Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: Darkest Minds (Book 1)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: 18th Dec 2012
ISBN13: 9781423157373
Synopsis
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.
My Review
I missed this series when it first came out, then i saw the trailers for the movie but wasn't overly enthralled by it. But then my parents bought the DVD when it came out and offered to lend it to me. If there is a book behind the movie, I always have to read the book first, so I ordered a copy from the library to give it a go.
I wasn't really expecting much from the series, but it sounded interesting enough. I started to read and from the first few pages I was hooked. I read this book so quickly, it was so good to just lose myself in a story again, and this book swept me up and carried me away.
We meet Ruby at 10 years old, there is a new threat that is hitting all the children. Many of them are dying and if they weren't dead, they were developing strange powers. Then Ruby feels a change within her, and suddenly her parents don't recognize her, and she is being collected and taken to Thurmond - a camp designed to 'cure' the children, but really its more look army prison camp.
The story has an interesting set up and really gets you wanting to know more, it then fast-forwards to Ruby at 16 years old. Having spent 6 years getting used to camp life, she's not sure what else there is anymore, but something it changing, something big. Ruby escapes from the camp and meets up with Liam, Chubs and Zu - an unlikely group of friends who are trying to get to East River, a so called 'safe-haven'.
I loved the change of pace and scenery. It was great to see different people too and how Ruby interacted with them. Liam was by far my favourite character, funny, witty and a bit of a pain in the bum! Chubs is full of personality and a total bookworm like myself. Zu was cute and a little odd, but altogether full of life and a bit crazy.
Bracken has a real way with words and can weave a fabulous story so effortlessly. Every single moment of the book kept me hooked and every setting was a picture perfectly clear in my mind.
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book, and I have the second one to dive straight into.
This was one of the best books I had read in a long time and I am so glad I finally got a chance to read it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, it was so amazing!!!
My Rating
