Book Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Breathe
Breathe #1
Author: Sarah Crossan
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Dystopian
Released: October 2nd 2012
Review Source: Harper Teen
Available: Amazon
OUaT Reviews: Yara's

Summary: (from goodreads) Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . .The world is dead. The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alinahas been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinnshould be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Beawants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Breathe is a captivating, enriching novel that you’ll stay up all night reading. Sarah Crossan has made an amazing dystopian world which- like many novels- has the plot of a controlling government and rebels trying to break free from it. Although the plot is similar to other books, surviving under a dome with limited oxygen is a new and exciting twist in the dystopian world.

The characters can be weakly played at times, but the story of the three youngsters is quite a tale. Quinn is a highly ranked government official’s son and is supposed to agree to the program of Breathe, the corporation that managed to supply oxygen to the people, but soon learns he doesn’t. There could be a better world and he knows that Breathe is keeping the dome’s citizens from experiencing the taste of independence. Bea, who is the money-deprived, appreciate-what-you-have kind of girl, is very generous person, but I found her to be a very predictable character. She is the goody-two shoes, but is willing to take risks for others, especially her ‘crush’, Quinn. Alina is the true rebel and focused on serving the rebellion no matter what. She is the firebrand of the group and can get a little heated and feisty at sometimes. Her attitude towards the Bea and Quinn is normally agitated, which is very laughable. The leaders of the rebellion could be more loathing towards Breathe and I thought the story was missing that throughout both sets of leaders. The leaders of Breathe acted as if they weren’t doing anything wrong and they really were locking people in a pod for the better of them. It could’ve used a bit more evil and the ending seemed a bit rushed.

Breathe is a gripping novel, excluding the weaker parts. It is a must read for dystopian fans since it gives a whole new meaning to being controlled. Crossan did a great job with Breathe and I will certainly be looking for a sequel.

(10 yr old tween reviewer)

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