Book Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped (Bumped #1)

Megan McCafferty

Publication Date: April 26th 2011

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 323

Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult

In 2036 New Jersey, when teens are expected to become fanatically religious wives and mothers or high-priced Surrogettes for couples made infertile by a widespread virus, 16-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony find in one another the courage to believe they have choices.

Bumped was always the book I passed up. Something about it never caught my eye, I didn't even realize its slightly dystopic nature. During the fabulous readathon however, I ended winning its sequel, Thumped so it had to be read.

I honestly wish I had read this sooner. I love the whole idea that the book is based around, it is the nightmare of parents everywhere right now, the fact that teenaged pregnancy is supported. It reminds me of Withered except it makes more sense, the world building is much more solid. I also love how we explore this world from complete opposite ends of the spectrum in this version of the world. On one hand we have an Amish like community and on the other we have a "RePro" someone getting pregnant for money.

The book is incredibly fast paced, helped along with the short chapters from both points of views, and I fell in love with the characters enough that I was screaming at the book a couple of times (Harmony no! Don't do that!). I also really enjoyed the voice and slang of the book, slang is a very important reflection of society, so I have a lot of respect for the author using that as a tool to show off what society is obsessed with (such as never calling the baby a baby but using other words)

It does end in a rather abrupt, cliffhanger-y way, so I was incredibly glad to have the sequel on hand and ready to read.

Oh my god, Harmony! Harmony! Jondoe! Dumbbutt Lib! Harmony impersonating Melody was not something I saw coming, Jondoe going thumpy was not something I saw coming (and using bible verses to seduce cracked me up so much) and the fact that Lib didn't realize it at all strikes me as him being super dumb).

I absolutely adore Zen beyond belief, and I like the way he was "vertically challenged" so no one wanted to bump with him, it gave a nice bit of rounding to the society and showed that not everyone was supported in wanting to make kids.

The fact that in the end we have Jondoe impregnating Harmony is such a huge cliffhanger, this book really does feel like a giant prequel for the next book, rather than the next book being a sequel for this one.

You like commentaries on society and 'what-ifs' than you will love this book. It reads like Contemporary YA so if you enjoy Contemporary YA as well you will enjoy the reading of this book, and as I said before it is a fast paced book. Do not let this gem pass you by guys.

4 Bookmarks