The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Hyperion

December 2012

ISBN: 978-142315932-2

Pages: 488

Dystopian Young Adult

West Virginia

Ruby had something change her when she woke up on her tenth birthday.  Frightening enough that her parents end up locking her in the garage and then calling the police. It is also something that got her sent to a brutal government “rehabilitation camp,” Thurmond. A mysterious disease killed most of America’s children but those that survived, including Ruby, emerged different and with something far worse.  They have frightening abilities and they can’t control them.

At sixteen Ruby is now one of the dangerous ones.

Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life when the truth comes out. Ruby is running and desperate. She is looking for the only safe haven for those like her, a haven called East River. When she finds a group of kids that escaped from another camp she joins them. Liam is their leader and is falling hard for Ruby. She can’t risk getting close to anyone no matter how much she aches for Liam. Especially after what happened to her parents.

Once they get to East River nothing is as it seems especially its mysterious leader. There are also other forces at work, ones that want Ruby to fight against the government and those people will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight. Ruby is soon faced with a choice, a terrible choice that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

This is the start of an amazing series that will have readers eagerly reaching for the next book to find out what happens next.  It is full of action and suspense with some wonderful characters that make for an unforgettable story that will stay with the reader long after they finish the book.  The story takes so many twists and turns that it makes for a book that is completely unpredictable and will have readers devouring it just to see what will happen next.  Ruby proves to be a lot braver and stronger than she thinks she is and makes for enjoyable read.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH