter’s best-friend is a girl with OCD
- Peter is very self-depreciating about his issues and adorably funny
- ALSO DON’T TRUST ANYONE EVER
- really heartfelt and good mental health rep
- I don’t think it encourages cures or “fixes” (apart from wanting to just cope better with life)
- SPY CONSPIRACY MIND TWISTY PLOT
- maths, more than 2+2 actually
- a really adorkable character you want to protect
- epic sibling relationships
- lies lies lies lies lies
- actual hilarious lines that will make you bust up laughing
- British setting
- being on the run and screaming into the void about it
- basically imagine someone REALLY UNPREPARED to cope with their adventure? Meet Peter Blankman, ok. This poor kid.
I’d definitely recommend this for anyone who loves their minds twisted and to have a REALLY wild ride. It’s a bit improbable and sometimes confusing, but it has deeply flawed and loveable characters. It cares about diversity. And it’s FUNNY.
THANK YOU TO WALKER BOOKS FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. White Rabbit Red Wolf by Tom Pollock was published July 2018.
Peter Blankman is afraid of everything and must confront unimaginable terror when his mother is attacked.
Seventeen-year-old Peter Blankman is a maths prodigy. He also suffers from severe panic attacks. Afraid of everything, he finds solace in the orderly and logical world of mathematics and in the love of his family: his scientist mum and his tough twin sister Bel, as well as Ingrid, his only friend.
However, when his mother is found stabbed before an award ceremony and his sister is nowhere to be found, Pete is dragged into a world of espionage and violence where state and family secrets intertwine. Armed only with his extraordinary analytical skills, Peter may just discover that his biggest weakness is his greatest strength.
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ahh this looks like a book I’ll enjoy definitely gonna read it later! loves to get my mid twisted haha
It’s actually strangely awesome to have your mind bent and twisted by a book, right?!
Funny? Open ending? I WILL CONSIDER THIS. The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich is still the weirdest book I’ve ever read.
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Omg I actually OWN the Dead House and haven’t read it yet! I want to though! (Fun story: I actually have the same agent as Dawn!)
IMAGINE THINKING THAT THIS BOOK ISN’T PERFECT FOR ME ASGDHSHH
Ahhh I want to read this ASAP. I love twisty stories and this book seems to have great reps. Not to mention I also love math. HOW RARE LMAO.
The weirdest book I’ve read is We Were Liars. The plot twist was just kinda weird for me. I haven’t read action/adventure books which feature mental illnesses and I believe we need more of them!
Definitely adding this book to my TBR.
YOU ACTUALLY LIKE MATH?! WHAT ARE YOU, RAIN. I AM SCARED NOW.😂 But seriously I do hope you get to read this someday! And We Were Liars absolutely smacked me into the middle of next week too. Like whattttt. I want to reread it actually because it’s been a while! But it won’t have the same punch.😂
Yet another delightful review that made me want to run to the library and read this book above the other 5872 books on my TBR.
It’s not like we need a LIFE. Just more books to read. :’)
This sounds interesting, I might check it out. Maybe it will make me better at math??? Also how could you think this ISN’T a thriller the blurb says ‘this book is a lie’?
Must mind bendy book I’ve read is probably The Maze Runner. Sometimes I’m still trying to understand what happened
Because I dON’T PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS, FRANK. I literally read Grim Lovelies and got shocked it was set in Paris. There is an actual Eiffel Tower on the cover ok. This is definitely why I have not turned into Sherlock I think.
(I STILL have so many questions about The Maze Runner!😂)
Literally the first thing I noticed about the book is that the cover is a lie and it also says ‘this book is a lie’…… it’s perfect!! 😂😂 Cover of the Year Award goes to Tom Pollock
But anyways, this story sounds really interesting and I’ll definitely be reading it sometime! I love love love that it has mental health rep but it’s not the central plot – the MC has a story outside of that and that’s fantastic!! Definitely we need more of those!
Thanks for another fabulous review!
It’s really good that the book outright tells you that your brain is about to be screwed over. 😂 I STILL WASN’T PREPARED THOUGH AHHHH. And I think it’s so important to read action/adventure stories with mental health rep too?! We don’t get enough!
I AM SO READY TO READ THIS BOOK THIS IS THE ADVENTURE KIND OF STUFF I AM LOOKING FOR I AM rEADY!!!
SPIES! YESSSS PLS
GUNS!!! LIES!! (look at me being the ultimate peaceful smoll hooman)
honestly peter and his sister sound lovely (much like me nd my brother except for the bullying part and that we both are pretty happy to show how smart we are lol) I am so fiercely protective of him–now I’ve become a bit more chill but when we were younger OH I would be the ultimate “WHO HURT YOU BOI I WILL bREAK THEM!” kind of sister y’know…just…the usual angry young one…
I love how you summarize books in bullet points tho ‘m not much good with that method myself oops.
I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE EXCITED. I THINK THIS BOOK IS AMAZING AND YOU WILL LOVE IT. *throws confetti everywhere* WHO NEEDS CHILL WHEN WE CAN HAVE ALL CAPS AND GUNS AND LIES IN BOOKS!! Ahem. And aww I love that you had such a good relationship with your brother! That is the best. 😭💛💛
Oh my god, I wrote a really long comment, and then IT DISAPPEARED! Ugggh! Basically, I loved this book. I loved how twisty it was, and how I never expected anything, and just decided not to believe a word I read any more. And how Peter was adorable. But also, his mum! His sister! And his friend (whose name I can’t remember)! And I loved how it was about an anxious guy, but not actually about his anxiety, even though it effected him constantly. The press release that came with my proof had a letter from the author that said he wanted to write a story where the guy with a mental illness got to be a hero, and I just love that! I loved this whole story, and I am so glad you did, too!
Aww no I’m sorry it ate your comment! I didn’t find it in spam so I don’t know what happened. (I hate it when wordpress mucks up.)
But YES SO MUCH TO LOVE and it just excites me to read action/adventure stories with mental health rep!? I felt so much for Peter and his spiral were very relatable and well written. ajfdklsad I loved it all and AM STILL NOT SURE WHO TO TRUST.
This is the first time I’m hearing about this book but generally books with a lot of math in it, I usually skip because I leave it feeling even more dumb than I began. I also took music for many years, and my teachers lied to me and said it will help improve my math skills, and I assure you , it did not. Though I did enjoy my time as a band kid.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one, Cait!
Thanks for sharing,
~Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Omg I definitely felt dumb several times reading it.😂And as much as I liked music, I was SO BAD at all the math-needing parts eep. (But you can fudge a lot of music, whereas you really have to write something intelligent down while doing maths. hmm. Least to say I did not do well with math in school.😂)
A book that I didn’t know I needed! Sounds awesome!
It’s totally not talked about enough!
I’m so attracted to books that completely screw my brain over. I don’t know why but I always think it’s a good book when you’re seriously racking your brain for answers. I need a Goodreads shelf for these books, omg.
I know right?! I LOVE finish a book and going “YEAH WELL I WAS JUST LIED TO” which I mean, this book does promise that in advance.😂 (Also I have no idea what dance academy is?😂I think this guy is in his 30s or 40s though….I might be wrong.)
Yes haha exactly!! And oh that’s probably not him, dance academy was this ballet kids tv show on the Aussie kids channel ABC3 that I was slightly obsessed with haha
Real question tho. Is this the same Tom Pollock from dance academy? Cause that boy must be hella talented
I’m so torn on this one because, eh, maths. I’m pretty sure I’m allergic to it. And if I’m not, why take the chance? You never know. I could develop an allergy still.
But the tagline on the cover immediately caught my attention. Because I guess I enjoy being lied to? I don’t know. But it immediately made me go, “Yes!” So I might have to give this one a try. xD
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I do so so like books that totally turn your brain upside down.😂So I think that’s why this one really worked for me!
Oh man, this was not on my TBR at all but it most definitle is now! I can’t cope with making it any bigger but it grows by itself…
I swear TBRs just take on a life of their own.😂
The books must be making their own book-babies!