Dystopian. People are genetically tested & implanted with different colored stones/ gems (near the neck area) for identification. Only people with same colored stones could have children. "Mismatched" couple become runaways. Read before 1993.

[Mjalleen]

It's been long while since I read this book. It has groups of people marked by different colored "stones?" (Gems, Marker of some type). I believe the stones were near the sternum or neck area. Only people with the same colored stones could "date". I remember black meant that they were incompatible with anyone. I think it was set in the future.
I think it was written in 1st person and a potential romance was involved. I don't remember much else, but its been on my mind a lot recently.
Thank you in advance.

[Claire]

Was it Ya or adult? Do you remember how many years ago you read it?

[Mjalleen]

I don't remember if it was YA or adult, sorry. I read it over 10 years ago.

[Mjalleen]

Can I bump this?

[Bargle]

Bumps are usually done 30-90 days here. No big deal, though.

[Andy]

Someone else was looking for a book that sounds like this a while back https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (back then I thought it might be a novelization of the movie "Island City")

[Marshall]

The Ursula K. Le Guin short stories "Unchosen Love" and "Mountain Ways" have something kind of like this, a culture with Morning and Evening people who have a taboo against dating the same kind of person.

[Mjalleen]

Yes, Andy, it's the same book she was looking for.
I'll have more patience before bumping again.
Thank you you for a bit of assistance, it's appreciated.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

So here's your additional description:

YA book, sci-fi dystopian genre. Female protagonist.
They live in a society where everyone undergoes genetic testing. They are then implanted with a colored gemstone for identification.
They are only allowed to have children with people with the same color stone so as so create an optimum genetic specimen. I think there was something about incompatibility. People with the black stones were not allowed to have children.
The protagonist falls in love with her male best friend who, of course, has the wrong color stone (black) and they run away to be hunted by the government.
It's definitely not Logan's Run.
Anyone?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Mjalleen, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Mjalleen]

I'm still looking for this book. I've had no luck. Google and Amazon are no help either.

[Joshua]

"The Diary of Pelly D" by L.J. Adlington ?

Shades of Gray by Jasper Fforde ??

[Mjalleen]

Joshua wrote: ""The Diary of Pelly D" by L.J. Adlington ?

Shades of Gray by Jasper Fforde ??"

I read the synopsis of both, neither are it, but thank you for the suggestions.

[Kris]

Mjalleen, I added some details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it.

[Mjalleen]

Kris wrote: "Mjalleen, I added some details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it."

Thank you for the added info. I did edit one detail because I'm old, lol. I read it in high school.

[Rainbowheart]

Might want to check the YA Dystopia Novels list, if you haven't already looked through it.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking now?