This book was incredibly well written. To say I enjoyed it would be wrong as this isn't the sort of book you should enjoy, in the same way that The Hunger Games isn't really something you should enjoy as it features the killing of children. But it doesn't stop these books from being brilliant and gripping. I don't want to give too much away but it starts off being reasonably innocent and then takes darker and darker turns as the sacrifice the next person has to make becomes more and more demanding. You end up fearing what the next person will have to give up. It was haunting and has stuck with me even though it's been a few months since I read it. It reminds me of Lord of the Flies and should be a modern classic, especially as it really makes you think.

This book was incredibly well written. To say I enjoyed it would be wrong as this isn't the sort of book you should enjoy, in the same way that The Hunger Games isn't really something you should enjoy as it features the killing of children. But it doesn't stop these books from being brilliant and gripping. I don't want to give too much away but it starts off being reasonably innocent and then takes darker and darker turns as the sacrifice the next person has to make becomes more and more demanding. You end up fearing what the next person will have to give up. It was haunting and has stuck with me even though it's been a few months since I read it. It reminds me of Lord of the Flies and should be a modern classic, especially as it really makes you think.

This is existentialism for people who don't want to read Sartre. And as someone who's read Sartre, I'm telling you, read this instead. Pierre Anthon is in the depths of existential despair. He has come to the conclusion that, as nothing matters, there's no point doing anything. This shakes his classmates to the core as they've always been taught to be something, or someone. They create a pile of meaning, with the aim of convincing Pierre Anthon that life is not meaningless and thus hoping he will stop telling them it is. This starts off as a group of teens with the best intentions but quickly, as most things do, becomes a manipulation, a power struggle, an example of capitalism and a showcase of what humanity is capable of. This is not an easy book to read. I wont lie, it's disturbed and haunting and downright creepy. But more than that it's though provoking and inspiring and simply breathtaking. It contains so much that people really should think about. At points I did get disillusioned with it, thinking that all it showed was that kids can be a spiteful bunch, but after sticking with it I can definitely say it's a very poignant piece. Nothing has a very existentialistic theme, to me it said that there is no universal meaning, that no one should force meaning on another person, no one has the right to decide what should and should not matter and how it matters and how much it should matter to us, as individuals. But I guess the great thing about this book is that interpretations of it can be totally subjective. I think so much can be learnt about human motivations and the state of our society from this book, and the beauty is it can be done in such an accessible way. There's no need to pick up an existentialism textbook or a copy of beyond good and evil, just read this neat little story. I'd definitely give this 5/5 and if you're looking for something a little philosophical in your YA, or you're interested in existentialism, this is the book for you.

An interesting, well-written piece of fiction, although to say I enjoyed it would be difficult. If you have already read this, you will hopefully know what I meam, if not, I'll try to explain. The concept behind the story is simple enough - a boy walks out of class on the first day back at school claiming that there is no meaning to life, it means nothing. His classmates decide to prove him otherwise by collecting things that mean something. This begins with items such as photographs but soon spirals out of their control into something much bigger. Now, I'm not easily shocked, honestly, but this book did shock me at times. Part of me feels that it must have been a good to inspire the reaction it did, there was nothing gratuitous about it and it was very well written, but if you're looking for something light-hearted and fun, DO NOT choose this book. Although classed as a children's book, this is definitely one for more mature readers.

An outstanding novel that flows so well the reader won't realise how escaladed things have become, any sooner than the protagonists. When an ordinary boy storms out of school, declaring that nothing matters, nothing means anything and nothing will last, his class find themselves having to prove him wrong. Deciding to build a collection of meaningful items, they soon find themselves demanding greater and greater offerings from one another; however each expansion of the pile forces their good intentions to take a darker turn. A great read that certain to become a modern classic, enjoyable by kids and adults alike.