Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher:  Disney Hyperion
Publishing Date: December 18th 2012

Pages: 488
Genre:  YA Sci-Fi Thriller

Series: The Darkest Minds #1
Source: Audio

  

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who 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 a life worth living.

Loved this book. Everything about it. The pacing, the characters, the story, the intensity. It rocked. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this book. I will not wait so long on the second book coming out very soon. I find it hard to find a good sci book dealing with superpowers, and this one did it just right for me. It was a bit dark and twisted, violent , and disturbing, but a very great read.

X-men without Professor X. The world has continued to exist in the future but most of the children were killed from a disease.  The ones that survived have super powers. Mind control, telekinesis, ability to speak to electronics, super genius, and some can even control fire. Of course this is a little freaky and it left the to fear them. So they do what any loving adult would do and ship them off to concentration camps where they are used, abused, and killed. Ruby was shipped off to a camp when she was 10. She has been at the camp for about 6 years and she has managed to hide the true potential of her ability. The camp classifies the kids by color according to their ability reds and oranges being the most dangerous and are killed because of their abilities.  Ruby is an orange. She has mind abilities, she pretends to be a green. After a possible discovery of her true status she is taken from the camp, escapes more evil, and then hits the road with a couple of other kids to embark on a journey to find her family. She finds a new family, friendship, and possibly love.

Loved this book. I didn’t think I would love it as much as I did when I first started the book. I am not sure why but at first it was a bit hard to see myself getting into this book. It only took a couple of chapters though and I was hooked. The further I read the deeper I was. It was extremely intense at times. I really enjoyed the story, it wasn’t completely original as there have been other stories where people with mutations or powers are feared, but it was original enough for the author to have her own story to tell. I loved the concept of the camps and the color coding. I felt the camps made the story seem more plausible. As the past has shown humans love to put others they don’t understand or don’t like because of culture, separated from the rest of the world. So this made sense. I really liked the color coding because it kept the powers straight in mind and they were just fun. Colors are always good. The story started out with bad people and ended with worse people. I was taken back by how evil adults and other kids were in this story. I think, for me, the shock of it all really hooked me. As the story went on little pieces were put into place and I could see where the story was taking me, without being predictable.

The pacing was excellent in this book. The story started off at a normal pace for a book, getting into the going-ons and putting a little history into the story to explain the present predicaments. Just right for a beginning… but it didn’t take long to really take off and chapter by chapter it became more intense. There was a bit of a slow down near the last but it wasn’t too slow, just enough to allow me to catch my breath. I love a great paced book. Never bored and never lost.

I LOVED the main character, Ruby and I LOVED the supporting characters, Chubbs, Liam, and Zu. They were all amazing and meshed so well together. Some of the relationships were predictable… the only thing predictable in this book… and even though there was an instant connection on the romance front, I didn’t mind. They go through a lot together and I just loved loved loved them together. So yes to the insta love but no to a love triangle. I thought there was potential for a love triangle at first but there wasn’t and I was extremely thrilled.  I don’t mind insta love but I really hate love triangles.

 So back to the characters….Ruby was a very Strong heroine for me. She always tried to make the right decisions based on what was best for all those around her. As she grew and matured throughout the book she realized sometimes its not so black and white. She never seemed selfish to me even when she tried to be. The way that she cared and loved was amazing. She lost so much in her life and was terrified of getting close to anyone but she loved with all she had. She took in her new gang quickly and never looked back.

Liam was awesome, swoon worthy, and quite a catch. A true southern gentleman and I can’t possibly think of one negative thought to say about Liam. I don't see it possible for any girl to turn him down. Chubbs had me from the beginning too. The witty, sarcastic friend. He always had something to say. He was also very loyal and very protective of his self made family.  Zu was a wonderful sweet little girl who didn’t have to say a word, everyone that came in contact with her just fawned over her. They were all wonderful and they were truly my friends.

This really was an exceptional read and if you like sci-fi or superpowers, or awesome character building… read this book, it will be the beginning of a terrific journey.

A rating of 5 plus more. It rocked!