Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

McCafferty's dystopian world is not as big of a stretch as I would like it to be for my own comfort level. In this world, a virus renders most people sterile between the age of 18 and 20. Teenage girls have become the most prized members of society, and they can either "go pro", which is to get an agent to help broker a deal as a surrogate for a couple (the best one's get multiple baby contracts for a single couple, generally starting at the age of 14!), or be amateur, getting pregnant and then selling the baby on the open market auction style. Teenage male "studs" are superstars, as well (see what I mean about not being all that different from NOW?). Money, college placement, stardom all come from "bumping". and the society is more than crazed about it all. Teens are fed pills to "loosen" them up, the middle and high school cafeterias serve folic rich foods, pre-teen girls wear fake "bumps" and carry "first curse purses". It's a mania. There is another, apparently smaller, religious side to the society who keeps to themselves and arrange marriages at the age of 13 for their children so that their babies are born in the sanctity of marriage and raised by their very young birth parents with guidance from the Church.

The book focuses on a set of identical twin girls, separated at birth, who are from opposite sides of these cultures. Harmony flees Goodside (the name of the religious community) to meet her sister, Melody, but has other reasons as well. Melody is in the middle of a drama of being under a "bumping" contract where the would-be parents can't decide on the sperm donor (by the way, things are NOT done in the lab anymore--babies are made the old fashioned way). She's the only girl in her school who hasn't bumped yet, and the pressure is intense, especially since she was the first in the school to "go pro". Especially since she's got feelings for her best guy friend Zen, who is too short to ever be considered a donor for a pro. The girls learn more about each other, and their options, leading the book to some extremely unexpected plot twists.

This book will enrage some parents, but I think it could well lead to some very strong and meaningful conversations among teen girls as they explore their sexuality and their self worth. There is, in fact, an adult crossover promotion planned for the book. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens when this book is out and about.