Prized (Birthmarked #2) by Caragh O'Brien

Publication Date: 11-8-2011

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Pages: 368

Format: e-book

Source: netGalley

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Goodreads Summary:

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime.  In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

Prized began where Birthmarked left off, leaving Gaia with little supplies left and trying to find a way to provide for her younger sister, who she is certain is going to die shortly without help.  She is brought into the city of Sylum, where she finds more than she bargained for.  Women are in charge yet they are outnumbered by the men.  A kiss could lead to a sentence of death or imprisonment, and the rules seem to ever change to accommodate those in charge.  Gaia doesn't understand a lot about this society, but she didn't try very hard to either.  I can't deny that she kind of upset me in this novel.  She took a step back and wasn't the strong heroine that I remembered.  She was stubborn, whiny, and made some crazy stupid decisions.  At the same time, I tried to remind myself that she is 16 and shouldn't be expected to always make the smartest decisions.

Her relationships with people she knew changed dramatically, and she causes a lot of trouble for those in town.  She doesn't conform the way they would like her too, but is constantly questioning and trying to change their laws and standards.  At times I thought she was doomed, but she ultimately surprised me and became stronger throughout the novel.  She seemed to come into herself more and figure out exactly what she was supposed to do to help this society, her sister, and those in the Enclave.  

I didn't find Prized to be as amazing as Birthmarked, but I think it's because it wasn't what I was expecting.  I knew things would change, but I didn't realize we would be introduced to so many new people and things.  There were a lot of new changes to get used to while engaging in it.   Overall, I liked Prized and can't wait to see what happens in the final book of this trilogy.  O'Brien has set this up in such a way that I can't even predict what will happen in book three.  I think that's why I'm so excited and just want to read it now!  There are a lot of ways this trilogy could end, but I have a feeling it isn't going to be any that I expect.  Anyway, I think if you enjoyed Birthmarked you will likely enjoy Prized (even if it's not as much), and you will certainly be looking forward to the third and final book in this series.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Publication Date: 11-15-2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Source: Publisher

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Goodreads Summary:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

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Could you imagine being unable to touch another human being without risking their lives?  Could you imagine your own parents disowning you and giving you up to the government to live in an institution because they want to wash their hands of you?  Well, imagine it.  Imagine living in a place where it's never light, you never see anyone else, but you hear their screams.  You hear their pain and wonder every day if you will be next. 

Suddenly, everything changes.  You aren't alone.  You're being told that you have a gift.  You have an amazing weapon that can be used for the good of the world.  Yet, you don't understand.  It's too hard to believe.  Then, you find out you can touch other human beings, but you don't know why.

I don't even know where to begin an explanation for this novel . It was just pure AWESOME!  Of all the books I've read this year (almost 200), this has been my favorite.  Tahereh Mafi did an amazing job writing a suspenseful, jaw-dropping, unique and entertaining novel.  She led us through a world developed in her mind and brought to life on paper.  A world I could never imagine.  She introduced us to the dynamic character of Juliette.  A girl who truly deserves the name.  Juliette experiences love, loss, and heartbreak that reminded me of Shakespeare's Juliet.  Yet she is a strong-willed, stubborn, hard-ass heroine who is out to make the best of her world.  She is trying to live a life that is somewhat normal, while trying to avoid accidentally killing another human being.

I can't wait to find out where Mafi leads us in the next book of this series. We learned so much about Juliette, her childhood, and the people around her, but so many questions were left unanswered.  There is so much we don't know about this society and I can't wait to find out.  The kick-ass fighting and drama in this novel is enough to make me want more.  I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened in each (what seemed like) desperate situation.  This is a 2011 debut that you don't want to miss!

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Publication Date: 9-1-2011

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 304

Format: Hardcover

Source: RAK

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Goodreads Summary:

The wars that followed The Collapse nearly destroyed civilization. Now, twenty years later, the world is faced with a choice—rebuild what was or make something new.

Stephen Quinn, a quiet and dutiful fifteen-year-old scavenger, travels Post-Collapse America with his Dad and stern ex-Marine Grandfather. They travel light. They keep to themselves. Nothing ever changes. But when his Grandfather passes suddenly and Stephen and his Dad decide to risk it all to save the lives of two strangers, Stephen's life is turned upside down. With his father terribly injured, Stephen is left alone to make his own choices for the first time.

Stephen’s choices lead him to Settler's Landing, a lost slice of the Pre-Collapse world where he encounters a seemingly benign world of barbecues, baseball games and days spent in a one-room schoolhouse. Distrustful of such tranquility, Stephen quickly falls in with Jenny Tan, the beautiful town outcast. As his relationship with Jenny grows it brings him into violent conflict with the leaders of Settler's Landing who are determined to remake the world they grew up in, no matter what the cost.

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This novel is a 2011 debut by Hirsch.  I was really excited to get this off of my wishlist because it's dystopian and I'm kind of hooked on the genre right now.  Honestly, those are my favorite types of books to read at the moment.  I'm not sure why, but I've moved past the paranormal/supernatural on to the post-apocolyptic and such.

Hirch's novel starts where America has seemingly left off. The US has collapsed after being attacked by the Chinese.  A plague has taken out most of the country, and the people who are left are trying to survive in these terrible times.  Finding food and shelter is almost impossible, and staying away from the slave drivers is essential.  Stephen is traveling with his Grandfather and Father when his Grandfather passes away.  Then, his father is hurt and Stephen is basically left to make decisions on his own.  His decisions lead him to a society which he never expected to exist after the collapse.  

I fell in love with this book from the beginning.  I couldn't put it down.  Hirsch's writing made this new world come alive.  It was as if I was living this world with Stephen.  I felt his emotions and wanted him so badly to find his way.

Stephen as a character is very mature for his age.  He has been through so many tough times that he doesn't have high expectations, and ultimately believes he will die.  His ideas change when he meets Jenny and falls hard for her.  He realizes what he can do to make this a better place to live in overall.  Stephen is a great character who has grown throughout the book and shown us that teenagers can make decisions that are good for the entire society, as well as showing us how badly they can mess up.  Of course, at any age you can make mistakes, but Stephen has made plenty during the time frame contained in this novel.

I can't wait to read another one of Hirsch's novels and I hope he has plenty in the works.  I think anyone interested in the dystopian genre of YA books would enjoy picking this one up to read.  I'm glad I added it to my collection.

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Publication Date: 3-30-2010

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Pages: 368

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

IN THE ENCLAVE, YOUR SCARS SET YOU APART, and the newly born will change the future.
Sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone and her mother faithfully deliver their quota of three infants every month. But when Gaia’s mother is brutally taken away by the very people she serves, Gaia must question whether the Enclave deserves such loyalty. A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.

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This was a much anticipated novel for me.  I heard so many good things about it, and being in love with the dystopian genre certainly helped the hype.  I was finally able to get my hands on a copy and I don't even know how to begin to describe the emotions I felt reading this novel.

O'Brien made me feel anger, sadness, happiness, and everything in between.  Gaia is living in a world in which the Enclave rules.  As a midwife, like her mother, she must deliver 3 infants a month to the Enclave gates.  The community outside the gates is subject to providing children to those inside, yet they aren't allowed to go inside themselves.  They never see these children again.  Gaia's parents are taken away into the Enclave, and Gaia isn't sure why.  She decides to make her own way into the Enclave to help her parents and find out what is really going on.

She sees so many surprises inside those walls.  The people she trusted to care for them are not caring for them at all.  The ideas she had of the Enclave are greatly obscured.  Gaia's life is full of adventure once she is inside those walls.  She is fighting for her life and the life of her parents.  She is fighting for the lives of those outside the walls as well.  Gaia has a lot riding on her, and goes through experiences I couldn't imagine.  She has so much hope and strength.  She is more mature than any 16 year old that I know, and has a head full of knowledge on her shoulders.  Gaia is choosing what is best for her and those around her when she fights for life.  

I couldn't put this novel down.  Gaia is such an amazing heroine and a great character.  We learn more about her throughout the book and find out about how strong and hopeful she is.  We see the 16 year old side of her as well.  Gaia shows us the life she has lived and the cruelness others have shown her growing up.  Her family secrets are revealed and she needs to decide how to deal with them.  O'Brien writes in a way that keeps you guessing.  You never know what is going to happen to Gaia and what she will decide.  There might even be a romance brewing for this young girl.

The ending kept me on edge and I can't wait to read book 2, Prized.  This trilogy has proven itself in book one and I'm hoping that book two is just as good, if not even better!  Gaia Stone has a lot to show us in her world, and I can't wait to see how this life begins.

The Lens and the Looker by Lory Kaufman

Publication Date: 3/16/2011

Publisher: The Fiction Studio

Pages: 336

Format: Paperback

Source: Book Tour

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

There's hope for the future, but what about the past?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

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After reading that summary, how could you not want to read this book?  It is a perfect mix of a post-dystopian society and historical fiction.  On top of the great mix, I felt like I was learning more about history as I read it.

Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are spoiled teenagers who have all been transported back in time further than they think.  Usually these students would participate in a History Camp to learn more about the society of the past, but these three have found themselves actually transporting to the past because of their consistent feeling that history is not important.  They need to learn how to live in this new life so they can survive and make it back to the present time.  

The characters were very dynamic.  Hansum is the oldest and I would say the most mature out of the group.  He seems to step up and take his role as the protector of them all.  Shamira is very artistic and great at what she does.  She almost seems like a mother to Lincoln.  Lincoln would have to be the worse of them all.  I couldn't stand his constant whining and complaining.  He didn't seem to understand that he needed to play along to make it.  He kept questioning authority and getting himself in much more trouble than he needed.  The three reminded me a lot of typical teenagers.  Not all teenagers are the same, and these three definitely represented that idea.  I had a lot of hope for them to make it and succeed in their crazy life.

The storyline was intriguing and well-written.  I was kept at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen to these three teens.  There were dangers and diseases lurking everywhere.  Would they make it back?  Would they all die in 1347 Verona?  I loved the historical references and the inside look into the lens-maker trade.  These three teens were put into a difficult situation and had to make the decision whether to try to survive this experience and learn from it or try their hardest to get back to the present time sooner.  This was a gripping and thrilling novel.  I don't typically read a lot of historical fiction, but mixing it with a post-dystopian society was an amazing accomplishment.  I can't wait to start The Bronze and the Brimstone.



**I was provided with this novel free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review.**

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Publication Date: 4/1/2010

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Pages: 256

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

The heart-wrenching companion to the bestselling novels Life as We Knew It and The Dead & The Gone.

It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. Miranda and her two brothers spend their days scavenging for food and household items, while their mother stays at home and desperately tries to hold on to the ordinary activities of their previous life. But they all know that nothing is truly normal in this surreal new world they live in.
           
The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

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After reading the first two novels I couldn't imagine what the third one would be like.  I mean, Life as We Knew It was from Miranda's point of view as to what happened after that fateful day the moon came closer to earth.  The second book, The Dead and The Gone was the same period of time, but told in another point of view, that of Alex Morales.  


I knew these stories were going to merge together, but how?  How could Pfeffer put these two together when they lived so far apart?  I was pleasantly surprised.  Pfeffer does a great job of once again telling the story from Miranda's point of view.  We learn more about what happened in the time following the moon coming closer to earth.  The anniversary of this day is coming closer and so many people have died, but Alex and Miranda are still alive.  They have each survived in different ways, but somehow found a way to get to each other and experience a bit of happiness in this time of despair.  


Although these two and their families have been through more than anyone should experience, they are able to enjoy their time together and find common ground.  Miranda and Alex find love in this time of despair and loss, but also experience too much of their own loss as well.  The end of this book tells a story of hard decisions made after experiencing so much.  This family has been through unimaginable times, but found a way to survive together and make the most out of this disaster.  This book shows that love can survive so much and help you make the toughest decisions of your life.  Love is what kept this family alive and surviving rather than perishing as many others did.


I loved this series.  It is scary when you wonder if something like this could really happen, but the hope this family holds was enough to keep me reading.  I kept hoping for the best, which didn't always happen.  There were times of laughter and times where all I wanted to do was cry for the hurt they were experiencing.  Pfeffer did a great job of wrapping up this series into a nice little bow, rather than leaving a lot of loose ends to wonder about.

Eve by Anna Carey

Publication Date: 10/4/2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 336

Format: ARC

Source: amazing blogger!

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

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I was so excited to get this book before the release date and holy crap I was not disappointed.  I've been waiting for this book for quite a while, and when I was able to get my hands on a copy I just couldn't resist.  From the moment I picked it up I couldn't put it down.  


Eve and the other girls in society are brainwashed into believing great things are happening.  They believe they're going to be brought into a society in which everything is flourishing.  Eve luckily finds out before graduation that this isn't the case.  Each and every girls is being prepped to live a life of providing children for the population.  They will live in a building strapped down to beds, continuously birthing children until they are no longer needed to do so.  Of course, the fate for Eve is even worse than the fate of the other girls.


A teacher helps Eve sneak out of the school, but she's out in the wild.  She needs to find a way to survive and make it to the safe city.  On her way she meets Caleb who she doesn't trust at first (boys are made out to be horrible creatures), but eventually learns to trust and fall for.  Eve finds not all boys are as bad as the girls are led to believe.  The real question of course is whether Eve will make it where she needs to go or die trying.


This book is one big ball of awesome.  Eve is an amazing character who is a naive child, but learns quickly how to survive.  She lacks trust, but once again realizes she needs help to survive the wild.  Eve encounters more than I thought she could ever handle.  She finds her way through the mess of it all, but does so many stupid things on her way.  Eve was constantly getting on my nerves for her stupidity in situations.  Of course, her stupidity caused the death of people around her.  This is a love story full of loss and heartbreak while keeping you engaged in the action of the entire scene.  I can't wait to find out what happens in this planned trilogy because Eve is one character that I can imagine growing and becoming someone absolutely amazing in the future.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Publication Date: 6/7/2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Pages: 459

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

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Saba is a teenage girl living in Silverlake with her family who consists of her brother Lugh, her father, and her younger sister Emmi.  Saba looks up to Lugh even though they are twins.  She considers him the golden-child, but will follow him and do anything he tells her to do.  Saba resent Emmi.  Their mother passed shortly after giving birth to Emmi which caused their father to become a little loopy.


Saba and her family are trying to survive from landfills in this new world.  This is a society that doesn't have the technology that we do, but are rather trying to survive with what we have ultimately left them.  The language that Saba speaks is somewhat of broken English.  You can tell that these children have not been to a school, nor do they recognize what one is.  Saba is a strong-willed character who is doing the best she can for her family when her brother is taken away.  She is trying to find him while making sure Emmi and herself survive.  Saba learns a lot about herself in this novel.  She finds that she is a warrior, a worthy opponent, and a quick thinker.  Saba is a lovable character who carries us through the horrors she experiences in this book.

The dystopian genre is one that I have fallen in love with.  This book did not disappoint me in any regard!  Saba shows us what it is like to survive in this new world.  She discovers what the world is like outside of little Silverlake where her family stayed their entire lives.  Saba finds that not all people are trustworthy, but with a strong heart and a sound mind you can make it through anything.  She discovers how important her family is to her, including her annoying sister Emmi.  I couldn't get enough of this novel.  To imagine a scenario such as those that Saba went through is impossible.  I can't imagine living through what she experiences, but she shows her true self during this time and discovers what kind of person she truly is.

If you love dystopian novels...READ IT!

The Dead and the Gone (Last Survivors #2) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Publication Date: 6/1/2008

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Goodreads | Amazon

From Goodreads:

Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event--an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.
     With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful new novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.

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First of all...if you haven't read Life as We Knew It....READ IT.  This novel is a companion novel to Life as We Knew It.  After hearing the story through one point of view, we now hear it through another young man who is leaving in New York.  As we found out in Life as We Knew It, New York was the state hit the worst in terms of tidal waves, flooding, and other natural disasters.  Alex Morales is 17 years old.  

When an asteroid hit the moon and moved it closer to the earth he was about the last person to know.  His father was in Puerto Rico, his mother called into the hospital, his brother away in the marines, and his two younger sisters were home with him.  All of a sudden these life changing events make Alex the head of the family.  He's in charge of keeping his two younger sisters safe during these horrific times.  Alex makes decisions about his family that no 17 year old should have to do.  He finds food while doing things he isn't proud of, but it's the only way for him to keep his sisters alive.  Alex shows us the value of family, courage, and strength.  He makes us realize how important it is to accept your responsibilities when it's the only option you have left.  Without Alex, his sisters would have died.  He is put through so much, but in the end it is these struggles that help him make the right decisions for his slowly dying family. 

I found this book so powerful and I couldn't put it down!  It was a great companion novel to Life as We Knew It.  Seeing the point-of-view of another young teenager during this trying time for the world was an eye-opener.  It makes you realize that no matter what you are going through there is probably someone who has it worse and is pulling through in their own way.

Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Published: 10/1/06
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:
Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.
    
Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.
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Journal entries was a great way to tell Miranda's story!  I couldn't imagine being a teenager going through this experience.  Can this really happen?  If it does...we are all screwed.  Miranda is living during a time in which the moon has been pushed closer to the earth which has changed the gravitational pull.  What does this cause?

* Earthquakes
* Volcanoes
* Tsunamis
* All kinds of natural disasters that typically don't occur in certain areas of the planet.

Beyond natural disasters are the risks of freezing to death to the lack of heat and electricity.  Many are becoming ill with diseases that haven't been seen for years in the U.S.

This is a new life for Miranda and her family.  They are trying to find a way to survive all these changes, but the questions is...will they all survive or only one?  This is an amazing novel!  I loved reading it and I'll be picking up the second in the series to read soon.  It's a gripping tale that I just couldn't put down.

Bumped (Bumped #1) by Megan McCafferty

 

Goodreads Summary:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common. 

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Paying teenagers to have children for you?  I guess it makes sense in this world where most people over the age of 18 are unable to conceive.  The stores cater to these teens.  There are special birthing centers set-up for them.  It's amazing how valuable these teens have become and how much teen pregnancy is okay in this new world.  Melody and Harmony live in this world, although they were brought up separately.  Melody was raised to pregg for profit.  Harmony was raised to be a mother and wife to a teenage husband.  Neither girl is happy in their situations.  It takes a series of crazy events between these two twin girls to make them both realize what they want in life and where they want to be.  Jondoe is a character who is two-sided, manipulative, and leaves you not knowing what to believe out of what he has said.  He is involved in both of these girls' lives and not in the way which was planned for either girl.  I can't wait for the next book in this series so I can continue the story and see what happens to both of these girls with their futures decided on their own instead of by someone else.