Article 5 (edition 2012)

I was originally interested in this book as a litter circle book for my freshmen for a dystopian/government unit but after listening to it, I decided to go with a different option. This being said, it's not a bad book. In fact, I did enjoy the premis of the story but there were some parts of the romance story that I didn't want to deal with in a freshmen class. While this wasn't one of my favorite dystopian novels, it is action packed. However, it took awhile to really get to know the characters and to start to care about them. However, once that happened, I didn't want the story to end. And lucky for me it doesn't have to as this is apart of a series. I will eventually move onto the next book but not anytime soon. ( )

This was an okay book, but I had expected it to be a hell lot better. It had an interesting premise and a possibility to be a 5 star book but it turned out to be just another cliched dystopian with the notion: society bad, people good, lovers doomed... bleh. It was too damn predictable and too much like any other dystopia on the shelf. It was a big disappointment because I had high expectations.

I would've given 2 stars to the story but I liked Kristen Simmons' writing. Looking forward to reading the sequel now. ( )

Originally reviewed on A Reader of Fictions.

You know what's awesome? When a book totally grips you from the beginning to the end. There was seriously not a moment of Article 5 where I was not totally into the story. Kristen Simmons definitely had me right where she wanted me. Article 5 has tons of action, as well as world building that I can totally get behind AND a rocking heroine. Hell to the yes.

Article 5 falls into the vein of dystopias that clearly stem from our modern society. The direct correlation to forces at play in current politics makes this a great read-a-like for Cory Doctorow's Little Brother. In Simmons' horrific future, the fundamentalists have taken over, after various factors caused problems. The country is policed by the FBR, also known as the MM (Moral Militia). Women are being forced back into a subservient role: wives and mothers. There is talk of no longer allowing women to take math, for example, because what use is that to ladies? Women must wear appropriate clothing. All sorts of reading materials (ex. romance novels) and actions (ex. doing anything romantic outside of marriage) are prohibited.

Even more horrifying, the military now has such power that trials for crimes are becoming a thing of the past. Even if a trial is planned, nobody looks to closely if a 'criminal' dies in an 'escape attempt' or something of that sort. Not only that, but you can now be held responsible for something done years before. Take, for example, our heroine's mother, arrested at the beginning of the book for having a child out of wedlock. Note that the child she had is 17 year old Ember. The law didn't exist when Ember was born, but it's written now, so off to jail you go.

Ember was a wonderful heroine. She has so much personality and I really felt like I knew her. Told in the first person from her perspective, I just loved the way Ember thought and phrased things. She has a sarcastic and occasionally off-the-wall humor that I really appreciate. I thought the storytelling was effective, and that, though I knew Ember best, I did get a hint of depths to some of the other more minor characters.

What I really love about Ember as a heroine is how ordinary she is. Now, she is cleverer than average and definitely braver, but she has no special physical skills or powers to aid her in her quest to save her mother from prison. Despite that, Ember is a force to be reckoned with. She fights back, even when that is really not the advisable action. Ember cannot NOT act when someone does something to her. She does not take abuse quietly. She stands up for herself first and foremost, and sometimes or others. The selfishness underlying most of her actions I really liked too, because, let's be honest, that's how she's going to have a chance of surviving.

Plus, her personality made the romance stand out from the ordinary YA relationships. Though on the surface, we have an obvious match with Chase and Ember, childhood sweethearts torn apart by his induction into the MM. Whereas most YA heroines when reunited with the strong, tall, gorgeous Chase would forgive him his trespasses and do whatever he asked, like good girls do, Ember does not trust him at all. Any trust he gets from her has to be EARNED. She knows well that just because she loved him before does not mean he is the same person now.

Chase and Ember's relationship appeals so much more to me because of the realistic way in which she views it. Though she's drawn to him, she can resist him. She can think logically in the face of his presence. She can use him to get what she needs. She listens to him when it's in her benefit, but also will disobey his orders if she feels that necessary. Despite his training and strength, she always does what she can to fight and comes up with great ideas, rather than expecting him to protect her.

Article 5 is chock full of action, awesome characters, sassy writing and a horrifying dystopian society that I dearly hope never comes to pass. Book two, Breaking Point, should probably make its way to my hands immediately; I want it like BURNING. ( )

started off a strong dystopian with an interesting premise. the us has turned into a 'moral' country with rights turned backwards. women are only valued for their men and home skills. I initially picked it up because of today's political drama- I can easily see a version of this happening if the election goes the wrong way. about 2/3 of the way through it gets hard to finish though. the story begins to focus on a dysfunctional relationship between the two teen leads, and it lost most of my interest. ( )

Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Style: 3 stars
Pace: 4 stars
Erring on the side of an extra star here, as it's really a 3 1/2 star sort of book. Great premise, very believable.
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