The Program (The Program, #1)

Apr 28, 2013 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

If I wasn't so bored with dystopians lately, this one might have been more enjoyable for me. Although it has a little contemporary feel to it more than most, and the plot direction it takes is different from the expected and clichés "run and hide from the big bad government", in the end I still felt that it was yet another dystopian novel that doesn't particularly stand out from the rest.

A little reminiscent of Delirium, The Program involves teen suicide and how its become an epidemic, and the c...more If I wasn't so bored with dystopians lately, this one might have been more enjoyable for me. Although it has a little contemporary feel to it more than most, and the plot direction it takes is different from the expected and clichés "run and hide from the big bad government", in the end I still felt that it was yet another dystopian novel that doesn't particularly stand out from the rest.

A little reminiscent of Delirium, The Program involves teen suicide and how its become an epidemic, and the cure involves wiping them out into a clean slate. This means memory removal of anything that could cause negative feelings. Thus, if you're a teenager and you show any sort of negative emotions like crying, you better make sure no one sees you! I liked the idea of this world and I personally found it much more believable than Delirium, in the sense that I can see how society agreed to this mind erasing program if it will save their children from suicide (I had difficulty believing that society could be convinced love was a disease--but that is a review for another time >.<). I found the system intimidating and quite the paradox--some rather die than go through the program if they're flagged, for others, having your best friend, or anyone you love, not remember who you are is heartbreaking in every sense turning you emotionally vulnerable. Although it delivers a fairly predictable story arc, The Program is ultimately a tragic love story and this part was done quite well.

While the plot itself was enjoyable, I did not find myself connecting to the characters as much as I would have liked. They were likeable characters, but Sloane didn't strike me as an especially memorable MC. Same goes for the side characters, Sloane makes a few friends throughout the story, and none of them were well developed. They were used as nothing more than "extras". There is even one character who was kind of a creep for the bigger part of the book that annoyed me senselessly. He seemed to always be sneaking around intimidating Sloane every chance he got, and I didn't see the point of it. The book could have gone without him; he was gross, his storyline felt random and out of place, and when he had done his "task" to help the plot along (which could have been achieved without him), he was just gone and forgotten. He might be back in the sequel, but really I don't see the point--it seems his only role is to add unnecessary ickiness.

In the end, The Program is a love story. The main reason I didn't love this book is due to my distance from the romance itself. I have a hard time falling for a romance when one is already established beforehand. I love seeing connections strike and relationships bloom, when I get into a book with it pre-existing, I don't get that fluttery young love feeling towards it as much. There were flashbacks that showed the strength of their love for each other which helped, though this helped me understand their relationship, it didn't leave me swooning over it. Therefore, while I cared about the protagonist and what she was going through, and I deduced the implied sadness or tragic nature of it all, I felt like I was more of a curious observer than someone invested into the heart of it.

With so may previously failed dystopians this year, The Program is easily one of the better ones I've read lately. If I hadn't read so many I might have given this one more slack; as it stands I liked it but I don't see it sticking out from the masses in the cluster of dystopians in my memory.

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An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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May 01, 2013 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reactions to The Program will differ I think based on which of these two scenarios you were expecting:

A) a thought provoking treatment of teen suicide
-or-
B) a typical dystopian that co-opts yet another attention grabbing premise only to degenerate into the same evil government conspiracy keeping apart the star crossed lovers plot

If you thought B), The Program is a perfectly fine book. Ignore this review and enjoy the book for what it is. Personally though, I thought A), so my reaction went from...more Reactions to The Program will differ I think based on which of these two scenarios you were expecting:

A) a thought provoking treatment of teen suicide
-or-
B) a typical dystopian that co-opts yet another attention grabbing premise only to degenerate into the same evil government conspiracy keeping apart the star crossed lovers plot

If you thought B), The Program is a perfectly fine book. Ignore this review and enjoy the book for what it is. Personally though, I thought A), so my reaction went from intrigued, to somewhat disturbed, before finally settling on disappointed. Suicide is, don't get me wrong, a serious issue of mental health, but while I certainly don't expect every young adult book to handle it with the grace of say, Karen Healey's The Shattering, I do think Suzanne Young could have done a much better job tackling the issue rather than just using it as gimmicky setup fodder for an otherwise average dystopian.

Then again, it's no wonder the strongest elements of The Program are in the first of this three part book, when Young seems to be actually writing about suicide. Normally, I'd find the idea of people in white lab coats just waiting to haul kids away at the first sign of mental illness ridiculous, but in this case combined with the depictions of rampant depression and the threat of the radical fix provided by The Program, I had a lot to chew on. I liked trying to figure out whether Sloane was an unreliable narrator because she could've been depressed herself (explaining her attitude towards The Program), looking at the situation from the parent's point of view (which for once is actually believable for a dystopian, I totally get why parents would put their kids through The Program rather than standing by, doing nothing, and allowing something bad to happen), and having to decide whether the results of The Program, in lives saved, are worth the costs. Heck, I even liked how Sloane and James sort of had to rely on each other after Sloane’s brother’s suicide, so for a brief while at least, I could definitely say I was intrigued by the whole setup.

Unfortunately, it really was a brief while, because even though thoughts were provoked, they never went anywhere. Instead, it seems to me like Young never really planned to explore the suicide issue in the depth I was expecting and instead just takes an almost simplistic, black and white view to the whole thing. There really aren't any shades of gray with Sloane and her friends being 'good' while The Program is 'evil', and where does that lead? Don’t join The Program because you'll leave a mindless zombie, but what's the alternative? Denying reality until one day you just off yourself? I just really didn’t feel like it was Young’s intent to explore suicide as an issue; instead her intent all along seems to be for The Program to be the evil government conspiracy doing bad things to Sloane and her friends disguised in this case as suicide prevention and treatment, and it just didn’t feel right without having some sort of effective alternative; Sloane doesn’t want treatment and she doesn’t really want to kill herself either (at least when she’s not sick), but what should she do then? It's hard to blame a government conspiracy for being evil when they're doing exactly the kind of thing I would expect a government to do given an epidemic of teen suicide - step in and stop it.

Now that brings me to Part Two and Three, where the book really falls apart. I don’t have a problem with Sloane’s time in treatment or how she tries to beat The Program once she gets out per se, but it’s nothing more or less than any other dystopian plot dealing with government conspiracies or memory loss - although it’s kind of weird Sloane’s magically all better once she arrives without going through any sort of treatment or healing process. Instead, it’s what Young doesn't say about suicide treatment that really bothers me. What she’s saying I guess is in the world of The Program depression is linked to certain memories, and excising them causes the subject to be cured (ok... incredulous but sure I’ll accept this for the book to work), and yet to fight The Program Sloane ends up looking for her lost memories. The same ones that supposedly made her suicidal in the first place. Wouldn’t she become depressed and try to kill herself again then? Has she really been cured then? Do these plot twists really explore the suicide aspect? Or are they just to set up yet another true love will overcome the evil dystopian government conspiracy induced memory loss plot because Sloane obviously reunites with James on the outside?

I guess my problem is, for a book about teen suicide, The Program isn’t really about teen suicide. The suicide angle ultimately makes very little sense and the treatment aspects of The Program are only superficially explored, the rest of the book is just a generic dystopian that doesn’t build upon the teen suicide premise as much as exploit it for world building points, and that just doesn’t feel right to me.(less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Blythe rated it 4 of 5 stars

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

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May 13, 2013 Ashleigh Paige rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-via-amazon-vine, back-in-the-oven-with-you-dear-book, brb-gotta-go-sob-in-a-corner, don-t-need-my-clairvoyance-for-this, i-screamed-at-it, rage-rage-rage, right-reaction-wrong-reason, stupid-love-triangles, such-a-disappointment, the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, troll-book, whoops-threw-it-across-the-room, what-kind-of-mess-is-this, why-oh-why-did-i-fall-for-the-hype, willing-to-trade, worst-books-i-ve-ever-read, wow-what-a-douchecanoe

See more of my reviews on Birth of a New Witch! My copy was a finished copy I received for review via Amazon Vine. Finished. As in I read the same book people get if they buy it in a bookstore. Keep that in mind.

I want to kick this book in its nonexistent nuts, drown it with glee, tear it apart, and let my cats use it as cat litter. These are the degrees of hatred in our relationship. This offensive, anti-science novel with a narrow focus, shoddy premise, no records of previous medical discoveri...more

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Lissa Yeah. I was too tired to form a coherent response, but here's a longer comment:

1. Isn't erasing someone's memories like a chemical lobotomy? You're ta...more
May 14, 2013 05:17am

Ashleigh Paige 1. I got no clue because science is lost on me, but it's beyond fucked up either way. How people are okay with this for any reason and there are no pr...more
May 14, 2013 08:08am

May 21, 2013 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: liked-the-characters-some-or-all, love-triangles, made-me-cry, melting-inside-awwww, nooo-way, omfg, panic-attack, reviewed-books, sad, sexy-males

After having some time to think, i made the overall conclusion that this book is the most frustrating and saddest book i have ever read.

The Program is set in a world where depression and suicide are considered a virus. If you are thought to have caught the virus, the handlers come to get you and take you to a facility known as The Program.

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Little teaser..
I look back at James one last time, and he gives me his signature smile, wide and cocky. But it's not real. Sometimes i think it's never rea...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Zanahoria (Taly) marked it as i-better-steer-clear

Well, another of these, but hey, the blurb looks interesting, I'm proceeding to put it into the read pile... and then reach that last line.

Come on! Can you say cheese?

People of the marketing teams of dystopian works, please learn: Caps locked sentences of doom are not cool, are not awesome, do not get you more readers. You are just playing a lot of very insulting tropes.

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May 07, 2013 Bieke {Istyria book blog} rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, favorites, reread-worthy

This review is also posted on my blog: Istyria book blog

Wow... This book is heartbreaking, frustrating, dramatic, romantic and more. It was more then I expected, to be honest. Way more. And I loved every part of it.

"You're here for me. I wouldn't have survived without you, and I couldn't now. We're in this together , James. Don't forget that."

So in this book suicide is an epidemic. And the only 'cure' they could come up with is The Program. (Stupid donkeys... I may have a few ideas that could...more This review is also posted on my blog: Istyria book blog

Wow... This book is heartbreaking, frustrating, dramatic, romantic and more. It was more then I expected, to be honest. Way more. And I loved every part of it.

"You're here for me. I wouldn't have survived without you, and I couldn't now. We're in this together , James. Don't forget that."

So in this book suicide is an epidemic. And the only 'cure' they could come up with is The Program. (Stupid donkeys... I may have a few ideas that could help you know. For instance... Stop the monkeys that are making those super kill pills or let people mourn when they've lost someone... Don't wipe their memory if they get depressed because it's actually your fault they are because they can't show their emotions the way they should... Okay, I'm stopping now. Moving on.) So you get it. The Program basically erases your memories. Takes the bad ones that make you 'sick' away. So if you show signs of being sick, they take you to one of the facilities and wipe your memory and then in the end you're happy again and all the bad stuff is gone. (I would rather take one of those kill pills instead of getting my memory wiped.) It's actually pretty original. But seriously. So many geniuses in the world and that's the best they could come up with? Tsss.

"I'm just feeling sorry for myself," I say quietly. "My memories... I don't have many left."

So the main character in this story is Sloane. She is a really fun character and I loved her. I felt for her and I felt a lot. No kidding. The first part of the book is heartbreaking (the whole book is actually but okay). Her brother died, her best friend doesn't remember her, her other best friend dies and the boy she loves is taken from her too. Yeesh, talk about a hard life. But she is a fighter and she wants to hold on to James as long as she can. She doesn't want to forget. I love her for that. She's strong.

"I think I'm in love with you," he whispers. "Is that crazy?"
His words strike my heart, and the ache that's been a constant in my chest goes away completely. I lick my lips and smile. "So crazy."
"Then I guess I love you madly." And then he leans down and kisses me again.

The second half of the story is equally heartbreaking and a bit frustrating near the end. If you lose your memories, can you get them back? Does your heart remember what your mind forgot? That's the main question in the second half of the story. And it was so frustrating to know what she did not anymore. But I am sooo glad the way this book ended. And I can't wait for the next book.
Oh and I love James. He's awesome and hot. And Realm is ... I don't know, I don't like him.
Awesome book, I want the sequel. Like... Yesterday. (less)

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May 18, 2013 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-collection

It's like I never existed. We had so many secrets together and now they're just mine. The weight of them is too heavy for me to carry.

Summary:

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank sla...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, read-2013, ya-dystopic, young-adult

Okay, I’ve put this off long enough, so I’m just going to power through this… See, I’ve struggled for over a couple of weeks putting into words what The Program is truly about. My hesitation lies with the possibility that when I say, …This book is about suicide, but it’s really not about suicide... someone will take that one statement and not only get irritated with my lacking analogy but also not give The Program a chance.

So allow me a few moments while I try to convince you not to make the s...more Okay, I’ve put this off long enough, so I’m just going to power through this… See, I’ve struggled for over a couple of weeks putting into words what The Program is truly about. My hesitation lies with the possibility that when I say, …This book is about suicide, but it’s really not about suicide... someone will take that one statement and not only get irritated with my lacking analogy but also not give The Program a chance.

So allow me a few moments while I try to convince you not to make the same mistake I did. I put this book off for so long because of the subject matter. I mean, who gets excited about reading something so dismal when you can pick up a love story? That was my first error in judgment. This book is really good and it’s truly not just about depression and suicide, but more about hope.

The Program is quite unique in its own right. In the book, we learn about a society that faces a teen pandemic, where suicide rates are out of control and society has responded with an aggressive treatment strategy with The Program. There are handlers that keep their eye out for at-risk teenagers between the ages of 13 – 17, and at the first signs of depression, they enroll them in The Program that erases their memories and emotions. After the six weeks of treatment, they are carefully immersed back into society with a fresh start and a clean slate.

Brilliant right?!?! Not so much... Teenagers fear losing their memories and the emotions tied to friendships that are meaningful to them.

Sloane’s brother and best friend have both committed suicide and her friend Lucy is taken into The Program after attempting the QuickDeath. When her boyfriend James, who promised to never let them fall victim to The Program, is taken by the handlers, Sloane is left to fight, scheme and sacrifice to hold on to what’s hers.

Overall, The Program is about fighting society in an attempt to hold on to what’s yours… your memories, your emotions, and your feelings that make you - you. The writing is flawless, and the message is clear. If I had to sum up in one short statement what Suzanne Young is trying to convey, I’d have to say she was clear about sharing how important it is to not lose sight of who you are and what you cherish.

The concept is pretty severe; and like I said, it took me a while to get into the right frame of mind to jump into the book. But, once I read a few short chapters, I quickly experienced that “tell me more!” feeling. My only regret is that I feel this book would have made a magnificent stand-alone, but I understand that it’s part of a series. As much as I was awed by Young’s writing and impressed with her plot, I can’t see myself buying into the propaganda of “the story continues…” I appreciated my time with Young’s characters and I applaud her writing skills, but I can pretty much figure out the rest from here.

Overall, though, The Program is truly a story not to be missed. It may seem daunting, but not without a good serving of hope. Color me impressed!
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Apr 08, 2013 Hayley G rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book wrecked me, it's unlike anything out there right now. Full review to come.

If you're going to read one book this year, this is the book!!!

I'm not sure I can write a review that will do justice to the brilliance that Young has created with The Program. I experienced so many emotions while reading this brilliant title, I would cry in anguish, than I would feel a spark of hope, only to feel helpless all over again. It's hard not to sympathize with the characters of Young's society, I found...more This book wrecked me, it's unlike anything out there right now. Full review to come.

If you're going to read one book this year, this is the book!!!

I'm not sure I can write a review that will do justice to the brilliance that Young has created with The Program. I experienced so many emotions while reading this brilliant title, I would cry in anguish, than I would feel a spark of hope, only to feel helpless all over again. It's hard not to sympathize with the characters of Young's society, I found myself feeling depressed through much of this book, but that's only because I became so invested with the story and its characters. The theme of The Program is so prevalent to issues plaguing society right now (i.e. teen suicide). You can understand the desolate attitude of Sloane and James, their friends and classmates are all taking their lives, but no one is able to properly mourn the loss of their loved ones, for fear of being mistaken for "Depressed" and sent to The Program to be "cured".

The Program is broken up into three separate sections/books, and each section is just as good as the next, I loved experiencing this world through Sloane's perspective. She's so smart and mentally strong (as ironic as that may be, considering), and makes for the perfect heroine.

While there isn't much action, the story and character-building are done so brilliantly, that you won't feel at a loss without it. The plot moves fast through each book and you'll be rooting for Sloane and James throughout.

The romance in this story was perfect for die-hard Romantics (like me :)). The connection that Sloane and James share is literally unbreakable, and I loved experiencing and re-expriencing special moments with these two (it's so hard not to be spoilery about this!). I will warn you all though, there is a spark of love triangle in this series, and I actually wouldn't mind seeing this spark into a bit of flame.

The epilogue is amazing and completely puzzled me. I actually had to re-read it about 5 times before I FINALLY understood the meaning behind it.

I cried and sighed through much of this book and can't wait to get myself a finished copy because I know I will be re-reading it over and over. I can't wait for book #2. You have to read this book, no matter what genre of YA you prefer.

Happy Reading!!!(less)

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May 23, 2013 Eren rated it 4 of 5 stars

I still don't know what to think! I loved the plot, loved the writing, loved the characters, and loved the idea!

Suicide has been pronounced an expedience. Killing off 1-3 teens. So they've created something called "The Program". If you show symptoms of being 'sick' you get taken into The Program. Sloane's brother Brady committed suicide. Her best female friend, Lacy, was sent into the program and her best male friend, Miller, killed himself because when Lacy came out of the program, she was a sh...more

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May 21, 2013 Heather from NightlyReading rated it 5 of 5 stars

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This was the saddest book that I had read in a long time! Don't get me wrong, I loved it!!! This was exactly what a great book is supposed to do for you. It leaves you with a ton of jumbled up emotions; I felt like my heart was breaking, I fell in love, I was confused and I laughed! This book definitely makes one of my top favorites this year so far!!!

Okay, so here's the story.....

Sloane, James and Miller live in a time when suicide had effected so many of the young people. The government belie...more

This was the saddest book that I had read in a long time! Don't get me wrong, I loved it!!! This was exactly what a great book is supposed to do for you. It leaves you with a ton of jumbled up emotions; I felt like my heart was breaking, I fell in love, I was confused and I laughed! This book definitely makes one of my top favorites this year so far!!!

Okay, so here's the story.....

Sloane, James and Miller live in a time when suicide had effected so many of the young people. The government believed that suicide was an infection and it could be contagious. So, they created "The Program".

The Program basically was set up where everyone would keep watch and if anyone noticed any changes in one of the town's young people, they would call the "handler's" and that person would be taken to the one of the rehab centers to start their working towards getting better. Also, they make each student fill out an assessment at school with crazy questions like:

Have you felt lonely or overwhelmed lately?
Has someone close to you committed suicide?

Sloane, James and Miller think they have the system all figured out. They try to stay off the radar and keep all attention off of them. The problems start when Miller's girlfriend, Lacey gets released from rehab and she doesn't remember him at all. They know her memory has been erased, but they wonder what else had happened to her. What they don't know is that they have no idea of what it is really like on the inside of a rehab center. But, some of them will soon find out.

must read photo: Read Must Collage ReadMustCollage.png

Suzanne Young, I bow to you for creating a superb storyline and characters that are real and very likeable! Although, I still am not sure about this Michael person??? I find it amazing and I really can't put my finger on it, but, some authors have the ability to literally pull us in with their characters and make us feel like we are a part of their story and we feel the pain and anguish right along with them. This was one of those times and I THANK YOU!

Highly recommended Read! Now, the long wait for the next book:((less)

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May 20, 2013 Gabi rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Oh, I haven't read a good book like this in a long while! I loved everything about this book. I won't say too much, as my review skills are to be frank, terrible, but the character development in this book was absolutely stunning. [SPOILERS AHEAD] When I refer to the development, I mean when you see James and Sloane break after their friend's suicide, to when Sloane is slowly losing her memories in The Program. It was interesting to see how she looked at the 'non-returners', who, mind you, she w...more

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May 19, 2013 Kimberly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmmm. I have conflicting feelings about this book. I'm frustrated that (view spoiler)...more

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May 17, 2013 Kat Heckenbach rated it 2 of 5 stars

So, the book doesn't start out as insta-love because Sloane and James have already been together for two years. But it still feels like insta-love because that is all the book is about from the moment the opening scene is over. That opening scene is deceptive. It's there to give you the dystopian setting--that's all. What follows are pages and pages of "his eyes are so beautiful" and jokes about getting each other naked even amid really serious and depressing situations.

I'm not going to say the...more

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May 14, 2013 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars, also posted at http://ablightedone.wordpress.com/201...

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Program. A book about suicide as an epidemic? But I’m glad I took a chance with it.

Sloane lives in a world where teenage suicide kills one in three teenagers. Nobody knows the exact reasons but they have several ideas. Society views suicide as a behavioral contagion for teens. Sloane’s school district came up with The Program as an answer. They monitor teens for signs of depression and i...more 3.5 stars, also posted at http://ablightedone.wordpress.com/201...

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Program. A book about suicide as an epidemic? But I’m glad I took a chance with it.

Sloane lives in a world where teenage suicide kills one in three teenagers. Nobody knows the exact reasons but they have several ideas. Society views suicide as a behavioral contagion for teens. Sloane’s school district came up with The Program as an answer. They monitor teens for signs of depression and if they discover anything, they remove them from school and their homes. People outside of The Program don’t really know what happens inside, but when teens return from it, they don’t remember much from their lives before. They go to a different school and seem fundamentally different.

Everyone knows someone that’s committed suicide. Everyone is expected to be perfectly emotionless despite the fact that so many friends and family members die. They are always watched and questioned. There are handlers around to cart people off to The Program at any signs of depression.

The story is in three parts: before, during and after The Program. The first part paints a picture of Sloane’s world. The Program casts a shadow on Sloane’s life. It affects her every choice and is the focus of her relationships. Her boyfriend James helps her cope, but they are stressed from coping. It’s obvious that there’s pressure everywhere: pressure to survive and pressure to not get caught feeling. Sloane knows that everything isn’t right, but she also knows she doesn’t want to go through The Program. She and James have plans and promises, but they don’t stop the worst from happening.

In the second section of the book, it’s obvious The Program is suspect. They don’t care about helping teens battling depression, they’re looking for a quick fix. The fix seems really dangerous, but they’re not thinking about lasting effects. They haven’t done much research, they’re just slapping it together. Some parents want this and agree to this even though it isn’t tried or tested. They just want their children alive and don’t care how it alters them. It also seems like only sleazy people work for The Program, which makes sense. Normal people wouldn’t want to be a part of anything so dirty. It’s intense and scary to see Sloane’s memories taken from her and know there’s nothing she can do about it.

After The Program, Sloane is returned to her home without integral parts of her memory. There’s a flimsy story in place of what actually happened. It’s clear that nobody is sure about the “cure” and even with memories gone they don’t want her around certain people. But she still gravitates toward them. It seems like there’s still a connection there, even if they can’t remember anything. Nobody is sure if the memories are gone forever. The people in charge are obviously worried about something happening, though.

I enjoyed The Program and it made me feel things. I pulled for Sloane and really wanted her to be okay. I didn’t fall in love with James. He could be sweet but he also seemed pushy in a way that made me a little uncomfortable. I wish there was a way it could have wrapped up in one book, but I’m still interested in what happens to Sloane and how The Program falls.(less)

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May 12, 2013 Caterina marked it as never-reading-ever

Shelves: done-reviewed

The premise, as the reviews describe it, is flawed.

Depression is not a matter of teenage angst gone horribly wrong. I should know. I was there. Removing my memories wouldn't have changed anything about the course of my illness because it was the product of a chemical imbalance, one I have inherited from my father.

(Do you know how I can tell? He's on the same drugs.)

Would it have made my illness easier to bear? It might have done. After all, mine was aggravated by an intense homesickness and the...more The premise, as the reviews describe it, is flawed.

Depression is not a matter of teenage angst gone horribly wrong. I should know. I was there. Removing my memories wouldn't have changed anything about the course of my illness because it was the product of a chemical imbalance, one I have inherited from my father.

(Do you know how I can tell? He's on the same drugs.)

Would it have made my illness easier to bear? It might have done. After all, mine was aggravated by an intense homesickness and the results of years of bullying; if I didn't know I'd ever been anything but a happy, popular all-American teenager, maybe the social aspect of depression would not have caused me so much pain.

The flip side of that coin is the potential loss of who we become having lived our lives, no matter how hard, no matter how painful. Without my memories and experiences, who am I? Who would I have become? Not this woman, who is presently satisfied with the outcome of all that gruesome living, looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and mucking in where other people are having problems. I wouldn't have grown up, emotionally, as fast as I did if not for my hardships. I wouldn't, in a Girls world, be a woman ready to commit to a career of giving of myself that others might thrive.

I wouldn't have compassion to miss. But I wouldn't have compassion.

Would I still have panic attacks? Hard to say. Sometimes that kind of anxiety can only be relieved by examining and dealing with the triggers. I have many moments of wanting someone to take out my triggers. The trouble with letting people fiddle around in my brain is the worry that they won't stop there.

Setting my own case aside, what about teenagers whose depressions are a result of horrifying situations? The Program would wipe the teenager clean and send her in to be retraumatised, when the problem was never with the teenager at all. This is the worst punishment I can imagine for a person who is already in a bad situation: blaming the victim and pushing her back into the place that made her sick. Would we bother to examine the cause of depression if we were so focused on one result (suicide) and one method of prevention (the Program)?

And what about the spate of LGBTQ-related suicides? How would the Program cure them? By turning them straight so the bullying would stop?

This whole thing sounds like a dangerous oversimplification of a very real problem, and yes, it's an insult to see it handled so poorly. I suspect I'd be screaming bloody murder within about ten pages of cracking the cover.

-- there, I've made it through without any ad-hominems, which rest assured is a feat of self-restraint on the level of Odysseus resisting the Sirens. You can imagine for yourself what I am thinking.(less)

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Christina (A Reader of Fictions) Tina wrote: "The idea is "what if depression were a contagious disease?". It's not meant to approach the reality of depression and suicide. Since this...more
May 21, 2013 03:22pm

Caterina Tina: The idea is "what if depression were a contagious disease?". It's not meant to approach the reality of depression and suicide. Since this boarde...more Tina: The idea is "what if depression were a contagious disease?". It's not meant to approach the reality of depression and suicide. Since this boarders on a Science Fiction/dystopian book, it shouldn't be approached so clinically. All books start with a "what if" premise. It's not meant to be real... That's why it's classified as FICTION.

Fiction or not, a book should at least attempt to get its subject matter right. Do you know why The Program is especially galling? Its author works with teenagers and is marketing this to teenagers. A book about a very real social problem (teen suicide, on the rise especially among certain demographics) peddled to the very people having the social problem should not treat said social problem as a convenient plot device AT BEST.

Again, I wonder what her guidance counselor peers would make of this idea. I was a teenager who damn near killed herself and the way I read the situation, someone is trying to make a buck off my pain and the pain of so many like me without caring what it was/is really like for us.

Christina: Who's to say whether a book should be approached clinically? I'd wager that you wouldn't oppose classes analyzing the works of Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, Harriet Beecher Stowe, etc. They also wrote fiction. Just because something isn't true doesn't mean it shouldn't have value. For me, the whole value of fiction is that it reflects on real life and allows you a new lens to thing about things in a different way.

Exactly! Nowhere did anyone imply that because this is fiction, it is wrong. See my recent review of The Mockingbirds for issue fiction done well. All fiction should stand up to analysis, you're right about that. You know what's funny about the authors you described, though? They're dead. They're writing about dead people. And two of them were very much aware of the context in which they were writing (Shakespeare tends only to be controversial in that people are arguing whether he actually wrote). Harriet Beecher Stowe didn't give slavery a fun new spin in order to keep her readers happy. Mark Twain told stories which were of his time, except for A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and that one was downright jolly.

When we analyse fiction, we analyse it in context. The context of The Program is the very real, very painful issue of teenagers finding reasons to kill themselves. Even speculative fiction nods to reality in its execution -- well, the best kind does. Atwood in her Handmaid's Tale extrapolated from her reality into one that did not happen, but one she felt could have done given the right sociopolitical climate. Hard SF gets murkier; we can still look at the people and decide whether what they are doing is logical.

In The Program, the science we already know concerning depression and suicide is pitched out the window; you don't have to review it to understand that. Even if the Program itself is presented as the wrong solution, the mere fact that so many people in this world went along with the Program makes me wonder whether these kids' parents' IQs broke the double-digits. You can't bloody ignore the history of a discipline -- you can't persuade an entire field of study and science to do that -- it's as implausible as implausible gets, and that implausibility is doubly insulting because too many of this author's targeted readers are living the reality the author blithely ignores.(less)
May 21, 2013 07:46pm

May 12, 2013 goldn_rule rated it 2 of 5 stars

Suicide as an epidemic? It's a ridiculous premise. It's as if authors are running out of great material to write about, but I am getting ahead of myself. First, let me backtrack a little by telling you a quick summary of this book. In Suzanne Young's The Program, teenagers killing themselves was considered a contagion. It has spread out like a deadly strain of flu. To mitigate the disease, the government came up with the program. Teenagers suspected of developing the disease were sent over to a...more Suicide as an epidemic? It's a ridiculous premise. It's as if authors are running out of great material to write about, but I am getting ahead of myself. First, let me backtrack a little by telling you a quick summary of this book. In Suzanne Young's The Program, teenagers killing themselves was considered a contagion. It has spread out like a deadly strain of flu. To mitigate the disease, the government came up with the program. Teenagers suspected of developing the disease were sent over to a mental facility to be cured. (See I cannot finish that sentence without rolling my eyes.) Patients come out different i.e., their memory is erased, making all reasons for killing themselves forgotten. The book focuses on Sloane, whose brother, Brady, killed himself. She was dating James, Brady's best friend. An unfortunate turn of events lands Sloane in the program, relinquishing her memories. Her quest to hang on to her memories made up most of the story.

I was completely skeptical about the book as a whole; I mean I didn't even like the “A Need So Beautiful” the first Suzanne Young novel I read. It was truly unremarkable that one, but I didn't want to judge a book by its cover, or in this case by its author. I should have.

The first 5 chapters of this book narrated what I thought would be the mundane lives of James, Miller and Sloane. The alternating events were derivatives of Miller pining for Lacey (Sloane’s bestfriend who was sent over to be the program to be cured), Sloane whining inwardly and, Sloane and James making out. The deeper I got into the book, the more reason I had to toss it out altogether. It was nothing short of a Herculean task to go on reading. Thankfully the story sort of picks up halfway through the book, in fact it seemed as if Young had a few tricks up her sleeve. I must say however, that there was nothing about Sloane that made me like her better. I cannot decide whether I was irritated or mildly curious about her. And there's Realm, who happens to be just as horny as James. Let me tell you, this isn't just a book about people wanting to take their lives, I think it's about co-dependence too. At least that's how I could explain those incessant displays of physical intimacy.

I find James' character boring at best and disingenuous at least. I think Young wanted to portray James as a tortured knight-in-shining-armor, but he didn't draw me in. There is nothing unique or special with him. In fact, his unremarkable character inspired nothing but annoyance. James is only shadowed by Sloane, who is by far the most plebeian character in all of dystopia. Reading about Sloane is a tiresome ordeal. Moreover, the fact that James and Sloane had very little chemistry makes the reading experience even more challenging. Miller is....oh wait, I don't remember much about him, except for his sulking moments. And there's Realm, who happens to be just as bland as the rest of the characters.

The Program has too many characters, making the plot rickety. It felt as if Young wrote this in one go, without proofreading the entire thing. Her mind must have been like "I need an interesting turn of events, I'll throw in Realm and while I'm at it I'll make this into a love triangle" or "I need a distraction, let me add Kevin." Maybe even, "I need more fodder for the events during the program, Roger you're hired" or "I need more mystery to add another book, let Realm disappear and invent a sister who is willing to give her car to a stranger!" There are a lot of weird things about the program as well. It was supposed to be this mental facility that wipes out your memory. If that were the case, how can the "treated" patients remember their parents? Does that mean that everything else is washed out, except that?

I've read dystopian novels that centered on love (Matched, Delirium etc.) and I have to say The Program is on the bottom rung of the Dystopian ladder. Reading this book is like listening to someone's boring story, smiling all the while faking interest. The one good thing from this reading experience is that you ought to judge a book not by its cover, but by its author.

Review posted in http://g0ldnru1e.wordpress.com/

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Mar 19, 2013 Lexie Robinson Austin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis:
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program. Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their d...more Synopsis:
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program. Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories. Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

I received the ARC of The Program from Simon Pulse, and like any ARC I get and review, I try to give the book a fair shot. Even if I’m not feeling it. And for the first 118 pages of The Program, I wasn’t really feeling it. Then the plot took a turn and I was seriously hooked.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, so I’ll be brief. The first 118 pages (the part I was kind of bored with) sets up the world that Sloane and her boyfriend live in. Teenage suicide is an epidemic, and of course the government steps in to save the children. But like many other dystopian novels, all the teens know that the governmental course of action is BAD. Adults think it’s GOOD. And the adults are WRONG. In this respect, it read a lot like the 100+ YA novels out there. And there wasn't much to make it stand out. I didn't care very much for Sloane. I kind of liked her boyfriend James, but only kinda. And there was lots of dramatic teen angst type whining. Then it takes a crazy turn (which you kind of know is coming, but still. It shakes things up in a good way.)

All of a sudden, Sloane becomes a much deeper character and you actually start to like some of her feisty headstrong ways. In fact, I really admired her as I don’t think I could have been that strong in that situation. There are other characters introduced and they start to be much more likable than the characters in the first part.

Take note: Suzanne Young doesn't mess around with her characters. They are either good guys or bad guys. There’s only a few that are shades in between. And the bad guys are so very very bad. They're the kind of bad guys you love to hate. The good guys are good...but they’re still flawed enough to be human. It was a nice balance and I enjoyed the interplay between the characters a lot.

Was there romance? Kind of. Are Sloane and James in love? Yes. Are they physical? Yes. But even though the characters are doing things that are R rated, the scenes come off sort of clinical. In Sloane and James’ world, everything is about the Suicide epidemic. As a result, depression and desperation tend to leak into their physical relationship and romance. And then end result tends to feel a little lukewarm on the hot-o-meter.

There is a great cliffhanger ending with enough foreshadowing to make me think that Young is going to write a sequel. And if she does, I’ll pick it up. I liked Sloan and James enough that I want to know how their story progresses.

So when this comes out, go ahead and read it. After the slow start, it has a good storyline and great characters. It's worth it in the end.

This book will be out on store and library shelves on April 30, 2013. The Advanced Readers Copy was given for preview purposes by Simon Pulse via the PageTurnersBlog. You can read more reviews like this at: http://www.pageturnersblog.com/(less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Brooklyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, made-me-cry, reviewed, series, so-much-emotion, tab-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Eyehavenofilter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: impossible-young-love, arc

I had to think about this for awhile before I reviewed it.
I have to admit I had preconceived ideas about a YA novel before I read this but the blurb ,
" SLOANE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO CRY IN FRONT OF ANYONE
With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program "
Well, that really spooked me. I had to find out, what this was all about.
This was a cautionary tale at very least about what could happen should the government intervene in our private lives. But underneath it...more

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May 20, 2013 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine, for-review, 2013, read-may-2013

Wow, I knew I wanted to read this book but I didn't realize just how good it was going to be until I read it. The Program was amazing to me. Everything I wanted in a dystopian, and while some of it reads similar to other dystopians out there, there is a lot that is different and fresh about this book as well and that is what drew me in and kept me reading!

Sloane and James are in love but worried about the sickness that can land them in the program. Life as a teenager in the normal world is stres...more Wow, I knew I wanted to read this book but I didn't realize just how good it was going to be until I read it. The Program was amazing to me. Everything I wanted in a dystopian, and while some of it reads similar to other dystopians out there, there is a lot that is different and fresh about this book as well and that is what drew me in and kept me reading!

Sloane and James are in love but worried about the sickness that can land them in the program. Life as a teenager in the normal world is stressful enough. But in the world that Suzanne Young has created, there is so much more to worry about. What happens when you go in The Program and why don't you have any memories when you come out. James and Sloane are determined to not get "the sickness" or at least not get caught with it. But when all good intentions fall aside what do you do with the hand that life deals you? Well Sloane is a smart cookie and I love that about her. Yes she is dependent on James, but when the cards are down, she really comes into her own.

The first part of the book gives the back story and what is happening in the now up until the breaking point. Then the story is broken up into two more parts, one being The Program and the other (I can't remember the actual title) but it's the time after The Program. I won't go into details to keep this spoiler free, but let me just say that once this story gets rolling and I found myself invested in the characters and interested in the world I could not put the book down. It also read very fast. I think I sped through 200 pages in no time at all. It's just that interesting.

I've read The Hunger Games, I've read the Crossed trilogy, and while I see shades of similar dystopian features here (it's like all types of books, there are similar formulas), the formula is where it stops. The Program is a very original story. Centered around an outbreak of teen suicide and what the government is doing to try and stop it. Once it again it shows the lengths some people will go to to control people (it's not a political statement, it's very generic in the book). It's scary and fascinating at the same time and I found myself pulling for Sloane through the whole book. She has spunk and love. And I love that about her.

Are you looking for the next great YA dystopian or just a quick summer read? The Program is it. From the way it ends I am guessing it's part of a series and must admit I did not do my homework here. If it is I am looking forward to the next book. But don't worry, it's not a huge cliffhanger that will leave you miserable, just teased for the next book. With tight writing and engaging characters this may just be one of my favorite books of the year. I can't say enough how much I loved this one and can't wait to read the next in the series (if it is a series, oh please tell me it's a series!)(less)

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May 07, 2013 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Program by Suzanne Young

Yes, another dystopian young adult novel book review from In Search of the End of the Sidewalk. I’m a sucker for them! All of the websites where I buy books or that I look at for book recommendations apparently have me pegged as an angst-ridden teenager because these types of books are always at the top of the “to read” lists and I never just click away to something else.

The Program is the first novel in a series by Suzanne Young, a newer (although not brand new, as...more

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May 01, 2013 Bookphile rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, arc, young-adult-dystopian

Why has this genre gone so wrong? Dystopians were what really drew me into young adult literature, but I've had such a string of disappointments that it's making me start to wonder what I saw in young adult literature in the first place. Then again, I've read some excellent young adult novels in other subgenres, so what I really think is going on is that what started out as a promising genre turned into a trend in which everything that had the faintest whiff of "dystopia" about it was rushed to...more Why has this genre gone so wrong? Dystopians were what really drew me into young adult literature, but I've had such a string of disappointments that it's making me start to wonder what I saw in young adult literature in the first place. Then again, I've read some excellent young adult novels in other subgenres, so what I really think is going on is that what started out as a promising genre turned into a trend in which everything that had the faintest whiff of "dystopia" about it was rushed to press. This book is but the latest example. Some spoilers to follow.

First off, there's an important point that I think needs to be driven home to any author who is thinking about writing a book in this genre: a dystopia should be built from the ground up and then peopled with characters who provide a lens for examining the dystopia. This book, like many of the other young adult novels I've read lately, misses the mark entirely. The characters in this book feel like they were plopped into the middle of the dystopia. Dystopians should be all about gradually peeling back the layers of a supposedly perfect society, so that the reader is shocked and horrified by what they see, so shocked and horrified that it makes them think long and hard about whatever aspect of society the dystopia is exploring. The characters in the dystopia should not run around talking about how awful the dystopia is--because it's not a dystopia. What makes a dystopia a dystopia is the fact that it seems to be perfect until the characters either gradually realize it isn't or until the reader does, due to the casual way in which the characters navigate their world, a world that strikes the reader as utterly foreign.

The Program could have done this, it really could have. There were times when I was reading it where I thought it could have provided a compelling springboard for discussing how mental health issues are treated in our society, particularly when it comes to the use of medications. It's a topic that I think needs some serious discussion. Had this book served as a means of exploring the implications of drugs for depression and how they affect those who take them, it could have been very powerful. But I didn't think the book did touch this topic in any real way.

Instead, what this book is is a romance. There's nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but I wish that these books would label themselves more accurately. When the dystopian setting is just there to complicate the romance, I'm not interested. It's not to say that the premise of the book is without merit, because I think that it is. Exploring what it means to lose memories--particularly those of someone you love--is an interesting topic. And if it needs to have a dystopian setting, fine. But it should be clearly labeled as a "dystomance". This is not the sort of book I want to read when I'm looking for a dystopian. When I'm looking for a dystopian, what I want is something where world-building is essential because it's meant to provide a means of dissecting something about society.

Another big problem I have with this book is with the love interest, James. I never connected with him. At the beginning of the book, I thought he was kind of a jerk, and I didn't like how everything he said to Sloane had a sexual component. I don't want this portrayed as "typical" teen boy behavior because not every teen boy behaves this way and, more importantly, it's not okay if they do. I felt like James treated Sloane more like an object, and that turned me off immediately. I don't like the message it sends. I'm not saying that every YA should be about perfect boys who are on their best behavior at all times, but given the number of teen girls who stay in abusive relationships or who have sex before they're ready, I really dislike the way many YA novels portray boys who mistreat their girlfriends as hot. There's nothing hot about a boy who treats his girlfriend with disrespect, just as there's nothing hot about a girl who treats her boyfriend with disrespect. My dislike for James only increased at the end of the book, and I almost quit reading because I was so angry about his character. Not that Realm is any better, really.

My other big issue with this book was my inability to suspend disbelief. I can buy the idea that some parents would be so desperate to save their children they'd be willing to strip those children of everything that makes them who they are, but I can't buy the premise that all parents would. There is a clear dichotomy in this book: everyone thinks the program is wonderful except for the savvy teens. Maybe this will be fleshed out and given some shades of gray in future installments, I don't know. But it should have been done in this book. I don't buy that some adult somewhere wouldn't take issue with the methods used by The Program, wouldn't be upset when their child came back to them a shell of who they once were. The dumb/absent/gullible adults are a common trope in YA, one that was rather freely abused in this book.

It probably goes without saying, but I'm stepping off this train here and now, and I'm going to have some serious reservations about reading any more YA dystopians in the future. Honestly, it pains me to say this because I love this genre, but I kind of hope the YA dystopian trend dies out. It's not so much that it's been overdone but that it's been repeatedly done badly.(less)

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Apr 22, 2013 Valerie Dieter rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: HS

Recommended to Valerie by: edelweiss.com

Shelves: dystopian, series, edelweiss-arc, ya-books

(DELIRIUM read-alike)

Suicide is an international epidemic among teens, and to save their lives, The Program has been developed. The only problem? The Program erases memories, so the "cured" come back as if they have been in a coma during their teenage years. All relationships are forgotten.

Sloane's family has already lost her older brother to suicide. She and her boyfriend James have to hide every negative feeling to keep from being flagged to go into The Program. They are watched carefully at s...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Ellie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-revels

Original review posted on Book Revels

Teenage suicide has become an epidemic. Where seventeen-year-old Sloane Barstow lives, The Program has been implemented to combat the disease. But everyone knows not to show even the slightest bit of emotion, for fear of being flagged and sent to The Program. Adults think The Program is a good thing, but Sloane and her peers know better. Enter The Program…and lose yourself. Everyone who comes out forgets everything about their past life. Sloane and her boyfri...more Original review posted on Book Revels

Teenage suicide has become an epidemic. Where seventeen-year-old Sloane Barstow lives, The Program has been implemented to combat the disease. But everyone knows not to show even the slightest bit of emotion, for fear of being flagged and sent to The Program. Adults think The Program is a good thing, but Sloane and her peers know better. Enter The Program…and lose yourself. Everyone who comes out forgets everything about their past life. Sloane and her boyfriend, James, would rather die than enter The Program, but it’s becoming harder and harder to keep their pain hidden…

I have to be honest…I didn’t really have high expectations for The Program. I mean, the premise sounded okay, but really I just thought it would be depressing and yet another YA dystopian that blends in with the crowd. But then two of my book club friends read it and raved, so I tried to go in with a positive outlook. They were so right; The Program is really good.

I wouldn’t describe it as dystopian, actually. We talked about it and they said it was more futuristic but contemporary and I agree. There are futuristic elements, like suicide being an epidemic and the medicine used in The Program, but otherwise it feels contemporary. Having read it and thinking back, the word I would actually use to describe it is “sinister.” Well, one of the words anyways. Because let me tell you, The Program is creepy and terrifying. I mean, can you imagine being forced into having your memories erased? Then there’s the epidemic itself, where seemingly happy teens suddenly develop depression and kill themselves. This world is definitely dark.

Sloane has a lot of darkness inside her, too. She’s known tragedy and been affected by suicide. It’s both sad and hopeful seeing her and James try to keep each other together so they don’t have to go through The Program. They’re both fighters and that’s what I love about them. The situation seems hopeless, and they want to give up so many times, but they try to keep it together for each other. Also, there are plenty of sexy and sweet scenes between the two.

This book isn’t short on action. Each section builds in intensity and I was racing through the pages. I’m really into standalone novels right now (who has the time for more series?!), but after finishing this one, I really wanted the next book. This will definitely be a series I follow.

Overall impression:
The Program is dark and full of action. You should pick this one up.(less)

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Apr 03, 2013 J.M. Soto rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites, books-i-own

AKCHS;FJERJGE[GJOETJGEJGJTE SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME THERE'S GOING TO BE A SEQUEL OH MY GOD

REVIEW:

Pages: 416

Genre: Romance/General Fiction/Dystopia

Publication Date: April 30, 2013

My Rating: 5/5 stars

I was lucky enough to score an ARC for this book (Thanks to my local library! Thank chu, baby!) and, at first, I was very hesitant to read this book, having very low expectations for it. Now, I want to go back in time and slap myself for being such a fool.

This book is perfect. My gosh, I could gush abo...more

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May 23, 2013 Jasmine Lake rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: jasmine-lake, 4-two-month-reading-challenge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 24, 2013 Andy rated it 5 of 5 stars

* This review can also be found on www.onceuponatwilight.com *

I had the toughest time finding the right words for this review. That always seems to happen when I've just finished an absolutely amazing book. The subject matter is very strong and I can see why a lot of people might pass this book up, but I'm going to try my hardest to convince you to actually go out and pick this book up so you can enjoy it to its full potential.

In the not-so-distant future teen suicide is an epidemic and it's spr...more * This review can also be found on www.onceuponatwilight.com *

I had the toughest time finding the right words for this review. That always seems to happen when I've just finished an absolutely amazing book. The subject matter is very strong and I can see why a lot of people might pass this book up, but I'm going to try my hardest to convince you to actually go out and pick this book up so you can enjoy it to its full potential.

In the not-so-distant future teen suicide is an epidemic and it's spreading like a disease. The Program is the government's answer in helping stop the disease. Anyone showing signs of sadness or depression is immediately flagged and is put under constant watch. The Program is the cure they say, but once you return all you'll be is an empty shell of yourself. Your memories are completely gone and you don't remember anyone from your past. It's what they call a clean slate. That is exactly why Sloane doesn't show any type of emotions at school, much less at home. The only person she can confide in is James. They depend on one another, and try not to bring attention to themselves. But most of all they're trying to figure out a way to fight the disease.

Anything that has to do with such a heavy topic is not something you can easily read, but the way Young captivates you from the very beginning with her incredible writing style you can't help but feel that immediate connection with Sloane.

I can honestly say there is nothing like The Program out there right now. The storytelling by Young is done so effortlessly that you lose yourself in this book within minutes. The idea of this actually happening is pretty scary. The thought of not being able to have a choice on whether I want to be admitted into The Program is terrifying and the fact that I wouldn't be able to properly mourn the lost of the people I care about is heart wrenching.

The Program is an intense emotional story about love, lost, hope and betrayal. The underlying message that you get from The Program is to basically value everything: the good, the bad and the ugly because in the end it's what makes you, you. I enjoyed this story tremendously and will for sure be picking up the sequel.(less)

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Nov 07, 2012 Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-tour, worth-buying, must-read, for-review

The Program by Suzanne Young is broken down into three parts and each part is just as good as the first. I found myself at the edge of my seat with butterflies in my stomach, and also fear that Sloane and James would be flagged and taken into The Program.

The world that Sloane and James live in believe suicide is a disease and can be cured. I was taken by surprise over this unique idea. It's a very touchy subject because it's happening in the real world more and more. But the view Suzanne Young c...more The Program by Suzanne Young is broken down into three parts and each part is just as good as the first. I found myself at the edge of my seat with butterflies in my stomach, and also fear that Sloane and James would be flagged and taken into The Program.

The world that Sloane and James live in believe suicide is a disease and can be cured. I was taken by surprise over this unique idea. It's a very touchy subject because it's happening in the real world more and more. But the view Suzanne Young creates in The Program on suicide was beyond entertaining and refreshing as well as super, super scary. If you cry, you can get flagged. If you show any type of sadness you can be flagged. Even lashing out over things that you have every right to lash out about can get you flagged. Basically, to survive you have to constantly be happy and smiling. It's the only way you will not attract any attention to yourself.

Things for Sloane are already rough as it is. She lost her brother to suicide so she has to be even more cautious. Since, according to The Program suicide spreads like Cancer, Sloane can easily “catch it” and attempt to take her life.

This book was sick! I mean this in a good way. I truly enjoyed this novel. I did feel though that somewhere in the middle is drags a little, but it’s all necessary in order to understand how the world Young has created works. I loved some of the scenes between James and Sloane and quickly fell in love with them both. They have been through so much and know that they can only count on each other to get through all this. There is so much betrayal, hurt, confusion, loss , and love in this book that it was hard not to like it. I was highly entertained and was eager to get to the end and find out what happens.

Things I was not very happy with were the slight love triangle and the ending. I was not happy one bit with the ending, but it leaves room for a second book so I guess I will just have to wait to find out what happens next.

Overall, The Program is a pleasurable story with a unique take on teen suicide. The story climaxes at the right time, and the characters are very likable. There is lots of suspense, romance, and action to keep you glued from page one until the very end. I highly recommend this book!

4 out of 5 stars! (less)

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Never Too Old For...: Giveaway for 2 copies of The Program by Suzanne Young	1	4	May 20, 2013 03:33pm
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Shut Up & Read: Win one of 2 copies of The Program by Suzanne Young	1	6	May 13, 2013 08:40am
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The Program (Program #1)

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