By Alaya Dawn Johnston
Probably the best dystopian, future-society book you'll read in today's YA.
Set in a fictional city named Palmares Tres, Brazil, June wants to make art and be the best artist in the city. Political intrigue and high tech surround the world she lives in. Then she meets Enki, the charismatic and lush Summer King. He explodes with life itself and reinvigorates the city with raw passion. At the end of his short reign, he will die. Which makes their team up to make an artistic statement to the citizens all the more poignant.
While reading, listen to some Brazilian music to get you in the mood. Bossa Nova perhaps?
I finished this a few days ago. I needed time to gather my thoughts and steady my emotions. There is no doubt this will be on my Top 5 for 2015.
The thing I liked the most about the characterization was that you could never quite figure out the characters. They were so multi-dimensional. No one seemed cardboard. Not even Bebel (June's rival at school) who at first was cardboard became more complex as the story went on.
One downside, this world took a while to get into. Like any sci-fi or fantasy, there's always a hiccough stage where the author is trying to reveal slowly the completely new world and in a way that's not overwhelming. Once I got about 70ish pages in, the story began to flow.
I realized its wonder and devoured it slowly. Sipping each description, breathing it it.
June's relationship with the Summer King, Enki, is something more than romance. Romance seems like a juvenile word to describe what their connection is. In a sense, this book is full of romance, but it's not your typical heart-pounding, swooning kind.
LUSH. That's a good word to use to describe the story, characters, and world. It had me wanting to find out more. Johnson does this wonderful hinting at other places in the world, but never gives you enough to sink your teeth into. It's great! Some people might find this annoying - those people don't understand that sometimes the mystery is greater than being told outright. Unknown might seem like the author was lazy and didn't want to tell us more, but we have to be intelligent readers. We can't be handed things on a silver platter a la Divergent explain-ese. Trust your imagination.
I wept. No shame. The last 30 pages promptly took my heart out and put it back in. I couldn't breathe. For a story to do that is a great undertaking. It spoke to me on a human level. Isn't that what books are meant do.
5 STARS
When you finish the book, listen to the song that Bebel sings at the end. It adds another dimension to the story. If you need some reference.Translated to English.
Classroom: Please note, sexuality is discussed in an open manner. Recommended for 16+.
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