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Wither: The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano This is a novel I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. I could hardly put it down!
Wither is a dystopian story about a time in the future when the only remaining continent on earth is North America (somehow all the others have been destroyed by war and sunk into the sea - don't over think it), and all people are infected with a man-made virus that causes guys to die at age 25 and girls to die at age 20. Completely unrealistic and unsupported by the world-building of the story. So it should be a lousy book, right? Wrong. Once you get past the premise, the actual writing and characters make this a really good read. Rhine is a 16-year-old orphan who has been kidnapped by a wealthy man to be one of three brides to his son. In a world dominated by poverty and crime, Rhine can almost be convinced to succumb to the luxury she is married into, and she can't bring herself to hate the kind man who is her husband. She even comes to love her sister wives. But, she can't lose sight of the fact her life is nearing its end and she is not free. In this new world of grandeur, things are rarely what they appear to be. Rhine must not be fooled and she must escape the clutches of her vile father-in-law. Wither is definitely a flawed novel. You may be shaking your head over my description of the plot because the premise is, frankly, ridiculous. But the main character, Rhine, is an incredible and complex heroin whose kindness touches all those around her. At the same time, she is enduring her own suffering and trying to escape her new life. Rhine is at once a child, an orphan, a sister, a wife, a friend and a prisoner. Her experiences and plight make for an entertaining read.
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AuthorThis book lover's blog is brought to you by the Learning Commons at Vincent Massey School, Calgary. Specifically, Ms. Gammon and various student book reviewers. We want to share our favorite titles with you! Archives
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