In a world where Thinkers control the population and Rules are not meant to be broken, 15-year-old Violet Schoenfeld must make a choice to control ...
read full description
reviews
Nov 13, 2011
Jess
rated it: 
Oy vey. What was going on in this book? Seriously.
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this book is unorganised. It reads like a first draft where Johnson just wrote whatever came to mind, and then didn't go back to fix the inaccuracies. Nothing makes sense, and there is no clear vision as to what's supposed to be happening. The world-building, in short, sucks balls.
Then there's the characters. Holy crap, I hate Violet. She is dumber than Bella Swan in every way. More...
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this book is unorganised. It reads like a first draft where Johnson just wrote whatever came to mind, and then didn't go back to fix the inaccuracies. Nothing makes sense, and there is no clear vision as to what's supposed to be happening. The world-building, in short, sucks balls.
Then there's the characters. Holy crap, I hate Violet. She is dumber than Bella Swan in every way. More...
4 comments
like
(21 people liked it)
Nov 30, 2011
Ðємσɭιтισɴ
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
12 comments
like
(11 people liked it)
May 16, 2011
Jessica
rated it: 
The main character, Violet lives in a split society of Goodies that live on Goodgrounds and Baddies from the Badlands. There's also a group of people called the Special Forces and an Association of Directors who are from Freedom, and even though it is a good thing to be free, Freedom is a bad place where the Thinkers are trained. Kind of confusing, right? The Thinkers, also referred to as Greenies, are the ones that categorize everyone and pretty much brainwash the Goodies by making them listen
More...
Nov 14, 2011
Mauve7
rated it:
Ugh! I seriously could NOT get into this book! The reader is thrown right away into this dystopian world in which the Goodies and the Baddies do not agree, obviously. The Thinkers are these brainwasher-types who fight and condemn freewill. The premise had promise (heh) but that's it. Once you start reading this book, it just...UGH! We get absolutely no world-building (and yes, I appreciate it when it happens in dystopian books!), no real reason to like Violet OR Jag, and Zenn is completely non-e
More...
0 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Nov 10, 2011
Jody
rated it:
So, this is scary to write a review about this book, because the author is my friend, neighbor, sister in the Gospel, and my HOME TEACHER (she and her husband together home teach us). When I review books on Goodreads, I just say what I feel about whether I liked it or not. When I read other reviews, I notice that people get all professional by using phrases such as "beautiful prose", "lyrical", and "the imagery was astounding." I think if you were to look at some
More...
4 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
May 22, 2011
Krys
rated it:
I'm still in the mood for the Dystopian/Apocalyptic, particularly so because the last few I read were fabulous. Possession, by Elana Johnson, was... however, a let down.
Violet lives with the Goodies, who always obey the Thinkers. The Baddies, however, live for themselves and break all of the rules. Vi knows what will get her into trouble and she breaks the rules anyways...walking with her match in the park after dark... which earn her a one way ticket to prison... in a cell with ano More...
Violet lives with the Goodies, who always obey the Thinkers. The Baddies, however, live for themselves and break all of the rules. Vi knows what will get her into trouble and she breaks the rules anyways...walking with her match in the park after dark... which earn her a one way ticket to prison... in a cell with ano More...
3 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Aug 25, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
I'll preface with this: I read an ARC in Feb 2011 and I believe there were several changes done to this book between when I read it & the initial reviewers. I stopped reading at page 46. I have heard the last half of the book is significantly better than the first and provides action packed twists, but I couldn't make it that far.
The blurb had me worried this would be another MATCHED. In these 5 chapters I read, however, there were virtually zero similarities other than your normal d More...
The blurb had me worried this would be another MATCHED. In these 5 chapters I read, however, there were virtually zero similarities other than your normal d More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Jan 26, 2011
Dawn
rated it: 
High quality dystopian fiction. The sarcastic voice is distinct, and possibly my favorite part of the book. As far as the conclusion goes, I was really satisfied, even if (or perhaps especially because) it's not what you would expect. I can't wait to hear what comes next from Elana Johnson!
Dec 28, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
Oh my gosh, so good! I loved this book!!!!!
Read it!!!
Here is the book blurb:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unu More...
Read it!!!
Here is the book blurb:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unu More...
Apr 01, 2011
Nancy
rated it:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi More...
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 28, 2010
Jenn
rated it:
Loved this book. It's action-packed, and the genre can only be described as a YA paranormal dystopia with a snarky female protagonist.
0 comments
like
(6 people liked it)
Jun 14, 2011
Mocha ღ Latte
rated it: 
More of my reviews at A Cupcake and a Latte:YA Reads, Reviews & More!
With nearly 20 recently published dystopian novels sitting on my shelf, I can honestly say that 2011 is the year for apocalyptic fiction. My expectations of Possession weren't all that high which led to my borrowing the novel rather than purchasing it. Needless to say, the premise didn't grip me as strongly as I hoped it would.
Covers are how many readers are drawn to novels. Yes, I do often judge a book by i More...
With nearly 20 recently published dystopian novels sitting on my shelf, I can honestly say that 2011 is the year for apocalyptic fiction. My expectations of Possession weren't all that high which led to my borrowing the novel rather than purchasing it. Needless to say, the premise didn't grip me as strongly as I hoped it would.
Covers are how many readers are drawn to novels. Yes, I do often judge a book by i More...
21 comments
like
(10 people liked it)
Jan 17, 2012
From the book summary on Goodreads:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one o More...
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one o More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 29, 2011
Amber
rated it:
I had a hard time getting into this book. I think the potential was there but it didn't grab me. I didn't feel connected with the characters and was getting frustrated with Violet, the leading heroin. This story is similar to Matched, The Giver and Dilirium.
I just really wanted to like this book more but it just wasn't happening. It was just an okay read for me.
I just really wanted to like this book more but it just wasn't happening. It was just an okay read for me.
20 comments
like
(9 people liked it)
Jan 15, 2012
Barbara
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 22, 2011
Jessie
rated it:
Three 1/2 * really. This is a very different book from most YA books. It moved at a fast pace and where some authors could have made this into three books it was one book. Sometimes I wished for more detail. I had to reread some sections to figure out what just happened because it went so fast. This is a first book for this author and I'm sure not the last. It speaks volumes to say that I will read the next book. I guess it has me hooked. ***stop here for spoilers*** A young girl, who do
More...
Dec 20, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I wanted to love this book more than I did. I wish I could give it another half star on here though. It was good, but since I judge a book on how hard it is to put down, I did too much putting down on this one. The thing I loved most about it was the voice of Vi. She kept me in the story. I had a general idea of what this story would be about, but I was constantly surprised at what happened. At times I was disappointed, but for the most part it was pretty good. Vi's personality and determination
More...
Dec 02, 2011
Majanka
rated it:
Vi is a Goodie, which basically means that she lives on the Goodgrounds, plugs in for transmissions from The Thinkers every night (she doesn’t really, but that’s beside the point), that she follows all the rules The Thinkers come up with, and that she certainly doesn’t run off with a boy in the middle of the night, not even if he happens to be her Match. When Vi does exactly the latter, she is caught and transported to a prison. But it’s not like Vi to give up that easily. When The Thinkers tell
More...
Nov 13, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
I discovered this book through an invite on FB to meet the author at my local bookstore. Elana wrote an ebook I purchased last year, 'From the Query to the Call', in which she'd used her query for this book as an example. She'd even done a critique on one of my queries so I was curious to meet her, and also read the final product, after having a peek at how she'd gotten published. In person, she was very nice, and down to earth, which is always refreshing--although I was afraid to be honest in m
More...
Oct 31, 2011
Brooke
rated it:
When I first chose this book to read, I figured it would be some sort of government conspiracy story where those in power claimed control over their citizens. Those sorts of stories always intrigued me. Possession is a bit different. It’s a post-apocalyptic dystopian heavy on the science fiction. The world-building in the novel is really well done. The world is full of super technology. Non-Thinkers receive controlling transmissions, but rather than being your normal brainwashing program, the tr
More...
Oct 29, 2011
Sherre
rated it:
Possession was an interesting book that started out sow, and right when I was tempted to give up on it, it became amazing!
I have seen mixed reviews aboout this book, and it caused me to skip over it on the shelves for a few months; however, thanks to the going out of business sale at Borders I built up enough courage to buy it (and quite a few other books...lets just ignore my book addiction for the moment) and I am very happy I did. This book built a world that, at first, is hard to u More...
I have seen mixed reviews aboout this book, and it caused me to skip over it on the shelves for a few months; however, thanks to the going out of business sale at Borders I built up enough courage to buy it (and quite a few other books...lets just ignore my book addiction for the moment) and I am very happy I did. This book built a world that, at first, is hard to u More...
Oct 22, 2011
Diane
rated it:
Vi and Zenn know the rules – Good girls don’t walk with boys, even Good boys. In this tech controlled society, the rules are clear and Vi and Zenn like to disobey them. They don’t plug in to the broadcasts and aren’t keen on the plans the society has for them. That is, until Zenn joins the Forces and seems to be going over to the dark side. When Vi meets Jag in prison, her ideas on everything are turned upside down.
This is similar to The Hunger Games in many ways – a dystopian society More...
This is similar to The Hunger Games in many ways – a dystopian society More...
Oct 12, 2011
Kendra
rated it:
I thought Possession had some really incredible strengths, but they were tempered by a few very significant flaws. First, I really loved the way Johnson had you questioning what we think of as really basic concepts, like good and bad. She did it with serious pizzaz, too, not a lick of self-righteous intellectual snootery in sight. I also really loved the pseudo-punk style, and the voice of the narrator. It was a riot to read.
That said, I spent a lot of the book confused, wondering w More...
That said, I spent a lot of the book confused, wondering w More...
Oct 11, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Hold on to your hair-gel we have another Dystopian on our hands.
Let me start by saying that...I don't really like dystopian novels. I can thank 1984, BRAVE NEW WORLD, and THE GIVER for all jading me in the past. And yet, Sarah, why is it you always end up reading more dystopian types? I guess because every now and then you run into a good one. And--when they're good, they're usually really good. I loved HUNGER GAMES and the UGLIES series. I'm happy to say that this one can added More...
Let me start by saying that...I don't really like dystopian novels. I can thank 1984, BRAVE NEW WORLD, and THE GIVER for all jading me in the past. And yet, Sarah, why is it you always end up reading more dystopian types? I guess because every now and then you run into a good one. And--when they're good, they're usually really good. I loved HUNGER GAMES and the UGLIES series. I'm happy to say that this one can added More...
Oct 09, 2011
Toni
rated it:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi More...
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi More...
Oct 09, 2011
Harmony
rated it:
I didn't come into this book with much expectations but, man did it surprise me!
Possession is about a girl named Vi who lives in a place called the Goodgrounds. It's your typical dystopian city, with it's secretive goverment and demands. But when Vi gets caught wandering around the park with her match, Zenn (which is totally against the rules), her trouble-making gets her into a whole load of people. Vi gets paired up with a boy named Jag and together, they have a whole lot more power More...
Possession is about a girl named Vi who lives in a place called the Goodgrounds. It's your typical dystopian city, with it's secretive goverment and demands. But when Vi gets caught wandering around the park with her match, Zenn (which is totally against the rules), her trouble-making gets her into a whole load of people. Vi gets paired up with a boy named Jag and together, they have a whole lot more power More...
Sep 29, 2011
Amy
rated it:
I am having mixed feelings for this book. I don't know if it is the fact that the hype built up my expectations, or the fact that the book was long and fast paced. I just don't know what it was exactly that burst my bubble for this book.
I wasn't a fan of the characters. How many more angry and angst filled heroines do we really need in a book? Fighting for what you want is one thing, but angry at everything is just overload for the reader. I wished Vi would bring out her smile mo More...
I wasn't a fan of the characters. How many more angry and angst filled heroines do we really need in a book? Fighting for what you want is one thing, but angry at everything is just overload for the reader. I wished Vi would bring out her smile mo More...
Aug 27, 2011
Pam
rated it:
http://iwriteinbooks.wordpress.com/2011/...
In a peaceful world, where everything is clean and good and beautiful, every man, woman and child fits in perfectly where he or she is meant to be. Dating is unheard of, even handholding is frowned upon, but hey, there is no violence or pollution.
The only problem, like with so many perfect things, is that there doesn’t seem to be any choice in the matter. Plugging into the mother board, every citizen is subject to the whims and co More...
In a peaceful world, where everything is clean and good and beautiful, every man, woman and child fits in perfectly where he or she is meant to be. Dating is unheard of, even handholding is frowned upon, but hey, there is no violence or pollution.
The only problem, like with so many perfect things, is that there doesn’t seem to be any choice in the matter. Plugging into the mother board, every citizen is subject to the whims and co More...
Aug 23, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
"Possession" is the story of Violet, a young girl that must learn to decide for herself in a society split into the "goodies" and the "baddies".
What's great about "Possession" is the concept. It's ultimately a story about choice and learning to make your own choices. The main character, Violet, isn't your typical female character. At times she can be dependent on others, but for the most part she's a strong character - a nice surprise. The story More...
What's great about "Possession" is the concept. It's ultimately a story about choice and learning to make your own choices. The main character, Violet, isn't your typical female character. At times she can be dependent on others, but for the most part she's a strong character - a nice surprise. The story More...
Aug 19, 2011
A.S. Halsey
rated it:
REVIEW COMPLETE
Although the emotion was both deep and believable and the ending was both heart-wrenching and infuriating (the good kind of infuriating, like the Series of Unfortunate Events), I still felt that this book deserves only three stars.
The characters, first, were somewhat poorly developed. I felt it hard to connect with any of them, with the occasional exception of the protagonist. This is what so often happens in books written in first person - there are very few f More...
Although the emotion was both deep and believable and the ending was both heart-wrenching and infuriating (the good kind of infuriating, like the Series of Unfortunate Events), I still felt that this book deserves only three stars.
The characters, first, were somewhat poorly developed. I felt it hard to connect with any of them, with the occasional exception of the protagonist. This is what so often happens in books written in first person - there are very few f More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
