Review of Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien; Roaring Brook Press, 2011.

In this second installment of the Birthmarked series, Gaia Stone continues in her role of midwife, but her beliefs are put to extraordinary tests. While running from The Enclave with her infant sister, Maya, Gaia is “rescued” by Will, an Outrider, and taken back to Sylum, a dystopian commune ruled by a blind Matrarc named Olivia. People are trapped in Sylum because there is something in the atmosphere that will kill them if they try to leave. Gaia learns that Sylum is run by women, although they are outnumbered by men. The courting rules are strict, and even a touch or a kiss could bring death for a man, even if he is not the one at fault. A woman who is in the gene pool may ask a man to marry her, and they are encouraged to have as many children as possible.

Gaia is accused of putting Maya’s life in danger by traveling, and the sickly infant is given over to a couple to raise as their own child. A prison on the outskirts of town houses male “criminals”, and it is there that Gaia discovers Luke, from The Enclave, being held there. Once per month, Sylum has a holds a contest where single men compete against each other for the right to live with a woman of his choosing in a cabin for thirty days. Luke wins one particular contest, and he chooses Maya, even though she is an infant, to live with him. Ultimately, he also chooses Gaia, because someone must take care of Maya. Gaia also brings along her friend, Mx Josephine and her infant daughter, Junie, because Maya needs to be nursed. Gaia ends up being part of a love triangle and must choose which path her life will take.

Prized is a fabulous read! The descriptions of Sylum, its rules, and its citizens blew me away! The class system used in Sylum and the customs followed by its inhabitants made me keep turning the pages as fast as I could! There were so many twists and turns in this plot; all I wanted to do was sit and read!

The men in the book were extremely chivalrous, hoping for women’s attentions, and, eventually, marriage, which was considered very sacred. Most of the women in the book were strong, developed characters, as were the main male characters. Gaia is strong-willed and believes in helping others, many times at the cost of hurting herself.

It was a great idea to have men take women’s last names when they marry, unlike the conventional manner in which it is usually done. Additionally, many of the terms in the novel were plays upon other words--Sylum for asylum; cuzines for cousins; Matrarc for matriarch; and so on, giving implied meanings to similar words in the novel. The autopsy scene was chilling and shocking, as was the pact between Gaia and Will not to divulge its results.

The book had a surprising, but satisfying ending, and readers can look forward to a third installment of the Birthmarked series! Also, the cover art is exceptional—beautiful and intriguing! This book will be released on November 8, 2011. I recommend this novel for high school and public libraries.

Note: This review was from an advanced reader’s copy of the book obtained from NetGalley and read on iPad.

Review of Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano; Simon & Schuster, 2011.

A number of years previous to the beginning of the story, all diseases in the world are eradicated through genetic engineering. “First Generations” later discover that there is a problem with subsequent generations. All females at age 20 and all males at age 25 will develop a genetic virus and die. While scientists desperately seek a cure, the lab and all research are destroyed in an explosion. Young teenage girls are considered a commodity and are stalked and kidnapped by Gatherers, who sell them to be young brides to wealthy men. Polygamy is widely practiced and encouraged.

Rhine and Rowan Ellery are twins who lost their parents to the lab explosion. They are living in their parents’ house in Manhattan and working at odd jobs in order to make ends meet. They are very careful, always looking for Gatherers and turning away anyone trying to take advantage of them. They are living in their basement and have even booby trapped their kitchen so that they can be alerted to any intruders invading their house.

However, Rhine is not careful enough because she is ultimately lured away, kidnapped, and sold to be one of three wives to twenty-year-old House Governor Linden Ashby, who lives on an estate in Florida. His current wife, Rose, is now twenty-years old and dying. Rhine’s “sister wives” are Cecily, age fourteen, and Jenna, age eighteen. Their roles are to be companions to Linden and produce children to be secretly used as guinea pigs towards a cure. The household is actually headed by Linden’s father, Housemaster Vaughan Ashby, who is a widower. Vaughan is supposedly a medical doctor and is looking for a cure for the virus so that he can save his son.

Even before Rhine enters the Ashby estate, she is trying to find a way out and back to her twin brother. As the days pass, Rose tragically dies, and the three wives become emotionally closer because they spend so much time together. Rhine discovers how controlling Vaughan is and how little Linden knows of the outside world.  Much of Rhine and Linden’s time together is spent going to elaborate parties in a nearby city.

Vaughan eventually discovers that Rhine is drawn to Gabriel, a servant in the house, and is considering escaping from the estate. The results of his discovery lead to Gabriel’s being sent to another floor to work, the tightening of the wives’ freedoms, and, unfortunately, in one of their deaths. In the last moments of the book, Rhine and Gabriel do escape and make their way to freedom.

I have really gotten caught up in the dystopian movement! From the moment I started reading Wither, I was totally spellbound. Imagine a world where lives are over nearly before they have begun and a world where polygamy is commonplace, widely promoted, and accepted! While these ideas seem repulsive to me, I was so drawn into the story that I could not stop reading! Told through the eyes of Rhine, readers see both the cruelty and the oppressiveness of those who are wealthy and, therefore, feel entitled. We also see how being orphaned has affected the young and made them desperate for the necessities most people take for granted—food, shelter, water, and warmth.

Author Lauren DeStefano’s descriptions of the Manhattan living conditions, the Ashby estate, and the flamboyant parties held in an unnamed Floridian city are breathtaking. Landscapes, foods, clothes, and furnishings are explained in lush detail. All the characters have distinct and recognizable personalities. I loved Deidre, Elle, and Adair, the very young domestics who were charged with taking care of the sister wives. They are so dedicated to the women they serve! I also loved the sister wives, especially Jenna, even though she is initially withdrawn and moody.

I did not expect that Rhine would become friends with her predecessor, Rose, or any of the sister wives. However, they were there, both emotionally and physically, for each other. I also did not think Rhine would have any feelings except hatred for Linden, so I was surprised that she empathized with him. Rhine grew tremendously within the novel. She comes to believe and accept that it is Linden’s father, Vaughan, who is actually stifling and controlling everyone within the house, and who is keeping Linden in the dark about what has really happened in the world. The idyllic life that Rhine lives within the Ashby estate is a much better life than the squalid one she lives with her brother. I am surprised that she would even think about leaving it all behind, but obviously, blood, true love, and freedom are thicker than a wealthy life of leisure!

What a powerful book this was! I was surprised and excited to find out that this is actually going to be a trilogy called “The Chemical Garden”! I am so looking forward to the next two books in the series! I highly recommend this book for high school libraries and public libraries!!!