Variant (novel)

{{Short description|2011 novel by Robison Wells}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{infobox book |  | name = Variant | title_orig = | translator = | image = Variant (novel).jpg | caption = First edition | author = Robison Wells | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = United States | language = English | series = | genre = | publisher = HarperTeen | release_date = October 4, 2011 | english_release_date = | media_type = Print (Hardback & e-book) and Audiobook | pages = 384 pp (first edition, hardback) | isbn = 0062026089 | isbn_note = (second edition, hardback) | dewey= | congress= | oclc= | preceded_by = | followed_by = Feedback (novel) }}

'''''Variant''''' is a young adult suspense novel by Robison Wells. It was published on October 4, 2011, by HarperTeen. Wells has stated that the initial draft of ''Variant'' took him only eleven days to write.<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/49908-fall-2011-flying-starts-robison-wells.html Fall 2011 Flying Starts: Robison Wells] Publishers Weekly</ref> The book was named one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of 2011".<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2011/childrens-fiction#book/book-21 Publisher Weekly's Best Books of 2011] Publishers Weekly</ref> A sequel, ''Feedback,'' was released in October 2012.

==Plot== ''Variant'' follows seventeen-year-old Benson Fisher, a foster kid who goes to Maxfield Academy on a scholarship. He hasn't stayed in one place for a long time and sees Maxwell as an opportunity to leave his past behind. When he arrives at school, two students chase the car he came in as it leaves campus. Benson's tour guide, Becky, tells him that the two students were breaking the cardinal rule of trying to leave school. Benson learns that Maxwell has no teachers, but the students govern themselves, with supervision from unknown people communicating via videos and messages. The students have broken themselves into factions: Society, Havoc, and Variant, the last of which Benson joins.

==Reception== Critical reception for ''Variant'' was positive, with ''Kirkus Reviews'' praising the book's first person narrative.<ref>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/robison-wells/variant-wells/ Variant] Kirkus Reviews</ref> ''Publishers Weekly'' wrote that the book was "fast paced" and had a "clever premise."<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-202608-8 Children's Review: Variant] Publishers Weekly</ref> Voice of Youth Advocates stated that the book was "an exciting, edge-of-your-seat read" that "should join the ranks of today’s must-read science fiction and fantasy series."<ref>Jensen, Karen. ''Voice of Youth Advocates''. October 2011, p. 413.</ref> ''Booklist'' called ''Variant'' a "good old-fashioned paranoia taken to giddy extremes."<ref>[http://www.booklistonline.com/Variant-Robison-Wells/pid=4816431 Booklist: Variant] Booklist</ref>

''Fangoria'' gave the book two out of four skulls, saying "As much as I’m sure getting splattered by a 6 mm water soluble paint-pellet would sting to the high heavens, it doesn’t seem to carry the template of threat that The Hunger Games has already laid down for all other books to haplessly follow." The reviewer ended the review with "Once readers reach its subsequent sequels, those paint pellets may just end up being replaced with something a little more lethal—and original."<ref>[http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6295:qvariantq-book-review&catid=53:book-reviews&Itemid=248 Variant (Book Review)] Fangoria</ref>

==Awards== 2011 ''Publishers Weekly'' Best Books of 2011

2011 Association for Mormon Letters Award for Best Young Adult Novel—WON<ref>[http://www.aml-online.org/awards/Year.aspx?year=2011 AML Awards for 2011] AML</ref>

2011 Whitney Award for Best Youth Speculative Fiction—WON<ref>[http://whitneyawards.com/wordpress/2011-winners/ Whitney Awards 2011] Whitney Awards</ref>

2012-2013 Utah Beehive Awards for Young Adult—NOMINEE<ref>[http://clau.org/2012-2013-beehive-nominees Beehive Awards] Beehive Awards</ref>

2013 Missouri Truman Awards—NOMINEE<ref>[http://www.maslonline.org/?1314TRUPrelimNoms Truman Awards] Truman Awards</ref>

2013 South Carolina Young Adult Book Awards—NOMINEE

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.robisonwells.com/variant/ Official author site] {{Portal |Children's literature}}

Category:American young adult novels Category:2011 American novels Category:2011 English-language novels Category:American thriller novels Category:HarperCollins books