Published by: Disney Hyperion, December 18th 2012
Genre: YA, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic
Pages: 488
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.
You know those books that everyone loves
and you really want to love too but don't expect to? Yeah, that's me and The Darkest Minds. But wait!
*angels appear in the sky and begin their chorus* I FREAKING LOVED IT!!
The Darkest Minds is proper old school dystopia. There are work camps, segregation, prejudices against a minority group by society on the whole, and a faceless organisation as the villain. If you're anything like me, you LOVE dystopias like this. It just feels more genuine, more grounded in real history, and more likely to actually happen. Dystopias like this are harrowing and terrifying and ruthless - and The Darkest Minds is one of the best I've read in years.
The story revolves around Ruby, a girl kept apart from society in a labor camp like all the other kids her age - the ones that survived a deadly disease and were left with abilities like mind control, electrokinesis, telekinesis. When Ruby is broken out of her camp, she ends up joining a trio of kids that are on the run from their own camp and in search of a utopian haven, and a whole heck of dangerous shenanigans ensue.
It's your standard dystopia, but there's
so much about it that stands out. The characters are awesome, for one. Ruby is
shy and quiet and small,
in and of herself. I like her evolution throughout the story, and can't
actually wait to see how she'll progress. She's pretty tough, but completely
ordinary despite her power. She could easily be your best friend or your
neighbour or cousin. She doesn't feel fictional at all. The other characters as
much the same, and I loved all of them. Minus Clancy, who I will violently beat
to death with a rusted pole :)! Not to mention the relationships are just so
heartwarming (thus, with the potential to be heartbreaking) to read and
experience. Throw away your emotions, basically.
In short: an outstanding dystopia with
hyper-real characters who will tear our your heart.
Characters ★★★★★
Setting/world building ★★★★★
Writing ★★★★☆
