Review: Article 5

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Author: Kristen Simmons

Series: Article 5, #1

Age Group: Young Adult

Format: Hardback Finished Copy

Pages: 364

Release Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

Original Price: $17.99

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2958-5

Source: Publisher

My Rating: * * * * * (5 stars)

COMPLIANCE IS MANDATORY. 
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 The Bill of rights has been revoked and replaced with the Moral Statutes.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 don't usually 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 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.
In the three years since the war ended, 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 what's worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings...the only boy Ember has ever loved.

The Cover:
The simplicity of the cover is stunning. The stark gray buildings contrast greatly against the red of the title and Chase's shirt. It is gorgeous.


Review:
Article 5 twisted my feelings very much. I felt frustration, compassion, cruelty, and so many more indescribable feelings. At the beginning, it was a slow pace, and I became semi-uninterested in the book. I put it down, then picked it up again a few hours later. Everything changed. My eyes were locked on the words, and I could not quit reading. It was a thrilling, amazing ride until the conclusion.


I felt connected to Ember. Besides having a beautiful name, she was headstrong, but also vulnerable, both physically and mentally. Her short stature of five four did nothing to impede her screaming at Chase constantly. In the end, I could not help but like Ember as a character.


Chase was fierce, cold, and at times, a monster. Yet, everything he did was for the love of his life, Ember. Since before he left to join as a soldier, he loved Ember. Even as a soldier, he could not forget her, and that was his greatest fault to the FBR. I admired the way he protected her. He truly was honorable, and I think that Ember and Chase are a great duo.


Overall, I recommend Article 5 to anyone who loves dystopian, and wants a book with memorable characters that will haunt them the rest of their lives.


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.