The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

"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."

This is a book that at first glance could seem like any other dime-a-dozen dystopian novels. It's not. I don't know how, I can't really pinpoint it, but this one was different. It was really memorable, and undoubtedly very good. I loved it. The author managed to, if not trailblaze her style of writing, then at least take some paths less traveled. What could have been a familiar concept was made unique by all the singular little details of characters and plots, and the excellent writing. The author didn't go for stereotypes with the characters, giving them humor and depth and unexpected choices and plotlines. She made me get hooked and stay that way until the very end, and I now can't wait for the sequel. I'll say it again: this is a very good book. You're seriously missing out if you don't read it. So, yep. It's at Kettleson, go pick it up!