Surrender

From the Publisher

“This dystopian novel…might appeal to readers of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies and Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games.” —SLJ

Children's Literature - Terri Forehand RN

Raine is a good girl, lives by Freedom's rules. It doesn't matter that her father is the dictator; she is still a good girl in a not-so-good world. It is the love she has for her father that leads her to use her talents in very dangerous and not always legal ways. Then she falls for Gunner, realizes there are many hidden secrets in Freedom, and many more that her father is keeping from her. Brainwashing, mystery, and a tiny bit of supernatural/sci-fi woven into the plot makes the story intriguing and interesting. Raine seeks love and attention, but she also recognizes brainwashing when she sees it. Throw in a prisoner and rebel named Jag and you have all the elements for the YA reader. There is more seduction in the story than many parents may approve of for young teen readers but older teens and YA will want to keep reading to see where the romance for Raine heads. This is the thrilling sequel to Possession and is best appreciated if you have read the first book in the series. Reviewer: Terri Forehand, RN

VOYA - Deena Viviani

Raine Hightower lives in Freedom, a city controlled by her Director father, where citizens cannot choose their life partners or jobs. Like many people in Freedom, Raine has a mental power that the Director uses for his own personal gain, even though it hurts when she "drains" others' desires and memories. Raine is also a member of the Insiders, who want to regain citizens' rights, and when she learns that her classmate and illegal crush Gunner has been summoned by her father for his powers, she begins to resist her father's control, learn secrets about his past, and help Gunner escape Freedom for the good of the people. The premise of this novel is intriguingly similar to 1984 by George Orwell, but unlike 1984, the world building and its rules are vague. For example, the Director houses Vi, the rebel from book one (Possession [Simon Pulse, 2011/Voya June 2011]), in an unguarded apartment with Raine as a roommate, which seems to contradict her potential danger. In another scene, Gunner breaks into the detention building to rescue another rebel. They are caught, but in the next chapter, Gunner is hover-boarding with no conclusion or negative consequences given to that scene. The end is satisfying in a full-circle way and is set up for a third novel in this world. Some recent dystopian novels with a similar theme are the Matched series by Allie Condie and the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver. Reviewer: Deena Viviani

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—"Freedom doesn't exist in the city of Freedom." Every conversation is monitored, every unapproved clothing choice is suspect, every diet is carefully planned for optimum nutrition and health, and children know who their spouses will be from an early age. But for some of the teens, this lifestyle is unacceptable. One of them is 17-year-old Raine, daughter of Director Hightower, the most powerful man in Freedom. When she falls in love with Gunner, a rebel with a tricked-out hoverboard, she persuades him to join the Insiders. Unfortunately, her father's network of spies and surveillance is well aware of the rebel organization and has allowed his daughter the illusion of freedom knowing that he can use her to infiltrate the group at any time. This sequel to Possession (S & S, 2011) can stand on its own though the sometimes convoluted plot and references to characters introduced in the first book can be confusing to those unfamiliar with it. This dystopian novel doesn't break any new ground but might appeal to readers of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies (S & S, 2005) and Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games (Scholastic, 2008).—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK