Book Review: Peaceful Genocide

Title: Peaceful Genocide

Author: J.A. Reynolds

Genre: Sci-fi

Review:

Wow...this book draws in readers with an exciting opening scene. Reynolds wastes no time setting the scene. The novel opens up with Mitzi (one of the two main characters) getting driven to what she thinks is a juvenile detention center. She has barely arrived at the destination before she is pitted against life threatening scenarios. Armed with cryptic messages given by the driver, she has to use the messages to figure out how to get to safety. Fortunately, Mitzi has excellent memory. In fact, she can recall anything and everything that she has ever seen, heard, felt, etc. And her unique ability to do so is what attracts the attention of several scientists to her.

Ralph is the second main character in the book. Like Mitzi, Ralph can remember everything that has occurred in his life. Like Mitzi, he is on the way to the same faculty. However, unlike Mitzi, he thinks he is going to said faculty to participate in a research project for Alzheimer's disease. 

Ralph and Mitzi really make a dynamic duo; their quite the opposite and I think that played off nicely in this novel. Ralph is very athletic, trusting and usually easy going. Mitzi, on the other hand, has suffered a life of hardship and as a result, is rather bitter and keeps to herself. I love the slow development regarding their relationship between Mitzi and Ralph. There was none of that "insta love" stuff going on.

Alright, moving onto the plot of the novel. Although the novel starts off at a thrilling speed, it slows down considerably in the middle before picking up pace the last 50 pages and ending with a bam. Plot pacing aside, I found the storyline to be quite interesting. Aside from Mitzi and Ralph, there are two other characters that also possess this "super memory." Like Ralph, these other two characters believe they are participating in a research/study.  However, it soon becomes clear that something is fishy is going on at this research faculty. From grueling, militaristic training to brain numbing "puzzles" they are forced to solve, Mitzi soon begins to suspect something is not right, especially when she begins to forget things--and that is unheard of.  As the edges between reality and imaginary blur, Mitzi and Ralph conclude they have to get out of this strange and dangerous place fast. That's all I'm going to say for the plot as not to spoil the ending :-)

There is one thing I would've loved to know that wasn't mentioned in this book though: the time period in which the novel takes place. The characters act and talk like present day people.  However, the technology featured at the research center is fur superior to anything we have today.

Rating: