When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.
The darkest minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely face.
- Chubs -
The plot is freaking awesome. All the events were happened more and more in intensity aspects. This kept me breathless OMG. I went sleeping at 3 a.m. during the time I read this book. I only have this chaotic sleeping time twice before, it was when I read The Hunger Games and City of Bones lol. And I'm a slow reader so it took days of making a pair of panda eyes, I even slept at 3.40 something when I finnished this book.
The dark theme of the story is distracting at the beginning, many kids died. But keep going because when you get into the story, you'll find that everything which was built here is amazing. It's terrifying and yet captivating. I love how the kids' ability are sorted by colors, Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Red. Each color has different ability, I won't spoil you. I just love the story with supernatural ability. I used to love Heroes before the story was ruined.
The world building is thrilled me. The future America is broke and poverty makes crimes are happened everywhere. Kids with their abilities become dangerous for the adults, while adult people are threats for the kids. There are PSF (Psi Special Force) the government's camp soldiers, Children's League who aims to save the kids from the camps, or Skip Tracers who also chase the kids. That's very big, my brain can't contain all of them at first, it made my heart beating fast from all that happened. Beware kids.... But there's also Slip Kids in a place which is mentioned as The East River where the kids believe it's the safest place for them.
The characters are loveable and developed very well. We can immediately in love with all main characters. Ruby, our POV, was kinda making a gap to others, but it's reasonable because she pretends as Green and hide her real identity. She was raised in a horrible camp since she was 10 and spent 6 years there. She is lack of communication and intercourse, but she does care about her friends and her character is built very good. She is strong with everything she has been through without looking any pity. The way Alexandra Bracken wrote Ruby's POV was so amusing and realistic.
Liam, the love interest, is nice, strong, caring, dependable, honest, and funny with his random classic nicknames for everyone. He falls for Ruby and very honest about his feelings. He's not exaggerate, he's not a perfect handsome guy with unbeatable ability who genuinely can save you all the times. NO. He's just ARGGHH, the boy that I need in REAL LIFE. He's the sweetest thing of this book ////////
We also have Chubs who grumbled many times and didn't like a stanger among them, Ruby. BUT he is adorable, he loves cats (and ducks too), and he's cute with his chatter about sanitation. And he reads books, that's all matter xD
And the younger one is Zu, who also has uncontrolable ability like Ruby. She likes Ruby and I love the sisterhood relationship that is built among them :)
All these characters are developed the way we will love them more. Very briliant! RULEECHUZU ALL THE WAY!
Actually this book doesn't involve much romance so if you're looking for romantic story you'll probably not really like this book. BUT I say this to you, the love story is adorable. It's not a "Hey I just met you, and this is crazy, but I'm suddenly in love with you for the rest of my life" love story. The love is not forced to be happened, it's just happened with beautiful and sweet wave. Liam is so sweet, okay?
RATE 5/5 STARS
Fantastic. Breathtaking. Fascinating. HEARTBREAKING. Action packed. Very recommend this book!!! Alexandra Bracken brings YA dystopian novel to new fantastic level with dark theme but also warmth. Read The Darkest Minds and join me with the torment time of waiting for the 2nd book (۳˚Д˚)۳
Also post this review on goodreads
The second book will release on October 15th 2013 (OMG Щ(TДTщ)). It has already been annouched that the 2nd title is NEVER FADE. The concept of trilogy titles is very interesting. They basically will built a sentence. So far we have "The darkest minds never fade...." So when the 3rd title is announched, we will get the complete sentence :)
You can watch the book trailer here :