Birthmarked

By Caragh M. O'Brien

A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.

In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be 'advanced' into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve.

Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

Praise for Birthmarked:
'Readers who enjoy adventures with a strong heroine standing up to authority against the odds will enjoy this compelling tale.'  School Library Journal
'Reminiscent of both 1984 and a Brave New World, this gripping page-turner is a perfect intro to futuristic, dystopian fiction . . . Readers accompany the novel's inspiring heroine on an undertaking brimming with danger, intrigue, and romance.' Education.com

Also by Caragh M. O'Brien:
Prized
Promised

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Apr 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857071408

Caragh M. O'Brien

Caragh M. O’Brien is the author of the BIRTHMARKED trilogy and THE VAULT OF DREAMERS trilogy. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ms. O’Brien was educated at Williams College and earned her MA in the Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University. Her young adult science fiction has been honored by the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, the Amelia Bloomer Award, the Junior Library Guild, and numerous state reading lists. A former high school English teacher, she now writes young adult novels full time from her home in rural Connecticut.

Reviews for Birthmarked

[jothebookgirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I saw this was book #1, I knew I was in trouble because now I want to know what happens to Gaia, Maya and Leon. This dystopian novel is very believable and sort of scary in a Brave New World sort of way. The Great Lakes have dried up and water is a commodoty for those living outside the Enclave. People inside desire healthy babies so those outside are forced to give up their offspring which the Protectorant calls advancing babies. There were times in the book, I could not move my eyes fast enough to find what was going to happen.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Of the four dystopian books I've read over the past month, "Birthmarked" would have to be my favourite. I found Gaia an interesting character, especially as she is a 16 year-old midwife who is compassionate, strong and determined. I also liked the premise of the book where children are taken from the underprivileged to save the well-to-do families in a post-apocalyptic society, and the fact that Gaia isn't the traditionally beautiful heroine usually found in these books. Also, even though there is a touch of romance in the book, it isn't instantaneous nor is it the main focus of the story making it more believable. Overall, a good read.

[tammyphillips · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too obvious and predictable for me. The code element was very elementary and the ending felt unfinished. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but if it is as predictable and elementary as this one, it is beter suited to a younger audience. I expect a little more sophistication from the YA genre. Perhaps this novel should be categorized as juvenile fiction.

[allureofbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am a huge fan of YA dystopian novels, so when I picked this up I knew I'd enjoy it: and I did! I was riveted from the very first page. Caragh O'Brien pulled me into the story after just a few words, and I was fascinated. Gaia is an awesome MC, she is tough and has a strong personality, once her parents are taken from her she starts standing up for what she believes is right even though she knows how much danger she is putting herself in. She is afraid, but not too afraid to be true to herself.It is such an original plot. The Enclave reminds me of goverments I've seen other places (like The Forest of Hands and Teeth), but the way she sets things up is completely different. The infant "advances" are chilling. Without giving too much away, I think that the conflict that arises from that system makes a lot of sense and the story just comes together so well.I also loved Leon. He is another strong character, I loved the way his and Gaia's interactions involved from cold exchanges to friendship. I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next in this trilogy, I definitely recommend picking this up!

[ishanella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In my opinion, writing a good dystopian novel can be tricky. First you’re building a world on something that already exists - our world. Next, you have to take a part of our world, skew it, then write about it, but in a way that makes the reader think that this could happen, especially given the current state of the world. This is usually what I look for in my dystopian novels and I found it in Birthmarked by Caragh O’Brien.

Birthmarked opens up with a birthing scene - a very gutsy move. Gaia, a young midwife, delivers her first baby; significant because it’s the first time she’s doing it on her own and because it lays the path for the reader to learn about the Enclave, the baby quota and the world that will be explored in Birthmarked.

After delivering the baby to the Enclave, Gaia heads home to find her parents have been taken to the Enclave for questioning. The mystery builds as Gaia questions why her parents were taken, what record the guards were interrogating her about and why her mother hid a ribbon with strange symbols on them.

Caragh does a great job at describing Gaia’s world and situation. Gaia’s home and all the places she travels to are carefully described, giving the reader a three dimensional view of the world. Once Gaia makes it into the walls of the Enclave the action is almost non-stop, like a wild ride with just enough pause for you to catch your breath and the right amount of twists and turns to keep you intrigued.

There is a splattering of biology in the narrative, but it is so well-weaved into the plot that it does not read like a science book. For the shipping enthusiasts there is a bit of romance which, while not necessary to the plot advancement, does a good job at adding layer of charm.

What I liked best about this book was the questions that it raised. It’s a great book to open discussions on prejudices in society, hierarchy and class. It also opens questions about the way we use our limited resources and what might happen if we aren’t careful to care for the world we have. While these are great questions, I appreciated the way that they were subtly intertwined in the narrative. There was no blaring agenda, the questions rose organically from the story and I appreciated this greatly.

[allthesedarnbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an excellent, well-written young adult book that takes place in a distant, dystopian, post-oil future. 16-year-old Gaia has just, after apprenticing with her mother for years, delivered her first baby on her own as a midwife. This baby is the first of a quota of infants she must deliver to the Enclave, the walled compound she lives outside of, each month. When Gaia returns after handing the baby over, she finds that her parents have been arrested and disappeared into the Enclave. When she decides to go and find them, she starts on a journey in which she will eventually find not only the truth about her parents, but answers and new questions about the rigid society in which she lives, as well. A very interesting, thoughtful book with a strong female heroine. Highly recommended, and I look forward to read more by Ms. O'Brien. Five stars.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With so many YA dystopias coming out, it is always a treat to find one that offers something different from the rest. Precipitating factors never vary much: they tend to involve a nuclear and/or (increasingly) an environmental disaster. But in this case, the world after the disaster has some unique features. The post-climate-change society posited near Unlake Superior has been divided between those inside an “Enclave” and the poor and powerless outside of it, like Gaia Stone and her family. Gaia, age 16, intends to be a midwife some day like her mother whom she now assists, but she is suddenly pushed into the role when her parents are arrested. Gaia doesn’t understand why, and the mysterious Enclave soldier she finds at her house afterward - Sergeant Grey - won't explain. She suspects it might have something to do with the practice of “advancing” babies, which means that a quota of babies delivered by each midwife must be taken from the mother by the midwife (but only if the babies are “perfect”) and “advanced” to the Enclave within ninety minutes of birth. That baby is then brought up by an Enclave family, and never seen again outside the walls.Gaia has always believed in the values and rules promulgated by the Enclave, even though the emphasis on perfect offspring means that she is an outcast because of a disfiguring burn scar on her face. But after the arrest of her parents, she starts to question everything. She is determined to sneak into the Enclave and somehow get into the prison and rescue her parents. This plan is decidedly quixotic, not least because, even if she could get into the Enclave, not to mention the prison, her scarred face would make hiding impossible. But she gets some creative help from some unexpected quarters, and armed with bravery inspired by love for her parents, sets out to do the impossible, and fight for what she believes.Evaluation: Gaia is a wonderful heroine – scarred on the outside but lovely on the inside, gutsy, resolute, and passionate. Sergeant (later Captain) Grey, beautiful on the outside but scarred on the inside, is the perfect foil for Gaia. The story is unique in letting us get to know both the worlds inside and outside of the power structure, and the problems of the elite provide a creative and interesting twist to the usual dystopian themes.

[seldombites · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The basis of this story is an interesting concept that is just realistic enough to be scary. The 'haves' are living lives of luxury inside the city walls, while the 'have-nots' struggle to make ends meet outside. But all is not as it seems inside the city. Despite a monthly tribute of newborn babies from outside the wall, genetic diversity has shrunk, causing an epidemic of haemophilia.Birthmarked is a decent read, but not a brilliant one. It was interesting enough to read all the way through, but not so great that I will be looking to finish the series.

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. I enjoy dystopian novels and thought that this young adult take on a dystopian future sounded interesting. It was a pretty good book with some interesting ideas. The author mentions on her website that she is currently writing a sequel to this book, which makes sense because many issues are left unresolved.Gaia is training to be a midwife just like her mother. Her family lives outside the Wall. Inside the Wall lives the Enclave, a group of privileged individuals who help run the world outside the Wall. The only thing that the Outsiders need to do is meet a baby quota. The first three babies born each month get sent to the Enclave to be raised in privileged positions. It is supposed to be an honor to have your baby sent Inside. Then at Gaia's first solo birth the mother pleads to keep her baby. It starts Gaia thinking...this is followed by the mysterious arrest of her parents. It is up to Gaia to find a way Inside to save her parents; on her journey there she finds that life on the Inside may not be all it appears to be.This is a pretty good dystopian young adult book. I was a little surprised at how secluded the story was. The whole story takes place in a small area with a limited amount of people. There isn't a lot of mention about how the world became how it is, although Gaia mentions something about a climate change at one point. Gaia was an okay character but I didn't find her to be especially engaging.The ideas presented in this novel were interesting but not all that unique. Many dystopians are set up so that there are a privileged few and the masses provide for those privileged few. Where this book differs is in the requirement that babies get sent to the privileged few. Even more interesting is the idea that this baby donation is actually serving a vital role in keeping the gene pool of the privileged from becoming inbred.There are a number of moral questions thrown at the reader. The whole concept of giving up your child at birth for the better good is huge; this leads into the questions of whether or not children separated from parents at birth should be able to contact their parents later. Also the age old moral questions of separating humans into separate classes to have them function better. The book also touches on things such as forced breeding and planned matches for marriage based on genetic screening...of course this has been a big topic in lots of sci-fi literature.A big deal was made about the "birth-marking" that Gaia and her mother performed on the babies. While this definitely plays into the story, the idea of it having the huge influence that it did, didn't work well in the story for me. While the writing is engaging, I thought the plot was a bit choppy. It was almost like the writer was trying to throw too many ideas at the reader and didn't work through any ideas completely.The story is pretty serious in nature and there is not a ton of action. Gaia's love interest is an okay character, but we don't get to know him all that well and his actions towards Gaia are very inconsistent.Overall I enjoyed the book but I thought there were a lot of unresolved things. I liked that a lot of interesting moral issues were raised, but was disappointed that they weren't built upon or resolved. If you like dystopian books this is a pretty good read. Not nearly as good as The Hunger Games or the Tripods series. The author does state on her website that she is writing a sequel to this book; at this point I am not sure if I will read that one or not.

[shannanwithana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought the story was interesting enough to pull me in and keep reading. I could still put it down between chapters until about the last third of the book, then I had to finish it out. I am glad I had the serving book waiting for me because I started that one immediately.

As far as characters, while there is your typical heroine hates brooding hero set up, there is still enough originality to them that you don't just roll your eyes and write them off. The humility that the heroine displays also refreshing as opposed to the self loathing that many girl characters seem to have in YA books.

[nazgullie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wrote out a whole review for this and then lost it. I loved this book. I read it one sitting (one very long sitting that took all day). The story is well paced, with zero lagging for me. I sometimes find YA novels to be a bit sappy, and driven mostly by romance, but that definitely was not the case here. O'Brien's world is set in a distant future, but it relates to situations that we can very much identify with, and readers won't need any priming to understand or adjust to this new world. O'Brien's characters are a joy to behold. She just doesn't write great, believable female characters, but her male characters are a joy to behold as well. No over the top, Prince Charming types here, and yet; they are more endearing than any knight in shining armor. They're real. O'Brien's characters are disabled, include POC, and have mental illnesses, while still being able to be the heroes of the story. O'Brien's main leads have plenty "wrong" with them judged by society's standards, but readers will see that they are human, dealing with making difficult decisions constantly. The story itself is craftily written. The pace was perfect. It didn't give everything away at once, but it was never boring, and had me at the edge of my seat plenty of times. My most favorite thing however, is how this story examines the role of women in a highly patriarchal society. Female doctors, midwives, and barren women. How are they viewed when the men in power see them as a threat? What is the value of a woman when she is infertile? How do the leaders of patriarchal societies really view children? And what lengths will they go to keep their society going? It also asks the question of how patriarchal society views the disabled, and it's obsession with perfection and breeding. It may not have been the writer's intent to write a story that was strongly feminist, but I'm glad she did. I highly recommend this, and can't wait to get my hands on the next two in the series.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first in a trilogy. A dystopian novel where the first baby born in a village is taken by the midwife and given to a walled city, where that baby is raised by a family who can afford luxuries. The narrator is a young girl apprenticing under her mother to be a midwife. When both her father and mother are taken prisoner inside the walled city, she is determined to get inside and save her parents from whatever fate awaits them. There's lots more to the story but that's enough to get you started.

[donnacallea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great YA read. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[_zoe__1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In a world damaged by climate change, where water is a scarce commodity, Gaia is a midwife who's perfectly happy to obey the rules. She delivers the first babies born each month to the Enclave, where she believes they'll have a better life as the adopted children of the wealthy elites. But when her parents are suddenly taken in for interrogation and don't come back, Gaia finds herself questioning all her beliefs and ultimately rebelling against the system.This is definitely a thought-provoking book, and I think it would make for a great group discussion--I'd love to talk about it with someone. And yet there were certain points where I wasn't quite satisfied; I felt like the societal problems were more nuanced than Gaia acknowledged, and I couldn't fully accept that the system was irreparably broken. At the risk of going into too much detail for those who haven't read the book: Gaia comes to believe that taking away newborn babies from their parents is wrong, but when talking to someone who was himself adopted into the elite, she says that she believes his life was better for it. This belief that adoption is good for the baby seems to be common among the populace, and as long as it persists, I'm not convinced that it's impossible to reach any sort of compromise. Despite a couple of high-up men who do abuse their power, we see that there are plenty of good people among both the poor and the rich. So I'd like to have seen some exploration of ways to make the society work for everyone involved, rather than what seems to be the standard response in these kinds of books: run away from it all into the bleak unknown.Still, the fact that I found myself so engaged in the societal problems speaks highly of O'Brien's world building skills, and I look forward to returning to this world when the sequel is released. I'd recommend Birthmarked for anyone who enjoys a good YA dystopia.

[yogiboo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book even though it started slowly. The pace built up gradually but Gaia's character is still a bit wishy washy right to the end. She is young, naïve but untrusting, weak but occasionally strong, pretty but sometimes ugly and stubborn/daring but follows orders? Bit confusing but I am glad we found out what Leon's crime was even though you have to wait until the last few chapters for him to spill the baked beans! Will read the next book because I would like to know more about the wastelands and the Dark Forest -ooooooh!

[jmoncton_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Birthmarked is a dystopian novel about a society with 2 classes of people, the privileged few inside the Wall and the multitude that eke out an existence outside the Wall. Normally the 2 groups only interact through commerce with one major exception - every month, 3 babies born outside of the Wall are 'advanced', or taken from their parents and given to adoptive families inside the Wall under the excuse of giving some children a better life. 16-year old Gaia Stone and her mother are midwives for the Western sector and it their job to bring the newborns to the gates to be advanced. When Gaia's parents are suddenly seized and imprisoned inside the Wall, Gaia decides to sneak inside the Wall and try to rescue her parents. Instead, she discovers the secret behind why babies are taken from their families.

This book started out with so much promise. A dystopian world with a very original problem. Maybe I've read too many dystopian young adult books recently, but I found the romance interest that Gaia develops to be forced and not that relevant to the plot. I also thought the ending fizzled out a bit and didn't have a very strong conclusion - but definitely gave strong hints of a sequel.

[mrssmisher · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I did enjoy this book, but not enough to run to work and grab the next title in the series.

[mariahsidhe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Birthmarked hit upon many different keys of society and made me think, always a good thing in a book. I really felt for Gaia when she began to realize that the way her society did things was wrong and watched as her entire world fell apart. I've never been so interested in a book that held babies as a main component but I just couldn't seem to be able to put this book down until I had finished it. I am very glad for how the book ends and wonder what is in store for the next book in the series. As well as the fate of her new-found love.

[stephsstacks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, this book was great! So, the deal is: Gaia is training with her mother as a midwife is a village in a dystopian future. Her parents are taken away for questioning (in the first page - so no spoiler here) and Gaia must decide if she can trust the Enclave that has always protected the village or look for answers on her own. Two points for you if you can guess what she decides to do.I just loved Gaia, she is clever, wary, resourceful and passionate about doing the right thing. Her parents are three-dimensional and a strong influence in her life. I loved the flashbacks to her childhood. Leon is a great character and I enjoyed their back and forth. Even the side characters are interesting and I can see some of their roles expanded in future novels. I also liked that the villains weren't cartoonish and I could understand their motives if not their tactics.Birthmarked has all of the elements of a page-turning story that I just can't get enough of: a KAH, a great male protagonist/love interest, interesting world building, mysterious secrets, well-paced plot and although the sequel is teased about at the end (and I can't wait to get it), I'm not on suicide watch until I have it in my hot little hands. Overall, an amazing story that I would highly recommend to anyone, especially if you think your burned out on dystopian tales.

[yaaddict · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

From page one you are entirely captured in the story, and that alone makes O'Brien a freaking genius. Not many books can do that. From the first page we see our sixteen year old protagonist, Gaia delivering a baby on her own for the first time. Not only that, the baby is taken away from the distraught mother and given to the enclave as part of the monthly "quota" of three babies per month. Immediately after all this, Gaia goes home to find her parents were arrested, and no one can tell her why. From the beginning to the end, I couldn't put this one down.Gaia was a great main character. Her family means everything to her and she would do anything for them. She always did what she thought was right, and when she finds out she has been wrong, she immediately tries to make it right. She is unbelievably brave for a sixteen year old. I like that Gaia has the scar on her face, even though it's terribly sad why she has it. She wasn't the cliche girl with no confidence, but somehow everyone else seems to find her gorgeous. She had a real flaw, and for that it made me love her even more. Beauty is so within the flaws!Birthmarked also had an amazing cast of supporting characters. They were all well developed and added purpose to the scenes they were in. I really enjoyed the budding relationship between Gaia and a certian Captain Gray. I could just tell from the first encounter that there was something there, and I was dying to find out when something was going to happen between the two. Of course, the possible romance was just a side story in this amazing plot.This world that O'Brien has created was unbelievably there and realistic. I was so into the idea of the enclave living behind their wall. They don't let the outsiders in, but they sure do use them to their own advantage. Every element that was added, the "cool age", the unlake, the advanced babies . . . it all felt like it actually happened when you are reading the book. The amazing plot was perfectly paced to where you couldn't put it down, not even at the end of a chapter.The ending left off with some cliffhangers that made me seriously mad the next book is not out yet! Birthmarked is by far one of the best dystopians I have read, and that is coming from someone who loves dystopians. To me, it was right up there with The Hunger Games. Just a fair warning though, there are some pretty emotional scenes that will be tugging at your heartstrings. Birthmarked was a fantastic debut that has become one of my favorite reads this year. It is one not to be missed!

[nick1967-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have a feeling this is the month of not so great books for me that catch my interest. This is the second book of Apirl I have read and I just wasn't a fan. I will admit about a hundred pages away from finishing it I started skimming, because it just wasn't interesting to me. The plot, and world created seemed so amazing, but something in the book just fell flat for me. A decent read, but nothing amazing to me. A book you will either love or dislike.

[brainannex · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book came to my attention after trying to read Vault of Dreamers (which I couldn't even finish). The premise was intriguing so I gave it a try despite my failure with VoD. This definitely feels like The Handmaid's Tale for teens but in the best way- breeding control, dystopian government, good writing. Although I was mad when I finished it (for I had assumed wrongly that it was a standalone novel), I immediately ordered the two subsequent titles.

[callmecayce · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wish that I'd known before reading this book that it was part of a series, then when I got to the end I wouldn't have been so disappointed. I did like it, mostly, but it was a huge letdown to have read the whole book, only to find that it didn't end well at all. I will probably look for the second book, but not very hard.

[leannesf_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really impressive debut for a first novel. In the first chapter, I was a bit annoyed at Gaia's naivete, but as the plot unfolded, I understood her innocence and enjoyed her eventual realization of the flawed society she serves. I found Gaia's determination to find out the truth about her parents and their arrest, as well as the motives for the Enclave's way of life quite engaging and thought-provoking. I was pleasantly reminded of the classical dystopian novel, "The Handmaid's Tale", due to the author's use of red uniforms for servants, etc., and the Enclave suffering from the lack of viable children due to genetic issues. I also loved the mysterious character of Leon Grey and the roller-coaster romance that developed with Gaia. I would recommend this for young adults and older who enjoy dsytopian novels. Can't wait for the sequel, Prized.

[alcarinqa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found the book to be an easy read which raised questions about current lifestyles in the western world and the scientific, political and social effect a climate change crisis could mitigate. Gaia's world on the edge of the Enclave is sheltered and she believes that those inside the walled city are justified in withholding commodities such as electricity, water and education from those living outside. Every month, three babies per midwife are allowed to advance into the walled city for a better life. She is accepting of this situation until the capture of her parents by the Enclave, which acts as a catalyst to make her question the very foundation of her society. Gaia is a very strong character who I liked very much. Her actions are always planned, her feelings are clear, and I think she is one of the better heroines in YA fiction today. Her childhood was very happy and her parents have done an admirable job in raising a child who is socially conscious and values morality. Even Gaia's romantic experiences are guided by her sense of right and wrong. The progression of her feelings for Leon are realistic, and occur for all the right reasons, with the couple beginning to understand one another on a deep emotional level.The use of a secret code and hidden messages added a dimention to the novel which is not usually seen in young adult fiction. I found that at times the book read like a mystery thriller. For younger readers I caution that there are some confronting birthing scenes in the book, and that there is an incident in Leon's past which may be distressing. However, in both instances I believe the author handled delicate issues with maturity and forthrightness while preserving dignity.This is a refreshing, new type of dystopian story with a great heroine, and a must read for those who enjoy young adult fiction, science fiction or romance.

[readingdate · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Birthmarked is a thrilling, action-packed dystopian by 2010 YA debut author Caragh O’Brien. I was in the mood to read a good, satisfying dystopian and Birthmarked really fit the bill. This book should satisfy those looking for something similar to the Hunger Games with its intrigue, mystery and suspense.

The dystopian world is set up very well, with a plausible concept, and the characters are compelling. The protagonist, midwife Gaia Stone, is brave and faces danger at every turn. Her parents kept some secrets from her to keep her safe. However, now that they have been captured Gaia must use her wits and code-solving skills to help save them. I have not read a book with codes before and thought that was an interesting element.

The plot is thought provoking regarding the midwives and ethical dilemmas. The midwives have a monthly baby quota to fulfill for the Enclave. I was not sure of the Enclave’s intentions regarding the birth records. It seemed sometimes that their intentions were good in that they wanted to look for a suppressor gene to combat the health concerns plaguing the Enclave. However, their methods were suspect and their jump to imprison the midwives and doctors made them even more suspicious.

In addition to the code solving mystery and action, there is a little romance thrown into the mix. Gaia has great chemistry with Captain Leon Grey. Their relationship begins slowly and believably as they learn to trust each other. It is nice to see someone who can look past Gaia’s scars and believe in her.

The book is paced very well, and held my interest from beginning to end. The suspense ramps up toward the end and I couldn’t put the book down. There are some surprising twists along the way. The ending is sudden and intense, and sets up a whole new story for Gaia. I can’t wait to read what happens next. Those looking for a satisfying dystopian after finishing the Hunger Games should enjoy this series. Recommended also for fans of YA, dystopian, and sci-fi.

Birthmarked is the first book in a trilogy. The sequel, Prized, comes out in November 2011, which is entirely too far away.

[redfrn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Although predictable, the concept of this dystopian novel was intriguing. I loved the main character's spunk and bravery! I hope there is a second novel...it certainly seemed to be set up for one.

[flowerfairy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this one. A well thought out future earth. The story and characters were very engaging. A couldn't put it down read. :)

[josp-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is appealing because of the well written storyline and well written characters. The story itself makes this book a page turner, and the characters keep you on your toes. Once you start this book you won't be able to stop, and you shouldn't. However, before you go on to read the next book, Prized, I suggest you read Tortured. It gives a bit of insight into what happens between books.

[kskye_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In a dystopian future, society is marked by the privileged that live inside the Enclave and those who live a life of poverty and no education outside. Following in her mother’s steps, sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone becomes a midwife and the best in her sector outside the wall. Her job wouldn’t be so bad if she didn’t have a quota of babies to give to the Enclave for “advancement.” Mother greed is supposed to be unnatural and disloyal to the Enclave; mothers should be happy their children will be given better opportunities, but something seems off about all of it. One night her parents are taken in for questioning. It stretches to three weeks and still no word from them. Meanwhile, Gaia's being questioned by the mysterious Sergeant Grey about a list or some secret code her parents made about the babies her mother helped bring into the world. Determined to get into the Enclave to save her parents, she smuggles herself in and her life drastically changes. What does the Enclave want with her parents, and what is in the mysterious ribbon with an embedded message? Gaia soon realizes it’s not so simple to rebel, especially against an elitist society that’s all about their exclusive gene pool.I love strong heroines that stand up against authority! Gaia isn't your traditional perfect character with overwhelming beauty either. The scars of life are on her face quite literally. She goes through life with different forms of bravery, and doesn't even think so. She’s just doing what she has to do. There is also slight romance and it doesn’t impair her judgment. Also, I don't think I've ever used my dictionary as much as I did reading this book. I feel like I learned a volume of words I never even heard of before. It's always nice to learn something new.If you love dystopia, then this is one of the best I’ve read recently. The only bad thing about this book is that the next one (Prized) doesn’t come out till the early part of November. It doesn’t leave off on a cliffhanger, but it certainly has you wanting to read more about Gaia and those she loves. Put it on your TBR list, because it’s excellent.