Friday 12 December 2014

Birthmarked

Birthmarked (Birthmarked, #1)

Caragh M. O'Brien's Birthmarked is the first book of the trilogy of the same name.

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.

The Breakdown:
1. O'Brien has created an very interesting dystopian society in this book with those within the wall/Enclave live is luxury and have amazing amenities, and those outside the wall live in almost primitive conditions.  The Enclave is very much like modern society, but outside the wall reminds me of turn of the 19th century conditions.  Being that way establish a quite unique relationship between the two sets of citizens.

2. I loved the way O'Brien showed the transformation in Gaia from a trusting citizen to someone who questions the rules and accepted culture.  She learns to be strong and to do what she thinks is right, even if it not what her society accepts as right.

3. I found the dynamics of the relationship between Gaia and Leon interesting. The way they start as adversaries, but there is a chemistry there from the beginning, leading to them becoming allies and more. It will be interesting to see how O'Brien continues to develop their relationship,

4.  Speaking of Leon, he is an interesting enigma of a character.  A man raised in the Enclave, and seemingly loyal to their values, but is going through his own identity crisis.  The life he started with and the punishment,both from his family and himself, he has endured.

5. The things that O'Brien slowly reveals about why the Enclave needs the advancement of children from outside the wall makes this story so fascinating.  I am excited to see where the series will go.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

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