Wither by Lauren DeStefano

2011/368 pgs.

About the Book: In the future, scientists have eliminated all disease thanks to the wonders of genetic engineering. But the downfall is that the offspring of those genetic engineered children now have a shorter lifespan-twenty years for women, twenty-five for me. Some still believe in a cure and will do anything they can to find one, including kidnapping and selling young girls into polygamist marriages.

Rhine is 16 and finds herself being taken to Housemaster Vaughn's household to be married off to his son, Linden. She refuses to accept this new role and is determined to find a way out. She begins to develop feelings for one of the household staff, Gabriel and Rhine is convinced she and Gabriel can escape Housemaster Vaughn's clutches. But world around Rhine is blurring and it's getting harder and harder to see what is real and what is a lie.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Be prepared to hear a lot about this book-this one is going to be big! This is a fantastic debut and it will leave readers wanting more.

Although it's set in the future, life in Housemaster Vaughn's house almost has the feel of a period drama. Like Rhine, we never know what really is happening or what is real and what is a lie. Housemaster Vaughn is up to something, but we don't know what and that mystery adds to the story.

The characters are all fantastic-not only do we get to know Rhine, but we really get to know and care for her sister wives, Cecily and Jenna. The author has a fantastic balance of telling and showing. She tells us that Rhine is spending time with our cast of characters and then she also gives us a glimpse into a conversation with them. This balance made the romance as well as the friendships between the sister wives more real.

And the romance-love it! The author has this great way of making us unsure of who we like, who we trust, and if someone is good or bad. It's never sappy or over the top, but instead she keeps us guessing along with Rhine as to what really is going on and what exactly her feelings are.

This is a first in a trilogy, yet Wither wraps up nicely enough to not leave me hanging with a horrible cliffhanger. There are still questions left unanswered and I want to know more, but I also felt satisfied with the ending.

If you're a fan of dystopian novels, add this one to your reading list.