Welcome to my stop on the Perfected Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours! Click here to follow along with the tour schedule.
Title: Perfected
Author: Kate Jarvik Birch
Release date: July 1st 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Review copy
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books
Perfection comes at a price.
As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, adn above all, perfect, these "family companions" enter their masters' homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury.
Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman's bubbly young daughter, but she doesn't expect Penn, the congressman's handsome and rebellious son. He's the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows...and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating.
But when Ella is kidnapped and thrust into the dark underworld lurking beneath her pampered life, she's faced with an unthinkable choice. Because the only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn's family is leaving...and if she's unsuccessful, she'll face a fate far worse than death.
For fans of Keira Cass's Selection series and Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden series, Perfected is a chilling look at what it means to be human, and a stunning celebration of the power of love to set us free, wrapped in a glamorous - and dangerous - bow.
Praise for Perfected:
"Compelling, imaginative, and unique. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!"
~ Mary Lindsey, author of Shattered Souls
I immediately felt these girls were viewed no differently from dogs. They're called "pets", come from a place called a kennel, are "bred", "trained" to be obedient, and aren't even given real names. They're given a number as a name until they're bought! I also thought about this arrangement basically being a new kind of slavery - these girls are bought and sold as though they're a piece of property.
These girls are showpieces, living a life of luxury without hardships, at least that's what they've been taught during their training. They aren't expected to work, so the problems Ella soon faces are more emotional. She can't read, can't swim, has never been outside much, never been taught anything about kissing, never read fiction. So much has been denied her - even music. She listened to classical and opera but has missed out on so many other genres. Several times I wanted to cry for her.
Ella wasn't prepared for the life she must now lead. The things she was taught during her "training" sometimes are the opposite of what her owners want from her. The Congressman was outright creepy. Ruby was just too young to understand how wrong this is. The Congressman's wife wasn't likable because she's not fond of Ella, but I can't blame her for her bitterness. She has a dolt for a husband. And she's none too happy about aging. How would you feel if you were fifty, and your husband brought home a sixteen-year-old he was obviously lusting after? You wouldn't be nice, that's for sure.
Ella wasn't prepared for the life she must now lead. The things she was taught during her "training" sometimes are the opposite of what her owners want from her. The Congressman was outright creepy. Ruby was just too young to understand how wrong this is. The Congressman's wife wasn't likable because she's not fond of Ella, but I can't blame her for her bitterness. She has a dolt for a husband. And she's none too happy about aging. How would you feel if you were fifty, and your husband brought home a sixteen-year-old he was obviously lusting after? You wouldn't be nice, that's for sure.
Perfection gave me much to think about - what it means to be human, the consequences of technology, and the value of human life. There's sadness but also hope in this novel. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough - this novel caught me and wouldn't let go. And these are all the reasons I love reading - to think, to experience, and to feel.
My Rating:
Kate Jarvik Birch is a visual artist, author, playwright, daydreamer, and professional procrastinator. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be either a unicorn or mermaid. Luckily, being a writer turned out to be just as magical. Her essays and short stories have been published in literary journals including Indiana Review and Saint Ann's Review. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and three kids. To learn more visit http://www.katejarvikbirch.com
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This one sounds really disturbing, but it obviously made you think and feel and look at the way the world works! That makes me more interested in it! I might have to check it out at some point but brace myself for the icky congressman and saddening/angering aspects!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely disturbing to think about. I remember thinking how much I hoped this would never happen but can't say I'm 100% sure it wouldn't. I know that probably sounds crazy, but not that long ago in history, people were bought and sold as slaves. The difference here is the people being bought and sold are not to work but to basically be entertaining. I highly recommend this book! Thanks so much for stopping by! :)
DeleteI like the sound of this one, Jennifer. It does seem creepy though. And I think it's making a statement about our society and the future. I think I'll give this one a go. Great review, girl!
ReplyDeleteBooks that make statements about our society and the future are some of my very favorite ones. I love thinking about that kind of stuff, although in the case of Perfected, I'd be terrified if something like this ever happened, yikes!! Thank you, Brandee!! :)
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