The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken has to be the most devastatingly beautiful book I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This dystopian book, which was set in America, tells the story of a young girl who woke up on her tenth birthday with a terrifying change that is alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police.
Ruby gets sent to Thurmond, a rehabilitation camp like other people who are younger than eighteen. She might have survived the mysterious disease that has killed most of America’s children. However, she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Abilities that are caused by the disease are separated into different groups according to the level of dangerous they can cause. There are blues, greens, oranges, yellows, and reds. The government is so afraid of them that they are being kept in closely guarded camps with armed soldiers who control every move they do. What these kids go through is so dark, gloomy, and heartbreaking that you will appreciate the circumstances you have.
The main character, Ruby, is one of the dangerous ones, which makes her a target. She is so strong for who has been through so much. Nevertheless, in the book, we see that these experiences are what have made her more powerful and who she is right now. Also, the emotions of her are so well expressed that you will feel like you are that character while reading.
There are parts where you will hold your breath until everything settles down. Also, there are parts where you will cry your eyes out. To sum up, I enjoyed the gripping and breathtaking plot and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys science fiction or dystopian books. It is not to be missed.