Lost Boys

by Orson Scott Card
Lost Boys cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Contemporary Fiction
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  • ID: 6422
  • Added: 2025-11-16
  • Updated: 2025-11-16
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Published: 1992-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

Orson Scott Card, renowned for his science fiction works like Xenocide and Ender's Game, delivers his first mainstream novel, Lost Boys. This gripping story follows a family's harrowing journey to find their missing son, weaving elements of the supernatural with poignant prose. The novel masterfully balances tragedy and triumph, offering a bittersweet return that leaves a lasting impact./n/nCard's forthright writing style and Stephen King-like echoes of the supernatural create an atmosphere of suspense and emotional depth. Lost Boys is a powerful exploration of family, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life, making it a standout in contemporary fiction.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly · 2025-11-16
redemptive 3.50

The book offers a cruel yet redemptive experience for the characters, with natural prose that some may find jarring due to its fantastic elements.

Publishers Weekly noted that 'Lost Boys' provides a cruel yet redemptive experience for the Fletcher family. They appreciated Orson Scott Card's natural and easy prose, which makes the story engaging. However, they acknowledged that some readers might find the fantastic plot elements jarring. The reviewer highlighted the emotional depth and the way the story unfolds, making it a memorable read despite its darker moments.

Quick quotes

    A cruel, if redemptive, experience for the Fletchers ensues.

    Though some readers may find the fantastic plot elements jarring, Card's easy and natural prose ...

    The emotional depth and the way the story unfolds make it a memorable read.

KendraNicole.net · Kendra Nicole · 2025-11-16
compelling 4.00

The book is both heartwarming and horrifying, with powerful storytelling that occasionally feels stilted. The emotional depth and suspense make it a compelling read.

Kendra Nicole found 'Lost Boys' to be a deeply emotional and suspenseful read. They appreciated the heartwarming and horrifying elements, noting that Orson Scott Card's storytelling is powerful, even if the writing sometimes feels a bit stilted. The reviewer highlighted the emotional depth and suspense, making it a compelling read despite some pacing issues. They also mentioned that the book's exploration of family dynamics and the supernatural adds layers of complexity that keep the reader engaged.

Quick quotes

    Lost Boys is equal parts heartwarming and horrifying.

    Though the writing did feel a bit stilted at times, Card is a powerful storyteller who manages to ...

    The emotional depth and suspense make it a compelling read.

Notes in the Margin · 2008-02-01
engaging 4.00

The book is not a typical horror story but rather a deeply emotional and suspenseful narrative that explores family dynamics and the supernatural.

Notes in the Margin pointed out that 'Lost Boys' is not a typical horror story, nor is it a supernatural thriller. Instead, it is a deeply emotional and suspenseful narrative that explores family dynamics and the supernatural. The reviewer appreciated the foreboding and suspense that permeate the story, making it a unique and engaging read. They also noted that the book's exploration of family dynamics adds layers of complexity that keep the reader engaged.

Quick quotes

    Lost Boys is not a horror story, nor is it a supernatural thriller, the ...

    You can feel the foreboding and suspense, but can't quite put a finger on the right vein that's been ticking.

    The book's exploration of family dynamics adds layers of complexity that keep the reader engaged.

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