Erin’s Letter Essay #5: The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave is a Science Fiction  and a Dystopian book written by Rick Yancey. The book is 474 pages long. This book is about a girl named Cassie that is surviving through an alien invasion. They call them the “Others” or sometimes even the “Visitors”. The Others attacked them in 4 waves. After the first wave, there is only darkness, no electricity, no cell phones, no transportation; they call it lights out. After the 2nd wave destruction, there is an earth quake that is strong enough to shake the entire planet, there are tsunamis. After the third wave disease, it spread across the whole world, you would get sick and either get better or die. After the 4th wave they were among them, the Others would take human hosts and kill remaining humans. The only rule Cassie lives by is trust no one. Cassie believes staying alone means staying alive, until she meets Evan Walker. Evan is mysterious but may be her only hope for rescuing her brother that was taken away by bus to Wright Patterson. She has to choose if staying alone means staying alive or if she’s willing to risk trusting Evan Walker.

I read this book so fast. I loved it and I really recommend it to people that like science fiction. It may sound like the typical alien invasion story, but it’s not, it’s unique in its own way. You really get attached to the characters and this book plays with your emotions. Rick Yancey has found a special way of portraying the characters personalities. Cassie doesn’t really trust anyone and will do anything to survive so that she can keep her promise to her younger brother Sam. She is a determined and intelligent and has a very interesting personality. While Evan on the other hand is sweet and kind but also is a little mysterious, he will do anything to keep Cassie alive. I really enjoyed the book and it made me really emotional at times, I never wanted to put the book down. I read the book really fast because I enjoyed it, I also read the 2nd book. The 2nd book is called “The Infinite Sea”.

Rick Yancey is a fantastic writer one of the paragraphs that made me emotional was:

“You’re not the only one,” he says through gritted teeth”My twelve year old sister died in my arms. She choke to death on her own blood. And there was nothing I could do. It makes me sick, the way you act as if the worst disaster in human history somehow revolves around you. You’re not the only one who’s lost everything-not the only one who thinks they have found the one thing that makes any of this —- makes sense. You have your promise to Sammy, and I have you.”(page 174)

This paragraph played with my emotions. I even cried a little, Rick Yancey really knows how to get you involved with this book. I would rate this book a 9 1/2 out of 10. It deserves that score, and I would highly recommend it.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

13 thoughts on “Erin’s Letter Essay #5: The 5th Wave

  1. Erin,
    I saw the trailer for this movie when I saw “The Force Awakens” with my family during Christmas break. It did seem like the typical apocalypse movie but you make the book seem at least atypical. Funny, while reading your description of the characters, I couldn’t help but think of Katniss and Peeta, and I’m wondering if you felt similarly, considering you are re-reading Catching Fire. Thanks for posting this.
    Mr. Jockers

  2. Erin,
    I have seen the trailer for the movie and it looks great, I may read the book if the movie is as good as it looks. One question I have is why is it called the fifth wave because you said there were only four waves
    Jake

  3. I loved your letter-essay. I will definitely think about reading this book. I also heard there is a movie coming out, is it similar to the book?

  4. I loved your letter-essay. I will definitely think about reading this book. I also heard there is a movie coming out, is it similar to the book?

  5. Erin,
    This book I think sounds really good. I have seen the trailer for this so many times and I want to see the movie. I don’t really like all the alien invasion stuff but I guess I never really chose to read about it and I want to read it before I see the movie. I also like your quoted passage because I can see how it can make you emotional. I like books that will make you never want to put it down, I read A Million Ways Home and I felt the same way you did even though the story was completely different. I was done with the book in no time and it made me upset at some parts and happy in others.
    -Maddy

  6. Dear Erin,
    This book sounds really interesting and sounds very similar to the movie trailor. I really liked how you had a lot of information in your letter essay without giving a lot away. It was very suspenseful and I will definitely read this book in the future. Thank you for the recommendation!
    -Zoe W.

  7. Dear Erin,
    This is a wonderful essay! You had such great description and structure. It seems you took sometime into it. As many people, I have seen the trailer to the movie so many times, I’m not interested into alien invasion books or sci-fi books about monsters like Goosebumps, sadly. But as you have described this book isn’t like any other alien book. I might read this book if I have extra time when I’m done reading the types of genres in the 40 book challenge and watch the movie and maybe criticize it. I never thought you’d cry over a book but after reading that little passage I saw that you did. I get that kind of emotional spin to a lot of books like the Harry Potter series. One thing I would change about your essay is include some background information about the author, maybe list a few books he has written. Overall great job!
    -Madigan

  8. Dear Erin,
    ERIN CRIED…WHATTT??! Haha, you told me about this book before in social studies and I’ve really wanted to read it since then because I’m a bit of a science fiction nerd (ok, more then a bit). I saw the movie trailer, and even though it looked very typical, I just got very VERY INTRIGUED. BUT, I will not allow myself to watch the movie without reading the book ( books are always better). The way you explained the characters also did not help my state right now. I NEED THE BOOK! Be prepared for me to send you another video of me after I finish it hahaha XD. Great letter essay!

    -Nicole A. 🙂

  9. Erin,
    I really enjoyed reading your letter essay because this is a book I have been wanting to read and getting to read your letter essay gave me more of an idea about the book. Although it might be a little long. I think you did a great job explaining the book and told the story very well. I also liked how you said that it played with your emotions because thats how you know a book is good great job!

    -Jake

  10. Erin,
    I heard the movie of this book is out, which seems really good. But I look to read the book first and your letter essay makes it seem like a really good and intense read. NICE JOB!!!

  11. Dear Erin,

    Great letter essay. I have been wanting to read this book for a couple of months now. I first wanted to read this book when I saw the movie trailer which seem very interesting. This seems like a very good science fiction book. I can wait to read this book.

    Kiki

  12. Dear Erin, I thought your letter- Essay was very good, I actually just bought the book and I though I needed I description of the book. I liked your description.

Leave a Reply to nangelescuhkms Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *