February 08, 2012

Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

Pure (Pure #1)
Author: Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: February 8, 2012
Pages: 448
Source: E-ARC/Galley from NetGalley 

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again. 

Review: I really really enjoyed this book! It was so unique compared to other Dystopians! Pures being closed away inside the dome, while those who weren't lucky enough to get in are stuck outside living in the devastated landscape of whats left after the Denotations, forever fused to something, be in an object or even a person. Also, I loved how the author described the world outside the Dome! She made it creepy, but yet so interesting and made you want to read more about just it alone! So this book turned out to be different than I originally thought it was going to be but in a very good way! I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the book! There were so many twists and turns, most of which I didn't see coming (I was able to figure out a few)! I was so scared for Partridge! I mean come on! He got out of the Dome, not knowing what to expect and how bad it would be outside! I was so scared for him until he met Pressia. But then after he met Pressia and her friend then I became more scared for Pressia because of the freaking military looking for her! Ahhh! Gosh, this book was amazing!

I was totally shocked about the relationship between Partridge and Pressia (it's probably not what most people will think.) I totally didn't see that coming, but after certain things were revealed it totally made sense! I also loved how Partridge didn't stop looking for his mom! He knew deep down that she was still alive despite what his dad said (since I brought up his dad, I'm really not a fan of him) and looked for her anyways! Back to his dad, it wasn't just his lying to his son that makes me not like him. It was the fact of how far the lies went and how his father lied about the deaths of the rest of Patridge's family! How can someone do that? I always like someone who follows their instincts (they don't usually lead you wrong). I also liked how after he found out about how his dad was lying to him he refused to go back to the Dome. I mean, sure its a lot harder outside the Dome but I'd take hard work with people I do trust over living with people I cant trust any day. And the ending! Its definitely left me wanting the second book! 

4 Stars!