Slated (Slated, #1)

Jun 17, 2012 Emily May rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, arc, dystopia-utopia, 2012

There's a certain weird formula in my head that I use when deciding on a book's rating, some of it's logical with checkboxes of things I like and don't like, but a lot of it is just on gut feeling. However it's done, goodreads is constantly worming its way into the back of my mind and, as I read, I have a general idea of the rating I want to give and it will creep up or down as the book progresses. Problems arise when I read a book that is a four star exciting read with great ideas, perfect pac...more

There's a certain weird formula in my head that I use when deciding on a book's rating, some of it's logical with checkboxes of things I like and don't like, but a lot of it is just on gut feeling. However it's done, goodreads is constantly worming its way into the back of my mind and, as I read, I have a general idea of the rating I want to give and it will creep up or down as the book progresses. Problems arise when I read a book that is a four star exciting read with great ideas, perfect pacing and some characters I like - except it is full of two star (or less) issues. That is Slated. If you're reading this review, I want you to take from it the knowledge that I really enjoyed this and, as YA dystopias go, it's pretty darn good. But you'll see why I lowered my rating and hopefully this will help you decide if the issues I had will be a hindrance to your enjoyment also.

I really like the ideas about control that Ms Terry presents, there's some element of this in most dystopian ficion but she actually brings in a few new ideas (to me, anyway). She brings in the idea of emotion control through use of a device called a 'Levo', these are sensors strapped to the slated person's wrist that force a black out if their mood levels get too low, the idea is to stop them being able to get into a state of anger or depression that would allow them to hurt themselves or others.

I also think this whole punishment vs rehabilitation debate is interesting - what if we could wipe the minds of serial killers, terrorists, child murderers and give them a second chance at life as an entirely new person? Because if you erase your memories and personality then you are no longer you, right? Most of all, I think it's good to get back to a dystopian world that has the potential to happen, a world that I could see forming over a political debate gone haywire. I wish we had been given more information about how the society formed, the details were introduced late and there's still much we don't know. [Please skip the rest of this paragraph if you want to be completely surprised as to how the dystopian society came about - but it won't affect your ability to enjoy the story.] However, I found the idea of a coalition government gone wrong quite fascinating, especially (this was probably the author's reason) seeing as Britain currently has such a government - made up of two very not compatible parties. The idea is that, with such opposing ideas, the two sides attempt to reconcile their differences but neither end up getting what they actually wanted.

Kyla has been slated. She is told this is because she was a criminal but the government showed mercy and gave her a second chance to be an asset to society. Now she must play by their rules because there are no more chances after this one, she must learn to fit in and not ask questions. But along the way she can't stop herself from questioning things, she isn't so accepting of the brusque answers she receives about those people who just disappear. She is plagued by strange dreams at night and desperately tries to piece together the puzzle of who she is before it's too late. This is dystopia as it was when I used to love it: plausible, frightening and rooted in moral dilemmas.

So, three stars, huh? Okay, here's why. Kyla is such a Mary Sue. She is that girl, we've all read about her, oh, let's say a million times. She's relatively plain (or thinks she is) but nice and intelligent. There's a strikingly beautiful girl called Tori who likes the same guy she does, but Tori is a bitch to Kyla (naturally) and is described as "bitter and twisted" and "not Ben's type". These hot but nasty girls can't compete with our Bella Swan wannabes. Tori is basically there to make our heroine look better, I'm certain of it, otherwise she's just a throwaway character. Kyla is also constantly doubting Ben's feelings for her and believes him to like Tori even after he expresses interest in her and she's already been told there's nothing going on between the two of them. To be fair, the romance doesn't swamp this story and it is merely a subplot - but it's still an annoying one.

Just a note on this subject of female characters: other than this, they get better as it goes along. At first I feared that Kyla was going to be the only likeable female in the book, but this isn't true and my favourite characters ended up being the women.

Another negative, though, is the sensing. This got on my nerves in The Scorch Trials, it's just one of those things that really annoys me above most other annoying issues. Kyla is always "sensing" things and "getting a feeling". Many times the plot is led in a certain direction because the MC just feels that it's right - this seems like a lazy way to tell a story to me. At one point, she gets a really bad feeling about certain things and decides talking about them is dangerous - then she talks about them with a guy she's just met because there's "just something about him" that tells her he's trustworthy. WHAT?? Would you really put yourself at risk - and she knows at this point what happens to those who don't play by the rules - just because you have a gut feeling about someone? Would you take that chance when there's actually no reason for you to tell them? I know I wouldn't.

Conclusion? This is a good dystopia with a not great heroine who does a few things that don't make sense to me. If you're interested in the political aspect of dystopian fiction and can overlook other matters, then I would highly recommend Slated to you.(less)

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May 24, 2012 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-2012, own-a-dtb, are-you-kidding-me, debut-author, dystopia, highly-anticipating-2012, moments-of-great-frustration, ya, reviewed-in-2012

Late in the 21st century, the government, no longer the United Kingdom but Central Coalition, found a new way to deal with criminals. Instead of prisons or even capital punishment, they get a clean slate, or more precisely, they get slated – their memory gets wiped clean and, if they’re underage, they get assigned to a new Mum and Dad, a whole new family they’re supposed to treat as their own. Kyla has been slated nine months ago, and the time has come for her to leave the New London Hospital an...more Late in the 21st century, the government, no longer the United Kingdom but Central Coalition, found a new way to deal with criminals. Instead of prisons or even capital punishment, they get a clean slate, or more precisely, they get slated – their memory gets wiped clean and, if they’re underage, they get assigned to a new Mum and Dad, a whole new family they’re supposed to treat as their own. Kyla has been slated nine months ago, and the time has come for her to leave the New London Hospital and go live with her new parents and sister.
The tightly controlled society is run by the Lorders (Law and Order Officers) and it’s normal for people to disappear, be taken away any time, with little or no warning. All slated wear a Levo around their wrists - it is a device that measures their moods and keeps things from getting out of hand. If they feel anything too strongly, their Levo shuts them down and they black out in pain.

As entranced as I was by this story, I did manage to notice some discrepancies. The problem with putting your character in such a challenging situation, or rather state of mind, is that it’s very hard to remain consistent. Kyla doesn’t know very much about the outside world when she leaves the New London Hospital, she even has no idea how to use the car door handle, and yet no one is surprised when she recognizes the sound of gunfire just a few days later. We could probably explain it away easily, with something simple like a movie, but the skeptic in me always assumes the worst.

Also, I love to know a bit more about the background with my dystopias. It’s not enough to just describe the society, I need to know how it came to be. (This pretty much sums up my problems with Divergent). In Slated, some of it was explained towards the end of the book, but it was too little, too late. I hope the sequel will take care of that.

The romance didn’t quite reach me. I liked Kyla and I liked Ben, but I never understood how their relationship happened. Or why. At the beginning, Ben is described as a gorgeous boy every girl in school wants to be with, but he remains uninterested until Kyla shows up. Then, suddenly, he’s all over her, friendly, protective, always there to help. She is, of course, insecure and convinced that he’s dating another girl, even when he starts spending all his free time with her. What makes it bearable is that Slated is not really focused on the romance, it’s focused on Kyla’s recovery, past and new family, all of which was handled perfectly.

Minor issues aside, Terry did a great job with the subject of memory loss. The beginning of Slated reminded me a bit of the beginning of Thyla. But the most interesting part Terry explored is muscle memory. Sometimes, Kyla would just stop thinking about things and start moving instinctively – she discovered a lot if things about her old self that way, her ability to drive just one of them.

Me pointing out a few flaws doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy Slated. As far as dystopias go, it was better than most. If you’re a fan of the genre, you won’t want to miss it. If you’re a fan of all things British like I am, you’ll enjoy the British setting and the distinctly British language.

A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, Hachette Children's Books UK, for review purposes.

Also posted at The Nocturnal Library (less)

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Jun 29, 2012 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-or-galley, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic, dystopian

“Don’t you ever want to know?”
“What?”
“Why you were Slated.”
“No. If the past is unbearable, why choose to bear it?”
I shrug. Because it is mine.

In Kyla’s world, Law and Order officers lurk in the shadows, waiting to pounce on any potential rule-breakers. The Central Coalition has devised a way of dealing with criminals under the age of 16. They are Slated – wiped of all memories and former personalities and given the opportunity to start over as different people. With a Levo attached to their wris...more “Don’t you ever want to know?”
“What?”
“Why you were Slated.”
“No. If the past is unbearable, why choose to bear it?”
I shrug. Because it is mine.

In Kyla’s world, Law and Order officers lurk in the shadows, waiting to pounce on any potential rule-breakers. The Central Coalition has devised a way of dealing with criminals under the age of 16. They are Slated – wiped of all memories and former personalities and given the opportunity to start over as different people. With a Levo attached to their wrists, monitoring their emotions and loaded with the potential to cause unconsciousness should the wearer be close to inflicting harm, the Slateds are forced into being the perfect citizens. Kyla is one of the Slated.

This is a plausible dystopian world that Teri Terry creates. Although lacking in some finer details, the concept of two opposing parties reaching a compromise on punishment and rehabilitation with the process of Slating is actually fairly credible. It really did make me think, especially with Britain currently being run by a coalition government. It’s a chilling idea but not a completely far-fetched one. Not set too far in the future, there isn’t a great deal of world-building to appreciate, but the ideas that were present were interesting enough. I was fascinated by Terry’s creation of the Levo. The thought of having one permanently attached my wrist monitoring my emotional levels is just plain creepy.

Although I appreciated the story overall, I felt it was fairly anti-climactic. The start was an engaging one and the mystery surrounding Kyla and her past was probably what intrigued me the most. I wish this level of interest had been consistent throughout the book, but I felt much of the middle should have been condensed. The ending is what disappointed the most. Slated is a slow paced book, sometimes frustratingly so, and this aspect fed over into the climax. I was expecting something more startling to happen, or something that held more of my interest. I guess I can blame this on Ben.

Ben is the love interest, though I should stress that the romance is very light in this book. I couldn’t get a grasp on his character. For the most part, I was uninterested by him and bored by his presence. I almost wish the romantic sub-plot hadn’t been included – and this is not something I usually say. If you’ve read the book, you can then probably imagine why the direction of the storyline bothered me.

Despite the few issues I had with this story, I did still enjoy it. I’m slightly disappointed it wasn’t particularly mind-blowing, but I think Terry did a fairly commendable job with this book. Her writing was distinct and that I appreciated. She has an interesting way with words and provided that she polishes up with the plot slightly, I will definitely be reading the second book.

(This review also appears on my blog)
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Jul 23, 2012 Sarah (saz101) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia, 2012-releases

4.5 stars

Is there something in the water in England? Or is it simply the obvious—that English is their language? Well, another Brit’s at it and, ladies and gentlemen, Teri Terry is a terrific writer. Tense, oppressive and—frankly—brilliant, Slated is a shining jewel of an addition to its genre.

The Story:
Kyla Davis is no-one. She has been Slated. Her memories, her past, her life erased; her synapses rewired, and her mind wiped blank.

Sent to live with a new mum and dad—not that she would know the...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Lindsay Cummings rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: myarcs

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up SLATED, other than the fact that the cover and synopsis sucked me right in. But I can say this, to those who just skim through reviews, or to those who just want proof that this is one of my favorite books I've read in a long while: I don't want to remember what reading was like before I read SLATED. It is everything I have been looking for in a book: suspense, mind-bending mystery, romance, and just the right amount of science fiction to appeal to t...more I didn't know what to expect when I picked up SLATED, other than the fact that the cover and synopsis sucked me right in. But I can say this, to those who just skim through reviews, or to those who just want proof that this is one of my favorite books I've read in a long while: I don't want to remember what reading was like before I read SLATED. It is everything I have been looking for in a book: suspense, mind-bending mystery, romance, and just the right amount of science fiction to appeal to those who aren't typical fans of the genre.

Characters:
SLATED is about Kyla, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been given a second chance at life once she has had her memory wiped by the government. Slateds must wear a device called a Levo, which helps monitor their moods. It keeps them from being able to feel things that every human has the right to feel, and that is a wonderful creepy twist.
I loved Kyla. The best kind of character is one that a person can relate to, and the author painted the perfect picture in my mind of who this girl was and grew to be. Kyla is thrown into the world as a child would be. She is unsure of her surroundings, completely new to everything around her. Without her memories, she has to discover everything again for the first time. She becomes strong in the silent, gradual sense. She is scared of standing out in a world where everything has to be "just so," yet somehow, she does it every day. It was so cool to see her slowly figuring out how things worked, in the same sense that a toddler would. But she is smarter. Stronger, and has strange breakthroughs that leave the reader begging for more pages. I was up late at night just to see how Kyla would take the things that happened to her.
The other characters, like her Mum and Dad and sister Amy (who was also Slated), were always changing sides on me, and for some reason, I loved that. I couldn't figure out who to trust. Who to believe. They kept me on my toes while reading, and I found myself flipping through the pages as fast as I could to get to the next chapter.
Which brings me to Ben. Oh, Ben, with your steamy eyes and your sexy runner's physique. What I would give to be with you. LOL. His character is the most wonderful compliment to Kyla's. Together, they are up against the world, and that makes the romance so much more desirable for the reader.
Plot:
SLATED is one of those books that takes you for a wild ride, then spits you out at the end and leaves you breathless, and few other books can compare.
There is so much mystery to this one. So much suspense and while readers may look at this book as purely Dystopian, it is so much more than that. It will appeal to readers of every genre, even those who like steamy romance.
SLATED is very big-brothery in the sense that the Slateds don't have the freedom to do as they please. It seems there are always eyes watching them.
There were so many moments where I found myself feeling like I was Kyla, desperate to understand the hold that the government had on the world. People are disappearing. People are scared of the authorities, and best of all, I think people in this book are scared of their own power to make a difference. It was scary, because it felt so real. And it very well could become real. That's the best kind of fiction.

Basically, I don't know how I'll last until book 2 comes out. I almost wish I could be Slated, just so I could read this book again and re-experience it all for the first time. That's how awesome it was. The mystery...the relationship between Kyla and Ben, the gorgeously descriptive writing, and the awesome ending. Oh, Lord, the ending...don't even get me started on that. This is quite a big book, and don't think that you'll discover what's really going to happen by the time the last few pages roll around. Because you won't. The ending has a heart-wrenching, amazingly shocking twist, and that's another reason I love it. I think SLATED is going to help pave the way for a new brand of YA Science Fiction, and I'm proud to be a fan of it from the start. You want to read this book. I'll say it again. YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK. (less)

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Dec 03, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

From the moment I saw this creeptastic cover I knew I had to read it! Slated also deals with memory loss which has always been a fascinating subject to me in addition to ensuring that the story will be both creepy and mysterious. This novel brings it on both fronts. The mystery vibe is kept immensely high with the regular visions/dreams of her apparent past, leaving me to absolutely devour every page of it!

Unlike any dystopian I have read, Slated introduces a world not very unlike our present, b...more From the moment I saw this creeptastic cover I knew I had to read it! Slated also deals with memory loss which has always been a fascinating subject to me in addition to ensuring that the story will be both creepy and mysterious. This novel brings it on both fronts. The mystery vibe is kept immensely high with the regular visions/dreams of her apparent past, leaving me to absolutely devour every page of it!

Unlike any dystopian I have read, Slated introduces a world not very unlike our present, but where teenage criminals are being Slated---wiped of their memories to start over. To punish them further, their mood is monitored and they have to deal with grave consequences if they lash out or become angry/moody. This way of life is fantastically creepy as the reader is aware of just how much control the government can have with this arrangement. You are never any more vulnerable than with a swiped memory! I was kept on my toes with the mystery of it all, becoming almost giddy every time we warped into a vision or dream that might possibly give us another glimpse into her past.

This leads me to the one disappointment of the book: the answers were not nearly enough for me. Or rather, we get no answers. We get quick visions of her pre-slated life that bring up more and more questions, and even though it works to bring the (fantastic) mysteries of the book to extreme altitudes, it simply isn't enough. As a consequence, large parts of the world building is kept just as secret. In the end, I was left feeling that the book was simply dissolved. It fizzles into a "To be continued" rather than an ending; there is no pinnacle of events that unravel to give us, at the very least, a slight crack into the mystery. So although I was kept thoroughly glued to this story, the book failed to give the final whomp that it deserved.

Kept at a minimum, the romance is not worth going into details in this review. It's there, but it's a very minimal part of the story. I can't say I developed a high interest in this sub-plot, but it wasn't an aspect that I would deem negative, either. Though this may change if Terry decides to make the romance a bigger aspect of the sequel.

At least for now, Kyla is the star of the show, and she is kept center stage. Being newly slated, she is a very unique narrator as we don't know anything about her--and neither does she. She also doesn't know a lot about the world, like how to open car doors for instance. It's always a favorite of mine to see reactions of characters who know nothing of our world. I did notice a few discrepancies in her behavior/knowledge, but overall it was highly entertaining.

Recommended for fans of mysteries and thrillers; Slated does require patience in getting some answers, but I guarantee it's not going to change how engaging this plot is!

--
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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Mar 20, 2013 Equestrienne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Just about everyone.

Recommended to Equestrienne by: The book itself. Happens a lot, actually.

Slated. An ominous title, don't you think? I was drawn to this book like a horse to a stuffed full hay-net, I couldn't resist picking it up and admiring its cover. I flipped it over to read the blurb, and before you could blink I had it open to the first page. An amazing adventure had begun.

I noted many similar characteristics between Kyla and myself, such as green eyes, left-handedness and a passion for drawing, to name a few. Although I am nowhere as good an artist as Kyla, I can draw horses (...more Slated. An ominous title, don't you think? I was drawn to this book like a horse to a stuffed full hay-net, I couldn't resist picking it up and admiring its cover. I flipped it over to read the blurb, and before you could blink I had it open to the first page. An amazing adventure had begun.

I noted many similar characteristics between Kyla and myself, such as green eyes, left-handedness and a passion for drawing, to name a few. Although I am nowhere as good an artist as Kyla, I can draw horses (what else?!?!) and other animals pretty well!

My favourite quote from this book would be: "I begin, hesitant at first with an unfamiliar hand. Line, shading, all. Dr Lysander begins to look back at me from under my pencil. Goose bumps rise along my arms, my neck." This quote is describing Kyla's experimentation with drawing with her left hand, and also drawing sinister Dr. Lysander (who we later find out has a horse). I can relate to this quote because I get a similar enjoyment out of a drawing gone right, a rare phenomenon for a perfectionist like myself, and that I felt goosebumps of my own rising as I read that paragraph. It was one of my favourite parts of the book, because Kyla finds out she is in fact left-handed, and that starts up her suspicions that everything is not as it seems, and perhaps she has not been completely Slated after all....

I think her addiction to running suits her and her situation well. Most people have never experienced the rush of running when you really get going, myself included, but I can imagine it's a little something like when you get into a drawing, and your brain is fully on the right-hand side. Or when a poem or story flows straight from your mind through your hand and pen, gliding out onto the paper like a ballerina on ice.

This book taught me numerous things about myself, and as many heroine based stories before it, to NEVER give up, and to question things that do not seem right.

I would highly recommend this book, and the sequel. And the rest of the series. I haven't even read the sequel, yet, if it's anything like the first, I know for a fact that I'm going to love it. Read Slated now. I swear you won't regret it.

[This book fits under the category of own choice on the English Bingo Board.]

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Aug 30, 2012 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian, zzzzzzz

I'm a sucker for covers, and I applaud this one for fooling me so successfully . The book blurb made it sound even more promising. I like mysteries; I like a book that is able to make me wonder and guess at hidden secrets. Being a YA novel, I was not expecting Slated to be mindblowingly intricate, but I did expect it to have some sort of puzzle to solve.

The depth of the puzzle was, unfortunately, very disappointing.

As the book description states; Kyla's memory has been erased - slated, is the te...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Faye (The Social Potato) rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, what-the-hell, 2012, crime, drama, dystopian, what-the-flying-fuck, boring-narrative, boring-hero-heroine, i-don-t-recommend-at-all

I'm so sorry for giving it a one-star, but this book really deceived me. I have DNF-ed a lot of books, but I try not to give a rating, but usually those books are the ones that I think may work for some of my friends, so I try to leave it rating-less. But this one? I don't recommend it. At all. This novel deceived me. It tricked me, lied to me, and made me so angry that I wanted to ~~throw my kindle (okay that's overused now)~~ buy a kilo of sugar and eat it all in utter depression. Yeah. I was that...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Reynje rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, not-for-me, read-2012, young-adult

2.5 stars

Yeah, so now it’s time for me to be irritatingly contrary.

Because I know full well that I have a lot of gripes about the current dystopian/dystomance/post-apoc/futuristic trend in YA right now. And I know that while I generally enjoy these genres, sadly few books actually deliver for me, in terms of solid worldbuilding, logical plot, interesting premise etc.

And now here comes a book that actually has most of those things and... I don’t really... like it.

I could raise my rating on the b...more 2.5 stars

Yeah, so now it’s time for me to be irritatingly contrary.

Because I know full well that I have a lot of gripes about the current dystopian/dystomance/post-apoc/futuristic trend in YA right now. And I know that while I generally enjoy these genres, sadly few books actually deliver for me, in terms of solid worldbuilding, logical plot, interesting premise etc.

And now here comes a book that actually has most of those things and... I don’t really... like it.

I could raise my rating on the basis on the last 50 or so pages, but that feels disingenuous. Because honestly, I felt almost completely unengaged and dare I say it – bored – during the preceding 400. And it’s frustrating and disappointing to say that, because I feel that Terry’s ideas are good and the basis for her novel is a sound one. It’s just that this book, the first in a series, essentially felt like a lot of stretching and foot-stomping – a warm up for the actual story that only really begins to hit its stride in the final couple of chapters.

In Slated, terrorists and criminals under a certain age are rehabilitated by having their minds wiped clean of memories of their former lives. Placed with families, they are installed with a Levo to monitor levels of emotional stress (with a safety net of blowing their heads off should they fall too low, because you have to keep your former criminals in line, natch) and reintegrated into society.

Essentially, the bulk of Slated is concerned with the internal ruminations of Kyla as she begins to realise that something is amiss with her slating, and that her past may not be entirely lost to her.

As I mentioned before, I think this is a concept with great potential, especially to explore issues of choice, human rights, nature vs nuture and control. And this series may yet deliver a more articulate commentary on these themes. I just feel that Slated itself lacked the substance I was expecting. The focus was on Kyla’s development as she began to uncover the truth about herself, yet I didn’t find this as compelling as it needed to be to really carry the story. Similarly, despite the vaguely threatening presence of the Lorders (enforcers of law and order), a few unexplained occurrences and shifty types, I felt that the plot lacked a sense of urgency. The repetitive nature of the story (school, running, Group, home, and repeat etc), while serving to show Kyla’s increasing awareness, didn’t really lend itself to gripping reading.

Or maybe it’s just me. The fact that the first few chapters didn’t really grab me is probably a sign that it wasn’t my thing. (Also, once I noticed the lack of contractions, that’s all I could really focus on. Amazing how my brain is hijacked by such trivial things..)

I don’t think Slated is a bad book by any means, it just didn’t speak to me in a way that makes me keen to pick up the sequel. That said, anyone looking for a thoughtful, more introspective take on dystopia may find this a solid, enjoyable read.
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Mar 10, 2013 Nícky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Si tuviera que describir este libro con una palabra esa sería brillante!!! Ese modo de escribir te engancha desde el primer párrafo, las sensaciones, los misterios, el miedo y la incertidumbre consiguen apropiarse de ti y convertirte en Kyla, o en lo que debería ser Kyla, una Blanqueada que recuerda más de lo que debería, que se cuestiona más de lo que sería aconsejable para ella. Con un padre del que no me fío nada, con una madre que parece prisionera de su propia vida y con una doctora que no...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Renu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review-from-publisher, favourites

Suspense, drama and romance. Slated is a one-sit read that will have you hooked from page one!

London 2054. Criminals under the age of 16 are slated. Their memory's are erased and they're given a second chance to be model citizens - this means being obedient and not questioning the government. Kyla is slated, she's given a new family, a new school, and a chance to become a good member of society. But there's something different about her, she remembers fragments of her past life and beings to que...more Suspense, drama and romance. Slated is a one-sit read that will have you hooked from page one!

London 2054. Criminals under the age of 16 are slated. Their memory's are erased and they're given a second chance to be model citizens - this means being obedient and not questioning the government. Kyla is slated, she's given a new family, a new school, and a chance to become a good member of society. But there's something different about her, she remembers fragments of her past life and beings to question why. Even though it leads her on a path of danger she is determined to find out the truth. But at what cost?...

The romance between Ben and Kyla didn't really do much for me, I think the book could have done without it to be honest. Ben was likeable enough, but as a love interest he was pretty boring. At this point I'm more interested in learning about Nico, a mysterious young man from Kyla's past.

The idea of Levo's was definitely interesting. Those that are Slated have to wear it on their wrist - 5/6 is the standard happiness level, level 3 is dangerous, and if they're really angry/upset their levels will drop to 2 which leads to blackouts and even death. Why does it cause blackouts/death? To prevent them from harming themselves or society. And if they attempt to take it of? Unbearable pain followed by seizures or even death. Scary, right?!

I liked how layered all the characters were. Dr.Lysander was difficult to read, one minute I disliked her and the next I wasn't so sure. Then there's Kyla's 'mum' and 'dad', and again, my opinion of them changed as the story went on. Every character from Phoebe, and Mrs Ali to Mr Hatten and Amy had more to them than met the eye.

I really admired Kyla, she was a strong and stubborn mc. I enjoyed watching her character develop and grow as the novel progressed. She questioned everything, and even though she was a Slated she had a mind of her own. I can't even image waking up one day with no memory of my past life, I would be so lost, but Kyla is not the kind of person to give up. Even when things get rough she's determined to seek out the truth about herself and her past.

There's tons of suspense and tension in Slated. There was never once a predictable moment, twist and turns were constantly thrown in that shocked me. There wasn't much action as the story mostly revolved around Kyla learning more about herself and trying to piece together her past, but I have a feeling there is action to come in the sequel.

This review also appears on my blog The Page Turner.(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 ★Yσsвє★ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: moustache, great-book

Después de repasar este libro, puedo escribir una mejor review sobre el.

Slated es una historia, que no sé cómo ni en qué momento, se cuela por tus pensamientos y simplemente no puedes dejar de leerlo.

Llegas a creer que no está pasando nada, que se pone un poco lento, y ¡bum! el golpe.

Básicamente comienzas a leer, un poco de descripción, un poco de introducción por aquí por alla...

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Luego la historia va avanzando, intriga, interrogantes, esto lo otro...

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A la mitad del libro simplemente...
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Las últi...more

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May 22, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, own, arc, for-review, dystopian, favorites, review, really-liked, young-adult

*An ARC was provided by Orchard Books in exchange for an honest review*

After reading all the rave reviews about this book I was super excited to get the chance to read it. And it didn’t disappoint.

First off, may I just say that this is one of the most original, imaginative ideas I have seen in a book in a long time. I have a friend who has diabetes, so I think that Terry got the idea for the Levos from that, but it was such an interesting spin on it that I honestly didn’t care. Everything about...more

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May 20, 2012 Vickie Ramage rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The biggest surprise when I started reading this book was that Slated is set in England. I wasn't expecting it, as I had this idea that English Dystopian stories were pretty small, not as action packed as out American friends. I was wrong. Slated is BIG story and full of action and a whole bucketful of suspense, too. I read it in two sittings, only stopping because of an annoying need to eat stuff.

Kyla is different. This is a sentence which is used often throughout the story and it's true too -...more

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Jun 02, 2013 Bissfan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Bissfan by: Shiku

3,5
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Im Jahr 2054 hat das Vereinigte Königreich die EU verlassen und die Grenzen geschlossen. Innerhalb versucht die Central Coalition den Terrorismus, der sich ausgebreitet hat, zu bekämpfen. Eine Maßnahme zu diesem Zweck ist das Slating: Verbrecher werden einer Operation unterzogen, die sie ihr altes Leben vergessen lässt. Da dieses Vorgehen nur vor dem 16. Lebensjahr möglich ist, werden sie danach in neuen Familien mit einer neuen Identität untergebracht, vertra...more 3,5
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Im Jahr 2054 hat das Vereinigte Königreich die EU verlassen und die Grenzen geschlossen. Innerhalb versucht die Central Coalition den Terrorismus, der sich ausgebreitet hat, zu bekämpfen. Eine Maßnahme zu diesem Zweck ist das Slating: Verbrecher werden einer Operation unterzogen, die sie ihr altes Leben vergessen lässt. Da dieses Vorgehen nur vor dem 16. Lebensjahr möglich ist, werden sie danach in neuen Familien mit einer neuen Identität untergebracht, vertraglich dazu verpflichtet, sich in die Gesellschaft einzubringen.
Dies ist die Situation, mit der sich die 16-Jährige Kyla konfrontiert sieht. Nach neun Monaten im Krankenhaus wird sie nun entlassen, um mit der Familie Davis zu leben, dessen weitere Tochter Amy ebenfalls ein Slater ist. Es gibt viele alltägliche Dinge, die sie wieder lernen muss und nicht alle Menschen wollen den Slatern die zweite Chance geben. Doch sehr bald muss sich Kyla noch mit ganz anderen Probleme herumschlagen: Sie ist nicht wie andere Slater, sieht Dinge, die sie nicht sehen sollte und kann Dinge, an die sie sich eigentlich nicht erinnern dürfte. Erfahren darf dies niemand, denn instinktiv weiß sie: Eine dritte Chance wird es nicht geben.

„Slated“ war ein Spontankauf, den ich nicht bereue, auch wenn mich das Buch am Ende nicht ganz umhauen konnte. Dabei startet es eigentlich recht gut, wenn auch langsam, was der Situation aber vollkommen gerecht wird. Kyla wird aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen und muss sich in der alltäglichen Welt erst wieder zurechtfinden. Auch wenn sich ihre Sprachfähigkeit sehr schnell erholte, gibt es immer noch Begriffe und Sprichwörter, die ihr nichts sagen, genauso wie sie den Ablauf eines Abwaschs erst noch einmal erläutert kriegen muss, ehe sie es selber machen kann. Sie ist nicht vollkommen hilflos, immerhin verbrachte sie ein Dreivierteljahr im Krankenhaus, um all solche Dinge zu lernen, aber hier und da braucht sie dennoch Hilfe oder ist erstaunt, wie das Ganze in der Realität – statt nur auf einem Bild – wirkt.
In der Zeit wird dem Leser aber nicht nur vorgekaut, wie ein Alltag abzulaufen hat, sondern auch die Welt, in der die Menschen jetzt leben, näher gebracht. Sehr viel anders ist sie zunächst nicht: Die Menschen fahren noch ganz normale Autos, das Leben ist keineswegs nur von Technologie bestimmt, es gibt keine Roboter und Krebs ist wahrscheinlich immer noch ein Problem. Dennoch gab es auch Entwicklungen in allen möglichen Bereichen, was das Slating wohl am allerbesten demonstriert. Es mag zunächst auch gar nicht mal so schlecht klingen, wenn sonst gewalttätigen Menschen eine zweite Chance gegeben und ein neues Leben ermöglicht wird, doch es zeigt sich ziemlich bald, dass längst nicht alles im Reinen ist. Überwachung und Zensur ist schlimmer geworden, Kritik sollte nicht zu offen geäußert werden und wenn jemand dem Slating unterzogen wurde, wird ihm damit auch jede Möglichkeit genommen, sich selbst zu verteidigen – nur eine von vielen „Nebenwirkungen“. In dieser Hinsicht ist Kylas „erste“ Reise in die Welt außerhalb des Krankenhauses sehr richtungsweisend: Das Krankenhaus, das sie verlässt und auch den ersten Eindruck außerhalb darstellt, gleicht eher einem Gefängnis, was sie zunächst gar nicht so sehr stört. Nun, das wird sich ändern.

Das Problem des Buches ist, dass sich dieses Tempo nie erhöht. Kyla lebt sich ein, findet Freunde, sieht sich aber auch immer mehr Geheimnissen und verschwindenden Personen gegenüber. Ab einem gewissen Punkt hätte ich ihr am liebsten einen leichten Stoß gegeben und ihr „Na los, jetzt komm schon!“ hinterhergerufen. Bringt natürlich nichts und das Buch zieht in seinem gemächlichen Tempo weiter.
Es liegt lediglich an den weiterhin bestehenden Rätseln und an denen, die noch dazu kommen, dass es sich nicht ganz zieht oder gar langweilig wird. Während ich die ersten 200 Seiten beinahe süchtig in mich hineingesogen habe, ging’s danach etwas weniger dringlich weiter. Interessant war es immer noch, aber die extreme Neugierde, als alles noch neu war und die ersten Ungereimtheiten auftauchten, hatte nachgelassen.
Tja, und dann kam das Ende. Einen Abschluss kann man es nicht wirklich nennen, ein (großer!) Haufen Fragen bleibt offen und wirklich weitergekommen ist Kyla auch nicht. Aber es gibt da diese kleine, aber sehr entscheidende Wende, die zwar nicht unbedingt überraschend, aber wahnsinnig vielversprechend ist. Kurz gesagt ließ sie mich mit ziemlich tiefen Sorgenfalten, aber auch der Hoffnung zurück, dass im nächsten Band ein paar Hintern gehörig versohlt werden. Und dass es Antworten geben wird, notfalls mit Gewalt erzwungen.

Natürlich ist Kyla nicht die einzige wichtige Person, aber definitiv die wichtigste. Am Anfang ist es ein bisschen schwierig, sie einzuschätzen, was aber wenig verwundert: Sie kennt sich ja selbst nicht einmal. Aber mit der Zeit stellt sich heraus, dass sie hauptsächlich eine ruhige 16-Jährige ist, die gerne und gut zeichnet, aber bei weitem nicht das blind vor sich hin grinsende Mädchen ist, das sie sein sollte. Sie bemerkt Dinge, hinterfragt Handlungen, verlässt sich auf ihren Instinkt und hat immer mal wieder eine sarkastische Bemerkung parat. Die behält sie in der Regel aber lieber für sich, denn ihr Instinkt sag ihr – zu Recht –, dass es keine gute Idee wäre aufzufallen. Mit voranschreitender Handlung ist sie immer entschlossener, mitzumachen und damit in Ruhe gelassen zu werden. Keine Entscheidung, die mich unbedingt gefreut hat, die aber auch sehr verständlich ist.
Ein weiterer, zumindest für mich sehr wichtiger, Charakter wäre ihre „Mutter“, bei der ich mir sicher bin, dass da noch so einiges kommen wird. Sie wirkt zunächst ziemlich ruppig, ist aber eine Frau, die das Herz am rechten Fleck trägt und ihren eigenen Kopf hat, auch wenn auch sie die Konforme spielt, wenn es sein muss. Gerade zwischen ihr und Kyla war es schön zu beobachten, wie aus diesen Fremden mit der Zeit wirklich eine Familie wurde. Sie sind zwar noch nicht so innig, wie Mutter und Tochter es sein können, aber sie sind auf dem Weg dorthin. Selbst kleinste Szenen zwischen ihnen sind wirklich herzlich, auch wenn sie für harmonieliebende Leser viel zu selten vorkommen. Neben ihr gibt es natürlich auch noch die anderen Familienmitglieder, die keineswegs vergessen werden sollten, allerdings (noch) keine ganz so große Rolle einnehmen. Andere Charaktere melden sich genauso für wachsende Wichtigkeit an – was daraus wird, wird sich zeigen.
Definitiv nicht unwichtig ist Ben, ein 17-jähriger Slater, in den sich Kyla – natürlich – verliebt. Keine große Überraschung hier. Auch er scheint nicht ganz dem typischen Slater zu entsprechen, aber das heißt nicht, dass die Operation gar keine Auswirkungen auf ihn hatte. Er ist ein ziemlich netter, sympathischer Kerl, dessen einziger Fehler eigentlich die ziemlich abrupte Wandlung mitten in der Handlung ist. Der Grund dafür ist ziemlich offensichtlich: Es soll wieder Schwung in die Geschichte kommen und ein bisschen ist das auch der Fall. Aber die Überleitung dazu konnte mich nicht ganz überzeugen, auch wenn ich fast behaupten würde, dass das ein bisschen anders aussähe, wäre der Part aus seiner Sicht geschrieben worden. Sei es, wie es sei: Es bringt die Handlung voran, zumindest ein wenig.

„Slated“ ist keineswegs perfekt – das Tempo der Geschichte erhöht sich nie, was die Geschichte zwischendurch ein wenig schleppend wirken lässt. Ein Versuch, das Ganze wieder vorwärts zu bringen, ist auch eher unbeholfen eingebaut, aber abgesehen davon bietet das Buch eine interessante, nur leicht veränderte Zukunft, in der Meinungsfreiheit wieder einmal zum Fremdwort geworden ist. Mit der Zeit sammeln sich etliche Fragen an, die zu einem Großteil mit in den zweiten Band übernommen werden, auch wenn die kleine Wendung am Ende noch vielversprechender ist. Es überzeugt nicht vollkommen, macht aber zweifelsohne Lust auf mehr – ich bin dabei!(less)

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May 17, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Imagine if you were a nasty criminal or had a bad childhood ? Would you love to forget your past and become a new person - be "Slated" ? Kyla Davies has been slated and can only remember from the age of 10 when she arrived at the hospital. When she is given a new home and family, Kyla must learn to adapt but Kyla has always been different - once you are slated you are supposed to forget your past but Kyla remembers it in flashes . Who was Kyla prior to the slating ? Was she in fact a criminal or...more

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May 06, 2013 Lesa Zuke rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: age16_character, girl_oriented, series, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A safe book to recommend to teens - no sex or bad language.
I enjoyed it. It's the near future - like 2030's and 16 year old Kyla has been "slated" - her memory completed wiped. She doesn't know why except everyone is taught that this is done to criminals instead of executing them.

There are "terrorists" trying to topple the current government. Kyla comes to believe later that maybe she was part of the terrorists, but though she doesn't approve of the government, she does not approve of terrorists...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Bobbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, ukya

I resisted reading Slated for quite a while - I'm not a massive fan of dystopia - it has to be just right to grab me. But I'm taking part in the British books challenge, and Slated finally found its way onto my reading list. I'm glad it did.

Slated kids don't have an easy time. Recognisable by the Levo band on their wrist, they are a target for bullying. You can see why in a way - they were slated in the first place because they'd done something wrong. Would you like to share classes with a possi...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Amelia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

View the original review here!

INTRODUCTION

The cover to this book seemed so different. I prefer the version of the cover that is pictured rather than the one with the cityscape, but both covers seem really intriguing.

Slated is about a girl living in a British, dystopian society that is laced with terrorists and classified information. It's definitely one to read.

CHARACTERS

Kyla: The main character. She has been Slated, meaning her mind has been wiped. There's something special about her. She's a l...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Pixie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked Slated up at a charity shop, only glancing over the blurb and grabbing it mainly because of the cover and the two dollar price tag. A few times I read the blurb and even the first couple of pages, alas I was at that point in time sucked into the Game of Thrones books so as you can imagine I was occupied for some time. Only yesterday I had to put down a book I am reading needing something different, and I began to wonder, where is that Slated book. Somehow it had grown legs and crept int...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I enjoyed Slated however I can't give it 5 stars as the pacing seemed off to me. It felt like things were revealed at the wrong time sometimes. The beginning was slow, Kyla didn't have a personality and only reacted to those around her - not surprised as she had been slated and was a blank slate (pun, haha). The middle of the story was excellent, very fast paced and I couldn't put it down. Initially I didn't feel the chemistry with Ben, even at the end he felt more like best friend material.

The...more I enjoyed Slated however I can't give it 5 stars as the pacing seemed off to me. It felt like things were revealed at the wrong time sometimes. The beginning was slow, Kyla didn't have a personality and only reacted to those around her - not surprised as she had been slated and was a blank slate (pun, haha). The middle of the story was excellent, very fast paced and I couldn't put it down. Initially I didn't feel the chemistry with Ben, even at the end he felt more like best friend material.

The secondary characters were underdeveloped, especially Amy and Jazz. I don't feel like Kyla knew Jazz enough to keep asking him to give her rides. Phoebe had the potential to be a great character but that pretty much ended with her in the hospital. Same thing with Kyla's parents - her Mum got an explanation but her Dad's job is still unclear. Is he a Lorder? He knows about the ability to 'return' her and something's definitely going on with him but we're not told once.

I loved the ending, although of course I'm assuming Ben's not dead. I doubt he would really be killed off as he's really the only love interest.

The one thing I didn't understand is why the author waited until the last few pages to reveal that Hatton is Nico. And then we're giving no explanation at all. Kyla apparently wants to work with him (and maybe even feels something for him) even though he kidnapped her (as Lucy) and tortured her? That makes no sense to me. I know the author doesn't want to reveal too much in the first book as there is a sequel but to just throw that in at the end and then leave us with a generic now-I'm-free ending just didn't feel right. I think the ending going in to book 2 could be stronger, and maybe foreshadow Kyla's next move. I just can't believe she would rather work with Hatton/Nico than contact her parents. Knowing how she feels with Ben's future uncertain should give her an idea of how her parents are feeling and even though she doesn't remember them, she should want to let them know she's alive.

Regardless, this was a pretty good first book. Overall confusing at not much was revealed at first and we still don't have a good handle on who or what the Central Coalition is but I'm looking forward to book 2 and getting some answers.(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Miss Literati rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Teri Terry’s debut novel, SLATED, follows sixteen-year-old Kyla on her journey to find the truth about her past, the government, and what will happen in the future.

Kyla Davis has been slated: a fairly new (and in my opinion, fairly scary) government process that wipes all past memories. The government and the majority of their citizens see this as a great opportunity for young terrorists to start a new life with a clean slate and conform to the government’s rules and morals. To control the new S...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ever since the massive success of the Hunger Games there has been a rise in the number of YA dystopian novels, some of which have been very good and some of which have sadly lacked. Slated was an excellent example of well written dystopian novel, with an interesting new world and characters with substance. The plot is good - children under the age of 16 are "slated" and given to a new family if they have committed a crime, although we soon learn this isn't always true. These people have to wear...more Ever since the massive success of the Hunger Games there has been a rise in the number of YA dystopian novels, some of which have been very good and some of which have sadly lacked. Slated was an excellent example of well written dystopian novel, with an interesting new world and characters with substance. The plot is good - children under the age of 16 are "slated" and given to a new family if they have committed a crime, although we soon learn this isn't always true. These people have to wear a "levo" which is a bit like a watch and monitors the wearers mood. If the mood drops too low it causes the wearer to pass out. This is what has happened to Kyla, our heroine, although she is not like your typical slated teenager. I was enthralled as the plot developed, wanting to know more and it seems that the story is set not too far in the distant future. Furthermore it is believable, especially after the riots in the UK last year and draws upon events happening in the UK right now. I could see this happening in our societies future. I can't wait for the next book to find out more about Kyla's past and what the government is up to.

What is also really effective about this book is the characters. All of them, with the exception of Ben are very well developed with back stories and personalities of their own. Even Kyla's Dad, who we don't see much and don't find much about gives us the sense that their is more going on then being sad. I don't know if Ben represented the idea of being slated in the true sense, unlike Kyla, but he didn't really show much personality beyond being a placid happy person. I suppose this would make sense if this is what Terry is getting at. Especially since with the loss of Ben came the loss of Kyla's security about the Levo soon after, when she began to recover some of her memories. Perhaps we would have learnt more about Ben if he had not dissapeared so soon after shaking the effects of the Levo. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next book and I can't wait.
(less)

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Mar 17, 2013 Liberty Gilmore rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm a big fan of things set in England. Like much of popular culture - there's an overwhelming majority of American based stuff out there. Which is fine, I don't mind that, but it's nice to read something a little closer to home once in a while. To know what 'Year 11' means, and not have to worry about trying to figure out the relative ages of the characters and translate other minor differences. We might share a language, but British and American culture can sometimes be miles apart.

So, Slated...more I'm a big fan of things set in England. Like much of popular culture - there's an overwhelming majority of American based stuff out there. Which is fine, I don't mind that, but it's nice to read something a little closer to home once in a while. To know what 'Year 11' means, and not have to worry about trying to figure out the relative ages of the characters and translate other minor differences. We might share a language, but British and American culture can sometimes be miles apart.

So, Slated is not only British, but a Dystopian (yay) and features an interesting premise about a memory erasing procedure that didn't quite work properly on the main character. It should have been my favourite read of the month, but somehow it just didn't sit quite right.

I really enjoyed the first half - Kyla getting used to her new home, slowly coming to realise that something is not right about her and how she can resist the monitoring effects of the Slating procedure. It should stop her ever getting angry or violent, it should make her placid and agreeable, but it doesn't. And her uncertainty about why, her difficulty hiding it is interesting. The world was well imagined, the set up quite frightening at times, with the random disappearances and very public removals of rebels against the system - no matter how small the rebellion. You never knew quite who to trust out of the background characters, which added nicely to the overall sense of peril.

But then the second half went downhill for me.

The problem, I felt, was love interest Ben. Also Slated, but unlike Kyla, he's not magically resistant to the effects of the treatment. As characters and love interests go, he's entirely bland. The entire basis of the relationship seems to be that Kyla thinks he's pretty. There's vague allusion to 'feeling like she knew him', suggesting that there's some history there, pre-Slating, but it's not really explored in enough depth to make me buy the attraction.

So when the whole drive of the plot becomes Kyla trying to do things for Ben, to protect Ben, because Ben asked her to - it all just stopped making sense to me. I didn't understand why she felt so strongly about him, because there was just nothing much to feel strongly about.

So the climax of the novel was mostly an anticlimax, and set ups for the next book felt a bit shoehorned in, which is a shame because they were the interesting parts. I would have much preferred the revelation about a figure from Kyla's past to be the main thrust of the ending, the Ben stuff taking a back seat, but I guess the overwhelming selling power of teen romance sways everyone in the publishing process. It is a business after all.

Rating: 3.5/5(less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Wandering Librarians rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, fiction, friendship, romance, science-fiction, series, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Kyla has been given a second chance. If a criminal or gang member is under the age of 16, they can be slated which means having their memories completely wiped. Those who are slated are placed with families and start their lives again - under the constant supervision of their Levo, a device on their wrist that can't be removed and monitors their mood. Kyla is having a hard time adjusting. She swears she remembers things about her own life, but that's not possible. Is it?

This was an enjoyable dys...more Kyla has been given a second chance. If a criminal or gang member is under the age of 16, they can be slated which means having their memories completely wiped. Those who are slated are placed with families and start their lives again - under the constant supervision of their Levo, a device on their wrist that can't be removed and monitors their mood. Kyla is having a hard time adjusting. She swears she remembers things about her own life, but that's not possible. Is it?

This was an enjoyable dystopian novel, and one that I'm curious about where it will go. I still have lots of questions about the world Kyla is in, but it didn't feel like poor world building was why I hadn't figured it out yet. Things were deliberately held back. The reader doesn't know anything more than Kyla does, and she's just starting to put things together. I hope when all is revealed it won't be disappointing!

The first thing I was trying to figure out, right from the beginning, is why there were so many under 16-year-old criminals. We are not that far into the future. It's 2054. It is still unclear what happened, but it involved some kind of massive gang uprising and violence, which was put down harshly by the government. There are still Antigovernment Terrorists (AGT). Do the terrorists recruit young children? Are gangs still prevalent? It seems that gang violence had been pretty much eradicated. Why still so many slated?

It started to make a lot more sense as Kyla began to see that people could be taken away by the government. They would just disappear. People who asked the wrong questions or didn't fit in quite right. They could just be taken and no one would ever see them again. Kyla wonders if she was really a criminal after all.

This story takes place in England, and I am curious as to what's going on in the rest of the world. Is slating people world-wide? I want to know!

Kyla was an introspective character. The slating seems not to have worked completely on her, we don't know why. At first it just in dreams she seems to remember things from before, but then more and more things begin coming back to her. She also acts differently from the other slated. Most slated seem eager to please and incapable of thinking through things on their own. They are very suggestible. Kyla is not like that. She is able to observe what's going on around her and make connections.

Of course, there is a handsome love interest, Ben, who has also been slated. Ben is all super cute and he and Kyla bond over their found love (and need) of running. Ben becomes someone Kyla can confide in, and just as they're gotten to the "yes, we like each other in a datey kind of way" bad things happen and Kyla is on her own. But determined to find Ben again.

It was an engaging start to the series, and I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. Lots of questions I want answered!(less)

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Feb 12, 2013 Mel Alzate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: leido, favorites, young-adult, serie, dystopian, romance

Para comenzar el libro es ¡genial! ¿una chica viviendo en un mundo con un gobierno opresivo que decide como se debe actuar? ¿Un gobierno que si no le gusta lo que dices, hace que desaparezcas sin dejar rastro? ¿un gobierno que absuelve a los terroristas, padilleros, dándole como único castigo el de borrar sus recuerdos? bueno la trama es bastante interesante algunos dirán otro libro distópico más que aburrimiento, pero yo soy fan de este genero y entre mas libros escriban así mas feliz soy.

La hi...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Claire rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 8th-grade-and-up, modern-dystopia, high-school-and-beyond, 7th-grade-shelf, sci-fi, book-group, high-school-fairs, book-fairs-spring-2013

Kyra is Slated, Her memories have been wiped away surgically; this is a procedure to rehabilitate young offenders. Instead of incarceration or capital punishment terrorist/criminal children are Slated and after a long hospital rehab program the children are placed in with a new family that volunteers to take in Slated children. These kids are watched Very closely and none more than our main character, Kyra.
The book opens in the hospital where Kyra has been housed longer than normal, it seems th...more Kyra is Slated, Her memories have been wiped away surgically; this is a procedure to rehabilitate young offenders. Instead of incarceration or capital punishment terrorist/criminal children are Slated and after a long hospital rehab program the children are placed in with a new family that volunteers to take in Slated children. These kids are watched Very closely and none more than our main character, Kyra.
The book opens in the hospital where Kyra has been housed longer than normal, it seems that her response to being Slated is slightly different than normal- some in the hospital want to terminate her but for unknown reasons, the head doctor, the inventor of Slating wants to continue treating and monitoring Kyra.
Kyra is placed in a prominent home with parents who have mysterious motives and actions. We really don't know at all what is going on with Dad. As the daughter of a former Prime Minister, Mum is a conundrum herself.
The story progresses as Kyra who is uncommonly smart and athletic comes to grips with her new life and more and more memories; memories that she should Not have as a Slated. Her response to the monitoring device all Slated are fitted with is unusual as well. Her anomalies are life threatening- if the doctor finds out about Kyra's memory and her response to certain emotions Kyra would be terminated.
Kyra is quite alarmed when she realizes that many of the people removed from the population are not criminal, are not terrorists and have done no harm- some are Slated, some disappear and no one speaks of this at all. Government control is total and brutal.
When the third person Kyra knows disappears- and a person from her past appears, she vows to find out what is happening. Her preslated training equips her for this task exceptionally well and promises a sequel or series as more questions are presented than answered in this volume.
For some reason the Slating brought to mind concentration camps. The sequestering of the Japanese or the Jews or national groups seen as a threat to governments. We will see where the story goes. (less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Winna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: criminal-mystery-thriller, young-adult

Clearly, I wouldn't miss a dystopian YA book. From the synopsis, the cover, and the premise - I'm hooked.

I have to separate this book into two different things, as I read it in two sittings and had different experiences reading different parts of the book. The first half was exhilarating, a wonderful feeling as if I were to ride a rollercoaster for the first time ever, not knowing the twists and turns and just enjoying the ride. The second half felt like riding the rollercoaster for the second a...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Georgina Martin (Bookz and Bitz) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, owned-paperback

From: Books and Bits

Ok, I'l admit it was the cover and bloody Amazon once again bombarding me with marketing telling me that I must buy this book (damn you amazon, my bank balance would be a lot healthier if you didn't exist).

Another day, another dystopian YA book. I'm not complaining, I love the genre but there's an awful lot of crap in it, there's also few NEW plots. Lets face it there is always a catalyst that sets this girl apart from the others (and its nearly always a girl, pretty but not...more From: Books and Bits

Ok, I'l admit it was the cover and bloody Amazon once again bombarding me with marketing telling me that I must buy this book (damn you amazon, my bank balance would be a lot healthier if you didn't exist).

Another day, another dystopian YA book. I'm not complaining, I love the genre but there's an awful lot of crap in it, there's also few NEW plots. Lets face it there is always a catalyst that sets this girl apart from the others (and its nearly always a girl, pretty but not obviously so etc etc). So did slated bring anything new? Yes it did in a way. It built upon the stories that are already there, they all circle around control - how do the powers that be in the story control thier population, the teens and lawless in particular?

In the slated world, the control is in control of the memory, there's no prison or detention centers for criminals, they are slated, wiped, cleaned out. When they wake they have no memories at all, and are brought back to law abiding citizens (with no memory of before) with the help of the hospital and then a new 'mum and dad'. Its a clever plot, this programme is something that COULD happen (rather than the technology growing wings and flying off to control the moon, or other such nonsense), and there would be a use for it. Imagine a world with out the criminal element, a world where everyone was given a second chance? whats bad about that? THATS what this book is about, the good and the bad.

Kyla is one such slated individual. The story starts off when she's leaving the hospital with 'mum and dad' now thats in inverted comma's because they are not her parents but NEW parents. Very creepy (not her mum and dad in particular, just the whole new parents thing). She goes off to live with this new family and all goes well, but of course there'd be no point in having Kyla as the star of the novel if something wasn't different. The slated's moods and emotions are monitored via a watch type device and if they get too irratic they are knocked out before too much trouble can be caused (or at its worse it'll kill the slated, problem solved).

Kyla has dreams of a life before, of being left handed (which must have some significance) and being taught to disguise it. She is obviously part of a rebellion, but the reader knows as much as Kyla does (Which is pretty much nothing at all).

Slated is a good-possibly great- book. There are a few things that maybe need tweaking to make it a 5 star, but they are just minor things, sweeping the plot up a bit, bringing the last few chapters into life a little earlier etc. One thing Slated did do for me is encourage me to run, a strange one I know! But the love of running Kyla has is written so well (I can only presume Terry runs too) I wanted to be part of that! So its inspirational in a very strange way!

The characters are great, Kyla is pretty blank, as you'd expect but her character builds. Mum is very interesting, and I'm sure there is a lot more to her than we've found out so far, and I'm not sure I trust dad.

so all in all a good read, a new addition to the genre, but I'm expecting a fair few copy cats to appear quickly. (less)

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Your thoughts? Spoilers included	10	13	Jun 15, 2013 08:06am
Speculation for Fractured (no spoilers, please)	1	6	May 27, 2013 06:19am
Ben: Dead or Alive???	10	39	May 25, 2013 06:34am
COUNTING DOWN TO FRACTURED!!!!!!!!!	1	13	Mar 29, 2013 06:23am
Book Giveaways: Book Giveaway! 2 copies of YA dystopian thriller SLATED	2	22	May 07, 2012 02:18am

title link	preview: Slated
avg rating	preview: Slated Goodreads rating: 4.08 (2478 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15812184-slated?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346251691l/15812184.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15812184-slated?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Slated by Teri Terry[/url]

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