Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

In sixteen-year-old Gaia's world, there are only two ways of life; that of those outside the wall and that of the Enclave, inside the wall. Gaia grew up outside the wall shadowing her mother, a midwife, who delivers a quota of babies each month to the Enclave, forever separating them from their biological families. On the night Gaia delivers her very first baby to the Enclave, she returns home to find her parents have been arrested by the very people she is serving. Gaia begins questioning everything she's been taught to believe. Now she must fight the very system she dutifully serves, in order to save her family.

O'Brien created this world that you can envision yourself in. It takes place after the "cool age", the lands are basically desolate. Those living outside the wall have the bare necessities to live, most just barely getting by. They are subject to the laws of those inside the wall. Inside there are those who want for nothing... except healthy, perfect newborns from outside the wall. The poor do not rebel because their very own flesh and blood live inside the walls and serve in the Guard.

I enjoy dystopian stories, like this and The Hunger Games. This book was captivating right from the first page all the way until the end. Gaia Stone was a wonderful main character. She's not your average "pretty, popular and perfect" girl. She's scarred, labeled a "freak" inside and outside the walls of the Enclave. She's flawed, but still beautiful inside and out. She was strong-willed, doing anything and risking everything to get her parents back. The supporting characters (especially Captain Gray) were wonderful, as well. Each was unique and distinct. I love books like this where I can picture this entire bleak world, and each individual character in my head.

The plot was very intriguing and well paced. Unfortunately, this happens to be another series (something I didn't know before starting this book) and I must now wait for the second book.

4/5