Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Purchased
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 346 pages

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Dear Shatter Me,

Let's go ring shopping.

I am so blown away by the fantastic story you contain. I want to gather your characters in a hug, explore your world with a magnifying glass and paint your words on my walls. The story is fresh and exciting, leaving you wanting more more more.

Juliette has spent the past 264 days in complete isolation. All of her life, she has been denied the touch of a human being except for that one time and she can't stand it accepts that's how it needs to be. What gets me is that Juliette has every reason to be a vengeful, hate-filled killing machine. Instead, she is compassionate and generous. In addition to this, she is so strong. Juliette is my new favourite heroine. I want her to be my new best friend, too.

Of course, then there's Adam (picture ten or so hearts after his name, every time). Adam who believes that Juliette can shine and does everything he can to help her do so. He is lovely - smart and brave and honest. But... there's also Warner, who I am a little annoyed to like (just a little!). At times, I feel like I should give him a bit of leeway with the way he is, because he is most definitely a product of his environment. Then I look at Juliette though, and seeing the goodness of her makes me that much more unforgiving.

Shatter Me, your futuristic setting is bleak and dangerous, no doubt about it. The rich and powerful take what they want for themselves and leave scraps for the rest. Society is run with an iron fist and terror is always brimming under the surface. Through all of this though, there is that underlying feeling of hope. New possibilities were definitely introduced and I can't wait to see where they take off in the next book!

Now, I can't help but mention the way your story was written. Tahereh Mafi, I want to hug you and absorb your talent. The English student in me kind of wanted to pull out my different coloured highlighters to pick out all of the literary devices (ahoy there, metaphors!). The writing is effortless and captivating, with such a distinct style.

One of my new favourites.

Consider
me
shattered.

Love,
Sonia