When She Woke

When She Woke
by Hillary Jordan
352 pages

I could not put this book down! In a possibly not so distant future US, Hannah Payne has just been turned into a Chrome. Chromes are criminals who have been injected with a virus that turns their color a certain color-each color represents a certain level of criminal activity. Hannah has been turned Red-for the murder of her unborn child. Facing the prejudice that comes with being a Chrome, Hannah starts to question everything she was raised to believe, mainly her faith. I think the main question of the book is: is free will rebellion against God or a gift from Him? Hannah is someone I think everyone can relate to because everyone has questioned their beliefs at some point, or faltered in their faith. I think it's just human nature.

Partials

by Dan Wells, 480 pages (ARC)

I'm trying to fill the void left by Divergent and The Hunger Games, and this really fits the bill.  It's slow to start, but the twists make it more than worth it.  I felt like I really understood what was happening to the folks left behind on Long Island (although it turns out I had no clue), but I wouldn't have had that without the slow build-up.  And I'm a sucker for imagery, and I still can't stop thinking about the crazy images Dan Wells has conjured in my minds eye.  Way to go!