Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Ember Miller lives in a post-war America where devastation has left behind a fascist, military dictatorship. The Bill of Rights is no more; instead, the Moral Statutes are upheld as law by the military. Ember lives in constant fear of the military and her mother’s flighty and irresponsible behavior that could get them in trouble. When suddenly Ember’s mother is arrested in violation of Article 5, Ember is also taken and sent to a reformatory for “rehabilitation.” Ember wants nothing more than to break out and find her mother. But what hurts most is that it seems her former boyfriend may be the one who betrayed them.
Ember is a brave, emotional girl who puts her mother above everything. At seventeen, she will be old enough to leave the reformatory in less than a year, but she doesn’t want to waste the time when her mother’s life may be in danger. Unfortunately, her emotions and fear for her mother outweigh her common sense at times. Ember and Chase (the former boyfriend) are fantastic characters that pull the reader into the story. Their relationship develops throughout the novel, and was the highlight for me.
Simmons’s not-too-distant dystopian world is dark and horrific. The intensity and suspense made it impossible to put down. Ember’s journey is full of adventure, intrigue, romance, and heart-wrenching drama. Though, the major plot twist at the end was obvious, the exciting conclusion was more than satisfying. Fans of the dystopian subgenre should enjoy this fast-paced, poignant thriller.
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Article 5 releases from Tor Teen on January 31, 2012.
I love fast paced reads. Thanks for the review, I’ll be adding this one to the list.