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rochellegermano's review against another edition
2.0
The story has interesting elements, but didn't feel exciting until the very end. And even then, everything seemed too predictable. Many of the characters spoke the same way and fell a bit flat for me. The writing style was only so-so.
faithtrustpixiedust's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent dystopian tale of choice, trust, and weeds.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
While the writing style wasn't my absolute favorite, it was engaging and managed to make the slower parts of the book not so boring as they had the potential to be. The dialogue felt a bit 2005, but the book was published then, so I can't really hold that against it. I was particularly fond of the motifs and themes of the book, my favorite being the beautiful flowers that are invasive weeds literally choking out all other life, and ultimately even themselves.
The premise sounded somewhat far-fetched at first, but it is executed so well that by the end, I could really see this as a possible future, which was frightening. The technology was well explained and plausible (at least to me, but I'm no scientist).
The Characters
Tally: She was really consistent, yet still grew a lot, which I really liked. She stayed true to her fundamental person—a person of action, but also thought—and also learned to let go of some of her faults—indecision, selfishness, and even self-consciousness. And me of all people actually liking a female protagonist is really something.
Shay: I loved Shay. She is fun and spunky, and somewhat of a tomboy, but still maintaining some girlish charm.
David: Despite being a tad insta-love-y, David was also really great! His insta-love had actual believable reasons, and he was just such a sweet guy!
Dr. Cable: Specials in general are pretty freaky, but this one in particular was super creepy.
Conclusion
It definitely wasn't my favorite book ever, but I did really like it, and actually really brought back some appreciation for YA that had been dying in me, so I'm really glad I read it, and I would definitely recommend it. And besides all that, my older sister has been trying to get me to read this series since like 2010, so it was surely time.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
While the writing style wasn't my absolute favorite, it was engaging and managed to make the slower parts of the book not so boring as they had the potential to be. The dialogue felt a bit 2005, but the book was published then, so I can't really hold that against it. I was particularly fond of the motifs and themes of the book, my favorite being the beautiful flowers that are invasive weeds literally choking out all other life, and ultimately even themselves.
The flowers were so beautiful, so delicate and unthreatening, but they choked everything around them.
The premise sounded somewhat far-fetched at first, but it is executed so well that by the end, I could really see this as a possible future, which was frightening. The technology was well explained and plausible (at least to me, but I'm no scientist).
What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.
The Characters
Tally: She was really consistent, yet still grew a lot, which I really liked. She stayed true to her fundamental person—a person of action, but also thought—and also learned to let go of some of her faults—indecision, selfishness, and even self-consciousness. And me of all people actually liking a female protagonist is really something.
Shay: I loved Shay. She is fun and spunky, and somewhat of a tomboy, but still maintaining some girlish charm.
Doing what you're supposed to do is always boring. I can't imagine anything worse than being required to have fun.
David: Despite being a tad insta-love-y, David was also really great! His insta-love had actual believable reasons, and he was just such a sweet guy!
Dr. Cable: Specials in general are pretty freaky, but this one in particular was super creepy.
Conclusion
It definitely wasn't my favorite book ever, but I did really like it, and actually really brought back some appreciation for YA that had been dying in me, so I'm really glad I read it, and I would definitely recommend it. And besides all that, my older sister has been trying to get me to read this series since like 2010, so it was surely time.
tiffinir's review against another edition
1.0
if i had to read the world ugly or pretty one more time. the brain manipulation part was cool but other than that there was no creativity in naming which made it so boring and i only pushed through and finished for book clubs sake lol
cannibaldear's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this shit is so much gayer than I remembered
kimkreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
safetybuddy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
krisaacs's review against another edition
1.0
If you were thinking, "I really loved story arc of The Maze Runner but I wish there were more skateboards," have I got the book. for. you.
riestenberger's review against another edition
3.0
I've had this series sitting on my book cases for AGES.
Finally got around to reading it. As I always say, obviously I'm not the intended audience but I really had high hopes. I love a good "utopian" book, but I just found the characters to be annoying. I thought the concept of the surgery and society structure was cool but I found Tally to be kind of meh...
Finally got around to reading it. As I always say, obviously I'm not the intended audience but I really had high hopes. I love a good "utopian" book, but I just found the characters to be annoying. I thought the concept of the surgery and society structure was cool but I found Tally to be kind of meh...