THE TESTAMENT OF JESSIE LAMB
By: Jane Rogers
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub. Date: May 2012
Org. Pub. Date: Jan 2011
Formats: Paperback and Electronic
Pages: 256
Genre: YA Dystopian
Age Group: 13+
Source: Publisher
Learn more about Jane Rogers on: Website | goodreads
Goodreads Synopsis: Jessie Lamb is an ordinary girl living in extraordinary times: as her world collapses, her idealism and courage drive her towards the ultimate act of heroism. If the human race is to survive, it’s up to her. Set just a month or two in the future, in a world irreparably altered by an act of biological terrorism, The Testament of Jessie Lamb explores a young woman’s determination to make her life count for something, as the certainties of her childhood are ripped apart.
Review: I’d first like to thank TLC Book Tours for having me be a part of the tour and HarperCollins for and sending me the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
THE TESTAMENT OF JESSIE LAMB is an interesting take on dystopian fiction from the viewpoint of female productive rights. At first, I didn’t quite know what the story was about, especially when the characters discuss a virus known as MDS. But soon MDS is explained to be Maternal Death Syndrome. Never heard of MDS? Okay, you’re not alone becuase it doesn’t exist — thank goodness.
MDS kills any woman who becomes pregnant, including her child who carries the virus too. In the novel, women all over the world are afraid to get pregnant and many haven’t for years. If so, they will eventually eliminate the human race. And who wants that?
Jessie lives in the UK with her parents. She loves hanging out with her friends, attending school and trying to figure out who she is and her place in the world. She also doesn’t quite understand MDS herself. She often feels women deserve it — that is until she begins to slowly see how MDS affects the women in her family and how it will affect her and the choices she makes.
THE TESTAMENT OF JESSIE LAMB is all about choices. It heavily relates the topic of choice, making ethical and moral decisions when it comes to our bodies, pregnancies and fertilization. The novel also delves into science and survival, including our choices when it comes to life and death.
The characters are well-developed, particularly Jessie and her moral compass. I love how she questions everything. However, the book often dragged for me and I found myself struggling to read it. I enjoyed the concept and the idea behind The Testament of Jessie Lamb, but something seemed lacking in the novel and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was the world which wanted to be and feel dystopian, but felt more modern day then futuristic, but I just started to lose interest in the novel. As a fan of dystopian books, it doesn’t seem to ring true for me.
I’m giving THE TESTAMENT OF JESSIE LAMB 3 “Relaxing with a Good Book” retro pictures for a curious concept, but not exceeding my expectations!
Leave a Comment | |
|
 |
|
Never heard of this one before, which is weird because I’m always all over all dystopians. I quite like dystopians that have a bit of depth to them with regards to the ethics of this futuristic world. I thought For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund did that very well. Too bad this one wasn’t the best dystopian out there though!
Aylee recently posted..Waiting On Wednesday: Simon & Schuster Summer 2012 Catalog
[...] May 31st: A Bookworm’s WorldFriday, June 1st: Drey’s LibraryFriday, June 1st: ”That’s Swell!”TBD: Raging Bibliomania Categories: blog tours, fictionTags: CommentsLeave a Reply Click here [...]
Darn, I’m sorry thing one didn’t turn out to be a favorite for you, but thanks for being on the tour.