If you were to look up the definition of “perfect” in the dictionary, what you’d see is an image of 17-year-old Celestine North.
With good looks, perfect grades, a gorgeous boyfriend, and a perfect family, Celestine is practically flawless to the bone. But when she witnesses a disturbing scenario right in front of her home, she begins to question the ethics of the Guild (a committee that oversees the investigation of individuals who may be Flawed). She quickly realizes that all her life, she has been blindly supporting a system that has several flaws of its own.
I have to admit that when I first read the premise, it didn’t pique my interest. But since I’d heard so many good things about the author, I decided to give this book a try. And BOY am I happy I did!
I was fascinated by the idea of people living in a society where obedience is seen as perfection and rebellion is seen as a flaw. It gave me quite a lot to think about in terms of what people see as a strength, or what it truly means to be morally and ethically “perfect.”
I was also immediately hooked by Celestine’s character, which was a pleasant surprise because I expected to get turned off by her perfectionism. But then I noticed that her one mistake (and the many trials that she endured afterward) truly strengthened her and molded her into one of the bravest female heroines I’ve ever read. I have to admit that throughout most of the book, she was incredibly naive and not aware of her own strength, but she quickly learned from her errors, took risks, and bravely followed her heart despite the consequences, which was so inspiring. In fact, let me put it this way: Celestine is Katniss, Tris, and Cinder rolled into one.
If you’re into YA dystopian novels, then this one's a must-read.
Comments