Friday, September 16, 2011

Review: Bumped


Bumped (Bumped, #1)





Author: Megan McCafferty
Pages: 323
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Source: Library
Synopsis: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food. 


Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job. 


Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from. 


When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common. 


From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.


Buy the Book (The Book DepositoryAmazon)
Wow. Bumped was such a unique read. The whole idea was original and the way it was done... Well, I think it worked.

I've seen in countless other reviews people commenting on the slang. Like most people, at the beginning I found some words confusing but I quickly caught on. I thought it was super cool of Megan McCafferty to create a whole new way of talking, a whole new culture for her world. A culture that was strange, but believable. I was very impressed with that aspect.

The characters were also good, but they took a backseat to the world building. There were a variety of colorful characters. Melody and her twin Harmony were the protagonists and their voices were different enough, as twins. I had moments where I wanted to scream at each of them, and most of the time I was thinking "What do you think you're DOING?"

Other characters like Zen made me super happy. I loved Zen. He was smart, innovative, creative... I don't think I'd enjoy the story as much without him. I'm excited to see what happens to his character. As for the other male lead, I'm on the fence. I'd like to see their character develop more.

Even though the world is so original, the overall plot of Bumped isn't as different. If you take away the pregnancy and sex, it's a story of two sisters from different worlds who believe their world is the right one. They then learn the error of their ways. It was done in a different way though. Bumped will probably be enjoyed by those who like those kind of stories.

My issue with Bumped was that I wasn't hooked. I didn't fly through the pages and no character deeply resonated through me. I was more annoyed with the main characters than happy with them. That's probably a personality trait of mine, so I wouldn't discourage readers from trying Bumped. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

1 comment:

  1. I have been hearing that a lot when it comes to this novel. That the leads are more annoying than interesting. =\ This is on my shelf, eh, not in a rush.

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