Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
Release Date: 3-13-2012
ARC received from Delacorte Press
The Sisters Say: Seismic, Shocking, and Spine-tingling
HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . .
When I first sat down to read this book, I had my doubts
because it looked very sci-fi like—which can be hit and miss for me; however, I
love dystopian novels, so I figured I’d give this one a try. I’m certainly glad I did! Reminiscent of Dollhouse that aired on Fox, in Starters, a super secret
organization called Prime Destinations employs starters (those under 19 in the
futuristic society) to rent out their bodies to enders (people over 60). Most everyone between those ages is dead
because of the Spore Wars (WW3 which ended in biological attacks on the
US). The elderly and the young were
vaccinated because they were vulnerable so when the attack came, anyone without
the vaccine quickly died.
Callie is put in a no win situation—she has a very sick
little brother Tyler and no money to get him medicine and no home to keep him
safe, so she signs up with Prime. It was
very easy to get to know her and relate to her as she began finding herself in
treacherous situations. I felt like I
was alongside her the whole way—when her heartbeat sped up, so did mine; when
she smiled because of Blake (the resident cutie in the book), I smiled; and
when she got curious, I got even more curious!!!
What struck me most about this book is how our future could
end up very similar. How?
1.)
We vaccinate the old and young first as well,
leaving everyone else more susceptible.
2.)
Biological weapons are a very real threat,
especially if terrorists get their hands on one.
3.)
People always want what they can’t have and thus
will push technology and morality to the edge.
Now, there are some areas of the book where the action
drags, but that really didn’t both me that much. The thing that bothered me was the lack of
details in the Spore Wars and their society, but maybe that is something that
will come in the future installments.
For example, the enders can live up to 200 years old, but all we are
told is that medical advancements allowed it—I would have like more
information. I guess I’ll just have to
wait in anticipation!
It’s definitely a thrill ride, and let me tell you this!
THE ENDING….OH MY GOSH….WHAT A TWIST!!!! I finished the book last night, and I woke up
this morning turning situation after situation over and over in my head trying
to figure out what is going to happen in the next book and what the twist
really means!!!! Oh December….come
quickly!
This would be a great book for any age! There are a couple of scenes in a nightclub,
but it’s just some dancing (and the mention of the bar), and there are a few
kissing scenes (I wish they were more swoon-worthy, but Lissa Price didn’t
spend much time delving into Blake and making him oh-so-dreamy…another hope for
the future books). Overall, not the
greatest dystopian novel, but a definite must read for those who like this
genre.
