May Not Have Tried - Books

You have two options. You die, or you Qualify.

The year is 2047. An extinction-level asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and the descendants of ancient Atlantis have returned from the stars in their silver ships to offer humanity help.

But there's a catch.

They can only take a tiny percent of the Earth's population back to the colony planet Atlantis. And in order to be chosen, you must be a teen, you must be bright, talented, and athletic, and you must Qualify.

Sixteen-year-old Gwenevere Lark is determined not only to Qualify but to rescue her entire family.

Because there's a loophole.

If you are good enough to Qualify, you are eligible to compete in the brutal games of the Atlantis Grail, which grants all winners the laurels, high tech luxuries, and full privileges of Atlantis Citizenship. And if you are in the Top Ten, then all your wildest wishes are granted... Such as curing your mother's cancer.

There is only one problem.

Gwen Lark is known as a klutz and a nerd. While she's a hotshot in classics, history, science, and languages, the closest she's come to sports is a backyard pool and a skateboard.

This time she is in over her head, and in for a fight of her life, against impossible odds and world-class competition-including Logan Sangre, the most amazing guy in her school, the one she's been crushing on, and who doesn't seem to know she exists.

Because every other teen on Earth has the same idea.

You Qualify or you die.

Gwen Lark and her three siblings are offered, along with all other teenagers of Earth, a chance to escape the death and destruction that will follow the impact of the comet currently hurtling towards Earth — rescue by the Atlanteans from across the stars for those who qualify. To qualify, they have to beat out most of the rest of the teenage population, showing aptitude in a number of different areas. The problem? Gwen isn't exactly the main contender to win in a competition like this. She's afraid of heights, she's clumsy and just a complete dork. Not to mention, music seems to be very important in Atlantean society, but Gwen hasn't sung a single note since her mother's cancer diagnosis. How on earth is she supposed to survive this deadly competition, let alone qualify?

I have read this series multiple times and I always think 'I'll just read a few chapters' or 'I'll just read this book' and then somehow get sucked in for the whole ride. I seriously considered putting this series in my 'Game Changers' recs (and may still) — it has its flaws, but they are usually either minimal or part of the series' charms.

One of the things I think the author has done well is that Gwen is not a perfect character — for example, early in the story, she (and others around her) treat a disabled character as 'inspiration' for themselves and Gwen puts her foot in it with said disabled person later by mentioning this. Initially, I wasn't sure whether these flaws were intentional or not, which shows the author's skill in creating a rounded person. I also like that Gwen doesn't always come up with the 'correct' solution to problems first time around, or that even when she comes up with solutions, they're not always perfect (I'm looking at you shoes filled with water... You'll see what I mean!).

There is a love story within this series that starts to move to the forefront a little more as the book (and series) progresses, which to me feels in some ways a little more like a 'cherry on top'. At least in the first two books, it is more of a side-story to Gwen's struggles to qualify in the deadly games and learn more about the Atlantean culture. I love both the characters' developing relationships and the high-stakes games, but the games probably just eke out a victory on my main interest.

Honestly, it's worth giving this series a look, especially because book one (Qualify) is available for free.