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Today’s Irrelevant BookReview Section / Inane Book Stuff, are a few YOUNG ADULT books I’ve recently finished. They share one remarkable quality – THE IDEAS ARE FASCINATING. I’ll just compare 2 of them today, but check this out-

GIRL IN THE ARENA, by Lise Haines
A semi dystopian future, a massively well-funded, ritualistic GLADIATOR sub culture exists. Think ULTIMATE FIGHTER, except the rules and rituals extend out towards your family and dress code. Called GLADS, they dress in a certain way, and GLAD WIVES are given ridiculous bylaws to follow (“always remind your husband of his victories”). You can’t choose who you fight, it’s TO THE DEATH, highly televised, and if your GLAD husband dies you can only marry 7 more times before you’re done. And IF SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOUR FATHER WEARS YOUR DOWRY BRACELET, YOU MUST MARRY HIM. Your gladiator sandals must have 15 straps.
We read books to get sucked into other worlds, right? This one sucks but is so interesting.

UGLIES, by Scott Westerfeld.
Everyone undergoes an operation at 16 years old, and becomes PRETTY. Once you’re PRETTY, you move into PRETTY TOWN with all your PRETTY friends. PRETTY TOWN is described as this amazing place that never stops having fun, neon lights, abundant alcohol, and crazy stunts. Everyone before turning sixteen is an Ugly.
There’s corruption and crap goin on, but uh… it really doesn’t sound that bad. Red Pill or Blue Pill?

Amazing worlds aside – both books were disappointingly written. With such ideas I kept thinking they could have been sUCH beautiful works of writing, but the product fell short of the premise. I wanted to forgive them that because they’r geared for young adults, but there’s no excuse because other amazing YA books have been published.

Uglies is a 4 book set and I wiLL get to reading them all – it’s just so disheartening seeing a brilliant idea get mangled.

Thoughts on good YOUNG ADULT fiction out there? I’ll read anything, good or bad.

My next YoungAdult IBS will be on “CRANK”, and “Living Dead Girl”.