Scan barcode
booagnes's review against another edition
2.0
So what to say about Bumped? Hmm. Well, I wanted to like this more than I did. I wish that weren't true, but there you have it. I read the first thirty pages or so and simply couldn't get into it, so I set it down for a bit. It took me another week or so to pick it back up and finally plow through it. Am I glad I picked it up again? I'm not quite sure.
The biggest problem I had with this novel was that the future-speak was definitely difficult to get used to. The crude language was also too much and it made it difficult for me to fully appreciate the message behind the story. The lingo saturated very page so much that I quickly tired of it and started skipping sections. Thankfully, it seemed as though the author took pity on the reader and refrained from using too much lingo once the second part started. I was aware this novel was a satire/dystopia going into it, but I'm not so sure it really worked for me. Apparently our twin narrators were born in 2020 - which is not that far away - and I had a real hard time believing our world could turn into theirs in such a short period of time. Maybe if the author had set the story in an unidentified time in the future, it would have worked better for me. At the beginning of the book, there is a letter from the author explaining her inspiration and that this particular novel is expressed by using extreme viewpoints. As I read, I had to keep reminding myself that the philosophies and characters were supposed to be extreme; the content was that shocking.
In my opinion, the characters were not very likeable. Well, at least not at first. The adults were terrible and quite creepy and horrifying at times. All the teenagers in this world seemed shallow & ridiculously air-headed - none of them seemed to have have an individual thought or substance to them. I must admit that I found Zen to be more real than any character in the entire story. I thought he was funny and I found myself wishing he was in the book more. I did end up liking the "pro-bump" Otherside twin, Melody, much more than the super-religious Goodside twin, Harmony. I started the book liking Harmony more because she was sweet and seemed to have a good heart. However, she quickly grew annoying and none of her actions made any sense to me once she met Jondoe. I really began to gain some respect for Melody as the book went on because she started to stand up for herself and realize that she is not okay with the life of "pregging for profit." She was strong, intelligent and I quite liked her by the end.
Near the end, Bumped seemed to finally capture my attention. I had the lingo down finally and things were getting interesting... and then the book just stopped. That's really the best way I can think of describing it; it seemed as though the story ended mid-thought just when it was finally getting started. Apparently there is going to be a sequel, but that still doesn't explain why the story finished so abruptly. Will I read the sequel? If it somehow falls into my hands, why not? I'm not going to be adding this book to my own collection, but I can see how there are those who may enjoy it. It was entertaining and funny in a this-is-so-bizarre-but-I-can't-stop kind of way. It's also an easy read with a thoughtful message: think for yourself, make your own trends and don't let anyone dictate your future for you. But what would happen if only our teenagers were able to procreate? What would we do? Would it be right to ask our teen girls to become surrogates? Would we look for another option? Though it wasn't my cup of tea, Bumped did leave me thinking about it for hours afterward - the whole idea was interesting, sickening and absolutely scared me to death. (Received ebook ARC from Netgalley)
The biggest problem I had with this novel was that the future-speak was definitely difficult to get used to. The crude language was also too much and it made it difficult for me to fully appreciate the message behind the story. The lingo saturated very page so much that I quickly tired of it and started skipping sections. Thankfully, it seemed as though the author took pity on the reader and refrained from using too much lingo once the second part started. I was aware this novel was a satire/dystopia going into it, but I'm not so sure it really worked for me. Apparently our twin narrators were born in 2020 - which is not that far away - and I had a real hard time believing our world could turn into theirs in such a short period of time. Maybe if the author had set the story in an unidentified time in the future, it would have worked better for me. At the beginning of the book, there is a letter from the author explaining her inspiration and that this particular novel is expressed by using extreme viewpoints. As I read, I had to keep reminding myself that the philosophies and characters were supposed to be extreme; the content was that shocking.
In my opinion, the characters were not very likeable. Well, at least not at first. The adults were terrible and quite creepy and horrifying at times. All the teenagers in this world seemed shallow & ridiculously air-headed - none of them seemed to have have an individual thought or substance to them. I must admit that I found Zen to be more real than any character in the entire story. I thought he was funny and I found myself wishing he was in the book more. I did end up liking the "pro-bump" Otherside twin, Melody, much more than the super-religious Goodside twin, Harmony. I started the book liking Harmony more because she was sweet and seemed to have a good heart. However, she quickly grew annoying and none of her actions made any sense to me once she met Jondoe. I really began to gain some respect for Melody as the book went on because she started to stand up for herself and realize that she is not okay with the life of "pregging for profit." She was strong, intelligent and I quite liked her by the end.
Near the end, Bumped seemed to finally capture my attention. I had the lingo down finally and things were getting interesting... and then the book just stopped. That's really the best way I can think of describing it; it seemed as though the story ended mid-thought just when it was finally getting started. Apparently there is going to be a sequel, but that still doesn't explain why the story finished so abruptly. Will I read the sequel? If it somehow falls into my hands, why not? I'm not going to be adding this book to my own collection, but I can see how there are those who may enjoy it. It was entertaining and funny in a this-is-so-bizarre-but-I-can't-stop kind of way. It's also an easy read with a thoughtful message: think for yourself, make your own trends and don't let anyone dictate your future for you. But what would happen if only our teenagers were able to procreate? What would we do? Would it be right to ask our teen girls to become surrogates? Would we look for another option? Though it wasn't my cup of tea, Bumped did leave me thinking about it for hours afterward - the whole idea was interesting, sickening and absolutely scared me to death. (Received ebook ARC from Netgalley)
colby_law's review
5.0
Bad. Oh so very bad… but the most entertaining book I’ve read
My jaw was on the floor the whole entire time
This book is… jarring to say the least but you gotta keep reading to see what absolutely unhinged thing is said next
The terminology in this book is ridiculous. And if you think that the “pregging” or “bumping” is not talking about actual sex dealing only with minors, then I’m sorry to tell you that you are mistaken
I’m never going to stop talking about this book and making my friends read it just to get them to experience the absurdity with me.
I think I have to get book 2 now…
My jaw was on the floor the whole entire time
This book is… jarring to say the least but you gotta keep reading to see what absolutely unhinged thing is said next
The terminology in this book is ridiculous. And if you think that the “pregging” or “bumping” is not talking about actual sex dealing only with minors, then I’m sorry to tell you that you are mistaken
I’m never going to stop talking about this book and making my friends read it just to get them to experience the absurdity with me.
I think I have to get book 2 now…
lisaar91's review
3.0
I liked this book, I didn't love it and I certainly didn't hate it. I love the new craze with dystopian future books, and the premise of this book, that only teenagers are fertile, really excited me. However the book didn't live up to expectations for me. Also some of the language they used was really annoying! I'm unsure if I'll read the next book.
shhchar's review
3.0
This book was set in a dystopian future, where adults are not able to conceive children. So instead, they pay teenagers to 'pregg' for them and then give them the child. This book follows Melody and Harmony, two identical twins as they are taken on a journey that teaches them right from wrong.
I was really excited for this book, and I very much had high expectations. While those expectations were met, they were not exceeded. This book was very average if you take away the very creative and different world they lived in.
My main issue with this whole book was Harmony. Harmony was so naive, and I guess I just hate naivety. But it wasn't just that. It was the fact that I had to listen to her. The chapters alternated POV between the twins, and when it got to Harmony's chapters, I could barely stand it. Before you even get to know Harmony she's getting in trouble that greatly betrays other characters, and that set me off on a sour note with her. I was also not aware going in that it would be so religious. Let me just warn anyone going in now, it is very, very religious. Harmony is a strong Church-girl, and that's all she ever talks about. I am not against religion at ALL, but I don't read YA books to hear about it. I guess I just really wasn't expecting it and it hit me in the face hard.
Although, on the other hand, I loved Melody. I thought she was a great protagonist and one that could be admired. Although in the beginning she is slightly naive as well, she really discovers herself by the end and develops a whole lot. I also loved Zen! Him and Melody make a great duo.
As for the writing, it wasn't amazing. The plot had good intentions, but the ending wasn't very strong and left me slightly unsatisfied. There is a sequel that I will read, just for the sake of Melody and Zen. It's funny how much you can't stand a character but how much you can love some other ones! I recommend this book to fans of dystopian, (you won't be disappointed) romance and coming-of-realization.
I was really excited for this book, and I very much had high expectations. While those expectations were met, they were not exceeded. This book was very average if you take away the very creative and different world they lived in.
My main issue with this whole book was Harmony. Harmony was so naive, and I guess I just hate naivety. But it wasn't just that. It was the fact that I had to listen to her. The chapters alternated POV between the twins, and when it got to Harmony's chapters, I could barely stand it. Before you even get to know Harmony she's getting in trouble that greatly betrays other characters, and that set me off on a sour note with her. I was also not aware going in that it would be so religious. Let me just warn anyone going in now, it is very, very religious. Harmony is a strong Church-girl, and that's all she ever talks about. I am not against religion at ALL, but I don't read YA books to hear about it. I guess I just really wasn't expecting it and it hit me in the face hard.
Although, on the other hand, I loved Melody. I thought she was a great protagonist and one that could be admired. Although in the beginning she is slightly naive as well, she really discovers herself by the end and develops a whole lot. I also loved Zen! Him and Melody make a great duo.
As for the writing, it wasn't amazing. The plot had good intentions, but the ending wasn't very strong and left me slightly unsatisfied. There is a sequel that I will read, just for the sake of Melody and Zen. It's funny how much you can't stand a character but how much you can love some other ones! I recommend this book to fans of dystopian, (you won't be disappointed) romance and coming-of-realization.
Spoiler
This is a small random point, but hear me out for a second. There is a point where Harmony talks about Ram's sins. And when she did she made a comment about how they were a lot worse than her own, because he was more interested in guys than girls. That just set me off, because I am a LGBT supporter, and I felt like the author came off like she was saying it was a lot worse than running away from your husband, stealing your sister's identity, and having sex before you even know it. If you've read the book, please tell me your opinion. I might just be overreacting.stephxsu's review
4.0
Megan McCafferty is the author of the Jessica Darling books, hands-down my all-time favorite contemporary series. The dystopian novel BUMPED is a huge departure from her legacy, but if you tone down your instinctual desire to compare it to the Jessica Darling books, it is a fantastically complex story that will provide fodder for thought for multiple rereads.
BUMPED is an example of a dystopian society that is so fully realized and self-sustaining that it becomes very difficult for us outsiders to access. I spent a significant portion of the first half of BUMPED trying to figure out the “rules” of Harmony and Melody’s world, chock-full of futuristic terms, attitudes, and daily routines that seem extremely alien to us.
This may make BUMPED feel like a tryingly slow-moving novel, but once you get into their society’s groove, you quickly realize just how much Megan McCafferty has accomplished. If our currently label-preoccupied, materialistic, and consumeristic society were indeed to suffer from a mysterious virus that makes all adults infertile, you can bet that the resulting society would be almost exactly the one McCafferty has created here. All of the new vocabulary that Harmony and Melody use effortlessly can be traced back to our current world, so that once you’re successfully immersed in the story, you really get it.
At first both sisters came off as a bit flat and indistinguishable for me, but as the story went on they blossomed into uniquely complex individuals that I found myself really rooting for. Melody seems like she’s got everything figured out and going for her, albeit in a rather boring way. The deterioration of her perfect life forces her to finally confront herself with what she really wants, rather than what she was brought up to want. Harmony starts off as an irritatingly preachy girl, but as she becomes further entangled in Melody’s world, and deals with emotional turmoil of her own, I found myself liking her more and more for her determination to do right and stay true to herself in a manipulative world that she does not quite understand.
Supporting characters like Melody’s pregnancy club friends, Melody’s charming best friend Zen, and Jondoe, the star stud whose sperm is in high demand, all have a delightful roundedness to them—roundedness that does not mean they are perfectly bland characters, but instead have the ability to fight for what they want, even if we may not necessarily agree with what they want.
BUMPED is a layered book that will be good for multiple rereads, as each successive reread reveals a new layer of characterization, wordplay, and world-building that you may have noticed in passing in the first read-through but become really impressed by only in subsequent rereads. This, I think, is Megan McCafferty’s ultimate gift as an author: she has a fierce talent for and dedication to writing books that can be enjoyed at multiple levels, good for a permanent fixture on your reread shelf. Avid lovers of her Jessica Darling books, such as myself, will, I think, appreciate that the most about her first foray outside of Jessica’s well-known world, and as a result I’m really looking forward to the sequel and whatever Megan has to share with us next.
BUMPED is an example of a dystopian society that is so fully realized and self-sustaining that it becomes very difficult for us outsiders to access. I spent a significant portion of the first half of BUMPED trying to figure out the “rules” of Harmony and Melody’s world, chock-full of futuristic terms, attitudes, and daily routines that seem extremely alien to us.
This may make BUMPED feel like a tryingly slow-moving novel, but once you get into their society’s groove, you quickly realize just how much Megan McCafferty has accomplished. If our currently label-preoccupied, materialistic, and consumeristic society were indeed to suffer from a mysterious virus that makes all adults infertile, you can bet that the resulting society would be almost exactly the one McCafferty has created here. All of the new vocabulary that Harmony and Melody use effortlessly can be traced back to our current world, so that once you’re successfully immersed in the story, you really get it.
At first both sisters came off as a bit flat and indistinguishable for me, but as the story went on they blossomed into uniquely complex individuals that I found myself really rooting for. Melody seems like she’s got everything figured out and going for her, albeit in a rather boring way. The deterioration of her perfect life forces her to finally confront herself with what she really wants, rather than what she was brought up to want. Harmony starts off as an irritatingly preachy girl, but as she becomes further entangled in Melody’s world, and deals with emotional turmoil of her own, I found myself liking her more and more for her determination to do right and stay true to herself in a manipulative world that she does not quite understand.
Supporting characters like Melody’s pregnancy club friends, Melody’s charming best friend Zen, and Jondoe, the star stud whose sperm is in high demand, all have a delightful roundedness to them—roundedness that does not mean they are perfectly bland characters, but instead have the ability to fight for what they want, even if we may not necessarily agree with what they want.
BUMPED is a layered book that will be good for multiple rereads, as each successive reread reveals a new layer of characterization, wordplay, and world-building that you may have noticed in passing in the first read-through but become really impressed by only in subsequent rereads. This, I think, is Megan McCafferty’s ultimate gift as an author: she has a fierce talent for and dedication to writing books that can be enjoyed at multiple levels, good for a permanent fixture on your reread shelf. Avid lovers of her Jessica Darling books, such as myself, will, I think, appreciate that the most about her first foray outside of Jessica’s well-known world, and as a result I’m really looking forward to the sequel and whatever Megan has to share with us next.
mandey1's review
3.0
It was a good book, subject matter was not a favorite. There was some misinterpreted scripture use.
4saradouglas's review
3.0
This was an odd book. It was written for teens, but it had so much pregnancy lingo in it that I felt like you would be lost if you hadn't been pregnant before. The whole beginning of the book was confusing because you are thrown into a futuristic world where everything is different and everyone is using slang and absolutely nothing is explained to you. It did grow on me, though. There were some great funny parts and the characters were fun. Doubt if I'll check out the sequel though.
deborahharroun's review
2.0
I'm going to go against the popular vote here, but this book made me very uncomfortable. I knew the premise of the book going into it, but what I didn't expect was a YA book that talked about sex so frivolously. I can kind of understand it, under the context of the book, but if I had a teenage daughter, there is no way she would be reading this. There were several words in it that were definitely not for the teenage audience, either. About a third of the way into it, I wanted to put it away, but against better judgement, I finished it. Not my favorite, and I definitely won't be reading the next in the series!
minas_elessar's review
1.0
Didn't like the characters. Didn't like the plot. Didn't like the annoying slang words that were so, so trashy and ridiculous. I barely managed to finish reading it. I was intrigued by the description, but it wasn't what i had hoped for.