Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2016 Gr 7 Up—In this compulsively readable dystopian novel, biracial 17-year-old Celestine sees things in black and white and would never break society's rules—until she impulsively helps a Flawed man on a bus, an act that's illegal. Her compassionate gesture lands her in jail for aiding a Flawed, and it's certain she'll be judged Flawed, too. Those found Flawed by the Guild have made moral or ethical mistakes in society. Depending on their crime, the Flawed are branded with an "F" on a prominent place on their body and are required to wear an armband and adhere to strict rules. Judge Craven, the Guild's head judge, makes an example of Celestine for threatening his abuse of the Guild's power and for her very public stand against an unjust society. The price she pays is horrific and unprecedented. She becomes the poster child for those who want to make change. The only person Celestine feels understands what she's suffered is the mysterious boy she saw in prison but never actually spoke to. Celestine's shift from believing in the rightness of those judged Flawed to condemning their treatment is a bit too sudden. The brutal descriptions of the branding of those deemed Flawed are not easy to read, but it's a compelling thriller that's very hard to put down. The cliff-hanger ending guarantees readers will be waiting impatiently for the next book in the series. VERDICT For fans of Lauren Oliver's Delirium (HarperCollins) or Hillary Jordan's When She Woke (Algonquin, both 2011).—Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2016 In Celestine’s society, perfection isn’t just attainable, it’s required; those found Flawed in some way are branded for life and ostracized from society. Celestine has never had any problems with the way things are run. She is a rule follower at her core and dating the son of the most powerful judge in the city. But a moment of compassion has dire consequences, and Celestine soon finds herself on trial before the whole city, accused of Flaws that will change her life forever. Ahern, a best-selling author of adult novels, turns to a young-adult audience with this interesting examination of human nature. The market is still flooded with utopian and dystopian societies, and this isn’t quite as action-packed as some of the standouts. Still, readers hungry for the genre will be drawn in by the meticulous world building, the careful characterizations, and the interesting philosophical questions posed. A cliff-hanger ending raises the stakes considerably, promising an exciting return in the next volume. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 06/01/2016 Raised in a country that literally brands people as Flawed when they break moral rules, biracial seventeen-year-old Celestine North has always supported the discriminatory system and the Guild that oversees it. When a single act of kindness leads to her being marked as Flawed, though, she loses everything, including her devoted boyfriend, and becomes the victim of ostracism and violent bullying. Celestine refuses to repent, and her victimhood quickly morphs into unwanted celebrity. Soon she’s the poster child for (and pawn of) an underground revolution, and she eventually joins those she used to despise. The book doesn’t really bring anything new to the dystopian genre’s well-covered table when it comes to plot and premise. It is successful, however, at achieving emotional impact; during moments focusing on the Guild’s injustice and society’s bigotry, the terror is palpable. Celestine, meanwhile, starts as the ultimate insider, which makes her psychological descent into reluctant rebellion intriguing to follow. Unfortunately, the narration opts too often for telling over showing, and Celestine spends a lot of time describing her thoughts and feelings (and oddly the emotions of others) in wearying detail. Still, for readers who aren’t over the dystopian trend, particularly fans of Healey’s When We Wake (BCCB 4/13), there’s enough to hear to make it worth a read. The story ends on the brink of impending action, so expect sequels. AM - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.