The Program (The Program, #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Jan 01, 2013 Christy rated it it was amazing

What if you couldn’t show any negative emotion at all?

In the world that 17 year old Sloane lives in, suicide has become an epidemic and it is also thought to be contagious. So, when any teenager shows any negative emotion, it is construed as suicidal behaviors and they are flagged. Once they get flagged it is a direct route to The Program.

The Program is a place that they send any teenager that shows ‘suicidal tendencies’. The Program does seem to cure the ‘sickness’, but you are not the same per

What if you couldn’t show any negative emotion at all?

In the world that 17 year old Sloane lives in, suicide has become an epidemic and it is also thought to be contagious. So, when any teenager shows any negative emotion, it is construed as suicidal behaviors and they are flagged. Once they get flagged it is a direct route to The Program.

The Program is a place that they send any teenager that shows ‘suicidal tendencies’. The Program does seem to cure the ‘sickness’, but you are not the same person you were when you leave. The Returners (people who come out of The Program) do have a higher survival rate but at what cost? The Returners that Sloane encounters completely different than they used to be, they can’t remember who they were before or seemingly any relationships that they had prior to entering The Program.

Sloane and her friends are trying their best to appear normal in spite of the devastating losses that they have endured. Sloane lost her brother, Brady to suicide and now her parents are watching her more closely in fear that she will be next and if she can’t keep her emotions in check, she has no doubt that her parents will send her to The Program.

The characters in the book are written so realistically. I loved Sloane, I really felt a connection to her. I think it was because she brought out my maternal side. I honestly felt so sorry for her that I just wanted to jump into the book to protect her and tell her that everything would be ok. I also really liked James; I loved his rebellious nature and his protectiveness. I loved his relationship with Sloane, I was on their side from the beginning.

I don’t want to give anything away so I will just say that I’m on the fence with my feelings about Realm. Hopefully, in the next book I will decide on whether or not he is trustworthy.

This story is amazing, it is written so beautifully that I felt like I was right there with Sloane. If you’re looking for a book that will suck you in and keep you up way past your bedtime, then The Program is for you. I can’t wait to see what’s next. ...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Kirstyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, dystopian, already-own-it, swoon-worthy, school-setting, omg, makes-you-really-think, tissues-required, ya-awesome, all-the-stars

ALL THE STARS. I'LL REVIEW WHEN IT'S NOT A SCHOOL NIGHT! ...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Darlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, for-review, 2013-ya-audiobook-challenge

Wow, I think this book has now moved into the top spot for my favourite YA book of 2013!

In this dystopian world, the suicide rate amongst teenagers is on the rise, with one out of every three teens succumbing to the tragedy. Scientists have failed to determine the cause and have speculated that it could be due to pesticides used in the production of food or contaminants in vaccines. They believe the most likely cause is due to overuse of anti-depressants in the generation of the parents, which Wow, I think this book has now moved into the top spot for my favourite YA book of 2013!

In this dystopian world, the suicide rate amongst teenagers is on the rise, with one out of every three teens succumbing to the tragedy. Scientists have failed to determine the cause and have speculated that it could be due to pesticides used in the production of food or contaminants in vaccines. They believe the most likely cause is due to overuse of anti-depressants in the generation of the parents, which has altered the chemical makeup of their offspring making them more prone to depression.

The protagonist is Sloane Barstow, a 17 year-old teenage girl whose school district in Oregon has established a program where students are observed closely for any changes in their manner or disposition that could signal the threat of depression. If a person is exhibiting any such symptoms, they are flagged and handlers are called in to take the “infected” student to a treatment facility. The patient will be subjected to a cocktail of pills that will strip away the troubling memories that are affecting their mood. The Program generally lasts about six weeks, and then the patient is released but is not permitted to mingle unsupervised with the regular teens. These patients, referred to as “returners,” attend high school with other returners and will remain there until graduation. If they wish to visit with friends, they can do so at the Wellness Centre while being chaperoned by a handler. Once the teens turn 18 years of age, they cannot be forced into treatment.

Sloane’s brother, Brady, committed suicide when she was 15 years old. Her boyfriend, James Murphy, was Brady’s best friend and he is the only person who is holding Sloane together. He keeps reminding her that they cannot show any vulnerability and must hide their true feelings or risk being flagged. When one of Sloane’s friends is forced into treatment, it sets off a chain-reaction from which there is no turning back. Fearing for the safety of their only remaining child, Sloane’s parents call in the handlers to have her taken away. Sloane is adamant that they will not succeed in erasing her memories, and she is desperate to hold onto her identity.

The Program is one of those books that just grabbed me from the get-go and never let me go! The concept of being taken against one’s will into a program that would brainwash me is so frightening. A teenager wouldn’t be able to trust anyone. What a way to live! Young created a gripping, emotional story with a sweet romance that has me yearning for more! I cannot wait to read the sequel, The Treatment, which is expected to be released in April 2014. That seems so far away, so I’m definitely planning to check out her A Need So Beautiful series while I wait. Just a caution out there for the parents: There is sexual content, so I would recommend this one only for those at the upper end of the teen range.

Memorable quote:

“He said that some things are better left in the past and true things are destined to repeat themselves.”

This is my second narration by Joy Osmanski, and she was bang-on! She captured Sloane’s emotions perfectly, and she made it very hard for me to put this book down.

I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own. ...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Lola Mark rated it really liked it

Wow....... this was AMAZING! the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is the beginning. The first 100 pages just did not grab me! however, as soon as the plot started to pick up, I was hooked. One of the main reasons I liked this book so much was how original it is. I have never read anything like it! and that's saying a lot! overall great read, but if the beginning is not your thing, just keep reading :) xoxox ...more

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