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breezy610's review against another edition
5.0
this was very good and i would like to thank my friend for me getting to try this book. This was a very different type of dystpian ya novel. Anya was a very real character. All she was doing was to look out for her brother and sister, even thought being the middle child. I hope the second book, Anya does manage to get some happines with the one that she loves.
heathercottledillon's review against another edition
3.0
I had high expectations for this story because I love the other Gabrielle Zevin books I've read. I enjoyed this one, but not as much as her "Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac" and "Elsewhere." The dystopian society featured here just doesn't ring true to me. The things the government restricts seem really arbitrary, which makes it look like the author just put those laws in there to facilitate the story without making sure that they made sense. I know, I know, it's silly to nitpick these things in a science fiction novel because so many things are being speculated anyway, but I still want the speculations to be logical. Anyway, the first part of the story was too slow for me, but I did enjoy it more where it picks up in the middle. I also like how it ends, though the conclusion is a bit predictable.
commedesenfants's review against another edition
EDIT:
Before I start, I have to admit that I haven't finished this (yet) but I still want to write my thoughts down. I might have to revise this after finishing the book.
The premise of this book was interesting. In 2083 chocolate and caffeine is prohibited and of course this leads to the illegal dealing with those substances. Anya's late father was one of NYC's most powerful crime bosses which dealt in chocolate. Sixteen-year old Anya, her grandmother and her siblings, however, are not involved in the family business. The most important thing in Anya's life is her family and despite being so young, she has to take care of her siblings and her dying grandma, trying to keep under the radar of child protection services and she's also trying to distance herself from her criminal family.
(As you can see, I'm not really good at giving synopses but I tried, basically the official blurb is saying the same - only better :P)
Anyway, this sounds intriguing, right? Even though the fact that chocolate and coffee is illegal but alcohol is not (you can basically get alcohol at any age if the seller has the right permit) is totally ridiculous. So why did I still think the premise was intersting? Because I just read an article about how in a few years chocolate may become so rare and expensive that only the super rich can afford it, comparable to caviar today. The reason is the high global demand and the climate change which affects the cocoa plantations greatly. So the story isn't so far off really. What I don't understand is why chocolate is completely prohibited, rationing seemed much more reasonable. Caffeine can be addicting (I can't function properly without a cup of coffee in the morning) but it's definitely not comparable to say a heroin. But this is exactly how the author describes it and it's almost comical to me to see a grown man go beserk from chocolate deprivation. So in conclusion, it would have been better if the premise was that chocolate or cocoa beans were strictly rationed instead of outright prohibited.
Ok let's get to the main character, Anya. She had a tough life. She had to grow up way too soon and is therefore much more mature than other teenagers her age. No child should have had to go through all the pain she did AND then basically become the head of the family before her 10th birthday. I liked how Anya was never really complaining or whining about her life or having to take care of her siblings. For her, her family was the most important thing in the world. It was great to see the love between the siblings. They argued but in the end were always there for each other.
Although Anya emphasises that she's a strict catholic (no sex before marriage etc.) I didn't really buy it. Why? Because even though she knew that she was doing something "bad" (e.g. having hateful thoughts) she still did it and then went to confession and everything was ok. It seems as if she's using her faith more as an excuse and to reassure herself that she's a good person. I'm not catholic or even christian but I'm pretty sure this is not how confession works (correct me if I'm wrong). I mean, there's nothing wrong with having hateful thoughts sometimes ( I'm pretty sure everyone has thought at one point in their lives "I want to kill xyz!" but of course didn't mean it literally), nobody's perfect. I just hated that Anya justified her actions by thinking as long as she goes to confession it's ok. (Not sure if I make sense to anybody else). The second reason why I didn't buy Anya's faithfulness is that as soon as she got together with Win she was willing to throw her values out of the door. I actually wouldn't mind so much if they had been together for a few months. I wouldn't have hold it against her that she was considering having sex with him then because they had a loving and stable relationship and truly trusted eachother. But this was not the case, they were together for all but a few days (??) and Anya's not even sure she loved Win and one moment she's telling him she doesn't belief in sex before marriage and in the next she's considering to go further immediately. This is not the pragmatic and sensible Anya from the chapters before. The strong and mature Anya has become a puddle of teenage mush, trapped in a sappy teenage starcrossed-lovers lovestory.
And this is the point where the book turned from intriguing to B-O-R-I-N-G. Instead of being an interesting crime story (Murder! Poison! Mafia!) it became a typical young-adult high school love story. Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for (contemporary) high school love stories but this book is marketed as a dystopia. Frankly, it's not. Not at all. Yes, the year is 2083 and the world or more precisely the US is not what it is like now but like many others I imagined NYC in the 1920's prohibiton era with the mafia reigning the city, gangsters walking around in dapper suits and cigars. I'm not sure if this is something that speaks for the book, the opposite really. If the reader can't imagine the world that the author describes properly, there is probably something going wrong here. Still, I was hoping this would be turn out like the godfather, where Anya's becoming the female (!!) teenage head of her mafiya family, reigning the city, now that would have been a fun story. But alas, she wants nothing to do with it (understandable, but it could've been arranged so that she was pushed into the position and doesn't have a choice). Anyway, the romance aspect of this book? I don't really buy it. I just didn't feel a spark between Anya and Win. I feel as if Win wanted her because he knew his father wouldn't approve. She's the one girl he can't have, so he must have her. Anya seemed to like him because he is nice to her even though he knows who her family is. I don't know there was just no connection really and the "love" felt so forced. I'm a hopeless romantic but there is a reason why I like books where the main character and her love interest don't get together too soon. I love the tension that builds up, and a "forbidden" love usually offers lots of that but not in ATTID. Anya and Win weren't really careful with their secret romance ( lots of PDA outside of school despite the fact that Anya is a (in)famous mafia princess who's often follwed by the paparazzi.) Yes, I know teenage hormones and all but Anya is not your typical teenager and she would not jeopardize her family or boyfriend for a public kiss. Ok, I've been drifting off, what I wanted to say is that I usually like it when characters don't get together too quickly because usually they turn into love sick puppies who don't care about anything else but making out. I hate it when girls who were independent and strong become helpless damsel in distress who would sacrifice everything and everyone just so they can be with their "true love"/"soulmate"/yaddayaddayadda And Anya did become this dreaded girl imo.( maybe she's redeeming herself later on...)
I've already mentioned that the world building lacked...something. First, it's set in 2083 but has a feel of the 1920's. It is said that the city is crime ridden but we really don't see it. There are poor street kids who rob people. We have these types of crime today too. There are illegal cafes which sell coffee and chocolate but it seems as if it's not really a secret and it's not too hard to get your hands on chocolate. The consequences of "possession" are not very severe it seems. NYC in the future, doesn't seem to be very different from the NYC today. Anya and her friends can still walk to school safely, go out at night like teenagers today. I didn't feel any danger at all. Poverty is mentioned but again you can't see it. Maybe it's because we see it through the eyes of Anya who grew up very privileged (thanks to her father's "business"). There are a lot of things left unclear and I wished the world building had been more thorough. A good book in my opinion is when the reader can clearly imagine the world the author is describing and can get lost in it and feel like they are actually IN it with the characters.
All in all, it's not a bad book. The writing is good and I liked Anya and there was no character I found really annoying (always a plus). The thing is, the beginning was good, there was a lot of potential but the author went another route. I just wished she went the crime/suspense/thriller route instead of the generic love story one.
Spoiler
Ok, so I read the spoilers and Anya's going to take over as the head of the family at the end of this book. So maybe the next one will focus more on the mob and their activities...if so then I might give it a chance.Before I start, I have to admit that I haven't finished this (yet) but I still want to write my thoughts down. I might have to revise this after finishing the book.
The premise of this book was interesting. In 2083 chocolate and caffeine is prohibited and of course this leads to the illegal dealing with those substances. Anya's late father was one of NYC's most powerful crime bosses which dealt in chocolate. Sixteen-year old Anya, her grandmother and her siblings, however, are not involved in the family business. The most important thing in Anya's life is her family and despite being so young, she has to take care of her siblings and her dying grandma, trying to keep under the radar of child protection services and she's also trying to distance herself from her criminal family.
(As you can see, I'm not really good at giving synopses but I tried, basically the official blurb is saying the same - only better :P)
Anyway, this sounds intriguing, right? Even though the fact that chocolate and coffee is illegal but alcohol is not (you can basically get alcohol at any age if the seller has the right permit) is totally ridiculous. So why did I still think the premise was intersting? Because I just read an article about how in a few years chocolate may become so rare and expensive that only the super rich can afford it, comparable to caviar today. The reason is the high global demand and the climate change which affects the cocoa plantations greatly. So the story isn't so far off really. What I don't understand is why chocolate is completely prohibited, rationing seemed much more reasonable. Caffeine can be addicting (I can't function properly without a cup of coffee in the morning) but it's definitely not comparable to say a heroin. But this is exactly how the author describes it and it's almost comical to me to see a grown man go beserk from chocolate deprivation. So in conclusion, it would have been better if the premise was that chocolate or cocoa beans were strictly rationed instead of outright prohibited.
Ok let's get to the main character, Anya. She had a tough life.
Spoiler
Her mother was killed by an assassination attempt aimed at her father. Her brother was physically and mentally injured on the same occasion. And worst of all (I know, right? How can it become even WORSE?) she saw her father being murdered in front of her eyes.Although Anya emphasises that she's a strict catholic (no sex before marriage etc.) I didn't really buy it. Why? Because even though she knew that she was doing something "bad" (e.g. having hateful thoughts) she still did it and then went to confession and everything was ok. It seems as if she's using her faith more as an excuse and to reassure herself that she's a good person. I'm not catholic or even christian but I'm pretty sure this is not how confession works (correct me if I'm wrong). I mean, there's nothing wrong with having hateful thoughts sometimes ( I'm pretty sure everyone has thought at one point in their lives "I want to kill xyz!" but of course didn't mean it literally), nobody's perfect. I just hated that Anya justified her actions by thinking as long as she goes to confession it's ok. (Not sure if I make sense to anybody else). The second reason why I didn't buy Anya's faithfulness is that as soon as she got together with Win she was willing to throw her values out of the door. I actually wouldn't mind so much if they had been together for a few months. I wouldn't have hold it against her that she was considering having sex with him then because they had a loving and stable relationship and truly trusted eachother. But this was not the case, they were together for all but a few days (??) and Anya's not even sure she loved Win and one moment she's telling him she doesn't belief in sex before marriage and in the next she's considering to go further immediately. This is not the pragmatic and sensible Anya from the chapters before. The strong and mature Anya has become a puddle of teenage mush, trapped in a sappy teenage starcrossed-lovers lovestory.
And this is the point where the book turned from intriguing to B-O-R-I-N-G. Instead of being an interesting crime story (Murder! Poison! Mafia!) it became a typical young-adult high school love story. Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for (contemporary) high school love stories but this book is marketed as a dystopia. Frankly, it's not. Not at all. Yes, the year is 2083 and the world or more precisely the US is not what it is like now but like many others I imagined NYC in the 1920's prohibiton era with the mafia reigning the city, gangsters walking around in dapper suits and cigars. I'm not sure if this is something that speaks for the book, the opposite really. If the reader can't imagine the world that the author describes properly, there is probably something going wrong here. Still, I was hoping this would be turn out like the godfather, where Anya's becoming the female (!!) teenage head of her mafiya family, reigning the city, now that would have been a fun story. But alas, she wants nothing to do with it (understandable, but it could've been arranged so that she was pushed into the position and doesn't have a choice). Anyway, the romance aspect of this book? I don't really buy it. I just didn't feel a spark between Anya and Win. I feel as if Win wanted her because he knew his father wouldn't approve. She's the one girl he can't have, so he must have her. Anya seemed to like him because he is nice to her even though he knows who her family is. I don't know there was just no connection really and the "love" felt so forced. I'm a hopeless romantic but there is a reason why I like books where the main character and her love interest don't get together too soon. I love the tension that builds up, and a "forbidden" love usually offers lots of that but not in ATTID. Anya and Win weren't really careful with their secret romance ( lots of PDA outside of school despite the fact that Anya is a (in)famous mafia princess who's often follwed by the paparazzi.) Yes, I know teenage hormones and all but Anya is not your typical teenager and she would not jeopardize her family or boyfriend for a public kiss. Ok, I've been drifting off, what I wanted to say is that I usually like it when characters don't get together too quickly because usually they turn into love sick puppies who don't care about anything else but making out. I hate it when girls who were independent and strong become helpless damsel in distress who would sacrifice everything and everyone just so they can be with their "true love"/"soulmate"/yaddayaddayadda And Anya did become this dreaded girl imo.( maybe she's redeeming herself later on...)
I've already mentioned that the world building lacked...something. First, it's set in 2083 but has a feel of the 1920's. It is said that the city is crime ridden but we really don't see it. There are poor street kids who rob people. We have these types of crime today too. There are illegal cafes which sell coffee and chocolate but it seems as if it's not really a secret and it's not too hard to get your hands on chocolate. The consequences of "possession" are not very severe it seems. NYC in the future, doesn't seem to be very different from the NYC today. Anya and her friends can still walk to school safely, go out at night like teenagers today. I didn't feel any danger at all. Poverty is mentioned but again you can't see it. Maybe it's because we see it through the eyes of Anya who grew up very privileged (thanks to her father's "business"). There are a lot of things left unclear and I wished the world building had been more thorough. A good book in my opinion is when the reader can clearly imagine the world the author is describing and can get lost in it and feel like they are actually IN it with the characters.
All in all, it's not a bad book. The writing is good and I liked Anya and there was no character I found really annoying (always a plus). The thing is, the beginning was good, there was a lot of potential
Spoiler
like her stint in juvenile detention. The posssibilities! But it was all over in a few pages...reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Gabrielle Zevin's other novels so I was excited to see this when it was being promoted. The whole concept of this book was interesting because most "dystopian" novels are about how corrupted the government is and how they are set out to ruin every ones lives. It was such a crazy concept with chocolate and coffee being illegal because when she was describing how the kids would act, it was almost like how act when they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs (which are legal then).
I liked listening this on audio. I liked the narrator and I felt like she brought Anya to life. Speaking of Anya, I thought she was a great main character because she was strong and wanted the best for her family. A lot of topics that were brought up in this book were ones that even though it is set in the future, teens could relate to now (relationships, friendships, family, etc).
The whole romance part with Win kind of reminded me of Romeo & Juliet especially with the whole kind of gangsters that Anya's family were.
I know this is a series but I liked the way the story ended but I didn't at the same time. It ended kind of like Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood with you know what happened to the girl and ya there is going to be a second book but you'll have to read to find out.
I liked listening this on audio. I liked the narrator and I felt like she brought Anya to life. Speaking of Anya, I thought she was a great main character because she was strong and wanted the best for her family. A lot of topics that were brought up in this book were ones that even though it is set in the future, teens could relate to now (relationships, friendships, family, etc).
The whole romance part with Win kind of reminded me of Romeo & Juliet especially with the whole kind of gangsters that Anya's family were.
I know this is a series but I liked the way the story ended but I didn't at the same time. It ended kind of like Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood with you know what happened to the girl and ya there is going to be a second book but you'll have to read to find out.
amandalyn's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really interesting. A world where caffeine and chocolate are illegal? No thank you! But it did make for a great read!
I read some complaints about how the coffee and chocolate affected people in this world. But it really didn't bother me at all. Haven't you ever had a caffeine high? Or a sugar rush? Imagine if you only had caffeine and chocolate once a month or even less? Wouldn't it taste better and hit you harder? Especially if you had too much at a time. It made perfect sense to me. Chocolate drunk sounds pretty good to me!
I loved reading about Anya's crime family. The dynamics between Anya and her extended family was so intriguing and different than anything I've read before. It was honorable that Anya was trying to keep her brother and sister far away from it, but family doesn't go away that easily. Not to mention everyone immediately judged her by her last name, assuming she was just like her father. I felt so bad for her!
But I felt worse for her brother and sister. It felt like they just couldn't win! Her brother was in the accident that killed their mother and was brain damaged because of it. It's an understatement that they deserved more than life gave them but they were trying to make the best of it. I loved both of them.
Win... hmm. I liked him as a character, but I didn't really like the love story between him and Anya. It seemed like a mixture of insta-love and teenage rebellion, like they only got together because they knew they weren't supposed to. It wasn't enough for me. And the end really made me mad! Make up your mind already, geesh!
Anya was definitely my favorite though. She had a really hard life and had to grow up too fast. But she was dealing, and trying to protect her family. I admired that so much! I can't wait to see what she decides to do in the next book!
There was one plot twist I saw coming from miles away, and it bothered me that Anya couldn't see what was happening. It was right in front of her face! She kept almost fixing the situation, but then got distracted by something. And by something, I mean Win. Maybe that's why I didn't like them together...
All in all, a really interesting read and I can't wait to see what happens next!
I read some complaints about how the coffee and chocolate affected people in this world. But it really didn't bother me at all. Haven't you ever had a caffeine high? Or a sugar rush? Imagine if you only had caffeine and chocolate once a month or even less? Wouldn't it taste better and hit you harder? Especially if you had too much at a time. It made perfect sense to me. Chocolate drunk sounds pretty good to me!
I loved reading about Anya's crime family. The dynamics between Anya and her extended family was so intriguing and different than anything I've read before. It was honorable that Anya was trying to keep her brother and sister far away from it, but family doesn't go away that easily. Not to mention everyone immediately judged her by her last name, assuming she was just like her father. I felt so bad for her!
But I felt worse for her brother and sister. It felt like they just couldn't win! Her brother was in the accident that killed their mother and was brain damaged because of it. It's an understatement that they deserved more than life gave them but they were trying to make the best of it. I loved both of them.
Win... hmm. I liked him as a character, but I didn't really like the love story between him and Anya. It seemed like a mixture of insta-love and teenage rebellion, like they only got together because they knew they weren't supposed to. It wasn't enough for me. And the end really made me mad! Make up your mind already, geesh!
Anya was definitely my favorite though. She had a really hard life and had to grow up too fast. But she was dealing, and trying to protect her family. I admired that so much! I can't wait to see what she decides to do in the next book!
There was one plot twist I saw coming from miles away, and it bothered me that Anya couldn't see what was happening. It was right in front of her face! She kept almost fixing the situation, but then got distracted by something. And by something, I mean Win. Maybe that's why I didn't like them together...
All in all, a really interesting read and I can't wait to see what happens next!
juicygreenmom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
pulchritudinous_panda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was good, but what set it apart for me was its handing of religion and relationships. While I have no interest in the remaining books, the story it managed to tell here was captivating and well worth the read.
goodem9199's review against another edition
2.0
*SPOILERS* BOOK CLUB GIRLS DON'T READ UNTIL YOU'VE FINISHED!
OH MAN, am I ever frustrated! I devoured the first 3/4 of this book and then....SCREECH. WTF? Things fell apart for me very quickly after good 'ole granny died. The writing felt watered down, the scenerios were ridiculous. REALLY? The DA was only bothered that Win was shot because it got out in the media? Everything felt rushed. And another thing. I think with "dystopian" lit, you've either got to go balls to the wall, or don't do it at all. The cover of this book mistakingly makes you think it's dystopian. That should have been a major part...it took a huge backseat, and wasn't fleshed out enough. I often forgot it was supposed to be in the future until she threw something about paying for water in there all of a sudden.
I am so disappointed because I was loving this book for a good bit of it. Why'd ya do me this way, Gabs?
OH MAN, am I ever frustrated! I devoured the first 3/4 of this book and then....SCREECH. WTF? Things fell apart for me very quickly after good 'ole granny died. The writing felt watered down, the scenerios were ridiculous. REALLY? The DA was only bothered that Win was shot because it got out in the media? Everything felt rushed. And another thing. I think with "dystopian" lit, you've either got to go balls to the wall, or don't do it at all. The cover of this book mistakingly makes you think it's dystopian. That should have been a major part...it took a huge backseat, and wasn't fleshed out enough. I often forgot it was supposed to be in the future until she threw something about paying for water in there all of a sudden.
I am so disappointed because I was loving this book for a good bit of it. Why'd ya do me this way, Gabs?
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this one. It was memorable enough that even though I stopped reading it for a couple weeks during the holidays, I was able to pick it right back up again and remember everything I had already read.
The narrative was different and fun, and I really liked the main character. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
The narrative was different and fun, and I really liked the main character. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.