Outside In

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder

Published: February 15, 2011 by Harlequin Teen

Me? A leader?

Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world.

Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside.

And something from Outside wants In.

       I love Maria V. Snyder's two other series, the Study series and the Glass series. (Check out my review of Spy Glass, the 3rd Glass book, here) This one for some reason I think is just alright. I don't know if it's because it's aimed towards teens or because it's dystopian rather than just fantasy, or maybe neither of these things. Overall I felt this sequel was pretty good, it just could have been mind blowing but wasn't. I enjoy a series where every single book is amazing and not just setting up for the next book. 

Why I love this book:

• Riley - I like Riley because he's not a perfect love interest. He gets mad at Trella for being all heroic and not asking for help (which is a trait I think I'll call Harry Potter Syndrome).
• bombings - There's an Insider bombing vital areas of Inside. Who would do this? Do they want an unknown entity to take over? The stakes to figure out who is sabotaging Inside couldn't be higher. 
• mystery - What will the Insiders find when they reach their destination? Where were the Outsiders hiding/living? Why were the Outsiders exiled and why are they so touchy about it? 

Huh, what?:

• plot - I liked Inside Out, but I just couldn't get myself engaged in this one. I didn't care enough about the subplot with who Trella's real mom is, or Bubba Boom, Ann-Jade, or Jacy.
• the Outsiders - They're human but they speak like foreigners. I know most of Snyder's books have torture in them but I was really put off by it in this book when the Outsiders did it.
• resolution - Trella and (most of) the Insiders are attempting to revolutionize the way the entire population of Inside lives. Shouldn't there be a bit more struggle? The higher the risk the higher the reward, right? 

Favorite quotes:

• As I rushed to clean up, redlights came on. I skidded to a stop. Redlights? That was new. And creepy. I'd never seen it before or even heard stories from the old-timers. In Inside, bluelights stayed on for sleeping or in temporarily unoccupied areas. Daylights brightened occupied rooms and work places. Darkness stayed in places like the Gap between levels, and closed rooms.                 -  pg. 26
• Finally Bubba Boom told me to cut the wire I had traced for him. I placed the wire in the cutters and drew in a deep breath. "Stop!" Riley yelled. He argued with Bubba Boom. "Trell, you need to cut that wire and the one on the other end at the exact same time," he said. I found the other wire. "This one?"  "Yes," Riley said.  "No," Bubba Boom said. "He's wrong. Cut only the wire I told you."  "No, don't. I'm right, Trell. He's going to get us all killed."               -  pg. 138-139

3 Robots
Not my favorite Snyder series. I'm hoping for a better 3rd book. 

Acquired: bought