Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Hi, I’m Jasmine, a 13-year-old who loves reading and the outdoors; especially skiing.
It has been almost 200 years since humanity conquered all things keeping them from being a perfect world. This includes hunger, disease, war, misery, and even death. The Thunderhead, or “the cloud” is an AI-evolved version of the internet, ensuring all humanity’s needs are taken care of. While it seems like the perfect world, the key to balance lies in Scythedom. To stop the population from overgrowing, a large group of individuals called scythes are given the responsibility to kill (glean) others permanently without being revived by law. The Thunderhead finds this approach to be the most effective method for controlling the population.
When 17-year-old Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch are selected for an apprenticeship under Scythe Faraday, they must learn what it means to be a scythe. Although neither of them are thrilled to be selected for this position, they will continue on. Citra was chosen for her quick and fiery wit, while Rowan was chosen for his kindness.
Together they bring out the positive in each other, yet they both know only one can be a scythe. When the first conclave (gathering for scythes) comes up the two teens feel ready for their first of three tests. However, things take a turn when Scythe Rand suggests whoever becomes a scythe must glean the other one. In this way, their training becomes more meaningful, and they are prepared to sacrifice themselves to help each other become a scythe.
Twists and cliffhangers will keep you guessing as the plot thickens. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to people who enjoy futuristic deep, action books.
