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alanaleigh's review
4.0
In the midst of all the dystopian novels that are out these days, Megan McCafferty's Bumped separates itself from the pack with an amusing blend of quirky humor and a world that is frightening not only in its differences from our current world, but in its hyper-intensified take on the familiar.
Let's start with the changes: a virus that seems to affect almost the entire world population has resulted in fertility taking such a nose-dive that most adults are sterile by 18 or 20 -- which means the baby-making has to happen early or not at all. In response, religious groups pretty much marry girls off as early as possible, but the rest of the world is starting to warm up to a different, more capitalist approach: pregging for profit. Teens themselves might not be ready to be a parent and raise a baby, but they COULD offer it for adoption... and a cash incentive from potential adoptive parents (or, say, the prospect of a free ride to college and a car) means that more and more girls are looking to get "bumped" early on.
Now let's shift to the eerily familiar -- though technically we started on "eerily familiar" when we introduced the capitalist greed element. Technology has made leaps in communication avenues (there exists an online system of communication called MiNet accessible via contact lenses where blinking cues control the program). Parents push their daughters into the idea of pregging for profit (the same way they already push extracurriculars, except now pregging is in addition to those sports teams and orchestra performances). Oh, and high school is still a cliqueish hell on earth, but that's kind of an "always has been, always will be" thing.
Melody's parents are economics professors, who long foretold of the day when a teenage girl's fertility would be the most valuable thing on earth. So Melody, herself an adopted child, was raised with the knowledge that she, too, would join the ranks of pregnant teens -- but she would do it as a professional (Reproductive Professionals are know as RePros). The first in her school with an agent and a contract to preg for a wealthy couple, Melody made professional pregging a widely accepted option at her school -- to the point where the professionals and the amateurs actually experience some tension. Melody, meanwhile, may have started the debate but can't really enjoy full participation in the argument... as she isn't pregnant. Her wealthy couple is dithering on male gene choices, so Melody is stuck with her own nerves about them wasting her valuable time to get bumped before the virus renders her sterile... and that's on top of the general nerves that accompany bumping at all. Her super pregnant best friend is slightly useless for all this stress, which would normally send Melody to her other best friend, a guy, but things have started to get slightly weird between them and Melody's not sure what to do with that, either.
Now, let's switch to Harmony. You see, Melody and Harmony are identical twins, separated at birth. Harmony was adopted in to a cult/commune religious community and it appears that when she learned about her twin, she simply went forth to try and convert her sister to the path of righteousness... but it's quickly apparent that Harmony is not quite as simple as all that might suggest. In fact, it appears as though she fled her beloved community in order to find her sister and very little proselytizing is going on, though Harmony does spend a lot of time marveling at the society and technological advances. Melody is slightly appalled at Harmony's presence, because it devalues her own stock on the RePro market if there's another person out there offering the exact same genetic material. Plus, to have one's long-lost twin show up on one's doorstep is not exactly normal. Inevitably, the fact that they are identical twins leads to all kinds of mix-ups and confusions, particularly when Melody is offered the chance to bump with the world-famous Jondoe... but Harmony is the one he finds waiting at Melody's house.
This may be a lot of information to take (indeed, the first 20% of the book has a rather steep learning curve as you dive in), but if you can handle a complicated world (and a WHOLE LOT of new vocabulary and slang), then you'll find that Bumped is shockingly deep in its assessment of the issues that arise from this world. McCafferty somehow strikes a fantastic balance between light-hearted humor and intense philosophical thought when it comes to the choices teens make. And that's not just limited to her world, either. The question of when to have sex and with whom and for what reasons. The idea of doing something because society (including one's parent) says it's the right thing to do, even when you're not sure it's the right decision for you. What to do when faced with unspeakable heartbreak and tremendously difficult decisions. Pretty deep for a YA novel that's core premise involves having sex and getting pregnant. Given that premise, parents may not think this a book for very young teens, but it's also not explicit or graphic, so I wouldn't really worry about it too much. Besides, it might even remind girls that sex is a complicated subject and shouldn't be something they rush in to without thinking of the consequences, both physical and emotional.
While you might grow a bit weary of the slang that the book creates (and you might have to keep reminding yourself exactly which twin is which), you'll also find yourself seriously thinking about the plot of this book (and the shocking cliff-hanger of an ending) for a long time after you set it down. Bumped is funny and thoughtful -- a combination that will keep you devouring page after page, desperate to know what decisions Harmony and Melody will make as their lives get even more tangled up. Now we only need to wait and see what interesting issues will arise in the sequel, Thumped, because even if certain plot points will be obvious, I would bet that McCafferty still has some surprising and fascinating things up her sleeve.
Full disclosure: this book indirectly factors in to my professional life. This is a personal review, but feel free to let that info factor in to what you make of this review.
Let's start with the changes: a virus that seems to affect almost the entire world population has resulted in fertility taking such a nose-dive that most adults are sterile by 18 or 20 -- which means the baby-making has to happen early or not at all. In response, religious groups pretty much marry girls off as early as possible, but the rest of the world is starting to warm up to a different, more capitalist approach: pregging for profit. Teens themselves might not be ready to be a parent and raise a baby, but they COULD offer it for adoption... and a cash incentive from potential adoptive parents (or, say, the prospect of a free ride to college and a car) means that more and more girls are looking to get "bumped" early on.
Now let's shift to the eerily familiar -- though technically we started on "eerily familiar" when we introduced the capitalist greed element. Technology has made leaps in communication avenues (there exists an online system of communication called MiNet accessible via contact lenses where blinking cues control the program). Parents push their daughters into the idea of pregging for profit (the same way they already push extracurriculars, except now pregging is in addition to those sports teams and orchestra performances). Oh, and high school is still a cliqueish hell on earth, but that's kind of an "always has been, always will be" thing.
Melody's parents are economics professors, who long foretold of the day when a teenage girl's fertility would be the most valuable thing on earth. So Melody, herself an adopted child, was raised with the knowledge that she, too, would join the ranks of pregnant teens -- but she would do it as a professional (Reproductive Professionals are know as RePros). The first in her school with an agent and a contract to preg for a wealthy couple, Melody made professional pregging a widely accepted option at her school -- to the point where the professionals and the amateurs actually experience some tension. Melody, meanwhile, may have started the debate but can't really enjoy full participation in the argument... as she isn't pregnant. Her wealthy couple is dithering on male gene choices, so Melody is stuck with her own nerves about them wasting her valuable time to get bumped before the virus renders her sterile... and that's on top of the general nerves that accompany bumping at all. Her super pregnant best friend is slightly useless for all this stress, which would normally send Melody to her other best friend, a guy, but things have started to get slightly weird between them and Melody's not sure what to do with that, either.
Now, let's switch to Harmony. You see, Melody and Harmony are identical twins, separated at birth. Harmony was adopted in to a cult/commune religious community and it appears that when she learned about her twin, she simply went forth to try and convert her sister to the path of righteousness... but it's quickly apparent that Harmony is not quite as simple as all that might suggest. In fact, it appears as though she fled her beloved community in order to find her sister and very little proselytizing is going on, though Harmony does spend a lot of time marveling at the society and technological advances. Melody is slightly appalled at Harmony's presence, because it devalues her own stock on the RePro market if there's another person out there offering the exact same genetic material. Plus, to have one's long-lost twin show up on one's doorstep is not exactly normal. Inevitably, the fact that they are identical twins leads to all kinds of mix-ups and confusions, particularly when Melody is offered the chance to bump with the world-famous Jondoe... but Harmony is the one he finds waiting at Melody's house.
This may be a lot of information to take (indeed, the first 20% of the book has a rather steep learning curve as you dive in), but if you can handle a complicated world (and a WHOLE LOT of new vocabulary and slang), then you'll find that Bumped is shockingly deep in its assessment of the issues that arise from this world. McCafferty somehow strikes a fantastic balance between light-hearted humor and intense philosophical thought when it comes to the choices teens make. And that's not just limited to her world, either. The question of when to have sex and with whom and for what reasons. The idea of doing something because society (including one's parent) says it's the right thing to do, even when you're not sure it's the right decision for you. What to do when faced with unspeakable heartbreak and tremendously difficult decisions. Pretty deep for a YA novel that's core premise involves having sex and getting pregnant. Given that premise, parents may not think this a book for very young teens, but it's also not explicit or graphic, so I wouldn't really worry about it too much. Besides, it might even remind girls that sex is a complicated subject and shouldn't be something they rush in to without thinking of the consequences, both physical and emotional.
While you might grow a bit weary of the slang that the book creates (and you might have to keep reminding yourself exactly which twin is which), you'll also find yourself seriously thinking about the plot of this book (and the shocking cliff-hanger of an ending) for a long time after you set it down. Bumped is funny and thoughtful -- a combination that will keep you devouring page after page, desperate to know what decisions Harmony and Melody will make as their lives get even more tangled up. Now we only need to wait and see what interesting issues will arise in the sequel, Thumped, because even if certain plot points will be obvious, I would bet that McCafferty still has some surprising and fascinating things up her sleeve.
Full disclosure: this book indirectly factors in to my professional life. This is a personal review, but feel free to let that info factor in to what you make of this review.
jodi_ice's review
5.0
Just finished this refreshing post-apocalyptic style novel and cannot wait until I can get hold of the sequel - Thumped.
In a world where the majority of adults are rendered infertile by a virus that has swept the world, teenagers are being paid and being given major contracts from infertile couples to 'bump' and 'pregg' on their behalf, producing for them the child they cannot have. As soon as a teen is able to, parents and society convinces them that to 'pregg' is the best thing they could do as many times as they can before the virus catches them in early adulthood (18-early 20's) and makes them infertile, perpetuating the cycle. These teens are taught that they are the most important people on earth.
Many teens go 'pro' and get college scholarships, tummy tucks, and cars -amongst other prizes- for their 'pregg'. Others go amateur and just 'bump' with boyfriends and try to get the best deal once the baby arrives.
Melody is a pro. She was the first in her school to sign a large contract - but she's still awaiting her sperm. The couple who want her are being rather slow in deciding who she should bump with, which is rather eating into the time she has left to 'pregg'.
One day a twin sister Harmony turns up on her doorstep. Separated at birth Harmony was placed into the church with a set of parents who raised her to have God. She has arrived to save Melody once she found out what her sister was up to. By leaving the church compound she has broken rules. Is there more to her leaving than meets the eye?
In a world where the majority of adults are rendered infertile by a virus that has swept the world, teenagers are being paid and being given major contracts from infertile couples to 'bump' and 'pregg' on their behalf, producing for them the child they cannot have. As soon as a teen is able to, parents and society convinces them that to 'pregg' is the best thing they could do as many times as they can before the virus catches them in early adulthood (18-early 20's) and makes them infertile, perpetuating the cycle. These teens are taught that they are the most important people on earth.
Many teens go 'pro' and get college scholarships, tummy tucks, and cars -amongst other prizes- for their 'pregg'. Others go amateur and just 'bump' with boyfriends and try to get the best deal once the baby arrives.
Melody is a pro. She was the first in her school to sign a large contract - but she's still awaiting her sperm. The couple who want her are being rather slow in deciding who she should bump with, which is rather eating into the time she has left to 'pregg'.
One day a twin sister Harmony turns up on her doorstep. Separated at birth Harmony was placed into the church with a set of parents who raised her to have God. She has arrived to save Melody once she found out what her sister was up to. By leaving the church compound she has broken rules. Is there more to her leaving than meets the eye?
kaylawhite17's review
4.0
I need to write reviews right when I finish the book. ;) But overall I liked this book. I didn't appreciate the religious side of things. Especially because the religion was confusing as to what they believed. I also found it strange the religious twin (I can't remember which twin is which) saw a picture of a man and immediately had to have it. For someone who was taught to control themselves and spent years that way I found it so strange she gave her goods up to him so quickly. I also hate how quickly she fell in love with him. I hate love at first sight kind of relationships. The other twin I really really loved! She felt more real to me. I enjoyed reading her side and often was annoyed when I had to read the other twins perspective. I also loved the love story between her and her best friend! Over all it was a pleasant read that kept me wanting to read more! :)
cadyly's review
4.0
Some of the slang took a bit to figure out, which was probably the biggest downside to this book. Overall, it was interesting. It explores, albeit rather superficially, issues surrounding monogamy, fertility, human trafficking, surrogacy, and religion. Religion is shown as being as off-the-deep-end on one extreme as the bumping-for-profit side is on the other extreme. The book hints that morality lies somewhere in the middle, with people's ability to choose their own destiny being key.
None of the sides were particularly demonized and you could see reasons for each characters choices.
It was interesting, yet rather fluffy. Personally, I would prefer a book dealing with these issues to be a little more serious and really get into the issues at hand, but at least some problems are brought to light, if not as many as perhaps should be. I was especially glad to see the insertion of the character Malia, as she provided a necessary point-of-view. It would also have been helpful to see a Church family that was successful, and not snidely uncharitable and controlling, as everyone who had interaction with Harmony was.
None of the sides were particularly demonized and you could see reasons for each characters choices.
It was interesting, yet rather fluffy. Personally, I would prefer a book dealing with these issues to be a little more serious and really get into the issues at hand, but at least some problems are brought to light, if not as many as perhaps should be. I was especially glad to see the insertion of the character Malia, as she provided a necessary point-of-view. It would also have been helpful to see a Church family that was successful, and not snidely uncharitable and controlling, as everyone who had interaction with Harmony was.
jeslyncat's review
3.0
I'm going to be honest, this book wasn't what I expected. I love Megan McCafferty. And maybe I have been spoiled by the wit and underlying intelligence that is Jessica Darling, but I felt this book was a level-below the demographic is was written for and about. I hope the second one is better.
leilakrzyzewski's review
4.0
Books cannot get you pregnant. Some people should know this before they read this book.
kmriley36's review
3.0
the book was a bit confusing on terms of life until there was a clarity moment
bluestjuice's review
2.0
God, where to begin.
So, in the first place, the premise of this book is very interesting. It's dystopian with a heavily reproductive slant, drawing on classics like Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. It's a distinctly dark and problematic world, touching on issues like exploitation, religious fanaticism, commodification, societal views on breeding and sex and potential disconnects between them, and even (very very briefly, which is a problem in a book so profoundly burdened with heteronormativity) homosexuality. There are glimpses of excellent social commentary here and there, and some of the vignettes, such as the approach of a salesperson at the baby superstore, are spot-on.
The real problem here is that it's written as teen fiction, and it shows. The first twenty pages were almost unreadable due to being unnecessarily glutted with jargon, and while this sort of world-building vocabulary is to be expected in a book of this sort, it could have used a heavy-handed editor to weed it down to just the most relevant vernacular. Similarly, the dialogue as well as the writing style have an over-the-top 'youthful' slant which might be appealing to young readers (I don't know, though I probably wouldn't have liked it in my adolescence either), but is distracting to me. Moreover, the plot is nothing incredible or innovative - if you peel away the distinctive world building, the basic framework of the story is a contrived twin swapping sort of tale that can be seen a mile away and has been done better, combined with some typical 'teenager experiences a change of heart and makes herself a new life path' stuff, a couple of uninspiring teen romances, and some between-girls drama that is only interesting in the slightest when it attaches itself to the larger questions of consent and ethics in culture-sanctioned underaged breeding programs. Even the darkest, most wrenching elements of the story read like thirteen-year-olds trying too hard to be edgy, but they don't pack much emotional depth and they skip across the surface of all the awful possibilities and implications they provoke.
The ending itself is pretty unsatisfactory (one romance is more-or-less resolved, one is left hanging, and it sets up a dramatic premise for the action of the sequel), and doesn't address any questions larger than the ones inside our various characters' heads. If there is going to be a reevaluation of any of the cultures presented or a challenge to the powers-that-be, it's going to be a long time coming, because there is no hint of that here.
In the end, I gave it two stars because despite its shallowness, it was readable once I got past the jargon hurtle, and the world itself was interesting. And it at least raises interesting issues in a way that, perhaps, will encourage teenaged readers to think about them. Personally, I would really have liked to see a darker, more adult version of this story.
So, in the first place, the premise of this book is very interesting. It's dystopian with a heavily reproductive slant, drawing on classics like Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. It's a distinctly dark and problematic world, touching on issues like exploitation, religious fanaticism, commodification, societal views on breeding and sex and potential disconnects between them, and even (very very briefly, which is a problem in a book so profoundly burdened with heteronormativity) homosexuality. There are glimpses of excellent social commentary here and there, and some of the vignettes, such as the approach of a salesperson at the baby superstore, are spot-on.
The real problem here is that it's written as teen fiction, and it shows. The first twenty pages were almost unreadable due to being unnecessarily glutted with jargon, and while this sort of world-building vocabulary is to be expected in a book of this sort, it could have used a heavy-handed editor to weed it down to just the most relevant vernacular. Similarly, the dialogue as well as the writing style have an over-the-top 'youthful' slant which might be appealing to young readers (I don't know, though I probably wouldn't have liked it in my adolescence either), but is distracting to me. Moreover, the plot is nothing incredible or innovative - if you peel away the distinctive world building, the basic framework of the story is a contrived twin swapping sort of tale that can be seen a mile away and has been done better, combined with some typical 'teenager experiences a change of heart and makes herself a new life path' stuff, a couple of uninspiring teen romances, and some between-girls drama that is only interesting in the slightest when it attaches itself to the larger questions of consent and ethics in culture-sanctioned underaged breeding programs. Even the darkest, most wrenching elements of the story read like thirteen-year-olds trying too hard to be edgy, but they don't pack much emotional depth and they skip across the surface of all the awful possibilities and implications they provoke.
The ending itself is pretty unsatisfactory (one romance is more-or-less resolved, one is left hanging, and it sets up a dramatic premise for the action of the sequel), and doesn't address any questions larger than the ones inside our various characters' heads. If there is going to be a reevaluation of any of the cultures presented or a challenge to the powers-that-be, it's going to be a long time coming, because there is no hint of that here.
In the end, I gave it two stars because despite its shallowness, it was readable once I got past the jargon hurtle, and the world itself was interesting. And it at least raises interesting issues in a way that, perhaps, will encourage teenaged readers to think about them. Personally, I would really have liked to see a darker, more adult version of this story.
90sinmyheart's review
4.0
The ending was a little more cliffhanger than I'd like, but it sets it up for a sequel. I liked all the preg-related speak they use in everyday speech and the facebook-like hive mind program they use to communicate.