The Program (The Program, #1) in Addicted to YA

Sep 08, 2016 Kelly rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya

This was a 2.5 star read for me. There were things that were intriguing to me and things I couldn't stand.

Things I liked: 1-The idea of messing with teenagers the way they do in this book is so scary and also so realistic. It frightened me and depressed me, but kept me reading. I could tell from the start that something about The Program and the epidemic were not exactly how they were being portrayed. This book is written in the first person narrative, so we are mostly only finding things out as This was a 2.5 star read for me. There were things that were intriguing to me and things I couldn't stand.

Things I liked: 1-The idea of messing with teenagers the way they do in this book is so scary and also so realistic. It frightened me and depressed me, but kept me reading. I could tell from the start that something about The Program and the epidemic were not exactly how they were being portrayed. This book is written in the first person narrative, so we are mostly only finding things out as Sloane finds them out. For the most part. Anyway, I guess the creepy realism that this could actually happen in our society kept me from turning away from this book. 2-I finished it because I'm confused about how any society can call depression an epidemic and I'm curious to see how things are getting messed with to say that teenagers are spreading depression amongst themselves. Because depression isn't contagious (genetic, yes. Passed between teenagers at school like the common cold, no), and it seems to me that the way The Program was operating was creating some of the problem...not allowing people to grieve or time to grieve. Or creating a natural way for the government to do experimental testing on human subjects. Trial drugs without the FDA oversight. I'm sure there are lots of things that actually do go on that I would really not want to know about. The conspiracy theorist in me was drawn to the reality of their reality. The book does not give the answers by the end because it's a trilogy. So I have my internal debate about whether or not I should continue it. 3-There were hints at varying interpersonal relationships that we all have as teenagers, with friends, with parents, with ourselves, that were not really well developed. The way Sloane's parents each reacted to The Program was very different, and she reacted to each of them differently. I think there is actually a lot more that could have been explored there, but not in the first person narrative format. Not thinking about the whole situation like a teenager. And I suppose that is a little too deep for this type of a novel. But some speculative discussion could be had there on Sloane's relationship with her parents.

Things I didn't like: 1-It was depressing because it was something that actually could happen. And that is a little scary to me. What was appealing about it is also repulsive, if that makes any sense. Even though this was a reason I liked the book, it is also a reason I didn't like it. 2-James and Sloane's relationship was very sappy to me. Very Edward and Bella. Even a little Tris and Four, without all the fighting. But more Twilight. MFEO. Part of me was wondering while I read if teenagers have the ability to find a sole-mate at 17 and really know that this person is their sole-mate. My husband said that it is possible. So I'm trying to not hold this against this book. I think if I had read this as a teenager I would have been enthralled with their relationship. The kind of thing every teenage girl yearns for. But as an adult it just seemed like a little much. I guess because I don't think like a teenager anymore. And it's this sappy devotion to each other that is making me not want to read the rest of the series. I'm feeling torn because I don't know if I want to continue being inside Sloane's head. 3-I didn't enjoy reading about all the times they were having sex or Sloane was giving James a boner or whatever. It makes me uncomfortable to read that when it's about adults, even more so when its about teenagers. I realize this is just me...I include this mainly as a way of information, for those who are looking to avoid it and and for those who are looking to read it. You will know it can be found here. It's not explicit. But not glossed over either. Enough to make me feel like I saw something I shouldn't have.

So, 2.5 stars. Because I thought it was better than ok, but there was too much I didn't like about it to really say I liked it. ...more

Like · see review

Mar 07, 2015 Kristie rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-lit-sci-fi-fant

While I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would--I liked the characters and I found it to be very readable--I couldn't help but think that the structure of the book would have been better backwards. In other words, leave it to the mystery of the reader what happened to Sloane and James. By telling their whole story first and then having them piece it back together felt sort of redundant. Still, I I really liked Sloane and James together as a couple, and the concept itself was very intrigui ...more

Like · see review