Review: The Program

Title: The Program

Author: Suzanne Young

Genre: Science Fiction: Dystopia, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Psychology

Page Count: 408

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Book #1 in The Program Series

Summary:
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.


Suicide and Depression are at an all time high. Kids killing themselves for not reason at all. They suddenly become depressed and kill themselves. It is a virus. And the only way to be cured is to be taken to The Program.

I pretty much bawled my eyes out for most of the book, then I was frustrated and mad and probably other emotion in between. Teen suicide is something that hits close to home for me and seeing a author take it on, well it brings so many emotions to me. It is nice for a change to see someone tackling this idea and morphing it into an amazing Dystapian novel. 

This is the first time I am reading one of Suzaane's works and she is an amazing writer. I felt like I was part of the book. The characters were so real and the issues. Suffering from depression myself she his the nail on the head with the emotions of her characters. 

Sloane was just simply amazing. The book is told from her point of view so you under stand her emotions and struggles from her brother's suicide  through her best friend being taken into the program and suffering the death of another friend. (All I am going to say on the subject) 

"Depression is setting in. They're coming for them. It's only a matter of time before there'll be...nothing left."

James and Sloane's relationship was real. It wasn't forced. You saw in the beginning of the novel and through flashbacks how much they loved each other. But sometimes love leaves the most painful memories of all, especially the baggage left behind.

James was Brady's, Sloane's brother's best friend. Two months before Brady committed suicide James and Sloane started to sneak around. At first Sloane and Jame's didn't want to complicate things further, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

"What did they erase this time? It wasn't theirs to take." 

 After a friend dies, James slips into a depression and the program comes for him. Sloane knows this is the end. They will erase his memory like they do to everyone else. But she hangs on to the little bit a hope that he some how will remember her.

Soon The Program is after Sloane and will she even remember James? To complicate things further add another boy in. Realm is also a patient at The Program and befriends Sloane. But as Sloane forgets James and Realm has the chance to move in things will change.

I can't right anything else with out giving the whole book away. Really, I suggest you read it.

The book left me hanging. I was like: "WHAT!? IS IS OVER!?" Now I have to wait to 2014 until the sequel. I'm going to fall into a depression waiting! In that case The Program will be coming for me. *Wink Wink*

This is one of those books were it leaves you reading through the night. One moment it is ten at night and then the next moment it is four in the morning. It is heart breaking story that shows, through Science Fiction the outcome of suicide and the emotion of depression. 

RATING: ★★★★★

On the hard copy version of the book if you remove the book jacket you will see what James and Sloane look like: