Scan barcode
laureenreads's review
5.0
I didn't mean to read this book when I did. I picked it up from my desk and started reading the first page. Just to gauge whether I wanted to read it on Christmas Day, you see. Except that first page turned into the first chapter, which turned into the next three chapters. By the time Christmas Dinner had started I'd managed to read this entire book in stolen snatches of time from my hectic Christmas Day. I don't regret it. This was a fantastic book.
The basic premise of transferral of illness to criminals is one I had never heard of before, making it unique as well as entertaining. I've read many dystopian stories, and this one is chilling in how easily it makes sense that this would happen. As a mother, I would often give anything to take on the illness of my children when they're sick. Take that to an extreme level where that illness could be given to someone who had broken the law... I could see something like that happening if we had the technology.
Kate Blair exposes the other side of that kind of technology, the side where criminals suffer much more than they should have, where there is no treatment for the ill because there is this idea that they deserve it. It's a terrifying alternate universe. I don't want to say too much more for fear of giving away the book, but this is definitely one you should give a chance to.
The basic premise of transferral of illness to criminals is one I had never heard of before, making it unique as well as entertaining. I've read many dystopian stories, and this one is chilling in how easily it makes sense that this would happen. As a mother, I would often give anything to take on the illness of my children when they're sick. Take that to an extreme level where that illness could be given to someone who had broken the law... I could see something like that happening if we had the technology.
Kate Blair exposes the other side of that kind of technology, the side where criminals suffer much more than they should have, where there is no treatment for the ill because there is this idea that they deserve it. It's a terrifying alternate universe. I don't want to say too much more for fear of giving away the book, but this is definitely one you should give a chance to.
w_xinnie's review against another edition
3.0
Someone gave me this book, so I'm trying it out. It's a contemporary not usually my style but I'm still giving it a chance.
For now, the reading has been easy and three chapters in and there is already some actions going on !
The writing style is very nice and easy to read and the subject of the book really important. Injustice, sickness, homelessness, racism and favoritism due to money.
It did like reading it, but overall it was not my style.
For now, the reading has been easy and three chapters in and there is already some actions going on !
The writing style is very nice and easy to read and the subject of the book really important. Injustice, sickness, homelessness, racism and favoritism due to money.
It did like reading it, but overall it was not my style.
leacallida's review against another edition
4.0
Malgré les 100 premières pages longues et un univers pas spécialement très original, l'intrigue est addictive et les personnages attachants ! Une très bonne lecture.
snazel's review
3.0
Works well as an introduction to the idea of retributive justice vs. restorative justice, and the societal impact that both have.
Also has some honestly chilling moments when you see how this society has just not bothered to research treatment for things that just affect criminals. Or even to bother to make the process of transferral non-agonizing. Cause it just affects criminals, right?
People talk about being unable to conceptualize huge numbers and effects, it needs small stories for our brains to latch on to. You remember the story of the single person who went back into the burning building to make IT stop doing backups and get out (and then was trapped with them) in a way that you don't remember numbers of casualties. So I guess I have this book to thank for certain images that haven't left my mind since. None of them are GOOD really, but they're good to remember.
Also has some honestly chilling moments when you see how this society has just not bothered to research treatment for things that just affect criminals. Or even to bother to make the process of transferral non-agonizing. Cause it just affects criminals, right?
People talk about being unable to conceptualize huge numbers and effects, it needs small stories for our brains to latch on to. You remember the story of the single person who went back into the burning building to make IT stop doing backups and get out (and then was trapped with them) in a way that you don't remember numbers of casualties. So I guess I have this book to thank for certain images that haven't left my mind since. None of them are GOOD really, but they're good to remember.
skundrik87's review
4.0
https://librarianonthelake.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/transferral-by-kate-blair/
dylancampbell's review against another edition
2.0
A wonderful premise, if a tad juvenile in its execution.
booksatdawn's review against another edition
4.0
** I received the e-ARC version of this book in exchange for an honest review. **
Transferral by Kate Blair is a standalone young adult science fiction novel. In a world where criminals are punished with diseases from the good citizens of the city, we follow the daughter of the politician who supports these actions as she goes through a self evalutation of right and wrong. This book begs the questions: when are the lines blurred between good and evil? Is this the route our world might take in the future to eradicate crime in our cities? Is this just another type of segregation between the upper and lower class?
A very thought provoking story that everyone should get a chance to read!
LIKES:
UNIQUE CONCEPT
I loved the idea this book put forth. Criminals being punished with illness depending on the severity of their crimes. Living in our world now where there is so much violence, murder, rape, and gangs sometimes a prison sentence just doesn't seem like enough. Blair puts the idea in your head in the beginning of the book that this protocol is beneficial to a better country, but by the end of the book you're left thinking, is it really worth it?
A part of me wants to say yes, murder and rape should carry a heavier sentence then life in prison, but the other part of me struggles with the idea of the less fortunate citizens who have no choice but to steal and make their money illegally in order to survive. I think the real problem lies in the division between the rich and the poor.
THE WRITING
Blair does a fantastic job with telling her story. I love books that make you question and think about the way you live your own life, and this book does that. The writing was well done and well planned out. The story was very cohesive and never once boring. Blair was able to capture the essence of both the rich lifestyle and the poor lifestyle through her vivid descriptions and dialogues between the characters. Truly thought provoking!
THE CHARACTERS
I really liked the characters in the story especially Talia and Galen. They come from two very sides of the spectrum with their own ideas of what right and wrong are. I liked how they were able to come together and work hard for a common goal but still keep to their individual charms. And the character growth from Talia was also very clear and to the point.
DISLIKES:
THE ENDING
This may be a bit of a personal issue, but I was not quite satisfied with the ending. I felt it was a bit abrupt and didn't really hold strong like the rest of the book did. For me, a standalone book should end with the story-lines being neatly finished and that's something that I felt didn't happen. We don't get to know what happened with the Transferral program after the big publicized event that occurred, we don't know what happened to Piers after his incident at the end, and we don't get to hear from Tig again after she became ill. These are jsut some of the examples I wish were cleared at the end so the story could come to a close and leave me satisfied.
But besides that, the book was a great read!
Transferral by Kate Blair is a standalone young adult science fiction novel. In a world where criminals are punished with diseases from the good citizens of the city, we follow the daughter of the politician who supports these actions as she goes through a self evalutation of right and wrong. This book begs the questions: when are the lines blurred between good and evil? Is this the route our world might take in the future to eradicate crime in our cities? Is this just another type of segregation between the upper and lower class?
A very thought provoking story that everyone should get a chance to read!
LIKES:
UNIQUE CONCEPT
I loved the idea this book put forth. Criminals being punished with illness depending on the severity of their crimes. Living in our world now where there is so much violence, murder, rape, and gangs sometimes a prison sentence just doesn't seem like enough. Blair puts the idea in your head in the beginning of the book that this protocol is beneficial to a better country, but by the end of the book you're left thinking, is it really worth it?
A part of me wants to say yes, murder and rape should carry a heavier sentence then life in prison, but the other part of me struggles with the idea of the less fortunate citizens who have no choice but to steal and make their money illegally in order to survive. I think the real problem lies in the division between the rich and the poor.
THE WRITING
Blair does a fantastic job with telling her story. I love books that make you question and think about the way you live your own life, and this book does that. The writing was well done and well planned out. The story was very cohesive and never once boring. Blair was able to capture the essence of both the rich lifestyle and the poor lifestyle through her vivid descriptions and dialogues between the characters. Truly thought provoking!
THE CHARACTERS
I really liked the characters in the story especially Talia and Galen. They come from two very sides of the spectrum with their own ideas of what right and wrong are. I liked how they were able to come together and work hard for a common goal but still keep to their individual charms. And the character growth from Talia was also very clear and to the point.
DISLIKES:
THE ENDING
This may be a bit of a personal issue, but I was not quite satisfied with the ending. I felt it was a bit abrupt and didn't really hold strong like the rest of the book did. For me, a standalone book should end with the story-lines being neatly finished and that's something that I felt didn't happen. We don't get to know what happened with the Transferral program after the big publicized event that occurred, we don't know what happened to Piers after his incident at the end, and we don't get to hear from Tig again after she became ill. These are jsut some of the examples I wish were cleared at the end so the story could come to a close and leave me satisfied.
But besides that, the book was a great read!
dylanisreviewing's review against another edition
2.0
This book had a lot of potiental and i was very intriuged by it based on the synopsis, but sadly it didn't live up to its potiental.
This book is only 191 pages and it was just very rushed, the writing was choppy, and i ended up not really having any emotional connection with the characters or the story because there just wasn't enough time for it to develop, for me.
This book is only 191 pages and it was just very rushed, the writing was choppy, and i ended up not really having any emotional connection with the characters or the story because there just wasn't enough time for it to develop, for me.
More...