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lmkanne96's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fine dystopian for middle grades. The concept was interesting and it did keep my attention. Some small editing mistakes were noticed. It also went down a path that I didn’t particularly find interesting at the end.
If you’re looking for a read that is very evident it’s dystopian, this is a quick one. Not sure if I’ll read the rest of the trilogy.
If you’re looking for a read that is very evident it’s dystopian, this is a quick one. Not sure if I’ll read the rest of the trilogy.
a_strix_named_strix's review against another edition
1.0
This book is absurd, but it takes itself far too seriously. It's a bar code tattoo. Oooh, so rebellious to not get it. There was potential for good commentary. There wasn't anything. Window dressing dystopian society of GlobalOne is boring. There are no good teen girls besides Kayla.
I hate boredom in reading more than I hate reading a truly awful dumpster fire. This was somehow boring.
Kayla is stupid. She makes stupid decisions. She doesn't make decisions that make sense given what she knows. She is bland.
Zekeal (or however you spell it, I can’t be bothered to check right now) is as bland as they come, yet Kayla actually listens to his BS at one point instead of callimg him out.
Amber is just obnoxious. I have no idea why her and Kayla are friends, given how Amber treats Kayla like trash.
Also, the
And don't even get me started on LI2. He is blander than oatmeal. All I know is Kayla loves him, he didn't get into Yale because no tattoo, and he's anti-tattoo.
I hate boredom in reading more than I hate reading a truly awful dumpster fire. This was somehow boring.
Kayla is stupid. She makes stupid decisions. She doesn't make decisions that make sense given what she knows. She is bland.
Zekeal (or however you spell it, I can’t be bothered to check right now) is as bland as they come, yet Kayla actually listens to his BS at one point instead of callimg him out.
Spoiler
He's a known TRAITOR! STOP GIVING HIM, OR AMBER, OR RANDOM PEOPLE WHEN YOU KNOW THERE ARE SPIES AFOOT YOUR NAME AND INFO!Amber is just obnoxious. I have no idea why her and Kayla are friends, given how Amber treats Kayla like trash.
Also, the
Spoiler
psychic powers are stupid! Why are there psychic powers in a dystopian about conformity and data access??????!?!?!111!1! Why? Why?And don't even get me started on LI2. He is blander than oatmeal. All I know is Kayla loves him, he didn't get into Yale because no tattoo, and he's anti-tattoo.
smateer73's review against another edition
2.0
This book was pretty disappointing to be honest. I’d heard about it for a while, and after hearing it compared to Scott Westerfield's Uglies, I have been wanting to read it. Instead of a great dystopian novel with great characters and an exciting plot, it was a halfhearted romance, psychic evolution crap book. The plot "twists" were pretty foreseeable, and the whole ending was just wack with the mind talking and whatnot. The writing style moved so quickly from one event to another, it was impossible to really get into the action and process what was going on before "three weeks" or whatever had already passed. The idea is an interesting one, and does make you think about the direction we’re headed in, but it was not executed well. The characters all fell short and felt like they had no character development.
29dicksonh7171's review against another edition
4.0
IT was really good try it out you would really like it
jennrocca's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh. I'm not the target audience for this book so I don't like leaving bad reviews for books not intended for me. The writing, however, was terrible. One of Pixar's 22 rules of storytelling says, "Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating." This book was cheating.
My 13-year-old son liked it, however, and was eager to discuss it. That's why it read it. If he liked it then it served a purpose, even if I didn't enjoy reading it.
My 13-year-old son liked it, however, and was eager to discuss it. That's why it read it. If he liked it then it served a purpose, even if I didn't enjoy reading it.
sophieb2315's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I loved the whole idea and creativeness about having a bar code rationed onto your arm!! I loved how they made it bad, twisting the plot around, and having the main character being hunted!
rjdenney's review against another edition
2.0
The concept of bar code tattoos fucking up our world was great, but
it was overshadowed by a shitty love triangle and a weak protagonist.
it was overshadowed by a shitty love triangle and a weak protagonist.
averisimilartale's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t enjoy reading this book.
As a dystopian book, bad things are almost always expected to happen to the main character—it’s what spurs them into action to defeat the evil government that’s taken over. So many bad things happen to the main character in this book. Her dad died by suicide. Her mother burned to death. She loses her house and her life. The nice elderly couple who rescued her died. Her first boyfriend turned out to be a spy.
Maybe it was the lack of emotions overall that bothered me. I was told that Kayla was sad, but then she seemed to move on rather quickly. And her happiness was also told. She fell in love with two guys during the book, but the relationships were one-dimensional and felt super forced. So overall, the book was horrible thing happening after the next, the tone hopeless. Not enjoyable.
Also, during the first few days of Kayla reaching the final resistance hideaway, she EMAILS HER FRIEND (who doesn’t play hardly any role in the book at this point). And then they have to call a meeting saying that their headquarters are now compromised because of said email. It made me really dislike the main character.
And that ending with the “I’m like a bird, I only fly away” song lyric? I couldn’t take it seriously.
I would’ve DNF’d this book 50 pages in if I hadn’t been reading it for a reading challenge.
As a dystopian book, bad things are almost always expected to happen to the main character—it’s what spurs them into action to defeat the evil government that’s taken over. So many bad things happen to the main character in this book. Her dad died by suicide. Her mother burned to death. She loses her house and her life. The nice elderly couple who rescued her died. Her first boyfriend turned out to be a spy.
Maybe it was the lack of emotions overall that bothered me. I was told that Kayla was sad, but then she seemed to move on rather quickly. And her happiness was also told. She fell in love with two guys during the book, but the relationships were one-dimensional and felt super forced. So overall, the book was horrible thing happening after the next, the tone hopeless. Not enjoyable.
Also, during the first few days of Kayla reaching the final resistance hideaway, she EMAILS HER FRIEND (who doesn’t play hardly any role in the book at this point). And then they have to call a meeting saying that their headquarters are now compromised because of said email. It made me really dislike the main character.
And that ending with the “I’m like a bird, I only fly away” song lyric? I couldn’t take it seriously.
I would’ve DNF’d this book 50 pages in if I hadn’t been reading it for a reading challenge.
charms1976's review against another edition
3.0
After reading the summary on the back of this book, I was intrigued. It seemed to me like it could be a cool new read in the Young Adult genre.
In the future, everyone is getting the new Bar Code Tattoo. Every bit of information in your life is recorded in that tattoo. Some believe this to be a good thing, while others are not on board with it. With the hints of deception and suspense, I was excited to start this series. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I was expecting. The plot and story wasn't bad, but I think it is a better series for the younger adults then the older ones. Adults who like to read young adult books might find this book just a little too "young adult" and not enjoy it as much.
There were some high points in the book though that kept me interested enough to finish the read. I liked finding out the secrets and such through Kayla's eyes. The author did write at a great pace and has a unique writing style. Again, it just felt as if it was too young for mature readers.
In the future, everyone is getting the new Bar Code Tattoo. Every bit of information in your life is recorded in that tattoo. Some believe this to be a good thing, while others are not on board with it. With the hints of deception and suspense, I was excited to start this series. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I was expecting. The plot and story wasn't bad, but I think it is a better series for the younger adults then the older ones. Adults who like to read young adult books might find this book just a little too "young adult" and not enjoy it as much.
There were some high points in the book though that kept me interested enough to finish the read. I liked finding out the secrets and such through Kayla's eyes. The author did write at a great pace and has a unique writing style. Again, it just felt as if it was too young for mature readers.
cburgbennett's review against another edition
3.0
The bar code tattoo is a disturbing idea. Overall the book was interesting, but didn't have the strongest writing.