Book Review: Dark Eden By Patrick Carman

Title: Dark Eden
Author: Patrick Carman
Publisher: HaperCollins Children's Books
Date Published: Nov 1st 2011
Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden? 

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality. 

Review:  Patrick Carman takes a reader on a scary adventure through Eden- where fear is the cure. 

Dark Eden is told through the view point of a fifteen year old named Will. Will is made to meet with a counselor, Dr. Stevens, who helps people overcome their fears. But Will isn't like most people who Dr. Stevens helps; he is 1 of 7 in which they need more help than she can offer therefore, she suggests attending a week at camp Eden. 


Seven teens who all have something in common coming to one place for an entire week to be cured- no one knows what will happen... well almost no one! 
Will Besting has a secret and throughout the book, since it is told through his viewpoint, the reader knows what Will's secret it- we know what he knows and the information that he is willing to share with others... but at the same time the reading is alongside Will we are caught wondering & questioning the things that he doesn't know. So the reader really gets a chance to feel like they "are" Will Besting! 

Dark Eden is suspenseful and creepy throughout- but the plot all unfolds towards the end. Most of the time I'm partial to books like that- but it works well in Dark Eden. There is a stable storyline with little surprises that occasionally occur as Will begins to figure things out-- But in the end, there are twists and turns that I did not see coming! 

The trailer to me was scary, but I wouldn't say the book was scary, it was more suspenseful than anything.  

To me, I was always apprehensive about Dr. Rainsford ( the doctor who helps cure the seven teens) but I wasn't sure why I felt this way. So the end made me say "ahhhh ha!" 

oh and let's not forget the slight love interest that goes on in Dark Eden :-) I loved being able to understand what Will thinking about when it came to Marisa- it is usually the girls point of view and how they admire someone, so I'm glad we got to see a bit of a guys side for once!
 
The Dark Eden Application-- 
            The neat thing about Dark Eden is that Patrick Carman designed this book so that readers have a chance to interact using an app on their phone or Ipad- it is android of Iphone compatible. I downloaded the first chapter on my phone; and I will say that it does require lots of memory! I ended up having to remove a few apps to add Dark Eden. But, it is worth every bit of memory it takes. The application allows a reader to feel as if they are a part of Eden- I was better able to understand where I was at with the book in terms of rooms and how the layout of the area is. 


The Fear Test--
 I was very excited to take the Dark Eden Fear Test, what I didn't realize was that it would tell me my fear before I could get through it. The truth is, my fear is people or things jumping out at me-- so I had to stop the fear test because I was too scared. BUT, for those of you who like creepy things, go on and take the Fear Test!!! 

I would recommend Dark Eden to any teenage or young adult reader! Especially those who enjoy psychological thrillers (although I wouldn't quite classify it as that, it does play around with your mind ;-) and suspense. 

Rating: 4 Stars