When you read a dystopian novel, you promote a local, recently-opened business…or I do anyway. 🧁😊 Smallcakes is a new cupcakery that opened up in Gluckstadt! Since Gluckstadt is newly incorporated and ever-so expanding, we have been getting some great businesses established. Mattie and I decided to try out the new cupcakes…and a scoop of ice cream…and a pupcake from Roscoe! It was all so good! And you know what makes this even better? It is down the road from my high school so no more driving to Madison for an after-school treat!
For the book…
First, is this book dystopian or utopian? I say dystopian but others online say utopian. I can actually see how it could be a mix of both. Regardless, here is an overview:
Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor-winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times best-selling Unwind Dystology series.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: Humanity has conquered all those things and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life – and they are commanded to do so in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe – a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
This was a book club pick. I listened to most of it on audio. My high school’s library had it, so I later checked it out to read since I hate audio books. I did listen to most of it, though, on audio (the reader was good). When MT and I were driving back from her powerlifting meet, I showed her what I had been listening to. Her words: “Mom! You told me I couldn’t buy that book!” Me: “Oh! Really? Well, it’s good! You need to read it!” 😂 After I checked out the book from my school’s library, I read the back and realized why I told her I didn’t want her to read it. HOWEVER, once you start reading the novel, you will understand the back more (so the back isn’t as “icky” as you may think if you ONLY read the back). And by the way, MT and I finished it at the same time!
Monday, we meet to discuss this book at book club. I may come back and edit after we meet, but I think this book has many thought-provoking points. I am not a dystopian book-lover, but this one is good. While I do not think Shusterman wrote this novel with “Congress” in mind, I can’t help but think of Congress while reading this book – the conclave, the lobbyists, the corruption of some who took bribes… And Thunderhead (the cloud) – yikes! It made me realize just how much of our lives are exposed and stored in “the cloud.” Don’t forget all the tracking done online! It is getting so scary to see how much businesses know about us. I know it is all about marketing but still…
I also think this book would be great to have biblical discussions. The world in the book has no poverty, no hunger, no disease, no war… but even in a “perfect” place, there will always be “that one” who tries to subvert the “perfect plan.” I always go back to Rousseau’s thought – people are born good and society corrupts the individual; fix society, fix the individual (not in those exact words but you get the point). You can fix society all you want. There will always be sin…evil! You can’t hide from it or get away from it. Look what happened to all the English choir boys when they were stranded on a remote island in Lord of the Flies. Watch the trailer to The Purge. Society is perfect for 364 days out of the year. The one day that all laws are suspended, look at the violence that erupts. If Rousseau’s quote is correct and a “fixed” society makes a person good, then why do people feel the need to resort to violence on that ONE day if they are fixed? Same in this novel… there is no perfect world because some, who have the power to glean, use it for the wrong reasons, instilling fear into people. So in essence, there is no perfect world (well, until Christ returns).
There are many areas of thought one can consider. I also think I will probably be getting the other two novels so MT and I can finish the trilogy. This novel may not be for everyone, but it is a great book for middle and high schoolers. So…stay tuned…I will be probably do updates after Monday and continue to update as I reflect more. Happy Reading!
