The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published November 9th 2010 by Feiwel & Friends

“Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury.
There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them.
Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.
Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.
But, it’s not.
Andrew Smith has written his most beautiful and personal novel yet, as he explores the nightmarish outer limits of what trauma can do to our bodies and our minds.” – Goodreads

My Opinion: I think this book was interesting. It almost seemed like Jack was experiencing a split personality disorder. However, I think it was due to his traumatic experience that caused most of the things to happen. I really liked Jack he didn't want to show any weakness and wanted to be brave and that in my opinion is why he keeps saying in the book, "Jack doesn't cry" when he gets scared or feels alone. I enjoyed this. It was new and different. I haven't read anything like this before, so that was an experience as well. I though that it was very well written because it was easy to see how much Jack cared about his friends and to sympathize with him and what he is going through. it was well written because in the book, its difficult to decide which place is the real world, London or Marbury until the end at at least. Reminds me of a story called La Boca Noche Arriba by Julio Cortazar in the aspect of the not knowing which world is real. I think that is what I liked most about the book, the mystery of it. I really enjoyed this book.
5 out of 5