Lockdown: Escape from Furnace 1

A read for juveniles. Thin plot and characterizations. A light quick read for the adult reader but would interest the young. Personally not interested in continuing the series. After the first book the plot become obvious just from the titles.

A read for juveniles. Thin plot and characterizations. A light quick read for the adult reader but would interest the young. Personally not interested in continuing the series. After the first book the plot become obvious just from the titles.

I know my review differs from the other critical reviews but this book was just not for me. It seemed that the author REALLY wanted to make sure the readers understand how horrible and depressing The Furnace was to the point that it was completely unbelievable and ridiculous. EVERYTHING about The Furnace was horrible and disgusting. The food they ate was comprised of eyeballs and intestines mushed into paste, the guards let loose killer dogs if anyone accidentally is not in their cell when the alarm stops, they spend their days doing disgusting jobs like cleaning toilets with their bare hands, and on top of all of that, there is a vicious, sociopathic gang who shank other prisoners "just because".

I just got to the point where I got sick of reading page after page of one depressing thing happening after another. Everything in the book was building to an escape plan which the author leaves you hanging at the end. But I read the description of the next book and there is no way I am reading another book about Alex still in The Furnace.

I get that this is a horror book, but I feel that the author strives too hard to make it scary and depressing.

The cover and the first paragraph called to me on this one and I was very excited to get busy on reading it.
So Lockdown is all based around a penitentiary for those that break the law the thing of it is, is that this penitentiary is underground I mean there is nothing but rock surrounding people. There is no way out but only one way in. The boys that are in it are young they have all been found guilty of a crime and this is their punishment.
So we are introduced to the character Alex. He had a decent life that is until he followed the wrong path, his path was stealing and breaking and entering homes. Well it all catches up to him one day and now he finds himself in the Furnace Penitentiary. It isn't like he doesn't know what it is because they have all been told about it. Though now that he is on the inside of the fence he knows that it is not a place he wants to be in.
The Furnace is not like any other place, the guards are very fast and weird looking, the wheezer's are horrible, the dogs that they have roaming around are even worse, lets not even talk about the food that is served.
There are rules in place and you need to follow them to survive, no one is promised tomorrow and Alex is learning this first hand. His bunk mate Donovan educates Alex the best he can on how everything is ran but you can see Alex doesn't want to truly follow the rules.
Now as I enjoyed this story and I would have given it a straight up 5 because it does deserve it I feel as though something was missing within the story. I am not sure if it was because I didn't know where all this was taken place at or maybe the year. It just felt off to me.
When Alex was running from the scene of the crime it was like the men in black suits knew what he was up to and I felt that the author could have elaborated a bit more on this. Were they watching those that went down the path of destruction or were they just picking certain people out? These little things had me drop a star so it is going to be a 4.
From the beginning you are hooked on reading until the very end. You end up asking yourself if there is a way out or will this be the end for Alex and his "friends." A lot of action and fast paced scenes that have you wanting to read more, can't wait to pick up book two from my library.

Cover: Its a very cool cover depicting one of the creatures that lurk in the shadows of furnace that come in the middle of the night to take young prisoners. Known as a Wheezer. In the red eye I believe it would be the main character in this book young Alex Sawyer. I love this cover it just makes you want to pick the book up in order to see what that being is.

Summary: Furnace Penitentiary: the world's most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth's surface. Convicted of a murder he didn't commit, sentenced to life without parole, "new fish" Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.

My Thoughts: I picked up this book because of the cover, it drew me in immediately. The story about how furnace came to be and how the kids ended up there is awesome and so detailed, as is the entire story. This book made me fear the Wheezer's like I was one of the prisoners and it just kept me until the last word which I then begged to read the others to find out what would happen to my favorite prisoners. Its a thrill a minute ride and will make you scared and make you feel lucky we do not have a place like furnace in this world, were even death isn't an escape. Awesome read love this series.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

“Lockdown” is fast-paced and thrilling pure entertainment bottled in a small book that packs a punch. I went into reading it with pretty low expectations considering the abundance of similar kind of YA novels these days and finished it completely blown away.

“Escape from Furnace” is an example of a true getaway from the everyday routine in order to enjoy crazy and disturbing adventure and forget about problems and the need to pay your bills ( I always want to forget about that one) The setting is reasonably novel (a teenage prison hasn’t been overused by the moderns authors as of yet) and Gordon Smith's descriptions transport you straight THERE. You “feel” the terror, the desperation, the tension – all amidst a slow-burning claustrophobia of this unforgiving place. The cast of characters and Alex himself are fantastically real and unadorned with forced qualities that would make the reader like them despite everything that they have done. I admired Alex’s honesty and ability to analyze his own behavior. Zee is faithful and supportive despite being scared. Gary…Yeah, Gary is plain terrifying. I haven’t met many characters who I can say I despise, but Mr. Gordon Smith succeeded in adding a distinctive one to that very short list – and that speaks volumes about his writing!

Action-packed is about as close as it gets with describing the speed of the events that unraveling in front of us starting first sentence. Actually, this novel is practically a concentrated action in words. We start running (literally) and we never stop until the end, which will be coming very very soon, as it is a one-sitting kind of book. I can hear Wheezers…I can feel desperate gasping breaths of those who try to run; I can feel broken souls of children that grew up too fast…All while running/scheming/hoping along with Alex attempting to escape the damned place.

What made this book a true 5-star experience for me is an unexpected depth that I discovered “exploring” the Furnace with main hero.
Sometimes, action books tend to forgo all the inner thoughts and deliberations in favor of said non-stop action, but here Alexander Gordon Smith opens the world of Alex for us to discover. His thoughts, and hopes, and reflections on the past are startlingly raw and real. It isn’t a mindless chase; it’s an evolution and growth of the main character as he goes through something so terrible. In no way Alex is perfect or a good role model, no, but his inner contemplations and ability to realize and learn make him easy to relate to and take the book from good to “I want more now!” level.

“Lockdown” combines the best parts of what I call “getaway” reading – interesting premise, fantastic action, compelling cast of characters and depth and complexity that makes you ponder certain things while keeping up the crazy pace. Don’t miss out on a dose of pure entertainment with this one!
P.S. Gore and graphic violence abound. And, yes, it is awesome!

If this was the 1930s, I could easily imagine Alexander Gordon Smith's "Lockdown" as being snapped up and serialized in "Weird Tales" or "Amazing Stories". His fiction has the same scope and appeal that "Conan" author Robert E. Howard's does. "Lockdown isn't great literature; rather, it's a pure pulp story, very much like the Doc Savage and Kull The Conquerer were in their time, and that's a compliment. There's a real talent in being able to pen a breathless page-turner, a book that veers so closely to the absurd at times that I wanted to chuckle even as I was curious about what would happen next. The plot is simple enough - a 14-year-old boy gets caught doing a minor crime, and due to a savage new law put into place, gets sent to Furnace - a prison that's as dark and gritty as it's name, with no hope of paroll. There are savage dogs, unstoppable guards, jaw-droppingly harsh punishments, and blood - lots of blood. Plus, the entire complex is hiding something; the warden seems not-of-this-world, and it takes our protagonist all his wits and strength to avoid the roaming gangs of thugs who rule this inner world. Smith's prose is brutal and cracks with all the force of a whip; and if the novel descends into melodrama a bit too much, it's all for the good. The author has created an alternate reality that's heightened in every respect; perfect reading for teen boys who want something meaty to chew on. I admit, I'm looking forward to the sequel: "Solitary" due out Fall 2010.

LOCKDOWN is the first in the Escape from Furnace series, which is already available in full in the UK. They're set in an alternate future, one in which teenage gang members wreaked havoc for one memorable summer. Now, the adults are afraid of their kids. Now, juvenile offenders go to Furnace. This underground prison is for life. Although sometimes it seems like calling it life might be a stretch.

The story is narrated by Alex Sawyer, who was a decent kid commiting progressively worse crimes. However, he didn't kill his best friend; he was framed by the black suits - the Furnace guards themselves. The only way he keeps himself going is by dreaming of escape, taking his new friend Zee and his roommate Donovan with him. Of course, he manages to make life more difficult for himself by antagonizing the Skulls, the prison gang.

But the gangbangers are nothing. LOCKDOWN is a horror novel, and as such is filled with a couple of eldritch abominations. Alexander Gordon Smith deploys them well: he describes the monsters' physicality and basic functions, but often leaves the most brutal moments to the imagination. Books never really scare me, but Smith does well at creating an atmosphere of dread and punctuating it with terrible events. I also like that the ending seems to promise there will be some explanation of how these creatures came to be in the other two books.

On the down side, LOCKDOWN definitely feels like the beginning of a trilogy. Yes, the boys achieve something at the end, but the novel ends immediately after. Most of Alex's adventures are set-up, making sure the horrific scenery of Furnace is fully in place. Eventually an escape plan develops, but until then the plot is a thin affair, not much more than a reason the characters are in such an awful place. (Of course, horror is not a genre that calls for dense, involved plots.)

I wish I knew about this series earlier, since I could've bought myself copies of SOLITARY and DEATH SENTENCE. Now I'll just have to wait with the other Americans. That or have my friend who's studying abroad in Ireland this spring ship me some books - after all, she will owe me a twenty-first birthday present.

LOCKDOWN is a good choice for people who enjoy something creepy and have a strong stomach. And due to an Anthropology class two years ago, I can't help but think people who are into prison reform would enjoy it metaphorically.

Gold Star Award Winner!

The future has arrived, and teen gangs are ruling the streets. Due to major carnage during the "Summer of Slaughter," authorities have cracked down and opened Furnace Penitentiary, a prison set deep underground for the worst teen offenders, where they will never see the light of day again.

Alex Sawyer is sentenced to Furnace after being convicted of murdering his best friend, Toby. Alex says over and over again that he did not kill Toby, but his protests fall on deaf ears, even though it's the truth.

Alex descends into Furnace, a prison hewn out of rough rock. He immediately notices the weak are prey and the strong will live, as the prison gang threatens his life and his new cellmate, Donovan, educates him on how to survive.

There is more to fear than the prison gangs, or the slop called food served in the cafeteria. There are the black suits - enormous, hulking men with silvery-sheened eyes and shark-like grins who guard the prison. There are the wheezers - twisted, malformed creatures in leather overcoats, their faces obscured by gas masks literally stitched to their skin. And there is the bloodwatch - an eerie red light that will suddenly wash over the prison cells in the dead of night, letting the inmates know the wheezers are coming for one of them.

Alex struggles to hold on to his humanity, his sanity, and his hope that he will survive Furnace, even if survival means hatching an impossible scheme that could kill him.

LOCKDOWN is one of the best books I have read this year! Smith's debut of the ESCAPE FROM FURNACE series keeps the reader fascinated from the first page; this is the first of a fantastic series!

Reviewed by: Hayes aka Haute Librarian

Holy hot streak! When I was sent this series for review, I wasn't too sure if I was going to like it. I thought it was going to be geared more for the male readers -- and in a way it is -- but nothing prepared me for what unfolded between the covers of this book!

Alex is a normal teenage boy, but he has a dark side of thievery and bullying. When Alex and his friend Toby gets a tip about a family being away, they decide to break in and steal what they can in hopes of scoring some quick cash. While in the process of the burglary, they quickly realize it was a set up and the 'black suits' come in and catch them in the act. When they shoot Toby in front of Alex, he realizes this is just the beginning. When he is caught, the suits have already framed him for the murder. The judge sentences him to Furnace Penitentiary. Furnace is not your ordinary jail though and it gives a whole new meaning to the word Hell.

Imagine Hell in your mind from everything you heard growing up. Now expand that with the references you have heard from Dante's Inferno in the meaning of different levels of Hell within the Furnace walls. Then take it one step further and throw in Freddy Krueger nightmares made of evil. That should give you some imagery of Furnace Penitentiary. The author did not hold back in the details of the gruesome acts and scene set ups in this book. There were many times I was gagging from the disgusting and atrocious things Alex had to experience. There were also times of bravery and friendships that would be on the other end of the spectrum.

Even with all of the things Alex suffers through, I still cheered him on. I wanted Alex to be free and escape. Then the author leaves you on the edge of a cliff -- literally -- at the end of the book. Thankfully, I had the next book in the series to start immediately following this one. If you are brave enough to make the journey into Furnace with Alex, consider having the next book around to keep the journey going.

This novel was one of the bleakest, harshest stories I've heard in a long, long time because events and situations were so depressing and downright horrible. During certain parts of the story, I wasn't sure if kids should be reading it. My wife, son, and I listened to the audiobook in the car, and we actually started it at night, which is the wrong time of day to listen to something like this as well. The interior of the car became oppressive, while at the same time the night outside the windshield on that long trip also became a bit more scary.

The story takes place in a futuristic London that I never want to see. Basically, teens have more or less been outlawed in the world because no one can control them and they're running amok in the street. The main character, Alex Sawyer, doesn't really have any redeeming qualities when we first meet him. He's been burgling houses.

The last burglary goes incredibly bad, though. His partner is killed by gasmask wearing people with no identification. After he's drugged, Alex finds out he's been framed for murdering his partner. The trial doesn't take long and Alex's next step is Furnace, the world most secure prison for young offenders.

The next part of the story is bleak and unrelenting. Alex manages to survive the isolation and the ill handling. The violence in the book is realistic and no gore is spared in order to show the reader just how bad Furnace is.

In addition to the abusive treatment from the guards and the fact that he's buried far underground, Alex and his fellow inmates are treated to scientific experimentation that turns them into weird, half-human creatures that feed on human flesh. Every day brings Alex closer to that horrific fate.

The novel focuses on the escape plan Alex and some of his friends put together. The reader will have to be patient to get to that part, but the author spends the time investing in the characters. As the pages turn (or the minutes go by, in case of an audiobook), the characters become more and more human, till the threat of what is going to happen to them is all-consuming.

I loved the intensity at the same time I hated it. On one hand, I wanted a lighter read, but on the other I was captivated. I was as trapped by Alex's situation as he was, and I felt like I put in the same amount of time and went through the same terrors on a personal level. That's quite an experience for a writer to deliver.

Lockdown isn't going to be a read for everyone. It's much darker than Harry Potter ever was. But for male readers wanting something scary, something that will keep them hanging on by their fingernails at the end of the book, and something with questionable humor, there are few books that meet those wants as well as this one.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, but the second book is already out at the time of this review. I've got it ordered.

Wow. What a thrill ride! I first picked up Lockdown with the intention of reading only a few pages but before I knew it I had 1/3 of the book done. I was ripped into the story, throw around, and spit back out...and then I asked for more.

A Dystopian version of the not so distant future where intense violence committed by young offenders has pushed society to the extreme. Life imprisonment in Furnace. A prison built from the very earth. One way in and no way out.

Beneath Heaven is Hell. Beneath Hell is Furnace.

With a tag line like that I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed!

The setting was detailed, gory, horrific and most importantly, realistic. This last fact shocked me a little. I mean, this sort of prison and the people and the society that created it could never actually exist...right?

Gordon's depiction of Alex's struggles were full of such raw emotion I was literally sitting at the edge of my seat during certain sections. I had given up hope long before Alex even considered it and his fortitude acted like a shinning light in an otherwise dark and cold hell.

Graphic at times, not for the weak of heart but full of action. No romance, which was kinda nice. Characters I loved and characters I loved to hate.

Very different from other YA dsytopian books I have read. I can see young male readers really connecting to Alex as a character and very much being as wrapped up in his story as I found myself.

Oh - and it ends on a cliff hanger - a BIG one. So make sure you have a copy of Solitary within arms reach!

Acquisition: received a finished copy for review

Some books just immediately impress you, either by their concept, the writing, or the overall skill in storytelling. This book does all three. Alexander Gordon Smith has started a series that looks to be amazing if this first book is any indication. It has been about 10 years since I got this excited about a series by the first book, and that time it was The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks.

The back story. At some point in the near future youth crime reaches epic heights. The populace responds strongly after the summer of slaughter, a period where youth murder rates soar. They create a new super max prison for young offenders, carved below the earth: Furnace. They say that below heaven is hell and below hell is furnace. There is now a zero tolerance policy on youth felons.

The story written in the first person narrative style, is the story of Alex Sawyer, a young criminal mostly responsible for break and enters and petty theft. Alex is framed for the murder of his criminal partner. Even though he is innocent, he is convicted and sent to Furnace. He arrives in Furnace, a terrifying dark hole carved from the earth, a place ruled by vicious gangs, and even more brutal guards. A place filled with horrifying creatures who come and steal boys from their cells in the night. A place with no hope and no future. Yet Alex struggles to maintain hope - that hope is escape, something believed to be impossible.

Alexander Gordon Smith does an amazing job of capturing the brutality of a prison environment, without going into too much gore. He tells a dark tale without becoming overly depressing. It is very well written.

The story is very well written for a first novel. It flows fast and furious, running the gauntlet of emotions, from hope to despair, from joy to gloomy submission. Once you start reading you won't want to put the book down. Unfortunately it races to a cliff hanger finish, leaving you wanting the next book, Solitary, right away, and it is not due out in North America until the fall. This book has made the list of my all-time favourite fiction novels and I highly recommend it. Just as a side note, I love the North American covers and that is what attracted me in the first place; if I had seen the UK covers I doubt I would have read the book.

BOOK INFO: "Lockdown: Escape from Furnace" is the author's US debut novel. It was previously published in the UK on 2nd July 2009. The US edition stands at 273 pages broken down into twenty-nine titled but unnumbered chapters. Narration is via the first person, and features Alex Sawyer, the young protagonist. "Lockdown: Escape from Furnace" is the first in a series of five books.

CLASSIFICATION: This book is a YA thriller with paranormal overtones and will appreciated by readers who have read and enjoyed Hover Car Racer by Matthew Reilly, Jake Ransom & the Skull King's Shadow by James Rollins or the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.

ANALYSIS: I had heard bout the book via a reference and while the book blurb seemed interesting enough, it was after reading the four chapters featured on the Macmillan site that I got revved up for the book; after finishing the book I must say that it doesn't disappoint or rather it blows your mind and then some.

The 1st chapter begins with the protagonist, 12 year old Alex Sawyer trying to outrun some monstrosity while incarcerated in the Furnace. It's from the second chapter when we learn how Alex got there along with the rest of the other inmates and about the events which had led to the development of the Furnace. Within the first few chapters the back-story is established and therein our tale begins when Alex arrives at the Furnace with the other prisoners. It's from here that the story wildly escalates from its simple beginnings into a locomotive express which has shades of "The Great Escape" combined with "Tom Sawyer".

The plot while not being totally original does have some surprises in store for the readers. Alexander Gordon has a very fresh voice and it shows in his writing which makes for a very entertaining read. The book chapters are in the James Patterson mode, short and fast. The main character of Alex, the protagonist, is a bit gray as well which adds to the story. The descriptions of the world below & life generally in the furnace is done in quite a lucid manner so as to make the reader understand the frustrations of the central characters. The book also deals with the harsh setting of prison life though in a manner appropriate to YA novels. "Lockdown: Escape from Furnace" ends on a cliffhanger and while there is some closure, the overall series is left wide open with many possibilities about true story behind its happenings.

The novel has a few minor niggles in it: the world building is done just enough to fit the story & does not go beyond it; since this was the opening salvo in the series, we might get a broader view in the next installments. "Lockdown: Escape from Furnace" has no central antagonist - besides the Furnace itself - of course there are some pointers about certain persons that may become of major importance later but the reader will not be learning much in this book about them.

In the end I would say I thoroughly enjoyed "Lockdown: Escape from Furnace". Alexander G. Smith is a new fantastic talent upon the YA book scene and I can't wait to see what lies in the future for Alex and the world of the Furnace. I have very high expectations for the next book and the series overall and I look forward to seeing them fulfilled spectacularly.

ockdown- Escape from Furnace is a tense YA thriller written by Alexander Gordon Smith and published by Square Fish, an imprint of Macmillan.

The Story- Alex lives in a volatile world where adults are afraid of teenagers due to a recent gang killing spree. Now there is no tolerance for juvenile crime. Poor Alex, a petty thief, is framed for murdering his best friend Toby and thrown into The Furnace, a hell hole of a juvenile jail. Life in jail is filled with unbelievable horrors; monstrous creatures that look human, vicious dogs without skin, black suited muscle men and strange people with gas masks sewn onto their faces.

It is in this grisly place that Alex must learn to survive, if the blood gangs don't get him first.

My Thoughts- Wow, a very tense thriller filled with gruesome images and violence. I do not feel this book is for young readers. The story is intriguing, the mysteries of what the heck is going on pulls you through every page. Plus, the mystery I wanted answered is one that is left dangling, so I'll definitely be back for book two. (Who are the men with the gas masks?)

Alex is a likeable character. From the very beginning you feel the injustice of his situation and even though he is a thief, you root for him to somehow escape the prison. The imagery of the book is so vivid, it is gross. (That's a good thing) All the horrors of the jail, from the mangled beasts to the slop they eat, you can picture, and it makes you feel like gagging. Another thing, the characters are not safe. Several you feel will make it to the finish, end up dead. So you never know what is going to happen next.

The sequel, Solitary, is already out.
[...]

Alex Sawyer has been condemned to life behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Although he's not looking forward to time spent in a sparse juvy institution - no, after murderous teenagers killed innocent victims on the streets, Alex has been sent to the imposing Furnace. A prison constructed to hold any and all dangerous youth. And the only sentence at Furnace is a life-sentence, basically a death-sentence. As Alex tries to navigate his way through the harsh reality of his new life - fear, hide, fear, work, fear - he begins to dream of the unthinkable: escape.

When asked about his inspiration for the horrific conditions of Furnace in an interview with The Discriminating Fangirl, Smith explained:
"I was thinking less about the news and more about my own worst fears. The thought of being convicted of a crime you didn't commit, and spending your life in jail, is absolutely terrifying."
And terrifying it is. From the heartless jailers to the complete lack of parental control or contact with the inmates on the inside, Furnace is a place directly out of anyone's nightmares (including this reviewer). That said, I was surprised to find Alex's story was full of heart. I know, cliche right? But I have to admit Alex's buff and gruff cell-mate Donovan and his fellow newbie Zee were bright spots in an otherwise red haze.

And for all of you who are scratching their heads with me over the cover? Please, please someone help that clip-art happy cover artist. Dogs! Barb-wire! Guns! Red strobe lights! I feel like I'm looking at some 10th grader's collage on nightmares and frankly it just gives me a headache. The UK cover is much better.

Let's just say after diving deep into the terrifying underbelly of Furnace, I think I'm going back to my original policy of no horror. Although it didn't exactly leave me with nightmares, I'll be the first to admit that I at least like the possibility of rainbows and a happy ever after. Which will never feature in a Furnace book. Never. Smith does a good job of dangling the possibility just out of reach, but it doesn't happen. That's not to say I'm not totally rooting for Alex to figure his way out of Furnace. I am. I'm just not crossing my fingers.

Alex Sawyer, convicted of a murder he didn't commit, is now
in "Furnace", an underground prison for young felons. He is
now a "New Fish" at Furnace and the Skulls are giving him
a hard time. Donovan, Alex's room mate and Zee, another
friend can't take living in Furnace anymore when they see
a bunch of innocent people killed during the Blood Watch.
The Blood Watch is when they randomly choose someone to
execute. More New Fish, Ashley, Toby, and Gary arrive.
Gary is a big guy and after he broke the Skulls' leader's
wrist, Gary took over. Things are so bad at furnace that
Ashley and Toby try to take their own lives by jumping
over a railing. Will they succeed? Finally, they have
found a way to escape. They will escape by shoving gloves
full of gas into room2 and blowing it up. Room2 caves in
and leaves a crack in the rock floor which leads to a
river underground. One more day till they escape. It's a
restless night for Alex, but finally he falls asleep.
Suddenly he wakes up to the noise of a siren and red
lights flashing and then he sees a man in a mask and he
marks an X on their cell door...Blood Watch. This means it
will be one of them next. Which person will they take
Alex or Donovan? Will they go on with the escape plan if
one of them gets taken? And most importantly will they
make it??

I thought this book was really good. It was kind
of scary but it was an amazing book. It
is very exciting. I love this book!!

NOTE:this book had a few
bad words in it.

Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer
Flamingnet Book Reviews
Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

ockdown- Escape from Furnace is a tense YA thriller written by Alexander Gordon Smith and published by Square Fish, an imprint of Macmillan.

The Story- Alex lives in a volatile world where adults are afraid of teenagers due to a recent gang killing spree. Now there is no tolerance for juvenile crime. Poor Alex, a petty thief, is framed for murdering his best friend Toby and thrown into The Furnace, a hell hole of a juvenile jail. Life in jail is filled with unbelievable horrors; monstrous creatures that look human, vicious dogs without skin, black suited muscle men and strange people with gas masks sewn onto their faces.

It is in this grisly place that Alex must learn to survive, if the blood gangs don't get him first.

My Thoughts- Wow, a very tense thriller filled with gruesome images and violence. I do not feel this book is for young readers. The story is intriguing, the mysteries of what the heck is going on pulls you through every page. Plus, the mystery I wanted answered is one that is left dangling, so I'll definitely be back for book two. (Who are the men with the gas masks?)

Alex is a likeable character. From the very beginning you feel the injustice of his situation and even though he is a thief, you root for him to somehow escape the prison. The imagery of the book is so vivid, it is gross. (That's a good thing) All the horrors of the jail, from the mangled beasts to the slop they eat, you can picture, and it makes you feel like gagging. Another thing, the characters are not safe. Several you feel will make it to the finish, end up dead. So you never know what is going to happen next.

The sequel, Solitary, is already out.
[...]

Alex Sawyer has been condemned to life behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Although he's not looking forward to time spent in a sparse juvy institution - no, after murderous teenagers killed innocent victims on the streets, Alex has been sent to the imposing Furnace. A prison constructed to hold any and all dangerous youth. And the only sentence at Furnace is a life-sentence, basically a death-sentence. As Alex tries to navigate his way through the harsh reality of his new life - fear, hide, fear, work, fear - he begins to dream of the unthinkable: escape.

When asked about his inspiration for the horrific conditions of Furnace in an interview with The Discriminating Fangirl, Smith explained:
"I was thinking less about the news and more about my own worst fears. The thought of being convicted of a crime you didn't commit, and spending your life in jail, is absolutely terrifying."
And terrifying it is. From the heartless jailers to the complete lack of parental control or contact with the inmates on the inside, Furnace is a place directly out of anyone's nightmares (including this reviewer). That said, I was surprised to find Alex's story was full of heart. I know, cliche right? But I have to admit Alex's buff and gruff cell-mate Donovan and his fellow newbie Zee were bright spots in an otherwise red haze.

And for all of you who are scratching their heads with me over the cover? Please, please someone help that clip-art happy cover artist. Dogs! Barb-wire! Guns! Red strobe lights! I feel like I'm looking at some 10th grader's collage on nightmares and frankly it just gives me a headache. The UK cover is much better.

Let's just say after diving deep into the terrifying underbelly of Furnace, I think I'm going back to my original policy of no horror. Although it didn't exactly leave me with nightmares, I'll be the first to admit that I at least like the possibility of rainbows and a happy ever after. Which will never feature in a Furnace book. Never. Smith does a good job of dangling the possibility just out of reach, but it doesn't happen. That's not to say I'm not totally rooting for Alex to figure his way out of Furnace. I am. I'm just not crossing my fingers.

Alex Sawyer, convicted of a murder he didn't commit, is now
in "Furnace", an underground prison for young felons. He is
now a "New Fish" at Furnace and the Skulls are giving him
a hard time. Donovan, Alex's room mate and Zee, another
friend can't take living in Furnace anymore when they see
a bunch of innocent people killed during the Blood Watch.
The Blood Watch is when they randomly choose someone to
execute. More New Fish, Ashley, Toby, and Gary arrive.
Gary is a big guy and after he broke the Skulls' leader's
wrist, Gary took over. Things are so bad at furnace that
Ashley and Toby try to take their own lives by jumping
over a railing. Will they succeed? Finally, they have
found a way to escape. They will escape by shoving gloves
full of gas into room2 and blowing it up. Room2 caves in
and leaves a crack in the rock floor which leads to a
river underground. One more day till they escape. It's a
restless night for Alex, but finally he falls asleep.
Suddenly he wakes up to the noise of a siren and red
lights flashing and then he sees a man in a mask and he
marks an X on their cell door...Blood Watch. This means it
will be one of them next. Which person will they take
Alex or Donovan? Will they go on with the escape plan if
one of them gets taken? And most importantly will they
make it??

I thought this book was really good. It was kind
of scary but it was an amazing book. It
is very exciting. I love this book!!

NOTE:this book had a few
bad words in it.

Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer
Flamingnet Book Reviews
Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

In the Book Lockdown: Escape From Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith, the main character, Alex is framed for murder of his best friend Toby when attempting to rob a vacant home.
Clearly the intent of Alexander Gordon Smith is to show his audience a side of horror, as every horrible thing in this book is described with excruciating detail that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. The prison that Alex is sent to is not put up to standards, and monsters take prisoners in the night, never to be seen again. Nobody knows what happens to them, they say it’s worse than death.
I recommend this book because it is an intense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, It will keep you biting your nails, and you will be constantly rooting for Alex as he tells his stories of his struggles throughout the Furnace Penitentiary.

"Lockdown" is the first book in what looks like it could be a long series of young adult novels that seem to be aimed at teen-aged boys. The premise is that, in a near-future version of the UK, youth gangs became murderous and society reacted by cracking down and building the ultimate prison named "Furnace" a mile or more underground. The idea continues that if you go to Furnace, you aren't ever coming back out.

Of course there's more. Mysterious men in black suits are framing kids for murders they didn't commit, and getting them sent to Furnace. The protagonist of the story, Alex, is one such kid. He's been a bad kid but not a murderer, until one day his luck turns, and he ends up in Furnace.

The prison environment is described in the most chilling terms. The reader gets a view of the grinding and dangerous daily life in such an institution, and the effects on the inmates, as they swing between moods of despondency and outbreaks of deadly violence. But there are two problems with this: it goes on for many more pages than really necessary, and --- though an integral part of the plot and concept of the series --- some of the goings-on are a bit over the top, and seem more part of a sci-fi/fantasy world than even the most heinous detention facility. Yes, it's young adult fiction, and it's supposed to be entertaining, but the author could have still maintained the plot line without resorting to theatrics.

This first novel in the series weighs in at nearly 300 pages, but it's a fast read and can be easily finished in a day or two. The ending is both satisfying in and of itself but clearly leads into the next book, anticipated in about a year. (If the series runs beyond three or so books, the intended audience may outgrow it at that pace.) It appeals to a limited segment of the reading population, but (with exceptions noted above) it's generally well-done and worth a try.

`Lockdown' is about a petty thief named Alex. While robbing a home with his best friend Toby, the worst of their fears came true; someone was home. But this was no angry homeowner, it was a massive group of assumed-to-be-cops, but Alex was wrong, they were not cops. Those black-clad monsters were keepers of Furnace: The legendary juvenile prison. They were there to imprison Alex, but not for robbery. He would be charged with murder, Toby's murder which happened right in front of him. Alex was framed by the very cops that imprisoned him. He was sentenced to life without parole in the ominous Furnace Penitentiary. Immediately upon arrival Alex noticed that many of the inmates were framed just as he had been. That was when Alex set his sights on his next great heist, escaping Furnace. But this would be no pushover job, because furnace was miles below ground and had a warden who seemed to be Satan himself. There was another complication in escaping: Furnace had inhuman creatures that stalked the night and upon command would drag the prisoners from their cells and down the bloody halls to meet a macabre fate. Maybe it was not a question of `how to escape' but `if he can survive long enough to.'

This book was a thriller and is by far on of the best books I have ever read. The motto conveys what the book is about perfectly, "beneath heaven is hell and beneath hell is the Furnace." It's about thrills and chills. The book was so jaw-dropping and amazing, that I kept going to my family and reading parts to them. By the time I got done I literally had no voice, I sounded like a bizarre mouse. It seemed like every other paragraph something comes at you that you didn't see. Every time, you just stare at the page and say-

Woah.

I definitely recommend. It's hard to tell whether I had light amounts of language or a medium amount, the blood rushing, adrenaline raising content really left my `how much' scale disoriented. Based on the length of the book I would have to say it was a medium amount, but again with the action it was hard to take notice. My only lasting question was "Why have I never heard of this author before?!"

Solitary (book 2)

I don''t want to tell you about the actual story, it would give far too much away. I can say this; It was amazing, just as good as the first, if not better! Smith continues to weave his plethora of horrors with Furnace.. Just the sheer amount of surprises are insane. Paragraph after paragraph the last sentence almost always delivers a punch. A lot of sequels let down readers, this is not one of them. I cannot wait to get my hands on the third book. Of course, the negative, is the language (medium amount.) I still highly recommend this series.

Death Sentence (book 3) was AMAZING. I definitely recommend this series. (unless you're easy to scare!)

This was a gripping thriller for older tweens/young adults aimed at a male audience. I didn't put this book down much, as it takes all those 'If you're bad this will happen to you' stories your parents told you as a kid to a whole new level, and at a fast pace. In this case, a level much like 'Resident Evil,' which I'm also a fan of, but in the style of an underground prison.

Next to the terrifying monsters, I think I was just as scared of Alex's heroic nature that he can't seem to override for the life of him. But standing up for what's right is a good morality to have, and hang onto, even when the sacrifices begin to add up. In this torturous place he has to hold onto hope, and his friends with everything he has if they are to stand a chance at escaping.

Overall an enjoyable, emotional read with believable characters, and I will be looking into the sequel as my older tween snatches this book from me.

Fourteen year old Alex Sawyer has been breaking rules for the past few years. He and his best friend, Toby, have become teeny bopper burglars intent on stealing as much loot and money they can get their hands on. It all comes to an abrupt end one night when they are caught, not by the police but by some mysterious men in black suits. Toby is killed, and Alex is sent to Furnace: the infamous penitentary just for kids.

Furnace is not your ordinary prison. It's located miles underground, surrounded by solid rock. Once you are in, you're in for life. Alex soon realizes just how horrible things are in Furnace, with the cannabalistic dogs and the wierd "wheezers" who come in the night to take certain kids away. Luckily he's got a few friends to watch his back, including his cellmate Donovan who has been in Furnace for five years.

Not being a fan of young adult novels, I wasn't sure if I'd like this book or not. But once I started it, I found it hard to put down. There is enough action and suspense that even this jaded adult reader found it interesting. A great read if you are looking for something quick and entertaining. Apparently this is the first book in a trilogy; I will be watching for the next installment to see what happens!

Alex, the protaganist of "Lockdown: Escape From Furnace", is not a nice guy. He is a bully. He robs houses and kids smaller than him. But is that enough reason to frame him with the murder of his best friend and have him sentenced to life imprisonment at Furnace?

This is a dark, bleak look at the future. Teens are imprisoned for life at the underground hole called Furnace and NONE of them make it out. And that is not the worst thing about it. Very scary, horrific things happen at Furnace.

I won't go into any more details. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy - Solitary: Escape from Furnace 2 and Death Sentence: Escape from Furnace 3. "Solitary" is already released but "Death Sentence" won't be out in the U.S. until August 2011.

WARNING: I would not consider this to be an appropriate book for younger readers. Extreme violence, horrific situations. Readers should be at least late teens and have a strong stomach.

The book Lockdown: Escape from Furance written by Alexander Gordon Smith. It is an action/ adventure horror story. It starts off with Alex and his friend Toby. Toby gets killed and Alex gets arrested for Toby's murder. Alex gets shipped to Furance prison for the rest of his life. Alex meets his new friends Donovan and Zee while locked up. They all are working to together to escape the horrible prison Furnace.
In the book Lockdown: Escape from Furance there was a lot I liked and didn’t like. One thing I liked is that it have some similarities to real prisons. Most things they did in the prison really happen in real life. Second thing I liked is how Alex grow as a person while locked up. This also happen in reality when some people get locked up. Some people change and some people stay the same. A few things I didn’t like is how everything happen. One example is when the people killed Toby and Alex got arrested for it. Honestly Alex got framed and that's what I didn't like. Second example is when Toby got killed. Seeing Alex lose his bestfriend is something I didn't like.
Overall the book was good. I was hoping to see if Alex break out successful but it doesn't tell. I recommend this book to anybody who wants to read any book that wants to read about prison stories. Also if you want to feel the emotion a person feels while in prison. Last is you want to hear how to escape escape from a prison.

Love love love! This book definitely was action filled and spooky and left me with more questions than answers but I couldn't put it down! The book starts out with Alex being sentenced unfairly to a maximum security youth prison for a murder he didn't commit. Furnace Penitentiary.... even imagining the worst scariest prison on earth can't top this place. As soon as Alex steps foot in the prison the mysteries of Furnace Penitentiary begin to pop up. There are so much weird things going on that it leaves you thirsting to finish the book so you can find out just what the hell is going on. Almost everything is described in great detail and I could feel myself being pulled in the book and experiencing things right along with the character. The ending doesn't answer everything you may want to know but luckily there are more books in the series. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who just likes to read a good fiction novel and aren't afraid of a lot of horror.

Ooh. I still have the chills. This book was delightfully disturbing. It was The Hunger Games, meets The Maze Runner. I found myself on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. It's oh-so-very creepy & cruel to children. Which is my only warning, though that's a pretty big warning.

This book was surprisingly clean when it comes to language. After all, a bunch of teenage boys in a prison that the cover describes as worse than hell probably wouldn't have the best language, but the swearing wasn't extreme at all. Mind you, that doesn't mean there wasn't any swearing, but it didn't bother me too much, and I'm quite sensitive to it.

This book may end up giving me nightmares, but it was worth it. I love books with a good mystery.

If you don't mind horror-books, and you liked The Maze Runner, and you're okay with characters that are FAR too young to be dealing with that kind of stuff, then check out Lockdown: Escape From Furnace

Summary:

This book is creepy, and definitely for older teen readers, but oh-so-very good.

An underground prison where teenagers are locked up for life, suffering in the hot bowels of the Earth?

Yeah, the Cat in the Hat this ain't.

Fourteen-year-old Alex is framed for a crime he didn't commit, and so must seek escape from Furnace, a terrifying underground prison for teens. What follows is a heated, non-stop chase and plenty of thrills.

The imagery and darkness of Lockdown give you the initial impression of a horror story but make no mistake, this is a thriller through and through. The action is relentless. The tension is palpable. Some of the sights you'll "see" are pretty grim, but you're not reading for that. You're reading because the pace never lets up.

It IS very dark, mind you. The book is best for mature teens or slightly older teens. At times it hearkens back to the grim pulp stories of old. But it's not over the top despite plenty of blood being spilled.

Excellent, pulse-pounding story that gets this new series off to a great start.