Book Review: The Darkest Minds

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.

“Let's carpe the hell out of this diem.” 
― Alexandra Bracken, The Darkest Minds

To start off, I'm just going to say flat out that this book gave me dem feels. 

It made me laugh, smile, root for the characters, worry when shit went down, and cry. The Darkest Minds

was the last book I read in 2013, and one of my top five books of 2013.

Also, it made my top 5 list of Books that give me lots of feelings. 

Books that gave me feels. 1. The Death Cure
2. Allegiant
3. Mockingjay
4. The Darkest Minds
5. Les Miserables

I came across this book a year or two ago on Goodreads and thought it looked interesting, but never picked it up until last month. The cover of The Darkest Minds is also one of my favorite book covers. Not only is it extremely visually appealing (aM I RIGHT OR WHAT?) but it embodies the plot and premise really well. There are those book covers with random shirtless guys or the covers with the girl in a dress on the beach. I never seem to like those books too much. But this cover was ultimately what made me pick up the book and read the inside flap.

Although I really liked this book overall, I was actually kind of bored. Until around page 270, when I started getting emotionally attached to certain characters and ships.

My level of interest throughout the book went something like this:

                                  
Things started off pretty interesting, but my interest declined for around 100 pages when they were on the road. I felt like those 100 pages really lacked in action and the characters were basically all sitting around in the van listening to music. I very nearly stopped reading at that point.

I'm really glad that I didn't stop reading there though, because at around page 250 things really picked up. I started to become more attached to the characters as more sides to them were revealed. Ships were developed (Ruby and Liam!!!).

Ruby is one of my favorite YA dystopian protagonists. At first she seemed very one-sided by as the book progressed, I got to know more about her. One of main components to most of my favorite books are dynamic characters, and Ruby's character development in The Darkest Minds was one of the best I've seen. Also, it doesn't hurt that Ruby is a total BAMF.

And Liam. I loved that he wasn't this whole "Prince Charming" package. I feel like nowadays in a lot of YA novels the main love interest, or at least one of the love interests, tends to be
a) buff (the "shirtless abs" covers)
b) extremely hot
c) somehow ridiculously athletic
I liked clumsy, sweet, funny, selfless Liam more than Clancy (the other love interest) who was basically a male model. Liam is definitely one of my favorite guys in YA. His selflessness and sweet nature could only be rivaled by Peeta from The Hunger Games.

One of my favorite parts of The Darkest Minds were the flashbacks with Ruby. Before I got to the flashback, I kept wondering what made Ruby so closed off to other people. I feel like flashbacks rounded Ruby into a much more interesting and dynamic character.

I think my very favorite part of the book was the plot twist at the end, but at this moment I'm not really sure of my emotions. I both hated and loved the ending. Ruby grew so much as a character because of the decision she made, and that's why I think it's my favorite part of the book.

"hahaha...wait what?? NOO"

"NOOOOOOO"

Luckily, I have the sequel Never Fade in my possession. Although it's probably not a good idea to start it now since I have finals very soon.

me during finals