GIRL IN THE ARENA by Lise Haines
Bloomsbury, October 2009


Review YY1/2

Lynn is a neo-gladiator's daughter through and through. Of course being in a neo-gladiator family means following a very strict set of rules; rules that can turn against you withough the slightest warning.

So when the unthinkable happens Lynn is forced to fight for a terrible outcome, her family's lives or her own.

I really had wanted to read this book, its premise intruged me. Yet, I was left a bit perplexed by this story and not quite sure how I ultimately feel about it. I did enjoy the fact that historical details are included to help form this alternate world and tell the story of the evolution of gladiators in the US, although I found the deluge of information a bit overwhelming because it was so quickly dispursed.

The protagonist, Lyn did not care for the lifestyle that she was raised in. She wanted something better for herself and for her family. Yet, violence in america had escalated to this nationalized display of fighting and her family was deeply embroiled in it. Although her stance against the rules she was raised with was admirable and her actions believable, the character that I enjoyed reading about was Uber. He played the reluctant galdiator who admired his fallen foe and whose relationship with Lyn grew and this presented the plot twist that left you wondering how this story would end.

Although heart poundingly suspenseful at times, Girl In The Arena still lacked the component that made me care for it's story. I did keep reading to find the natural conclusion to it's end but was not compeled to. This story was geared towards those who enjoy the Hunger Games, but did not quite make the cut.