THIS BOOK.

THIS. BOOK.

I just absolutely cannot cope. I nearly threw it across the room when I finished it with how good it was. I was drawn so, so deeply into the story, it almost hurt whenever I had to stop reading. I had shivers for most of the book, there were points when I couldn't breathe, I was so tense, and I don't think I'll ever be able to listen to 'Funkytown' ever again.

There's a lot of dystopian YA out there, but this blows things like The Hunger Games and Divergent out of the water, the reason being its connection with humanity. Not only is the world expertly extrapolated from our own, right now, but Shusterman focuses so brilliantly on the people of the story; not only the revolutionaries and the activists, but the people at home, the people of circumstance, all the individuals who all contribute to a revolution are given a voice. There were so many small, seemingly insignificant moments that all come together to create something incredible. (It is also one of the few YA books I've read that actually approaches the topic of religion, treats it respectfully and positively, without dwelling on it or making a big fuss about it.)

If you read one dystopian series, make it this one. Seriously. Because I know that I will forever be influenced and haunted by this series.