Title: The 100
Book Series: The Hundred, Book #1
Author: Kass Morgan
Genres: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Format: Hardback
Length: 323 pages
Release Date: September 3, 2013
In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.
FIRST IMPRESSION:: My eyes just happened to fall on this title while browsing in he library and I HAD TO HAVE THIS!!! I am a huge fan he CW series, so I definitely wanted to give the book a whirl. Wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed it
THE STORY:: Normally, I'm not a big fan of multiple narrators. But for this story, I think it made sense to do so. Each narrator - Clarke, Wells, Bellamy and Glass - were part of the hundred souls sent down to Earth to thrive or parish. Each had a unique voice, each had a different reason for being there, and no matter how harsh their means, they all did what they did for love.
Each character in this dystopian world when through their own journey, but at the root of it all they had their own unique tale of second chances, forgiveness, love and fearlessness. Clarke was betrayed by those she loved; Wells was seeking redemption and to protect the one he loved; Bellamy was also looking protect someone he loved, his sister; and Glass was a victim of politics that "protected" the Colony she lived in. Overall, I enjoyed the four POVs. You getter a broader sense of their situation. Also, because of one these character, we get to see what's happening on Earth and on the ship.
One complaint is that the story focused heavily on the four characters -- on their feelings, on their experiences and on the ones they loved. What I didn't learn enough about was there world, which frankly sounds really cool. After war ravages the Earth and radiation makes it unsustainable, the entire human population abandons their home an lives in a ship in outer space. The ship, known as the Colony, which is divided into three main sectors - Phoenix and Walden and Arcadia. Phoenix is the upper-class, where Clarke, Wells and Glass lived, and both of the two other sectors the lower class. Bellamy was from Walden. The Colony is governed by the Council, an Wells' father is their leader, the Chancellor. This was basically all I learned about the world; I really would have loved a deeper exploration of the sectors and the ship's history. Especially, to know what happened on earth in the first place. Maybe that will come in future books.
I'm finding it difficult to try and think of other things to say, which might be a reflection of the lack of a detailed story. I will keep reading it, but after the next season of the television series is over. I think the detail I am looking for exists there. The two stories are VERY different. I do want to say that without creating a running list of comparisons and differences.
FINAL THOUGHTS:: What I most loved about this story was the strength of all the characters. They all had depth and perspective. It was really refreshing to not encounter weak-minded female characters that plague YA.
“That was the thing about secrets - you had to carry them with you forever, no matter what the cost.”
― Glass
“Everyone was pointing upward at the sky, which was turning into a symphony of color. First, orange streaks appeared in the blue, like an oboe joining a flute, turning a solo into a duet. That harmony built into a crescendo of colors as yellow and then pink added their voices to the chorus. The sky darkened, throwing the array of colors into even sharper relief. The word sunset couldn't possibly contain the meaning of the beauty above them, and for the millionth time since they'd landed, Wells found that the words they'd been taught to describe Earth paled in comparison to the real thing.” ― Wells
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