Acid

Gr 9 Up—Jenna Strong has been broken out of prison by a mysterious group fighting against ACID, the totalitarian government ruling Britain in 2113. Although she was imprisoned for the murder of her parents, she hardly remembers the night it happened. Now she's on the run, trying to stay under ACID's radar as she reclaims her memories, her identity, and her life. While ACID begins with a compelling premise and a protagonist who is strong and strongly characterized, it quickly weakens. Three times in the book, Jenna is assigned a new identity, sometimes accompanied by new memories. In each instance, the story is essentially reset, disrupting the pacing, dissipating any tension, and setting Jenna off in a new direction. The plot relies too much on coincidence, making it feel that Jenna's story is happening to her rather than because of her. Jenna's love for Max, the son of the man who died rescuing her, further weakens the protagonist and plot. It clouds her judgment, making her take selfish risks that the cold, calculating Jenna readers meet in prison would never take. There's no explanation for why she loves him, only that she "feel[s] an inexplicable pull towards him, a rush of intense love…." ACID's premise will draw in plenty of readers, but it fails to deliver much substance or satisfaction. Strictly for dystopian completionists—there's better fare to be had in the saturated market for the genre.—Gretchen Kolderup, New York Public Library