Full Tilt Review
- Tiffany Borys
- Mar 2, 2016
- 3 min read
Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Blake and his younger brother, Quinn, are exact opposites. Blake is the responsible member of the family. He constantly has to keep an eye on the fearless Quinn, whose thrill-seeking sometimes goes too far. But the stakes get higher when Blake has to chase Quinn into a bizarre phantom carnival that traps its customers forever.
In order to escape, Blake must survive seven deadly rides by dawn, each of which represents a deep, personal fear -- from a carousel of stampeding animals to a hall of mirrors that changes people into their deformed reflections. Blake ultimately has to face up to a horrible secret from his own past to save himself and his brother -- that is, if the carnival doesn't claim their souls first!
Going into this book I didn’t know what to expect; I had never read any of Neal Shusterman’s books. I believe not knowing much really expanded the reading experience for me while reading this book. I love the overall plot and setting of the book, the theme is what drew me in. I mean who doesn’t want to read a YA horror suspense that takes place in a phantom carnival? Blake Our Main character was a rather relatable character to guide the adventure and trials within the villainous Cassandra’s Carnival of Horrors. Blake like many of us dealt with fears, fears of his future as well as his past.
I quiet relished the theme of bravery throughout the book, the bravery of facing one’s deepest of fears. As of Blake’s friend Russ and Maggie I found ever their trails, fears, and flaws to be constructive to the depth of the story. When Blake comes face to face with Maggie in the funhouse ride it was quiet and emotional scene. Due to her fears and insecurities of herself she was transformed into a hideous monster, even her own boyfriend running from her new found form. To think the person she gave her heart to could not see past the creature she had become, running in fear from her had to be devastating. Then Blake comes forward to see her as see truly is, comforting her. Although when Blake had gotten through the ride believing Maggie was right with him is what really torn me up. Blake looked back to realize Maggie was not behind him but still one mirror away from escape, not being able to see or hear him ultimately losing herself to her fears as well as to the ride.
To be so close yet not being able to save her had to have played on his fears of not being able to save the others on the bus accident long ago. Even as Blake continued on to ride after ride I held onto hope that he would somehow save Maggie, which lucky this book has it’s happy ending. Now Russ’s fear drove him to savagery, which illustrated who people handle fear differently. Russ being a jock gives society the impression he is strong, but when terrified will turn to unseemly actions. No one looks kindly upon killing an innocent to save yourself as Russ had faced, additionally his best friend. Now Quinn was interesting a different way that Blake or Russ, Quinn lived for the risk to mask his fear. Quinn was afraid to admit his fears, willing to give himself to the ride to run from his reality.
Quinn exhibited that admitting you’re afraid takes bravery.
I found Cassandra to be more or less the embodiment of chaos, which explains why she held no balance within her being, desiring it. Cassandra is the source of our challenges, our fears.The lesson readers can come away with from reading Full Tilt is it is best to face your fears then run or hide from them. If you do you may end up apart of the works, lose yourself to the ride.The ending was satisfying; bring a happy closure to the suspenseful tale. I appreciated this read and give it a score of four out of five stars.
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