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Jason Mott

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The Crossing: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Jason Mott (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

3.8 53 ratings

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In this apocalyptic adventure, war and disease decimate the globe, and two orphaned siblings must decide: Stay and die, or run and survive.

From the New York Times–bestselling author of Hell of a Book, A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

Twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have been on their own since they were orphaned at the age of five. Twelve years later, the world begins to collapse around them as a deadly contagion steadily wipes out entire populations and a devastating world war rages on. When Tommy is drafted for the war, the twins are faced with a choice: accept their fate of almost certain death or dodge the draft. Virginia and Tommy flee into the dark night.

Armed with only a pistol and their fierce will to survive, the twins set forth in search of a new beginning. Tommy and Virginia must navigate the dangers and wonders of this changed world. But how far will they get before the demons of their past catch up with them?

Praise for The Crossing

“Mott spins a captivating, fast-paced dystopian tale about a world in chaos and twins fighting to stay alive.” —Publishers Weekly

“Beautifully written and touching on some fascinating ideas.” —Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR THE RETURNED

“Mott turns phrases with poetic grace….The Returned pulses with life.” –Entertainment Weekly

“Mott's haunting debut…is a crackling page turner." —People

“In his exceptional debut novel, poet Mott brings drama, pathos, joy horror, and redemption to a riveting tale.” —Publishers Weekly(starred review)

“Beautifully written and emotionally astute.... a breathtaking novel that navigates emotional minefields with realism and grace.” —Kirkus (starred review)

“A deft meditation on loss." —Aimee Bender, New York Times bestselling author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

“An extraordinary and beautifully realized novel. My spine is still shivering. Wow.” —Douglas Preston, #1 bestselling author of The Monster of Florence

“White-hot debut.” —Entertainment Weekly, Summer Must List

"An impressive debut novel." —USA Today

About the Author

Jason Mott holds a BA in fiction and an MFA in poetry and is the author of two poetry collections. His writing has appeared in numerous literary journals, and he was nominated for the 2009 Pushcart Prize. Jason lives in North Carolina.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075JHFT97
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Park Row; Original edition (May 15, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2796 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 317 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,124,102 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #5,138 in Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction
- #8,900 in Dystopian Fiction (Books)
- #10,107 in Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
3.8 53 ratings

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Jason Mott

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Jason Mott lives in southeastern North Carolina. He has a BFA in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His poetry and fiction has appeared in various literary journals. He was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize award and Entertainment Weekly listed him as one of their 10 "New Hollywood: Next Wave" people to watch.

He is the author of two poetry collections: We Call This Thing Between Us Love and "...hide behind me..." The Returned is his first novel.

The Returned has also been optioned by Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B, in association with Brillstein Entertainment and ABC. It will air in March, 2014 on the ABC network under the title "Resurrection."

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5

53 global ratings

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Amazon Customer

Mott writes like a poet

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

Jason Mott takes a different spin on the all-too-familiar genre of the teen dystopia. Amid wars and plagues, brother and sister run off on a pilgrimage to Florida to see the launch of a probe to seek life on Jupiter's moon Europa -- what might be humanity's last voyage into space. It's adventuresome, but also intellectually complex; the characters are self-deluding, and the narrator is not to be trusted. Mott writes like a poet, and fans of his "The Returned" will not be disappointed.

2 people found this helpful

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Sirrah

Author Mott is a great stoyteller!

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2022

Verified Purchase

Jason Mott tells a good story with great flow.

One person found this helpful

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J. Miles

She smart, he not so smart.

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

We get it. She is the smart one and has a perfect memory. He is dumb and remembers nothing. They need each other. I never give up on a book, but I ran away screaming halfway through this one. Very disappointed in Mott.

4 people found this helpful

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She Treads Softly

sibling relationships in a dying world

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2018

The Crossing by Jason Mott is a highly recommended tale about twins struggling to survive in a dying world.

When the Disease first started, it hit only the elderly. Once they got it, they just fell asleep and never woke up. Then the age of those who caught the Disease began to go lower and the recrimination over how or who started the Disease began, turning into a world-wide war. Now the world is in the 10th year of the Disease. Those who lead the war efforts are dying from it, while those who are actually drafted, fighting, and dying in the war are the young.

Tommy and Virginia are seventeen-year-old twins who only have each other. Their parents died when they were five and they have been in the foster system ever since. The twins are opposites. Virginia remembers everything, every word, every detail, in complete clarity - calling it the Memory Gospel - while Tommy doesn't recall much at all. Now Tommy has received a draft letter and the two are making a final desperate trip from Oklahoma to Florida to see the shuttle launch to Jupiter’s moon Europa. Their father was obsessed with Europa and Virginia is sure that the shuttle may be humankind’s last chance for survival. Their foster father, a police officer, is following them, determined to bring Tommy back to go to the military.

This is more a story of sibling relationships and rivalry than a dystopian tale. It is set in a dying world, but the important part of the story is the interaction between Tommy and Virginia and how they relate to each other and the world. Virginia's disaffection for people and the Memory Gospel is an oddly creepy combination. She may remember everything and be the intelligent one, but she's also a bit off putting. She recounts in perfect recall the series of letters their father wrote to them, which, among other things, encouraged them to take care of each other.

The Crossing is an interesting viewpoint for a dystopian story, but perhaps not the best choice. I will readily admit to wanting to hear more about the Disease, more about the world wide war, more about the political ramifications and explanations for the plague that strikes the elderly and slowly works its way down the generations. Virginia is not really a likeable character and while it is compelling to see the struggles in the journey to Florida, her flashbacks and recollection of their father's letters takes away from the edginess and desperation of the odyssey.

The quality of the writing is excellent, as I expected. There was the potential for an even greater story here, but, still, I rather liked some of the revealing disclosures at the end which made the story much better for this reader.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Park Row Books via Netgalley.

3 people found this helpful

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Carrie G.

The Crossing

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2018

The Crossing by Jason Mott is a dystopian read that is set in a world where disease has begun to slowly take over the world. It started with the elderly, those over 90 simply went to sleep and did not wake up again. But as time goes on the age that is effected by the sleeping sickness continues to drop lower and lower.

In the beginning no one worried about the disease thinking it was only taking those at the end of their lives anyway. But when it became apparent that sooner rather than later there would be no one left of child bearing age the world broke out in chaos. As war started the military began the draft yet again.

Seventeen year old twins Virginia and Tommy Matthews have only had each other since they were children often running when the system would try to split them apart. Now Virginia wants nothing more than to make it to see the space launch to Europa that just might be the last hope for the world that is falling apart.

The Crossing wasn’t a bad read at all but it was one that for me had a lot of slowness to it that then has it a struggle to keep my attention. There is a lot of telling instead of doing in the book and one only needs so much world building without progress to a plot.

On the other hand after wading through the slowness there is an interesting story going on with the twins and their world. Virginia is one that never forgets a single detail at all so she’s certainly a unique character and other interesting characters are introduced along the journey. The idea of setting of to see the launch was an interesting one to center around while the characters grew and developed so in the end I’d say this was an ok read just a bit slow for my taste.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.

5 people found this helpful

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connie moore

Two Stars

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

not very interesting, haven't been able to finish. will try again, who knows it may improve.