Author:
Kristen Simmons
Publication Date:
January 31, 2012
Publisher:
Tom Doherty Associates
Format:
Hardcover, 368 pages
Price:
CAD $19.99
Source:
A copy was provided by MaryAnn as a gift! Thank you!
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Description
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police-instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior-instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don’t come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.
Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.
That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.
About The Author
KRISTEN SIMMONS has a master’s degree in social work and is an advocate for mental health. She lives with her husband, Jason, and their precious greyhound Rudy in Tampa, Florida. Article 5 is her first novel.
Review
I have this love for dystopian novels. Why? Because the whole building is the same, and I like straightforward plots where you know who the enemy is. The government. Now I haven’t read a great dystopian since Marie Lu’s Legend, but that doesn’t stop me from reading them all.
From what I gathered from the description, I thought this was a mission to find her mom and keep her safe, which it was, but then Ember finds herself being kidnapped by the soldiers. Talk about a prison for children. Shot dead if caught leaving the grounds? No thanks! I admire Ember for her sheer determination to help her mom. I love how Kristin Simmons managed to weave in twists and turns during the entire book, and I did not see that twist coming which I love love love. I also fell in love with the dialogue between the two characters, Ember and Chase. How sweet and loving they were! Check out my quotes below if you don’t agree with me! There’s something adorable about childhood romances that makes me shudder. Ember’s thoughts could be mindless teenage babble sometimes, but I choose now to ignore that whenever a character becomes too annoying.
Overall, a good dystopian novel, but it’s not one of the best. Kudos to Kristin for spinning a novel full of fast paced action and romance. I look forward to reading the next book!
Rating 3/5
Quotes
“I could not fall back in love with Chase Jennings. Doing so was like falling in love with a thunderstorm. Exciting and powerful, yes. Even beautiful. But violently tempered, unpredictable, and ultimately, short-lived.”—Ember (209)
“He was my anchor in the hurricane, yet at the same time, the hurricane itself, so that I nearly always felt safe and afraid simultaneously.”—Ember (244)
“You’re home. To me.”—Chase (295)
I’m disappointed you only thought it was middle of the road. This was one I have kept toying on the fence of do i buy or don’t I. Too many mixed reviews for me. If it ends up on kindle deals maybe I’ll buy it then.
I actually really enjoyed this one. There was just something about it that I loved. Not to mention Chase and Ember’s romantic tension…awesome! I’m glad you still enjoyed it though!
Great review!
I’ve been listening to this book and so far its been really good. Although I’m iffy about audio books which is why I’m still listening to it after 2 or 3 months.
Nice review. I can’t wait to read this one. I ordered this from TBD and I just can’t wait to get my hands on it. I really love reading dystopians as well and I have no idea why.
I really need to read this book!! Planning on it since it came out, but never really got around it, damn! SOON
Awesome review! 
<3
his books sounds good, i cant wait to read it and c what i think.
*This book
I have to say I’m very biased when it comes to dystopia. I’d love to have a bookshelf in my room completely dedicated to dystopia. While Article 5 was a very good book, it’s not among my top dystopia choices. For some reason I got really hyped up for this one, but was ever so slightly let down. Nevertheless, I’d still love to read it over and over again.
I’ve heard a lot about this novel, but no one seems to really love it. It’s disappointing because I thought it sounded so good.
The book sounds interesting. I need to buy a book as soon as possible!
Nice review. I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while now because of the dystopian concept. Think i’ll get it now.
Wonderful review. I think the problem with dystopians nowadays is that there’s just so many of them that it’s hard to find the really unique and fantastic ones. Also, annoying protagonists are definitely a turn-off. But the romance does sound adorable, so I may have to check this out.