Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (November 15, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0062085484
ISBN-13: 978-0062085481
Received: From publisher in exchange for an honest review
                     5 Butterflies
 

Synopsis:

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

My Thoughts:

Shatter Me was one of those books that was recommended to me over and over again.  I was scared that it was just going to fall flat and not live up to all the hype.  I tried my best to go into it without all of those expectations.  I really think there was no need.  Shatter Me was really just a great read that I couldn't help but enjoy.

I was a little worried that the writing style was going to be a problem for me.  It was a very unusual style of writing but it ended up not bothering me at all.  I actually really like the stream of conscious way it was written.  It seems to flow close to how my brain works (does that make me slightly crazy?).

When we first meet Juliette as a girl locked away in a cell she is so very damaged. Although she was broken, I love that she still maintained a sense of self and a will to fight.  It was great getting to watch her journey unfold.  Seeing how incredibly strong she still remained after all she had been through was a great testament to her growth during this novel. 

Adam, oh Adam.  Adam is simply AMAZING.  He is such a caring and good-hearted individual.  He is so loyal and never gives up on the people he loves.  Plus, there is just something about tattooed guys that is SOOO sexy!

Warner is so creeptastic.  He's one of those bad guys that will have you feeling sorry for him one second and wanting to shoot him in the face the next.  Kenji is HILARIOUS!  Seriously, every time he opened his mouth I was snorting with deliciously evil giggles.  I wanted to pull him out of the pages and eat him up.

Shatter Me seems like it will be the start of a wild and exciting super-hero adventure.  The pace kept me flipping pages and wondering what would happen next.  Do I recommend it to everyone? No.  Not everyone is going to love this style of writing.  I do suggest you give it a try and see what you think for yourself.

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