State of Grace

Gr 10 Up—Wren lives in paradise, where every day is a perfect mix of swimming, relaxing, eating luscious fresh fruit, and hooking up with her latest love interest. There is no shame and body image is appreciated, with clothing being optional. Thanks to Dot, Wren's Creator, Wren believes that her world is perfect, and has no negative feelings. However, the teen begins to see cracks in her Creation as she experiences visions and conjures up memories, words, and images. These visions cause her to feel confusion and intense guilt. They occur more frequently when she meets Dennis, a regular boy who enters into Dot's Creation. Wren and her friends work together to keep Dennis hidden from others and to find out why he was sent, in the process finding out much more than they bargained for. Badger crafts a beautiful dystopian world in her YA debut. The author dives deep into the soul of a teenager, providing an up-close look at guilt, depression, and crime. Badger creates a thought-provoking work, complete with riveting suspense, a fast pace, and a touch of romance. The line between truth and reality is often blurred, leaving readers questioning themselves, the belief system they were raised in, and the power of choice and their own voice. This novel sheds light on realistic issues that impact teens.