“Delirium” by Lauren Oliver

If “The Unwanteds” was “Hunger Games” for the younger set, and “Matched” was “Hunger Games” for those interested in less gore, then “Delirium” is “Matched” for upper-level readers.  Which is all to say that the plot elements here are achingly familiar:  In a dystopian America, citizens are pacified into a uniform existence – one where dissention from the autocratic rules can result in torture and death.  Each member of this society is essentially lobotomized when they turn 18, so that they will not feel the effects of “love.”  They are then assigned a career path and life partner.  Lena looks forward to this day, as she fears the chaos of emotion that threatens to rise up inside of her.  But then she meets Alex and becomes “infected.”  Needless to say, there is a resistance movement in “the Wilds” which becomes the focus of the next book in the series.  Despite hugely predictable turns, Oliver should be congratulated for this first book in a trilogy, as the characters are real and engaging and the writing superior.  It’s not a fast-mover but still I felt drawn in and compelled to see “what happens next.”  There were repeated times when I looked up from my reading wanting to share a passage with someone – sometimes for the literary merit, sometimes for the way in which Lena is a highly relatable figure.  Not only is the book in first person, it is very internal.  Most of it is Lena’s wishes, desires and fears.  When she answers “Gray” as her favorite color at the mandated exams (the expected answer is “Blue”) she muses:  “Sometimes I feel as though there are two me’s, one coasting directly on top of the other:  the superficial me, who nods when she’s supposed to nod and says what she’s supposed to say, and some other, deeper part, the part that worries and dreams and says ‘Gray.’  Most of the time they move along in sync and I hardly notice the split, but sometimes it feels as though I’m two whole different people and I could rip apart any second.”  Certainly, something we have all felt from time-to-time, particularly in our teen years.  If you aren’t totally sick of this genre, I recommend giving this series a try.  It is definitely one of those “can’t wait to read the sequel” books.  The version I read also had an insightful interview with the author and a preview of “Pandemonium.”