After having read the testing series, I had high hopes for Time Bomb. Charbonneau did not disappoint! Bringing together a diverse group of characters, readers get to experience a school bombing through each of their six different perspectives. This book forces a reader to think about the assumptions that we as people and as society make about one another based on appearance, race, religion, and background. 

A school bombing has happened. Although school wasn't in session, students are still in the building. Now they are trapped and trying to get out as more bombs continue to go off. The bomber is in there too and no one knows who it is for sure, but they are making assumptions about their fellow classmates. The book alternates between the characters perspectives with time stamps at the top of each chapter so the readers can follow the story line. 

This book was both powerful and scary. It challenged me to consider the reasons or motivation behind a person's actions. How we treat people in at school or in society can shape can shape a person's future and their decisions. #choosekind

I had high hopes for this book, considering what's going on in our country these days. I was very disappointed to find stereotypical characters, semi confusing plot lines, and a unsatisfying ending. The culprit wasn't to hard to figure out, which ruined the mystery of the book for me. When we found out why that person did what they did, it was just kind of like "really?".  It made little sense in this day and age. I think that this book could open up discussion on how we stereotype people and treat them, which is a plus at least. Other than that, I think this book is just going to get lost among all of the other better books dealing with a similar topic.

Time Bomb follows the story of various teens (told in each of their POVs) while they are experiencing a dangerous incident in their school. They are trapped in school after several bombs go off, causing the death of many…

When we begin the book, all we know (or heavily suspect) is that ONE OF THEM was the bomber. As the story progresses we learn about their lives, their experiences, and we see how prejudices and stereotypes can affect how we perceive others.

Due to the similarities in the topics touched through the story, this book is compared a lot to “This is Where it Ends“, and while I enjoyed that book, I have to admit that Time Bomb gives us more than it’s “predecessor”. While “This is Where it Ends” was a suspenseful read, it lacked character development. Additionally, due to the way the story is narrated, you will definitely get some “One of Us is Lying” kind of vibes. Comparing a book to TWO New York Times Bestsellers and still thinking that this book is superior… well.. trust me, it’s a story you DON’T want to miss!

This is a book that will draw you to it’s characters. You will learn about them and even care for them! Once you know who and why everything happens, your mind will be blown. Trust me, at some point you’ll probably suspect EVERYONE in the story. The author does an amazing job developing the characters and writing all their points of view. Lastly, I want to mention how impressed I was with the diversity in characters. Each one has different traits (skin color, religion, etc.) that make their point of view unique!

Overall rating: 4.5 stars

A fast-paced read with engaging characters. I found myself trying to steal a few more moments to read because I did not want to put it down. Unlike anything else that Joelle has written. I love that she constantly surprises me with her storytelling.

ARC-Netgalley

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Each in school for different reasons, characters take a turn as the lead suspect when the radio announces one of them is the bomber. Narrated by a diverse cast of characters, seemingly innocent and not connected to each other, Time Bomb will grab readers right from the beginning and hold them hostage as the seconds tick by. 

THOUGHTS: Loving character-driven, multi-point of view narratives, I knew right from the description (and author) that Time Bomb was going to be a book for me. Reminiscent of Karen McManus's One of Us Is Lying's Breakfast Club style cast of characters, readers will be hooked from the beginning. Hand this one to fans of Hate List by Jennifer Brown, This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp, and Violent Ends by various authors. Though intense in topic, this book is still suitable for younger high school readers, especially given recent national events.

Six very different teens get trapped in their high school while bombs explode. As they attempt to survive and escape the school, they learn that the bomber is one of them.

Wow. Part of me feels like this book was so good because I'm reading it just one week after the Parkland school shooting. Another part of me knows it's just that good. I loved the way that Joelle Charbonneau delved into each individual character, and the multiple perspectives definitely worked. While I predicted the suspect, I think most students will be surprised.

A congressman's daughter who has to be perfect. A star quarterback who is carrying a secret. A guy tired of being neglected and ignored. A clarinet player who doesn't want to fit in. An orphaned rebel. A guy who wants people to see him instead of his religion.

They couldn't be more different. But before the morning is over they'll be trapped together in a school rocked by a bombing. When they find out someone inside is the bomber, they look to each other for answers.

So I love Charbonneau's work. The study series was absolutely great. So I figured I would give this a shot. It's definitely a book that makes you think and the characters are all easy to follow. Definitely give it a shot.

Thank you for sending me this galley, however unfortunately I was unable to access this book on my e-reader.

After hearing about recent tragedies, I was a bit hesitant to pick up this book, but I am very glad I did. 

The plot revolves around a group of high school students who all, for various reasons, are at their school before the beginning of the school year. While there, there is an explosion that destroys parts of the school. The students find out that there is actually a series of bombs that continue to go off as they race to try to get out of the school. They are fighting against the continuing destruction of the building and, in some cases, pretty severe injuries. The reader knows from the first chapter that one of the suspects of the bombing plot is a student trapped in the room, but because the story flashes back in time to give each character’s backstory, it is not easy to figure out who it could be. 

The characters in the story are strong. Even though chapters jumped between viewpoints, it was easy to see through the character’s eyes because their points of view were so distinct. A lot of this was due to the early chapters giving the background on the characters. Even though these chapters were short, they served as a fantastic primer for each character. 

The plot itself was gripping. I didn’t want to put the book down when reading, and during some of the more intense scenes, I could feel my own heart racing. The descriptions put me right into the school with the students, which was both exciting and terrifying. 

Overall, this was an excellent read. I really enjoyed it, and in a way it helped to process some of the feelings I was having about recent school shootings, being able to get an (admittedly small and fictional) look into the minds of teenagers trapped in a similar situation. Though it was not an easy read emotionally, I do think it was an important one. 

Thank you to NetGalley and HMH Children’s for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have always enjoyed Joelle Charbonneau's novels and was curious to read her new one even more when I read the synopsis.

The concept of this novel is simple, several bombs have explode in a high school, 6 survivors try to get out of it, the only problem is one of them is the bomber. What I found interesting in this novel is the diversity of the cast. Indeed, our 6 characters have very different malaise that for me are representative of what many young people can live in their everyday life. And through these 6 teenagers the author will ask questions about identity, racism, societal norms, Islam and others. It is a novel that has managed to deal with a difficult case of society and unfortunately very current and who sought explanations and possible motivations for such an act.

Another very successful point is the atmosphere of the book, we will discover the trouble of each character and realize that everyone could have been behind the bombs, that the anger and hatred that some teenagers feel are strong motivation. As a French, I sincerely think that it is difficult to judge the accuracy of the book, the American school system is in my eyes some kind of a cliché and I always wonder if it happens like that but with the books, films, series that I could see/read, yes the sportsmen hang out together, yes there is always a couple of king and queen of high school and yes I imagine that for the unpopular people and often forgotten one the malaise can be present and strong.

This book is in my eyes a good novel, and yet the subject was far from easy. The author was able to play on high school social norms to convey several messages of tolerance and respect. When the revelation arrives, I must admit that I had my doubts, but I thought it was the best choice. It is therefore a book that I advise and which I think can open several debates.

Imagine One of Us Is Lying meets The Breakfast Club and chuck in some bombs and this is what you get!

The narrative is split between 6 characters, all defined and distinctive, and all with their own secrets and personal agendas. It was interesting to see how their revelations played out and his their relationships developed.
Ive not read any of the authors work before but I enjoyed this so I certainly will in future, I especially liked how fast paced this was as it kept me gripped and I read it in one go.

It’d make a very good film.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

4.5 stars
Words cannot describe what it felt like reading this book. You know from the start that something is going to happen, but first you must hear from the 6 different point of views that you have. Six different high school students with different reasons for being at the school a week before school starts. You know that one of them is the bomber, but who is it? 

To say this book blew me away is an understatement. I struggle with books about violence in the schools since I work in a school. This book really developed the reader's relationship with each character. I had an idea of who it was pretty early on, but it was still a book I could not put down until the end. (less)

A fast-paced read with engaging characters. I found myself trying to steal a few more moments to read because I did not want to put it down. Unlike anything else that Joelle has written. I love that she constantly surprises me with her storytelling.

I am a fan of Joelle Charbonneau's books and was excited to read her latest.  I really enjoyed Time Bomb, finding it a timely novel that touches on issues in today's society.  Charbonneau does a good job in depicting her characters, high schoolers from various background.  As a high school teacher/librarian, I was able to see my students in her characters, and I am know these characters will resonate with the students in my school.  I look forward to adding this book to my young adult collection.

When I first saw the description of Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau I couldn’t help but be extremely curious. Last year I had heard all the buzz for This Is Where It Ends and had high hopes when I picked that one up only to be really disappointed. However, after reading Time Bomb I have to say that this one was what I was looking for last year.

For me as a reader I had thought This is Where It Ends completely lacked character development and I simply was never drawn into the students stories or brought to any kind of level of caring as they went through such a horrific event. I also thought that the author had taken the opportunity to write about a school with diversity in her characters and turned it into something that felt awkward at any mention of the diversity.

Time Bomb made such an improvement on those major areas that had bothered me in This Is Where It Ends and actually brought a horrific and very much a realistic event to life. The entire book takes place over a couple of hours during a time a few students were in their school when bombs began to explode. It changes the point of view between six main characters that are each still alive and struggling with how to get out of the school.

The book has a very intense vibe to it as the story unfolds but in the back of my mind I also made the comparison to the Breakfast Club with the group that formed. We had the football star, the princess who is a Senator’s daughter and Ms. Perfect of the school, the tattooed bad boy, the overweight and bullied outsider, but then stretching the cast of characters even more and bringing the story into this decade was the boy who had not only just come out to his family as gay but was also a mixed race, and then we had a Muslim student who struggled daily with the prejudices against him.

As the story began and with each chapter changing the point of view it was easy to see that the entire group all had their own secrets and struggles. It became clear that all would have a motive for being behind the bombing so it leads the readers to the question of which one really did it? With a short cast of suspects I’m sure many may guess but regardless this was one that made me feel I’d stepped into this horrible scenario and was on the edge of my seat waiting for the outcome.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Great action, exciting pace, and a fantastic narrative.

I really enjoying Charbonneau's The Testing trilogy, so I had high hopes for this one. I'm not sure why but for some reason I found myself not interested or invested in the characters or the story, which literally was explosive. It has the elements to be great: bomb at a high school, high stakes, several people with different backgrounds and unsure who is responsible. I think partly it's because this is not my kind of read. I like more depth to my characters and more of a character arc. There weren't really any twists to the story except for finding the one that was responsible. It reminds me of the slasher/horror YA but with a different setting, which I'm not a huge fan of unless there's a better hook and better characters. Overall, a decent read, but I wasn't riveted to the page.

TIME BOMB is incredibly fast-paced and delves deeply into stereotypes and the assumptions that can arise from stereotypes. This novel is written in multiple POVs, and I thought I would get confused about who is whom, but the author does a fantastic job of differentiating between each character and establishing their own personalities. Along the way, we learn more about their backgrounds and secrets. My only reservation is that I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. I had guessed who the bomber was, and I wish there had just been a little bit more closure at the end of the novel. 

Do I recommend? I do! There are a variety of backgrounds in each of the characters, which made them very diverse. I read this novel in two sittings because it was so captivating!

I started this book expecting not much from it, and I was completely blown away by it. It's sufficient to say I completely and utterly loved this book. I really loved the diversity in it, and the fact that it completely captures the  struggles some teenagers faces today. It is more of a social wake up call type of book rather than  a thriller, which  is what I thought it was going to be completely. I will 100% recommend this book. I feel it was a nice refresher of what contemporary books are coming out recently. It was happy and sad and it had suspense and heartbreak. It shows how people can be broken and the power of friendship. As stated before, I really enjoyed how it focused more on the teenagers and what is going on in their lives rather than the actual suspense of " who is the bomber?"