Genre: YA Dystopia
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 369
Pages: 369
Publication Date: April 1st, 2010
Goodreads Description
IN THE ENCLAVE, YOUR SCARS SET YOU APART, and the newly born will change the future.
In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve. Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.
A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.
IN THE ENCLAVE, YOUR SCARS SET YOU APART, and the newly born will change the future.
In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve. Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.
A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.
WHEN I First Read
October 12th, 2012
WHAT I Remember
A fiery heroine. A hot solider. A forbidden romance. Standing up for your beliefs. Loving your family fiercely. A fucked-up society that makes people give up their babies...good luck prying my kids from my hands, you rat bastards.
WHY I Wanted to Re-Read
Birthmarked and the rest of the series holds a special place in my heart. I was going through some things that made me question my own character and personality and ability to be loved. Gaia is one of the strongest heroines I have ever read about and I drew strength from her and from Leon who loved her BECAUSE of her fiery strength and fierce personality. I read these all together and so quickly I will most likely use this exact paragraph in the future re-read posts of the next two books. Sorry not sorry.
HOW I Felt After Re-Reading
I loved it even more! I thought it would be a less visceral read the second time around because I KNEW what would happen but no. My chest still hurt. My heart was exploding with feels and I still found myself re-reading (see what I did there?) several passages over and over again. I also felt like I appreciated the simplistic complexity of the writing more. Marie Rutkoski's writing is intricate and deeply layered in a way that while the words might be few, the meaning is plentiful. I LOVED this. I found it brilliant and poetic and found meaning in things I missed the first time around.
WOULD You Re-Read Again?
Yes. I read this book so thoroughly and intensely the first time that I remembered a lot of the plot...so of course what I was really after was the kissing because I remembered a lot of the plot details. With that said I did forget that Leon really wasn't too present in the novel until the last quarter of the book. Disappointed about that but I know how it ends and I know what comes up next. Which is both good and bad. Read this book people if you haven't yet...seriously. Dystopians are a huge fad now and I'm super picky with which ones I push and this is most definitely one of them.
This sounds like an interesting read! I'm definitely going to add it to my list and be on the look out for it.
ReplyDeleteI love when a book helps you through a tough life period. I think sometimes it endears the book to us even more. :)
I have never read the Birthmarked series! But hearing your general thoughts on it (and also reading your review) have convinced me that I should potentially give it a shot. I'm pretty sure you're going to tell me yourself if you think I should try it ;) Glad it's still as good upon a reread!
ReplyDeleteI know I'm told you that I liked but didn't love this one, but your love for the series overall always makes me feel like I need to see it through to the end. I loved getting your texts while you were re-reading. YAY for books that are even better the second time! Hard question: which book is your favorite in the series?!
ReplyDeleteI haven't even heard of this book! I love it when books are better the second time around.
ReplyDelete