I found this on Wikipedia's list of dystopian novels because it's one of my favorite genres. I wouldn't bother reading it; the storytelling is awful. The author makes a common mistake of first time authors, which is that she started the book out without knowing how to end it. By the time she gets there, she makes up a completely absurd ending.
( )

I liked the concept. However, the writing was terrible and I didn't care for the characters or the love interest. ( )

Great Book! It was really good ( )

It took a while to get into this book but I did and now I'm excited to read book two ( )

DNF at 61%

I remember seeing people reading this book in middle school and thinking it looked pretty neato. The cover of a blond girl standing in the woods, barcode on her arms. I also misremembered the name as "The Girl With The Barcode Tattoo", which is much cooler. Was this book cool?

Nah. Lots of technological fear-mongering. Suzanne Weyn is the type of person who would use DuckGoGo as a search engine, as god forbid Google sell your 3 AM web searches for 5 cents. Bar code tattoos are basically modern day cellphones, as they can be used to pay and they keep all of your personal information on them. Sounds pretty handy. But no, they also keep track of your genes (which apparently includes a gene for extrasensory perception??? Is this sci-fi or fantasy?) and may or may not just block you and your family from making any purchases with no real reason.

The government makes it so these things are required, discriminating against people without arms.

The rebels in this use 'zines to get their information out. I feel like 'zines would've been dated in 2004 where most of it was already replaced with blogs and websites.

The writing is dull and basic, even by YA standards. Two times, just a chapter or so apart, Kayla's friend Amber mentions that her cousin is wacky and religious, with almost the same exact phrasing used. Kayla herself is nothing to write home about. Mopey and falls in love with a bad boy, as of course she does.

I do think it's interesting this takes place at the beginning of the dystopia instead of during its' height like most dystopian YA. That's really the only thing i can speak good about it though. ( )