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The Darkest Minds
(The Darkest Minds #1)
by
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged w
...more
Hardcover, 488 pages
Published
December 18th 2012
by Disney Hyperion
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Oct 19, 2013
Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies
rated it
did not like it
Recommended to Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies by:
Mai is a Happy Bibliophile
If The Hunger Games brought back my faith in YA dystopia, Darkest Minds made me an atheist. This book has a plot filled with more holes than a Dunkin Donuts. It is mind-boggling to me that the rating in this series is as high as Hunger Games when the supporting characters in this book are are without personality nor complexity, combined with a weak-ass, whiny wimp of a main character, not to mention the majority of a book is a pointless snoozefest of a roadtrip.
Let's for 1 minute talk about The ...more
Let's for 1 minute talk about The ...more

THE DARKEST MINDS is one of the best books I have EVER read. No joke. I can't even properly express how much I love this book. It touched my soul--it's THAT incredible. It haunted me for days and days (and still does!). The world-building and plot are phenomenal (it leaves you absolutely breathless in spots!), and the characters are some of the most vivid I've encountered.
When 2012 rolls around, DO NOT miss this book--it will stay with you long, long after you've finished reading it. ...more
When 2012 rolls around, DO NOT miss this book--it will stay with you long, long after you've finished reading it. ...more

“They were never scared of the kids who might die, or the empty spaces they would leave behind. They were afraid of us-the ones who lived.”
Ever since The Darkest Minds was released at the height of the dystopian craze in 2012, I think I've been subconsciously saving it to enjoy at a later date when the hype died down and I was no longer sick of reading YA dystopias. With an average rating of over 4.3, I was sure that I would enjoy it when I eventually gave in. But now, to be honest, I am clu ...more

WOW this book REALLY holds up over the years! I'm SO pleased I decided to reread this series :)
...more

OH. MY. GOD. Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod!!
This book was so damn beautiful, so damn heartbreaking, and so damn freaking AMAZING! I think it's one of the most in-depth books I've read since The Hunger Games -- and I mean that with my heart and soul. It's not just another fluffy mock-intense book; it's not just another dystopian knock-off that I could never see happening in real life; it's not another sweet romance without anything else of substance that makes for a good time passer but doesn' ...more
This book was so damn beautiful, so damn heartbreaking, and so damn freaking AMAZING! I think it's one of the most in-depth books I've read since The Hunger Games -- and I mean that with my heart and soul. It's not just another fluffy mock-intense book; it's not just another dystopian knock-off that I could never see happening in real life; it's not another sweet romance without anything else of substance that makes for a good time passer but doesn' ...more

MUST READ. FANTABULOUS BOOK. I just posted my booktalk ( http://youtu.be/90NS3uB8LxI ) which includes Review / Reaction / and Discussion on all the feelings it created.
...more

Mar 11, 2012
SerenaSmiles
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
I hereby sentence EVERYONE to read this NOW.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

On the surface, The Darkest Minds has a lot more going for it than your typical dystopian. It's incredibly dark and disturbing, but more than that, there's a certain realism to Alexandra Bracken's writing that makes the plot believable in a way few other books in the genre are. Yeah I'm frustrated, but not because this book is a generic dystopian - it's not, not because the plot calls for kids being rounded up in concentration camps and shot in the back - though that happens, but because I feel
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ETA--For those confused about the title change: http://www.alexandrabracken.com/?p=1121
Well, I like it a whole lot! Can't wait to hear what you guys think! ...more
Well, I like it a whole lot! Can't wait to hear what you guys think! ...more

May 15, 2015
Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-all,
own
This is one of the physical series I’ve decided to unhaul. I just keep changing how I feel with books and I need more room for favorites. I have bought some of these at really discounted kindle prices so that’s a thing. I just skim read this one and took away a star from my original review. No worries, just time to move on and don’t plan on rereading, but y’all enjoy 😉
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
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www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
I loved this book. I felt sorry f ...more
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
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www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
I loved this book. I felt sorry f ...more

Everybody, everybody should go read this book. Like right now.
The Darkest Minds is amazing. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. 100% recommended.
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1) The writing = perfection.
I felt like I was there. I could hear the music when Ruby and Liam were dancing by the fire. I felt the cold from the AC in the hotel room. I honestly felt like I was there. And the writing is beautiful. And also funny.
The Darkest Minds is amazing. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. 100% recommended.
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1) The writing = perfection.
I felt like I was there. I could hear the music when Ruby and Liam were dancing by the fire. I felt the cold from the AC in the hotel room. I honestly felt like I was there. And the writing is beautiful. And also funny.
"Use the damn map," Chubs groused behind him....more
"I can figure it out wit

I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. MY HEART ACHESSSSSS FOR LIAM I NEED HIM IN MY LIFE.
Thank youuuu literary gods for making me love this book.
I LOVE IT.
Passenger is nooooooothing compared to this.
I love everything about it.
The writing I love it.
The powers are so awesome.
The characters AHHHHH.
Liam my sweet cinnamon roll I love you forever and always.
CHUBS IS MY FAVORITE AND IS MY NEW FICTIONAL BESTFRIEND!!
Zu i just want to wrap her in a blanket and keep her safe.
RUBY IS AWESOME AND THE CHARACTER G ...more
Thank youuuu literary gods for making me love this book.
I LOVE IT.
Passenger is nooooooothing compared to this.
I love everything about it.
The writing I love it.
The powers are so awesome.
The characters AHHHHH.
Liam my sweet cinnamon roll I love you forever and always.
CHUBS IS MY FAVORITE AND IS MY NEW FICTIONAL BESTFRIEND!!
Zu i just want to wrap her in a blanket and keep her safe.
RUBY IS AWESOME AND THE CHARACTER G ...more

I really enjoyed this book! It didn't necessarily blow me away, but it definitely held my attention.
...more

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken is one creepy, but good book! Something happened to the kids when mistake happened. The white noise buffer they always hear stopped. A strange loud noise pierced the air and the ears of the kids. Many kids died right away, others slowly, and others changed. Some slowly, others quickly. The government took all the kids to a brutal camp. One of the camp "doctors" save her and got her out of the camp, but she knows this doctor is going t
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LOVED THIS BOOK... A LOVE CHILD OF SHATTER ME AND XMEN!!! COULDNT GET ENOUGH
MOVIE PLEASE
UPDATE AFTER MY RE READ
I’m going to leave my original review and rating.
I originally read this book the first time in 2012. So at that time this was all so new to me that it was definitely a five star read. Now all these years and books later my opinion has kind of changed. I would say now I would give this book a 3.5.
Ruby annoyed me a lot more then I remembered. Liam and chubs are still perfect.
Movie re ...more
MOVIE PLEASE
UPDATE AFTER MY RE READ
I’m going to leave my original review and rating.
I originally read this book the first time in 2012. So at that time this was all so new to me that it was definitely a five star read. Now all these years and books later my opinion has kind of changed. I would say now I would give this book a 3.5.
Ruby annoyed me a lot more then I remembered. Liam and chubs are still perfect.
Movie re ...more

I have finally finished this almost 500 page boring crap, thanks to my cousin.

Expectations, expectations, I should seriously start lowering them. I went into this book expecting some badass, kickass action scenes with a strong heroine, but what I got was a boring ass long as fuck road trip story with some dun dun dun.
When I think Dystopian, this is what comes to my mind:
•Evil government
•Some sort of plague/disease
•Group of teens that must take down the government
•SOME ACTION
•Butt kicking femal ...more

Expectations, expectations, I should seriously start lowering them. I went into this book expecting some badass, kickass action scenes with a strong heroine, but what I got was a boring ass long as fuck road trip story with some dun dun dun.
When I think Dystopian, this is what comes to my mind:
•Evil government
•Some sort of plague/disease
•Group of teens that must take down the government
•SOME ACTION
•Butt kicking femal ...more

"That girl was gone forever, and all that was left was a product of the place that had taught her to fear the bright things inside of her heart."
For once I understand why a book has so much hype. So many books are overrated and others are so underrated. The Darkest Minds deserves the 4.28 average stars it has. It deserves much more than that. This book destroyed me and if I wasn’t in public when I was reading the ending I probably would have done more than tear up. I would have starting cryi ...more

3 One of Us ★'s
“The Darkest Minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.”

Buddy read with Nancy
This was my very first Alexandra Bracken book and I gotta say I didn't love it but I didn't necessarily hate it either. The writing could have been a lot better, I seemed like some of the sentences were unfinished as well. I kept waiting and waiting for more details that never came. I love the idea and premise of the world and the characters she has created, it just needs more work.
The chara ...more
“The Darkest Minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.”

Buddy read with Nancy
This was my very first Alexandra Bracken book and I gotta say I didn't love it but I didn't necessarily hate it either. The writing could have been a lot better, I seemed like some of the sentences were unfinished as well. I kept waiting and waiting for more details that never came. I love the idea and premise of the world and the characters she has created, it just needs more work.
The chara ...more

Absolutely fantastic, it feels like its been a long time since I've read a book so good. The characters had depth, the story was engrossing and action packed, I honestly could not put this book down. Easily in my top for this year ALREADY.
...more
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*5 DARKEST STARS*
Sobbing.
That's all I can do right now. That ending was so heartbreaking I can't even get my thoughts straight. I'm still wondering why it took me so long to decide to read this absolute gem of a book. I would give this evey star in the galaxy if I could!
I'm really sad I still haven't been able to get my hands on the sequel, since I really NEED to read how this continues asap!
Full review coming soon! ...more
Sobbing.
That's all I can do right now. That ending was so heartbreaking I can't even get my thoughts straight. I'm still wondering why it took me so long to decide to read this absolute gem of a book. I would give this evey star in the galaxy if I could!
I'm really sad I still haven't been able to get my hands on the sequel, since I really NEED to read how this continues asap!
Full review coming soon! ...more

I enjoyed this book!
I love stories about people with special powers so this book was perfect. I had a few problems with this book, some due to the fact that I had to read it really slowly since I had limited free time this month. I didn't really enjoy any of the romance in this book which is upsetting for someone who loves romance and I didn't get very attached to any of the characters. ...more
I love stories about people with special powers so this book was perfect. I had a few problems with this book, some due to the fact that I had to read it really slowly since I had limited free time this month. I didn't really enjoy any of the romance in this book which is upsetting for someone who loves romance and I didn't get very attached to any of the characters. ...more

“The Darkest Minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.”
here I was thinking 2013 culture was dead and buried, but the darkest minds says hello i guess
oh my god ?? I enjoyed this SO MUCH MORE than I thought I would. I mean I just think 2012 and 2013 was a dark time for YA lit and I barely like any series written around then jfdhgkjf but i had so much fun with this, honestly if the beginning was a bit better I probably would have given this a five star?? like it really was entertainin ...more


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This book is called THE DARKEST MINDS but it could just as well be called THE X-HUNGERVERGENT GAMES, seeing as how it's a snapshot of everything that was trending in 2012. Set in the ambiguous "near-future," an idiopathic degenerative virus (idiopathic being medical jargon for "fuck if I know") has killed most of the United States' children. The ones who survive get neat, psychic powers. Rather than doing anything useful with these power ...more

“The Darkest Minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.”
I expected something better than this. The Goodreads rating is incredibly high, so I was excited to finally be able to read it. But it was a let-down: I found the Darkest Minds to be nothing special and even a little boring. For me, this is just another average dystopian novel. The main character was plain, the big plot twist very obvious. And it took so long until Ruby, Chub, Zu and Liam finally arrived at camp.
Don't get me wrong, ...more
I expected something better than this. The Goodreads rating is incredibly high, so I was excited to finally be able to read it. But it was a let-down: I found the Darkest Minds to be nothing special and even a little boring. For me, this is just another average dystopian novel. The main character was plain, the big plot twist very obvious. And it took so long until Ruby, Chub, Zu and Liam finally arrived at camp.
Don't get me wrong, ...more

This book is so so so gooooooooooooood!! Drop everything and go read it!
LIST OF LOVES:
~Liam is the greatest cinnamon roll sweetheart cheeseball to ever walk the earth... Just sayin'.
~Zu is the most adorable, precious, and underestimated thing ever!
~Chubs broke my heart like 17 times
~Ruby (MC) was pretty awesome
~Also, the protagonist wasn't whiny. THIS IS SUCH A RARE TRAIT THANK YOU RUBY!!!
~Attention was grabbed right from the beginning
~But seriously guys, Liam is incredible!
~Perfect number of fl ...more
LIST OF LOVES:
~Liam is the greatest cinnamon roll sweetheart cheeseball to ever walk the earth... Just sayin'.
~Zu is the most adorable, precious, and underestimated thing ever!
~Chubs broke my heart like 17 times
~Ruby (MC) was pretty awesome
~Also, the protagonist wasn't whiny. THIS IS SUCH A RARE TRAIT THANK YOU RUBY!!!
~Attention was grabbed right from the beginning
~But seriously guys, Liam is incredible!
~Perfect number of fl ...more

4.5
I can't even write a proper review for this book, oh my lord. I loved it. I loved Ruby, Liam, Chubs, Zu and Betty so much omg. I'm totally having grabby hands over the next book and all you need to know is I loved this book and I'm so happy it met every expectation I had. ...more
I can't even write a proper review for this book, oh my lord. I loved it. I loved Ruby, Liam, Chubs, Zu and Betty so much omg. I'm totally having grabby hands over the next book and all you need to know is I loved this book and I'm so happy it met every expectation I had. ...more

Edit: Re-read in May 2014, but leaving original review standing because it still expresses my feelings perfectly.
Edit x2, January 2016: Having read some negative reviews, I'm thinking I might need to reread again and re-write this - not because I have doubts, but because I'm a little pissed off at the way people react to a traumatized teen by calling her whiny. I've had friends say it, I've seen reviews complaining about it, and it infuriates me. Come at me, bros; I'll fight you for Ruby Daly's ...more
Edit x2, January 2016: Having read some negative reviews, I'm thinking I might need to reread again and re-write this - not because I have doubts, but because I'm a little pissed off at the way people react to a traumatized teen by calling her whiny. I've had friends say it, I've seen reviews complaining about it, and it infuriates me. Come at me, bros; I'll fight you for Ruby Daly's ...more

3.5/5 Stars
I bought The Darkest Minds trilogy because I was in need of some Dystopia books to read once in a while as a break from reading my favorite genre, high-fantasy. Hey, everyone need a break once in a while from their favorite genre right? ;) and this doesn't disappoint me!
My review will be quite short this time as I'm going to read the next novella and sequel after this but as a start, let me say this. I'm not a fan of the YA genre. In fact, it's one of the genre that I avoid the most. ...more
I bought The Darkest Minds trilogy because I was in need of some Dystopia books to read once in a while as a break from reading my favorite genre, high-fantasy. Hey, everyone need a break once in a while from their favorite genre right? ;) and this doesn't disappoint me!
My review will be quite short this time as I'm going to read the next novella and sequel after this but as a start, let me say this. I'm not a fan of the YA genre. In fact, it's one of the genre that I avoid the most. ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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YA Buddy Readers'...: The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken - Restarting January 9th 2021 | 304 | 508 | Jan 17, 2021 04:09PM | |
The Midnight Readers: The Darkest Minds (Lilly & Adela) | 23 | 25 | Sep 24, 2020 05:57PM | |
FLASHLIGHT READERS: The Darkest Minds | 5 | 15 | Sep 19, 2020 04:20PM | |
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YA Addicted Book ...: July - The Darkest Minds | 20 | 36 | Jul 30, 2020 11:42PM |
Hi! I'm Alex and I write books. Please note that I don't respond to messages here on GoodReads. Please send me a note on twitter (@alexbracken) on on Tumblr (alexandrabracken.tumblr.com). xx A
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