We read Elsewhere with a box of Kleenex close by and we couldn't put down Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, but this latest title was all over the place. Don't get us wrong, we still love Gabrielle Zevin; we were just distracted by some of the items included in this story. Confused? Okay, let's start our laundry list of reasons why this one is just so-so (and we realize that we could be in the minority here).
When you read the book jacket, it will dawn on you that you have possibly stumbled upon yet another dystopian teen novel, but that this one, because of the author and it's 1920's mob-style twist, could be something really special. It's set in 2083 when all of the good stuff (chocolate and coffee) is illegal and there are strict rationing policies in place regarding water. Anya Balanchine is the daughter of a murdered crime boss caught between trying to protect her siblings, getting through school, and staying out of the family business of crime. But we found that the story was a bit disjointed and had some serious lag time- not to mention the strange outcome in regards to Anya's boyfriend. Why did it have to be the year 2083? Why chocolate? Was she just trying to jump on the dystopia wagon? At one point, the theme to "The Godfather" started playing in our heads and we were anticipating a severed horse head (instead we got a mummified grandmother).
If you take it apart, you get some really dramatic sequences and a few discussion topics, but we're betting this is a one-time read for most people. Zevin fans will read this and probably think it's not so bad. If it's your first time with one of her books, don't start here.
1 comment:
:) I liked it, but it isn't one I'd read more than a couple times.
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