Restoring Harmony by Joelle AnthonyMay 13th 2010 by Putnam Juvenile
Hardcover, 320 pages
Review Copy
Book Synopsis
The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities. Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they’re financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn’t, Molly’s only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there’s a handsome stranger who’s willing to help............(GoodReads)
Review
You all know by now that I love dystopian novels, the great thing about these books is that although they all dabble within the same themes, it’s the twists and the struggles each society goes through that makes them unique and different. Restoring Harmony brought just that, a very distinct dystopian story and surprisingly a very realistic world in which I could see happening.
Molly our protagonist of the story is a teenager living with her family on a farm in Canada, they grow their own food, take care of themselves and are pretty much a very self-sufficient family. Travel is very hard in this world and trips in and out of the country are not allowed, or for that matter closely monitored. When word gets to the family that Molly’s grandmother has passed they are frantic over the loss and send Molly to retrieve her grandfather. A dangerous mission but safest for Molly, as her mother is on a high risk pregnancy and her father would be immediately suspected. Her siblings are to young and there is only enough money to send one person into the United States. With high heels and a fiddle her only possessions, Molly makes the journey of a lifetime.
When Molly finally makes it into the US and finds her way to her grandfather, he is starving, in a house with no electricity and completely penniless. With all Molly’s money used on the trip there, she is now stuck in the United States, with no means to get back home. So many rules bog this society and its people down, the American government collapse began years before, but very limited are the individuals freedom. The first step in the collapse was the takeover of the petroleum and gasoline industries, soon resulting in the complete ban of oil, which left people with no cars, no jobs and ultimately a devastating economic crash. Secondly the government took over the electric companies, setting prices so high the normal average American could not afford it and most live in houses with no electric. Third, the contamination of meat, which lead to millions of deaths and halted the production of meat as a food source, which then left thousands starving and with no skills at farming or growing anything, people were left abandoned and foodless.Seriously this gave me the chills. Even in real life history, starving people make for a scary world, when there is no access to food, hope dies and people become savages or very sick and completely disconnected from reality.
I see the things going on in the United States at this very moment, the oil spill, the huge debacle over the fuel industry and the push for all alternative energies, including the control over the electric and utility companies. The vegetarian movement and the PETA pushers to not eat meat…I wonder if the whole country went or was demanded to go vegetarian...would there be enough food...seriously…it’s a very thought provoking question. Well written with highly developed characters that surround an interesting plotline of could this happen, sure to please all dystopian lovers out there.
Rating
You all know by now that I love dystopian novels, the great thing about these books is that although they all dabble within the same themes, it’s the twists and the struggles each society goes through that makes them unique and different. Restoring Harmony brought just that, a very distinct dystopian story and surprisingly a very realistic world in which I could see happening.
Molly our protagonist of the story is a teenager living with her family on a farm in Canada, they grow their own food, take care of themselves and are pretty much a very self-sufficient family. Travel is very hard in this world and trips in and out of the country are not allowed, or for that matter closely monitored. When word gets to the family that Molly’s grandmother has passed they are frantic over the loss and send Molly to retrieve her grandfather. A dangerous mission but safest for Molly, as her mother is on a high risk pregnancy and her father would be immediately suspected. Her siblings are to young and there is only enough money to send one person into the United States. With high heels and a fiddle her only possessions, Molly makes the journey of a lifetime.
When Molly finally makes it into the US and finds her way to her grandfather, he is starving, in a house with no electricity and completely penniless. With all Molly’s money used on the trip there, she is now stuck in the United States, with no means to get back home. So many rules bog this society and its people down, the American government collapse began years before, but very limited are the individuals freedom. The first step in the collapse was the takeover of the petroleum and gasoline industries, soon resulting in the complete ban of oil, which left people with no cars, no jobs and ultimately a devastating economic crash. Secondly the government took over the electric companies, setting prices so high the normal average American could not afford it and most live in houses with no electric. Third, the contamination of meat, which lead to millions of deaths and halted the production of meat as a food source, which then left thousands starving and with no skills at farming or growing anything, people were left abandoned and foodless.Seriously this gave me the chills. Even in real life history, starving people make for a scary world, when there is no access to food, hope dies and people become savages or very sick and completely disconnected from reality.
I see the things going on in the United States at this very moment, the oil spill, the huge debacle over the fuel industry and the push for all alternative energies, including the control over the electric and utility companies. The vegetarian movement and the PETA pushers to not eat meat…I wonder if the whole country went or was demanded to go vegetarian...would there be enough food...seriously…it’s a very thought provoking question. Well written with highly developed characters that surround an interesting plotline of could this happen, sure to please all dystopian lovers out there.
Rating
Restoring Harmony is a fast paced fun story for all age groups. 12-16 will eagerly soak this dystopian novel up, while readers of an older age will appreciate the themed elements in the dystopian world. Language and sex free, does contain mild violence, drinking and dangerous journeys.
4/5- YA Dystopian
Copy provided by Around the World tours
Counted in my Dystopian Challenge hosted by Parajunkee
Wow. Sounds great. I must add this to my list.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean.
That's a very good question.
Would there be enough food?
Thought provoking question.
Thanks for the awesome review :)
great review- I just got this book yesterday to read.so excited to read it
ReplyDeleteI'm not normally a dystopia fan, but this one sounds pretty realistic and scary. I'll have to read this book sometime!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I've got this book marked down for the Debut Author challenge and will definitely have to make plans to pick it up as it sounds like a winner!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first trip to your blog! I just reviewed Restoring Harmony and linked to you.
ReplyDelete