Series ~ Article 5 #1
Author ~ Kristen Simmons
Release Date ~ January 31, 2012
Publisher ~ Tor Teen
Source ~ Tor Teen and The Teen {Book} Scene
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.
Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.
That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.
I love when this happens! When a debut book releases near the very beginning of the year and it is so captivating that it sets the tone for the entire year. For 2012, Article 5 is one of those extra super special books. Lately, it feels as though dystopians are flooding the young adult book choices. I would venture to say that 2011 was the year of the dystopian. At some point, they all start blending together. It’s hard to stand out, but stand out Article 5 does. In a big way!
The crazy stands out. And by crazy, I’m meaning the Moral Statues and the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Sure, on the surface it sounds all sweet and nice that the government demands high morals. But don’t be fooled. These Moral Statutes are insanely strict and enforcement of the statutes is unbelievably cruel as families are broken apart over even trivial infractions. Noncompliance is not an option. Article 5 brings the crazy.
The relationships stand out. When you live in a world that’s crumbling and your sense of trust has been shaken, relationships matter. Ember and her single mother are used to doing things on their own, sort of an us-against-the-world kind of thing. So, when her mother is taken and Ember is sent to a reformatory, Ember is driven to rescue her mother. Things have gotten personal and Ember isn't going to stand by and do nothing. She doesn’t even flinch as she puts herself in danger to save her mother. Then there’s the complicated relationship between Ember and Chase. These two have a romantic history together that is told in Ember’s flashbacks. But now that Chase has joined the military, the relationship takes on a new slant. It’s tense, passionate, ugly, and strong all rolled into one. The relationships in Article 5 are solid.
The action stands out. It’s so intense, there is no way for it NOT to stand out. Within those first few pages and perfectly placed throughout the book are scenes of heart-stopping action. Sometimes it’s in-your-face “Imma’ gonna’ kill someone action.” Other times it’s more like “we better hurry up and get this done before we run out of time or we’re dead meat action.” And still other times it’s the “everything is just going to explode into a zillion teeny tiny pieces action.” Yeah, Article 5 has action covered.
Kristen Simmons’ writing stands out. Oh my goodness, I am going to want to read more of what Kristen writes. She made me feel as though I were right there in a world governed by Moral Statutes. I felt like I was beside Ember as she fought to rescue her mother. Like I was there with Ember and Chase, years before their world was torn apart. Like I really was a part of the action. Y’all will have to trust me, Article 5 has fantabulous writing that stands out.
Read it! Read It! READ IT!
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