Ever since the Hunger Games came out, there has been a flood of novels centered around a similar formula. A young person (typically a girl) is in some futuristic society where the rulers dictate everything that happens to its people. This young person finds out that there's a better way to live, usually is juggling between 2 guys, and attempts a rebellion.
Because I enjoyed the Hunger Games so much, I tried to stay away from any similar novels - but there are a couple that have caught my eye...
Matched by Ally CondieOur protagonist (Cassia) lives in a society that takes away the burden of choice. They tell her what she'll eat, where she'll work, when she'll die, and (gasp!) who she'll marry. When it comes time for Cassia's "match" ceremony, the head officials tell her that she'll marry her best friend (yay!). But when she receives a chip of information intended to tell her more about who she's marrying, another person's face pops up...the local rebel boy. So of course this throws everyone for a loop and thus our series begins (a trilogy). There's much, much more to it - but you get the gist.
I read this book earlier in the year and feel a little ho-hum about it. It was good. But it would have been better if I hadn't read/heard of the Hunger Games and didn't feel like this concept had already been explored. I felt like I compared everything to Hunger Games and it affected how much I enjoyed the book. Also, this book is a little more "young adult" than I expected. There was a lot of boring romantic longing and not enough dystopian conflict. I'm hoping that the 2nd book will have a little more depth and that this book was only setting the scene for more action.
TIDBIT: The second book "Crossed" comes out this November.
Rank: C+
I have not read this book yet, but I really enjoyed the other book I've read by this author (Before I Fall). This is another trilogy set in the dystopian universe...it's gotten pretty good reviews - but I think that a lot of these novels are a case-by-case situations. In other words, I'll believe it's good when I read it.
But the general consensus that I'm finding from other reviews is that the writing is really strong, there's a lot of thought and detail included about the futuristic society (YESSSS!), a lot of tension is threaded throughout, no love triangle exists (double YESSS!), and apparently there's a pretty sweet cliffhanger.
Book Summary: Lena Haloway is content in her safe, government-managed society. She feels (mostly) relaxed about the future in which her husband and career will be decided, and looks forward to turning 18, when she’ll be cured of deliria, a.k.a. love. She tries not to think about her mother’s suicide (her last words to Lena were a forbidden “I love you”) or the supposed “Invalid” community made up of the uncured just beyond her Portland, Maine, border. There’s no real point—she believes her government knows how to best protect its people, and should do so at any cost. But 95 days before her cure, Lena meets Alex, a confident and mysterious young man who makes her heart flutter and her skin turn red-hot. As their romance blossoms, Lena begins to doubt the intentions of those in power, and fears that her world will turn gray should she submit to the procedure.
I recently found out about this book from my handy copy of Entertainment Weekly and they gave it a solid B+ rating, so I'm adding it to my list of books to read. First things first...the cover does absolutely nothing for me. This is definitely going to be a Kindle read so I don't look like I should be at home wearing head-gear while reading my pre-teen science fiction novel.
Since I haven't read this book, I looked at some online reviews and things are looking up for this book. No love triangle!!!! Double-crossing and betrayal!! It's a page-turner / fast read! And of course Summit Entertainment has optioned it for a movie already (ehhhh).
Book Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.
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