The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Picked this one up at a book fair a few months back. Probably best suited for 7th grade and up. It was a quick read. I found myself quickly caring about all of the main characters and curious to learn more about their backstories.

America's children are being affected by a mysterious disease. Around their tenth birthday some children are dying but others are affected differently. They develop a variety of powers. When powers are discovered children are swept off to camps and segregated by color. Children that are too dangerous disappear from the camps. The story follows Ruby, who cleverly manages to hide her true powers for a long time. With assistance, she eventually breaks free of her camp and manages to discover other children that have also escaped. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery (including a mild love story) in a world that has changed dramatically.

I kept telling myself that the book was entertaining, but I wouldn't likely read the next book. However, by the dramatic ending chapter...Bracken had pulled me in. I will likely pick up book two, Never Fade, in the near future to see how Ruby's story unfolds. I watched the movie immediately after finishing the book with my wife and 11-year-old-son. They both really enjoyed the movie. I liked the movie, but their were too many dramatic changes for me and I felt disappointed by the end.

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