Teenage pregnancy seems to be all the rage on television nowadays, so I find it no surprise as it begins showing its face in YA literature.When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job. Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from. When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common. (goodreads)
In Melody's world, infertility is in everyones near future, by the age of 18 to be precise. That being the case, teenagers are pushed to procreate as soon as they are old enough to conceive or help someone conceive. In Melody's part of town, if you meet certain physical and intellectual criteria, you can score representation and make big money off of "pregging" through contractual conceptions and births. If you aren't lucky enough to fall into that category, you can attempt going "amateur" and hope that someone will pay decently for your child.
Harmony grew up in a different society. In Goodside, you get married prior to having children and, of course, spread the word of God. The marriages happen to be arranged and you marry at approximately the age of 13, so you don't always end up with someone you love. When Harmony finds out about Melody, she makes it her personal mission to "save" Melody by helping her find God and getting her to return with her to Goodside.
The slang in Bumped was insane and at points almost overwhelming. I felt lost for quite a good deal of time trying to figure out what McCafferty was saying. I forged on, though.
Unfortunately, I didn't really form any real connection with either of the main characters. Melody and Harmony didn't form much of an attachment with me. I found more interest in the male "leads", Zen and Jondoe. Zen was super funny and cute and Jondoe, Mr. Handsome and Perfect, was not what I was expecting.
Bumped was a fun read once I got into it. After the abrupt ending, I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome for our characters in Bumped 's sequel.
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Pages: 336 (hardcover)
Source: NetGalley
Others in Series: Untitled
Rating: 3.5/5
Find Megan McCafferty
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2 comments:
Sounds interesting...
Yeah, sounds like an interesting premise. A lot of the reviews I've read have said the same thing as you about all the slang; I'm not sure I want to deal with that. ;)
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