"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Monday, September 22, 2014

Review: THE 100 by Kass Morgan (YA)


by Kass Morgan
Release date: September 3rd, 2013
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Sci-Fi Romance
Format: Hardback, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Format read: Paperback from publicist. 


Hardback Cover

SUMMARY

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... 
before it's too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. 
After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. 

But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.






MY REVIEW

A great debut with amazing world-building and memorable, engaging characters! I really enjoyed Kass Morgan's simplistic and outright writing style, world-building (dystopian and sci-fi!) and intriguing storylines... 

In THE 100, a nuclear war has devastated Earth and those who were able to escape before the bombing, evacuated and have been living in spaceships for many, many years. Life on a spaceship can be quite confining, making a few people restless and careless, even for those who have never experienced anything but living life aboard a spaceship. Laws are stricter, the population is controlled and people have been classified by their status and divided into sections. The smallest misdeed can get you imprisoned and even executed. Even if you're a minor. Usually minors get a retrial when they turn 18 years old, and can apply for a pardon. But lately, most retrials have been denied and have been sent to be executed. This of course has raised high suspicions that something is going on; but is it a corrupt government? An overpopulation issue? Is the spaceship running out of supplies? Oxygen?

Paperback Cover
Told from four point-of-views, the story focuses on Clarke, Wells, Bellamy and Glass.
In the beginning, Clarke, Wells and Glass are all imprisoned. While Bellamy is doing his best to look out for his imprisoned younger sister - the only siblings ever to exist, that they know of. Bellamy has learned that the government will be conducting an undercover mission to Earth. They will be sending one hundred juvenile delinquents to earth to see if Earth's radiative surface is now habitable. If they succeed, they will be allowed a second chance to live their lives. Quite an honor considering if they don't succeed it is probably because they died on their trip there, or because of the radiation...

Each of these four characters have very distinct qualities that make them very strong, memorable and important individuals. Clarke is very independent and was studying to become a doctor; she is informed that she will be one of the hundred. Wells is a good guy, a good soldier and also, the chancellor's son. He too will be going to Earth. Glass comes from a well-to-do family, and has had to grow-up quickly and knows more than she lets people know. She too will be taking the trip to Earth. Until Bellamy creates a distraction, his dedication and loyalty to his sister is immeasurable, he will do anything to continue to protect his sister - he has forced his way unto the ship. Thus allowing Glass to make her escape and goes in search of her mother... and Luke, the reason why she was imprisoned.

Four distinct voices with stories to tell all entangled to form one very powerful tale with day to day events and flashbacks as to how they got there. There is never a dull moment.

Once the 100 land on Earth many surprising discoveries are made...
one of them being, that they survived getting there, the air is breathable and that they may have a chance at recolonizing the planet... or do they?

A great premise with a ton of potential! I am really looking forward to following the series and to catching up with the tv show.


*A paperback copy was sent to me for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. 








ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Kass Morgan


 New York Times bestselling author of The 100 and its sequel Day 21, received a bachelor's degree from Brown University and a master's from Oxford University. 

She currently works as an editor and lives in Brooklyn, New York.   


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