Book Title: The Program (432 pages)
Author: Suzanne Young
Published by Simon Pulse in 2014
Description:
"Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.
And The Program is coming for them."
My Review (Spoiler Free): So the book about a world where a huge epidemic started where 1 out of every 3 teenagers gets commits suicide. Sloane lives in a town that decided to take drastic actions to stop this by implementing "The Program." Teens are monitored until they turn 18 to make sure they aren't exhibiting any negative emotions and developing depression which is seen as a illness that is contagious among teens. Teens who have had people around them catch the sickness or commit suicide are watched even closer. Anyone who exhibits signs of catching depression are turned into the Program and separated from their peers and family for weeks where they are stripped of their memories except of their family and then returned home but must go to a school designed for these returners until they graduate. The only interaction with non-returners they can have is at a monitored wellness center where non-returners receive school credit for going. Returners are supposed to be the cure. Stripped off most of there memories and with no idea of their former self, they are free of what caused them to be sick in the first place.
My Opinion: I loved this book. It isn't your normal dystopian book. Sometimes it is hard for me to get into incredibly violent dystopians (like the Hunger Games), or dystopian books where the world is completely different. i love the fact that this dystopian is so subtle, almost as if it wouldn't even take much for society to actually become like this. There is no giant massive conspiracy, at least not one that is revealed in this first book. The characters were interesting, I didn't feel like they were really intricate and that makes sense since the teenagers that have to either conceal their true thoughts and emotions for fear of worrying the authority figures into calling in the program or forced to go through the program and stripped of everything that makes their personality. The story is amazing, a very unique concept. Would you rather see your friends and family be depressed and one off-day away from committing suicide or stripped of all their memories and who they are to keep them alive? If it became an epidemic where a third of all teenagers committed suicide around the world, could you imagine a program like this being implemented and accepted? I blew through this book in about 5 hours and I want to go order the next 2 books so i can find out what happens. The ending leaves you on the edge of your seat, ready for the action about to happen. This is the first book in the series and it's very thought provoking but i feel the next 2 books are where the action and answers are.
Have you read this book? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments!
Note: This is my first book review and i hope to get better at it so bare with me. :)
Where you can buy "The Program" by Suzanne Young
Thrift Books (If they are out of stock, provide your email to know when they get more in. Most of their books are like $3.50, so might be worth it for you to wait. ^ ^ )
Let me know any books you think i should read in the YA or Urban Fantasy genre below.
Thanks for reading!
~A
