Stung

by Bethany Wiggins

Reviewed by Yash Mishra

Fall 2016

REVIEW: Stung by Bethany Wiggins

ISBN#: 9780802734198

THE STORY:

Fiona Tarsis wakes up with a mark on her hand, a strange mark of an oval with ten lines dashing out of it. She looks around the house, filthy, trashed, and deserted. She then went outside, and was shocked by the change in her world. A child named Arris comes and saves her from some dogs that were chasing her. They camp out for a night in the swamp as Fiona tries to remember what had happened to her. Arris gives trades with her and gives her some guy clothes. Arris seems very sly and clever in this world, a world Fiona didn’t belong to.

Later in the story, Fiona is captured by the militia and tries to keep her disguise of a boy on, something that could be advantageous. The leader of the militia, and guy who she remembered as Dreyden Bowen, he classmate, keeps her restrained. However, he soons finds out that she is a girl and recognizes her, but still perceives her as a threat. She has the mark with ten lines stretching out, which means when she turns into a beast as all Fecs did (people with the mark), she would become a ruthless savage, because a Level 10 is the harshest beast there is. She and Bowen run away from the militia, protecting each other, and soon falling in love. Bowen first wanted to send Fiona to the lab, where she could possibly get cured, but then later decides not to because she would probably die there. So, they decided to cross the wall and go to the other side where people focused on trying to rebuild society. Society here had crumbled because of bees becoming infected and spreading the infection to humans, and the cure actually turned people into beasts. Fiona has not turned into a beast like she is expected to yet, and they have gotten quite lucky so far, but Arris betrays them when she promises them to help them cross the wall--and now she  faces death. Surviving will be even tougher now. (341)

MY OPINION:

I found this book captivating, but not being descriptive enough or making sense at times. It was hard to put down and had a very interesting setting of Fiona waking up in a world that had completely changed from the last time she could remember. However, there were a few flaws too. Some parts were not being descriptive enough such as what had happened to the world so dramatically and quickly besides some information on the infected bees. In addition, some parts did not seem to make much sense. For example, Bowen had called Arrin sly and cunning, but had later trusted her to get himself, Fiona, and Tommy across the wall. Otherwise, I feel like it is a great book. The author used understandable vocabulary, and the tough words were understandable by the context clues. This book would be appealing to teenagers the most. I would probably would not read this book again someday because once you know the ending, it is spoiled and there is no more a feeling of suspense. I would rate Stung 8 out of 10 stars for it having an interesting plot yet not having enough details in some parts of the story. (199)

STUDY QUESTIONS AND VOCABULARY:

FIRST SECTION

1. What is the militia?

1a. The militia patrol the wall catching Fecs and shooting raiders.

2. What does Bowen do to Fiona instead of killing her?

2a. Bowen cuffs her ankles together.

3.How much were Level 10’s worth?

3a. 8 ounces of honey.

4. What is a Fec?

4a. FEC stands for feces dweller, people with the sign of the beast and did not go instantly mad.

5.What is the lab?

5a. The lab is the place where cures are tested on the beasts.

decrepit (12)

muddled (31)

spasms (45)

convulse (73)

roils (76)

MIDDLE SECTION

6. Why does Bowen keep Fiona cuffed?

6a. He did it for his peace of mind so that he could think better

7. Why did Fiona have to clean her shirt?

7a. Fiona had to clean her shirt because the Beasts could track them with the scent of blood.

8. Who barges in the abandoned building looking for Fiona?

8a. The militia barged in looking for Fiona.

9. What instrument does Fiona play?

9a. She plays the piano.

10. What does Bowen declare after his nightmare?

10a. He declares that Fiona will not go the lab and changes his mind

torrent (112)

bleary (118)

constrict (154)

glob (174)

silhouette (182)

LAST SECTION

11. Who did Fiona shoot?

11a. Fiona shot Bowen, and then he was in critical condition.

12. Does Arrin help them across the wall?

12a. No, she betrays them for rewards

13. What does Fiona refer to the man capturing her?

13a. She refers to him as “shadow man”

14. Who was the doctor that Fiona had a flashback of?

14a. His name is Dr. Grayson, and he had actually cured Fiona.

15. Did Liss turn out to be dead?

15a. No, she married Dr. Grayson and took care of Fiona in the end, relieving a lot of stress from Fiona.

coagulant (200)

cynical (208)

pinprick (208)

twofer (246)

iridescent (266)