Spare

How do you survive when your only purpose is to give your live to others . . . bit by bit?

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Spare

By: J.M. Carr

Narrated by: Frankie Porter

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About this listen

In the derelict house next door to a building site, Dawn lives with a young woman who says to call her Mum. Dawn loves the hole in the roof, where she can always see blue. She loves her book of birds and she loves Mrs Goring, the old lady who lives on the ground floor. But when Dawn's medicine runs out and Mrs Goring disappears, Dawn begins see the world as it really is. Next door, the new facility to hold children like her is almost finished. But Dawn wants to live. Can she escape, find Mrs Goring and the truth about her family before the doors to the Sparehouse open?

A dystopian mystery for readers aged 11 yrs and over, set in a world where one huge corporation sells everything, and in Britain, the NHS is a distant memory. The threat is grim, but hope is alive and well.

Is that enough to save a generation of "spares" like Dawn?

J.M. CarrFrankie PorterThe Cindy Press

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Critic reviews

"This is a story of the evil mankind can do, and how even the least of us can fight it. Though it’s not entirely grim it’s dark enough, twisty enough, and yes, even innocent enough to keep one turning pages. The characters are beautifully wrought, the setting is created almost effortlessly and even the hardest heart melts for Dawn and her dilemma." (Goodreads)

Most relevant

If you're a person who needs to get "in to a book within the first chapter," then this is that.

Spare, is a fast paced mystery. You, the reader, experience edge of the seat anxiety for the protagonist, Dawn throughout. Heck, I was even holding my breath in some parts.

Every end to a chapter was a bait dangler, luring you to read on. So much so, I read this is two sittings.

I was lucky enough to receive a promo code to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I felt the end came all too quickly. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

The characters are so well written you'll have a love hate relationship. This makes for some satisfying storylines. Some tear jerking scenes will really test your emotional strength so have some tissues at the ready.

I could rave about this for quite some time but I don't want to fall into the trap of spoilers.

The author is such a good storyteller, that it made up for the slight downfall from the narrator. Some long and unnecessary pauses grates a little but your ears adapt as you listen.

Go read it for yourself. You will not be disappointed. In fact, I may just press play again right now.