Patrick Dugan

This book was described as "The X-Men meets The Hunger Games", and while I got definite X-Men vibes while reading it, the Hunger Games bit eluded me. Either way, the teens in this book were put through hell. Superhumans are a thing in this dystopian world, and because a bunch of them went rogue and tried to basically destroy the world around them and a lot of innocent people died, kids are tested at age 5 or 6 and if they are found to be "Gifted," a dampening collar is put around their necks and they are treated like freaks and outcasts. They are physically and mentally abused at school, and no one but Gifted teachers will defend them. They live in fear of doing anything to get them sent to "The Block," because once a Gifted enters, they never come out again. Tommy is one of these Gifted, and he and his friends end up in a fight for their lives one night that will alter all of their lives forever. They decide to train and be ready so they are never defenseless again.

I liked the friendships these kids had with each other - a real one for all and all for one thing. They all have their strengths and weaknesses based on their individual Gifts, and they use that in their fight. The ending of the book set it up nicely for the second book in the series, which I look forward to reading.

4/5 stars.… (altro)