The Bunker Diary

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Author(s)

Kevin Brooks

Publisher

Carolrhoda Books

Genre(s)

psychological thriller

Age Range

16+

Release Date

March 01, 2015

ISBN

146775420X

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This is the winner of the 2014 Cilip Carnegie Medal. Room meets Lord of the Flies, The Bunker Diary is award-winning, young adult writer Kevin Brooks' pulse-pounding exploration of what happens when your worst nightmare comes true - and how will you survive? I can't believe I fell for it. It was still dark when I woke up this morning. As soon as my eyes opened I knew where I was. A low-ceiling rectangular building made entirely of whitewashed concrete. There are six little rooms along the main corridor. There are no windows. No doors. The lift is the only way in or out. What's he going to do to me? What am I going to do? If I'm right, the lift will come down in five minutes. It did. Only this time it wasn't empty...

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Brilliantly Brutal

February 04, 2015

Overall rating

4.7

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After reading iBoy I have found myself truly addicted to Kevin Brooks' writing style. It is real and raw. His narrative mimics the same flow and tangents that people use in their everyday speaking - and thinking.

While being one of the best YA thrillers I have read this past year, I find myself at a loss of words. The Bunker Diary takes you into a dark world. Six people are trapped in some type of bunker. They have no idea why they were captured, who captured them, or even a clue as to what he/she wants with them. It is told through one prisoner's point of view. His thoughts, his concerns. As a reader you only see one person's perspective and in a way that makes this narration even scarier. Not knowing the whole picture adds to the mystery- I couldn't wait to turn the next page.

What did I like? This book is definitely controversial and not for the faint at heart. For a YA novel, I would place this more at the high school level and higher range. Kevin Brooks is an author who is not afraid to take chances, hit you hard, and leave you questioning everything.

The Bunker Diary can be sick and cruel and heart wrenching but completely worth the ride. I wish I could explain more, but words cannot really describe the events that take place in the bunker. This book may not be for everyone, and can be a little too graphic for the younger YA readers. But it is well crafted and masterfully executed.

What left me wanting more? I was amazed by the entire plot line. But I can see how some readers might not appreciate the ending. To me, it was a perfect way to end this psychological thriller. Thrillers are messy and don't have to play by the rules. They are designed to thrill, to leave you shaking in your boots, or sometimes they leave you dumbfounded and speechless. The Bunker Diary does all these things and that is what makes this one of the best thrillers so far.

If you have read iBoy or any of Kevin Brooks's other novels you will love The Bunker Diary. Fans of thrillers will not be disappointed. Just remember you might want to leave the lights on... for awhile.