Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. Published Nov 2011 by HarperCollins. $2.99 CDN Kindle Edition.
Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. (Goodreads Excerpt)
Wow! That is one fantastic book. I love the writing style. The author does a line with words crossed out almost as if the character thought it but then thought she should not say it or even think it. There are many repeated words that could be annoying but to me conveyed a more realistic view of Juliette’s thinking. The whole concept was very interesting and well thought out. I found it made it easy for me as the reader to identify with the main character. You get a feel for everything she is experiencing. Really enjoyable unforgettable, captivating book.
The characterization of the others is equally engaging. Adam is my favorite and I love the interaction between him and Juliette. He is so likable and you instantly want the two to find a way to be together. Warner is the perfect villain. He fits into the category of villains you hate to love! He is truly psychotic the way he ‘must have’ Juliette but then (spoiler alert) puts her in a situation where she has to hurt an innocent child. Then, wham like it’s no big deal, he expects her to love him back! The man is a very complex character evil sadist!
I loved everything about this book. It was engaging from the opening paragraph. I mean it really sucked you in. Imagine not being able to touch someone. I loved the world building aspect of the story. The writer leaves nothing out. Mafi is truly a genius and makes her dystopian world truly believable and unique.
I find nothing to criticize about the book other than that it is a series and therefore I don’t know what happens. I will just have to read the next book Unravel Me to find out because this is one that I can’t get out of my mind.
5 stars for me.
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