Review of The Program by Suzanne Young

Young, Suzanne.  The Program.  SimonPulse, 2013.

The teenage suicide rate has ballooned to 33%, making it a national epidemic.  No one knows the reason for the growth, but scientists have concluded that suicide is contagious.  Teens are constantly watched and monitored by their parents and their teachers.  They are not allowed to cry or grieve for their family and friends who have died.  Teens who show the slightest sign of being sad or depressed are “flagged” and taken away by handlers, where they are put in “The Program”, a six-week pilot program aimed at getting rid of inappropriate feelings and emotions that could lead to death.  Those teenagers come back into society as “returners”--with cleansed memories, but to their parents, they are healthy and emotionally sound. 

Sloane Barstow lost her brother, Brady, who drowned himself; her best friend, Lacey, is taken and put into The Program.  When Sloane’s childhood friend, Miller, commits suicide by drinking poison, she is terrified that she and her boyfriend, James, will be flagged.  Both of them hide their feelings and try to act like Miller’s death has not affected them.  James promises that he will keep he and Sloane safe and out of The Program, but ultimately, he is not able to do so.

The Program is beginning of a promising and engaging dystopian series.  The novel is extremely character-driven, told in first person by Sloane Barstow.  Through her eyes, readers are able to see the fear that teens feel at losing their friends, both to suicide and to The Program.  Parents are desperate to save their children at all costs.  Doctors and nurses employed by The Program display ruthlessness bordering on child abuse, using force, coercion, over-medication, and manipulation to achieve desired results.  Teens are powerless and have no rights.  It is they against adults/the government.

James is the perfect boyfriend—handsome, thoughtful, and funny.  He would go to the ends of the earth for Sloane, who is stronger than she thinks.  Even they are only teenagers, their love feels fresh and real.  Although James promises that he will keep them both safe, it is Sloane who must pretend that everything is fine.  It is heart breaking and devastating when James is taken, because Sloane knows that when he returns he won’t remember her or what they had together.

I really felt that the true theme of The Program is that love conquers all, and that some people are just destined to be together.  Readers won’t be able to resist the romance in the novel or the love triangle that occurs later in the book.  I highly recommend it for high school and public libraries.  Five out of five fleur de lis!

Reviewer’s note:  The copy of the book reviewed was a digital ARC received from Edelweiss Above the Treeline in exchange for an honest review.

Review of Leverage by Josh Cohen

Leverage by Josh Cohen.  Dutton, 2011.

Kurt Brodsky is recruited as a junior to attend Oregrove High School by Coach Briggs, who hungers for a state football championship. Kurt has grown up in foster care and has had some very bad experiences in his life, not the least of which is molestation by adults. In fact, at his last group home, Mr. Sandborn, aka “Crud Bucket”, was especially horrendous and evil in his abuse, killing Kurt’s friend, Lamar. Kurt escapes from his problems by lifting weights and becoming stronger, with revenge as his ultimate goal. However, he has a kind heart and a gentle soul, but also suffers from severe stuttering. He has a promising future as an offensive fullback.

Sophomore Danny Meehan, is a two-year member of Oregrove’s gymnastic team. He has set lofty goals for himself, hopefully ending in a full-ride college scholarship. Unfortunately, at Oregrove, football is king, and football players rule the school. The three football captains, quarterback Scott Miller, offensive tackle Tom Jankowski, and defensive lineman Mike “Stud” Studblatz, are extremely talented, but they are hyped up on Coach Briggs’s steroids. They terrorize the school, but mainly target the smaller athletes--the gymnastic team, the cross country team, and the swimming team.

Gymnastics coach Ted Nelson, a retired special ops military man, discovers his team budget has been cut by Coach Briggs, who is using the money to put a JumboTron up in the football stadium. Coach Nelson challenges the football players to a strength contest in the school’s weight room, with the winner getting to use the weight room whenever they wish. Much to the football teams’ dismay, they lose to the gymnasts, which sets off a series of pranks between the two teams. The retaliation between the two squads gets more and more out of control, leading to physical abuse and, eventually, a student’s suicide. In an unlikely pairing, Kurt and Danny team up with Tina, also a former foster care child, to expose the football bullies and mete out a kind of justice of their own.

This novel debut by Josh Cohen was a gripping, intense book, one I had to put down at times so I could ponder and absorb what I had read! The characters were extremely well-fleshed out and densely developed. A lot of thought went into their interactions; even the minor characters were complex! The book is told in alternating chapters between the two main characters—Kurt and Danny. I loved Kurt who, at first glance, seemed strong, imposing, and mean, but was actually a gentle giant underneath that hard exterior. Others’ perceptions of his being stupid because he stuttered only added an extra dimension to his likability factor.

Danny, as well, was extremely likable. I admired the way he set his goals to so high. The unlikely friendship that formed between Kurt and Danny was heartfelt and true. It was through Danny’s leadership and encouragement that the entire gymnastics team embraced Kurt’s inclusion in some of their activities.

Tina, the Goth techie girl whom Kurt knew from a previous foster home, was one tough chick. She was a super-hero in disguise! Not only did she know about music, computers and other technology, she was the defender of the weak! I loved how she and her friend, Indira, tried to take on Tom Jankowski in the hallway when he was bullying Danny. She also plays a huge part in the book’s climax.

The three football captains were vile, crude, and rude, and I absolutely hated them. I could not find a single redeeming quality in their personalities. However, at times, their behaviors almost seemed bully-stereotypical. I think that Cohen probably intended his reading audience to loathe the bullies, which was certainly the case, for me, at least.

The action scenes, both for gymnastics and football were extremely descriptive. The ending was awesome, although there is a surprising, unexpected twist! The novel is really about perceptions and expectations, how to overcome adversity, and acceptance of others. Due to the graphic nature of parts of the book I would only recommend it for mature readers, perhaps tenth grade and up. Those who do dive into this book will not be disappointed!