Review: Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony

Title: Restoring Harmony
Author: Joelle Anthony
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pub. Date: May 13, 2010
Genre: YA
Main Themes: Dystopia, Love, Family, Crime
Pages: 300 (ish)
Plot (from back of arc):
"Heading off on her own to a big American city might have been a fun adventure for sixteen-year-old Molly McClure in the good old days before the Collapse, when nearly all the oil ran out; but in 2041, when family calamities strike all at once and Molly must leave her isolated farming island in Canada for the very first time, the world she meets is anything but fun. Food is in short supply, crime is rampant, and once-bustling cities stand abandoned and crumbling - danger lurking around every corner.
No one is as they seem, and Molly has to make some fast, tough decisions about whom to trust, especially when a dangerous crime organization sets her in their sights. Luckily, Molly is a determined, can-do kind of girl, and with the help of a handsome stranger, she may just make it home alive."

I found Restoring Harmony to be a quick and interesting read. I love dystopian novels, so I was intrigued by this 2010 novel. While I liked it, I found some aspects to be lacking and the dialogue awkward at times.

The portrayed world of 2041 is definitely a different world than that of today's 2010. I liked that Anthony focused on oil one of the main contributors to the Collapse, as that is a definite possibility. I found the story that much more believable because of that detail.

I really liked Spill, the boy that Molly meets in America. I felt a stronger bond to his character than to Molly's actually. I found Molly somewhat one-dimensional and found Spill to be much more dynamic.

I did find some one the dialogue awkward though. And sometimes I felt like the story was flying along and then it would slow to a stop. I think part of this might be attributed to the fact that in some parts of the book I felt like the author had more detail and then other parts would be kind of bland. Since I felt like there were inconsistencies I have a hard time rating this novel.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 9
Characters: 7
Writing: 7
Romance: 9
Originality: 10
Total: 42/50 (B)

Fans of dystopian novels should defintely check out Restoring Harmony when it is released in 2010. I really did enjoy it, even though there were some parts that I felt dragged - I still finished it in one sitting! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

WoW is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine!

I've got a couple WoWs to share today - I couldn't pick just one!

Friend is Not a Verb by Daniel Ehrenhaft (HarperTeen, 5/1/10)
From the author of the Edgar Award–winning The Wessex Papers comes a hilariously offbeat novel about Henry “Hen” Birnbaum, a teenage boy who dreams of becoming a rock star despite a minor setback, namely: his girlfriend just dumped him and kicked him out of their band. Now his social life consists of night after night of VH1 marathons with his best friend and next-door neighbor, the neurotic Emma Wood.


Then there’s the matter of Sarah, his sister, who mysteriously disappeared for a whole year and just as mysteriously returned. As the story unfolds, the reasons for her disappearance seem more unbelievable than Henry ever could have imagined. Maybe rock god status isn’t too farfetched for Henry. After all, crazier things have happened.

I'm a fan of Ehrenhaft's Tell It to Naomi - but I haven't read anything by him in quite awhile. Seeing that he has a new book coming out in 2010 reminded me of my love of his books! :)

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder (Luna, 2010)

An unforgettable futuristic story about a girl whose attempts to rebel quietly puts her at the forefront of a revolution.

This little blurb is from a bookmark that I got over the weekend at Maria's signing:

"I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. One of the thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous  - the only neck at risk is my own.

Until a prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get proof?

You're right. Me. It's suicide plain and simple. But guess who can't let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me."

I'm so excited for Maria's new book - which is also her first YA! I'm curious to see if I'll love it as much as I loved her Poison Study series! It sounds really different...

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine!

"Although she was forced into slavery as a child, Madoca never felt like a slave. At the annual Gathering of her people, inside a circle of ancient standing stones, she is chosen to become the next dragon seer and overnight, her life changes. Now, she must train to become a leader of her people, and one who will care for the dragons and master their ancient magic."

Janet McNaughton has written a few books, but the only one I've read was Secret Under My Skin - a long time ago. In 9th grade actually, which I know for a fact because I did a book report on it, which I still have! I loved that book though - so I'm excited for this one. I absolutely love the cover!