Reaction Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1)
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Genre: Paranormal, Science Fiction, Dystopia 
Source: eBook via Library 
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: December 18th 2012

Summary:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control. Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

***If you are expecting an actually review, this really isn't one***

Everyone has told me to read this book. I finally gave in: 

I DNFed it the first time, I was going in expecting the same result. 

The first few chapters: 

My head was pounding, so much was going on. Important things were being explained. It took me forever to realize she was actually an orange and not a green. *face palm* 

The idea of Psi: 

This was so freaking cool. I was wondering why I DNFed it originally to be honest. But Psi is was a child in the stages of puberty would develop mental abilities.  Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration or shortened to IAAN. which is the actual term for it. But what ever. They are freaky cool abilities that got children locked in camps that pretty much tormented them with all forms of mental and physical abuse. There are 5 classifications, Green, Orange, Red, Yellows and Blue. Each able to do something different. Oranges, Reds, and Yellows being the most dangerous. Ruby a mind manipulator convinced them she was a green (the most harmless) for almost 6 years. That is when the book starts up. Sounds cool, right? 

Initial Impression of Ruby: 

When she ran away from Cate and into the Van with Ru, Liam and Chubs. We didn't really know about the organization then, so oooops. I guess she did do the right thing. But she also only had the education of the 4th grader, and she was socially impaired, and not mentally her age. She grew on me quickly though. She changes a lot through out the novel. 

Meeting Liam, Chubs and Zu: 

In my mind Liam is a total hottie, on a scale of 1 to 10 he is off the chart. Just putting it out there. (I am going to talk about him more when we get to romance.) For the first half of the book I hated Chubs, he irritated me and I wanted him gone. I get safety is an issue, but at this point Ruby is as harmless as a Q-tip. Then the second half he grew on me and the end of the novel had me sobbing. I loved Zu, she is the one who led Ruby to Liam in the first place. Her leaving the camp towards the end broke my heart, I hope she is in the next books. As well as Chubs. *Fingers Crossed* 

Clancy:

Just a feeling from the moment we met him. Let's leave it at that. 

ROMANCE!:

The romance was a real slow burn. Like I didn't realize it was there until the end. *insert second face palm* But Ruby's ability is what held it back, which I think is what confused me about her ability even more. Because she kissed him with out erasing his memory? But I really really love Liam and can't wait to see where Never Fade is going to take their relationship. 

 The Ending: 

WHAT THE HELL. I WAS DISTRAUGHT ABOUT CHUBS AND NOW THIS. I AM NOT

OKAY. My chest was physically aching in the last pages. Why. Why. Why did she have to do that. 

Overall:

I really enjoyed The Darkest Minds, and plan to continue on with the series. (I mean you have to with that kind of ending) The only reason I took a star off is because I feel some things could have been clarified more, and I don't understand Clancy's invasion all that much. (Example: clarification) But other then that I have a lot of love for this series so far!