Before I start, I realize my title here may be slightly misleading: don’t get excited, this book is not a sequel to Bird Box. It’s just another book by the same writer. But if you liked Bird Box, I think you’ll like this.
This is going to be really hard to describe without giving too much away, because part of what’s great about this book is the slow revelation of what’s really going on. I’m going to be very careful not to include major spoilers in this review, but if you want to go in knowing absolutely nothing, stop reading here.
So, we learn quickly that this book is set in the Tower, where the Alphabet Boys live. They’re a group of tween boys known only by initial, and J is our main character. The boys face daily Inspections from the Parenthood, the adult authority and parental figures who live in the Tower with them. Ostensibly these Inspections are to make sure the Alphabet Boys aren’t ill with one of a variety of sicknesses, but we start to discover along with J that there is something deeper and more hidden at work in the Tower.
The book is a slow build leading up to an explosive, frantic conclusion. That isn’t something I always appreciate, but I enjoyed it here: it really got you into the minds of the characters. The one criticism I can safely sure is that I do wish there was a bit more detailed explanation of things: often books and movies over explain themselves, but here I really wanted to know everything. The other criticism I have is impossible to share without spoilers, but if anyone who has read it wants to discuss it, leave a comment. People who haven’t read it: just don’t read the comments!