Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Pub Date: April 30th, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Page Count: 405
The Program is probably the most heartbreaking book that I've read in 2013. (And because it's January, I'm counting for 2013). It was so hauntingly real, terrifying and broke my feels.
The writing was the base of everything. To be fair, the writing was very straightforward and had nothing different in the way phrases were used. It wasn't lyrical, but it told the story. The writing, although not chock-filled with similes, was filled was emotion that left me in a wreck. I don't know what it is, but the way it was written tore me apart even more than it would've been if it were lyrical.
I can't begin to tell how much I felt throughout reading this. Everything about this book broke my heart in the saddest of ways. Hearing about all the loss these characters had to go through made me want to stop reading and live in some kind of ignorance. I especially felt for the characters during MC's flashbacks of when everything was happy and okay. It leaves a cruel reminder that in life, things can change in a downward spiral-ed effect.
The Program is like a rehabilitation center in which teens that are thought to be suicidal go in and come out happy. This is done by taking away their memories over the course of 6 weeks. In the beginning, the perspective we're given is that the program is a monster that strips people of their identity. People would rather die than go into the Program.
MC ends up in there and while she's going through their methods, my perspective changed. We're told that The Program takes away everything that makes a person who they are. Really, I didn't see it that way. I saw it as they left everyone who came out, in the dark. Somehow, I found myself wondering if I actually liked the idea. Ignorance is bliss? That was the concept that I got. By the time they left, they weren't "not themselves". They just couldn't remember anything. For someone who's been through a lot of crap, they would probably want to restart and be happy. But the problem is that The Program was the reason for all the suicides in the beginning, so if it was removed, so would some of the suicides.
Not that I'm for the Program, but by the time that stage in the story was done, I found myself with an entirely different perspective. One line the MC gives goes a little like: I look at the people coming in. They're fighting and I can't believe I was ever like that. (This is paraphrased). But this line is such a game changer for me because it completely flips our opinion on the idea of The Program and that whole turnaround is what's giving this 5 stars.
The main character, Sloane was very strong. She'd lost so much and was clinging to whatever she had left. I think it would've been cruel to not put her in the Program with the amount of crap she had to deal with as a character. How much can a person actually take before they go nuts?
I don't know if I see her as likeable, but her personality shone when in the Program and how she was getting better.
Who I really liked was James. He was dealing with the same amount of crap as Sloane was and they were each others' anchors. James was enough sarcasm to be funny but not heartless and a little reminder that there is still some good left in the world. James and Sloane pre and post The Program were so heartbreaking in ways that I can't even explain. You'll have to read it for yourself.
What I didn't like in this book was the very little development in characters that were not the main. I also didn't like how there were same characters that were in one scene and just... done. It was kind of like they were only for one-time use. Characters like Lacey ended up being part of the actual story and I felt that she was very flat and has a lot of room for more development in the sequel of The Program.
This book will probably be imprinted on my brain like Thirteen Reasons Why and This Song Will Save Your Life. There is not a doubt that you should not read this and if you've been through or have close relations with suicide, you'll feel even deeper for these characters; you'll feel like I did.
Author: Suzanne Young
Pub Date: April 30th, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Page Count: 405
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.
Buy Links
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My Thoughts
The emotion in this book left me in a crying mess. - Nova @ Out of Time
The Program is probably the most heartbreaking book that I've read in 2013. (And because it's January, I'm counting for 2013). It was so hauntingly real, terrifying and broke my feels.
The writing was the base of everything. To be fair, the writing was very straightforward and had nothing different in the way phrases were used. It wasn't lyrical, but it told the story. The writing, although not chock-filled with similes, was filled was emotion that left me in a wreck. I don't know what it is, but the way it was written tore me apart even more than it would've been if it were lyrical.
I can't begin to tell how much I felt throughout reading this. Everything about this book broke my heart in the saddest of ways. Hearing about all the loss these characters had to go through made me want to stop reading and live in some kind of ignorance. I especially felt for the characters during MC's flashbacks of when everything was happy and okay. It leaves a cruel reminder that in life, things can change in a downward spiral-ed effect.
The Program is like a rehabilitation center in which teens that are thought to be suicidal go in and come out happy. This is done by taking away their memories over the course of 6 weeks. In the beginning, the perspective we're given is that the program is a monster that strips people of their identity. People would rather die than go into the Program.
MC ends up in there and while she's going through their methods, my perspective changed. We're told that The Program takes away everything that makes a person who they are. Really, I didn't see it that way. I saw it as they left everyone who came out, in the dark. Somehow, I found myself wondering if I actually liked the idea. Ignorance is bliss? That was the concept that I got. By the time they left, they weren't "not themselves". They just couldn't remember anything. For someone who's been through a lot of crap, they would probably want to restart and be happy. But the problem is that The Program was the reason for all the suicides in the beginning, so if it was removed, so would some of the suicides.
Not that I'm for the Program, but by the time that stage in the story was done, I found myself with an entirely different perspective. One line the MC gives goes a little like: I look at the people coming in. They're fighting and I can't believe I was ever like that. (This is paraphrased). But this line is such a game changer for me because it completely flips our opinion on the idea of The Program and that whole turnaround is what's giving this 5 stars.
The main character, Sloane was very strong. She'd lost so much and was clinging to whatever she had left. I think it would've been cruel to not put her in the Program with the amount of crap she had to deal with as a character. How much can a person actually take before they go nuts?
I don't know if I see her as likeable, but her personality shone when in the Program and how she was getting better.
Who I really liked was James. He was dealing with the same amount of crap as Sloane was and they were each others' anchors. James was enough sarcasm to be funny but not heartless and a little reminder that there is still some good left in the world. James and Sloane pre and post The Program were so heartbreaking in ways that I can't even explain. You'll have to read it for yourself.
What I didn't like in this book was the very little development in characters that were not the main. I also didn't like how there were same characters that were in one scene and just... done. It was kind of like they were only for one-time use. Characters like Lacey ended up being part of the actual story and I felt that she was very flat and has a lot of room for more development in the sequel of The Program.
This book will probably be imprinted on my brain like Thirteen Reasons Why and This Song Will Save Your Life. There is not a doubt that you should not read this and if you've been through or have close relations with suicide, you'll feel even deeper for these characters; you'll feel like I did.
 |
| Infinity Stars (if it's too hard to read) |
Author Info
Originally from New York, Suzanne Young moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. She currently resides in Tempe, where she teaches high school English. When not writing obsessively, Suzanne can be found searching her own tragic memories for inspiration.
Suzanne is the author of several books for teens, including THE PROGRAM, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, and A WANT SO WICKED. Friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @suzanne_young.
I just got a copy of this book! After your review, I can't wait to start it!! (:
ReplyDeleteFUCK EVERYTHING I wrote an amazing comment and it got eaten by Blogger and this has happened twice today and I'm about to take Blogger down akdfjalksjfklsjfkals
ReplyDeleteBut anyway, I'm glad that you loved this one! I've heard that the characterization of Sloane and James is beautiful as well as their relationship. A shift in your perspective of a certain aspect in a book is always nice because it really shows the development of both the book and the narrator as they start to view it differently. And The Program seems like one of those things where your feelings for it in the first place could completely one-eighty as you go through it yourself.
This sounds like a good book! And The Program sounds like Reducation in the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead! Must put on my TBR pile *goes to GR app*
ReplyDelete