Finished Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

[Kershhie]

*The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken,
Young-adult science fiction story.
I gave this book a rating of 4 stars. I gave this book a rating of 4 stars out of 4 stars because I love the way Alexandra Bracken has twisted this dark, dystopian world into something tragically beautiful.
I didn't give this book a rating of 3 stars because everything about this book had me tingling with joy even through the haunting and unforgettable moments of Ruby's worst times. With every emotion in me I couldn't give this book anything less as I am obsessed over it and everything about it.

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmord, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escaped Thurmord with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her - East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

After reading this book it was all I could think about for the next month or two. The brutality of the camps then the journey to paradise that kept you on your toes only to find out that 'paradise' is not quite what you would expect.
By the ene of this book I was crying snot driven tears in a puddle of contradicted despair and excitement.
I was raving to every single one of my friends about Alexandra Brackens new book and driving a few people to go out and buy it. Every single one of them loved it with me and nothing is more exciting than having someone to rant on about your latest book craze with. After this haunting book caught control of my mind I ended up seeing the world in different perspectives. Recognising people for who they truly are and not what there labeled as and I feel like I've truly changed for the better. Such as not seeing a Red for their temper but for there confidence and power. I also find myself seeing good in everyone, even in people who most may say don't deserve it and I feel the need to thank not only the author but the book for that privilege.

What I liked about this book was that there was constant tension throughout the whole of the book and my heart was forever beating outside of my chest. I liked that the story was dark and riveting, that there was brutality in it that wasn't over the top horrific but still kept you speechless and was wrapped up in a twistedly tragic love story. My heart went out to every single character in this book, well besides the bad guys but then again who knows who really is a bad guy in this book. It,s the right amount of confusing and the right amount of detailed to contradict itself into a gripping, emotional read.
What I liked most about The Darkest Minds was when Ruby and the gang finally arrive in East River with a welcoming fit for kings. Everything that happens at that moment and in the moments after draw you into Ruby's character and the strength she has and the problems she puts up with every day of her life.
You get to see what it really means to have the abilities the children possess. How each and everyone of them corresponds with each other and how they work together to achieve something greater and more powerful for the good of their community.

...Liam set both of our bowls in one of the many plastic tubs floating by. The blue controlling the one closest to us was a skinny kid, who looks like he weighed about half of what his tub did. I blinked once, twice, wondering if I was imagining it. It was the first time I had ever seen kids use their abilities so... Frivolously. It was a strange contrast to what was otherwise a picture of normalcy. At least, what I assumed normalcy looked like. A few kids strummed on guitars or used their log as a drum set. Most were talking quietly, or playing card games.

You also get a insight on each of the characters behaviours and personalities away from the road and settled down around others much like themselves.
The reason I liked the moment when the gang had just entered the camp was because the tension was so thick you could have probably cut it and for me I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for something bad to happen or something to shock me out of my seat as everything else up to that point had. It seemed so surreal that Ruby and the gang had finally got to the place many had dreamed of seeing, that they were finally at the place the book basically was written towards, that the stars had to align and the book had to be fulfilled in the following chapters. But Alexandra Bracken like the rebel author she is waited until I finally settled into my seat properly and snuggled down to flip my whole chair upside down.
This women knows how to make me jump, let me tell you.

What I didn't like about this book was on the journey to East River it felt like the story was being stretched and it took a while to get to the next exciting moment or when they arrived at East River. I found it rather hard to pick out bits that I didn't quite like out of this story after yapping about how amazing it was but I will try.
Another thing is that when Ruby was in the camp she was really shy and so much of a doormat that after a chapter or two it started getting annoying. I liked Samantha's 'I don't give a damn' side so I think she really helped with Ruby's annoying case of muteness. I understand that she was too nervous to do/say anything in case she was caught out for who she really is or had a terrible punishment but if my best friend was taking the blame for sticking up for me and it was a harsh punishment aswell I would probably start a revolution solely for her benefit. Well maybe not quite that extreme but I definitely would have stuck up for her aswell and took part of the punishment with her and beat up the man while I had the chance.
The thing I hated most about this book was probably Ruby's silent period throughout camp because she really got on my nerves throughout that but then again it helped her build into a stronger character instead of already being the perfect heroine she had to work and feel pain for it. Which made me just realise that I kind of like quiet Ruby. Honestly I can't think of my worst moment because I loved it all and if you don't like that then I am sorry but it is the truth.
To make this more interesting I think Alexandra Bracken could have added a few more action scenes. Not shocking moments that make you want to scream with emotion but the fighting scenes or being chased scenes or even shooting scenes.

The people that would probably like this book the most are people like me who like an action packed, supernatural read with a twist of a love triangle. Preferably teenagers as children would be too young because the book is rather dark and adults probably wouldn't be able to love a fictional book like this one quite as much as the younger generation.
The people that would like this book the least would most likely be people who are into more nonfictional books, that love to read biographies or people that absolutely hate action books or romances. Preferably adults or the elderly.
I would recommend this book to other people because it is one of those unforgettable books that you lose yourself in and are shocked to your core at every twisted moment until you pull yourself out of it and wish you could jump back in so you read it all over again for the twenty-ninth time, that month. *

[gali]

Duplication - there is already a topic open for this book

The Darkest Minds