Article 5

Gr 9 Up—Ember tries her best to stay under the radar and not be noticed. The U.S. has changed since the war and the bombings. It is no longer a country of freedom and tolerance; instead, sexism is disguised as morality. From life choices to clothing, men and women must adhere to strict gender roles. Ember's mother is arrested under Article 5, a law criminalizing the birth of a child out of wedlock. It does not matter that Ember was born long before the war. While her mother is in jail, the teen is sent to a reform school to make sure that her illegitimate birth has not polluted her beyond redemption. To make matters worse, Chase, the boy she loved and who seemed to love her, is the drafted soldier who transports her there, and he treats her with a cool disdain and detachment. At the reformatory, she is beaten and threatened by the guards. Months pass, and one day Chase shows up to take her to her mother's trial. What follows is a harrowing adventure played out by an AWOL soldier and an escaped prisoner. Ember cannot figure out why Chase came for her, but he seems willing to go to any lengths to protect her. Will they make it to freedom? Article 5 can be compared to Lauren Oliver's Delirium (HarperCollins, 2011) in terms of the control of emotions and morality imposed by society. The escape story is interesting, as is the fragile rebuilding of trust between the teens. Ember's feelings of helplessness are palpable. The story is well written, and the descriptions are vivid. Fans of dystopian books will love this debut novel, the first in a series.—Melyssa Kenney, Parkville High School, Baltimore, MD