Birthmarked (Birthmarked Trilogy) (edition 2011)

3.5, actually... ( )

Birthmarked is a dystopian novel about a society with 2 classes of people, the privileged few inside the Wall and the multitude that eke out an existence outside the Wall. Normally the 2 groups only interact through commerce with one major exception - every month, 3 babies born outside of the Wall are 'advanced', or taken from their parents and given to adoptive families inside the Wall under the excuse of giving some children a better life. 16-year old Gaia Stone and her mother are midwives for the Western sector and it their job to bring the newborns to the gates to be advanced. When Gaia's parents are suddenly seized and imprisoned inside the Wall, Gaia decides to sneak inside the Wall and try to rescue her parents. Instead, she discovers the secret behind why babies are taken from their families.

This book started out with so much promise. A dystopian world with a very original problem. Maybe I've read too many dystopian young adult books recently, but I found the romance interest that Gaia develops to be forced and not that relevant to the plot. I also thought the ending fizzled out a bit and didn't have a very strong conclusion - but definitely gave strong hints of a sequel. ( )

Finished another YA Dystopian book and am already reading book 2 Priced (which starts quite interesting)
I liked the writing and I liked the main character. There is a little bit of romance which develops slowly through the book and there is quite a lot of action but not too much.
Some times I did not understand the world Gaia is living in and the reasons why they the leaders) behave the way they do. I hope more comes clear in the third book perhaps.
Yes I must say I did enjoy this read and it sucks that once I have finished Priced i probably have to wait a long time before the third (and last?) book will be out. Oh well. It is worth the read.


read from 12 to 15 February 2012.

Re reading 24 jan 2013. ( )

I am all about strong female main characters and Gaia is definitely one - I especially like that her moral character is emphasized more than the physical. Life in this dystopian community set on the banks of the "unlake" appears to be functioning despite the hardships for those outside of the Enclave until Gaia enters it and discovers the darker side of life in the Enclave. ( )

11/2011 Re-read, since the sequel's out. I liked it just as well the second time through.

6/2010 One can't help but be powerfully reminded in some ways of Atwood's masterpiece [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185] by this dystopian midwife's tale. It's a very gripping and exciting read, tautly plotted and involving. Gaia, the young midwife is fairly believable and plenty sympathetic. There are a couple of parts of the narrative that don't hold up to intense scrutiny, so I recommend checking your disbelief at the door.

This is not a spoiler, but it's going to be vague because of that: I really enjoyed the code, and loved that it was reproduced in the text. No, I didn't crack it, but I did give it a shot!

In between the adventures, Gaia hearkens back to her childhood in a way both poignant and evocative. It helps flesh out the backstory, too. The love interest is perhaps the hardest character to understand- or to believe in.

The ambiguous ending was just right. I'd read a sequel, and O'Brien left herself wide open for one, but it's not a cliffhanger either.

Recommended, if you like dystopian futures and lippy young midwives.


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