Title: Flawed by Cecilia Ahern
Flawed Series Book One
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Length: 334
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.
In her breathtaking young adult debut, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which obedience is paramount and rebellion is punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.
Review:
Flawed is the first installment in Cecilia Ahern’s new young adult dystopian series about a society where everyone is expected to be morally and ethically perfect. Engaging and thought-provoking, the novel is a bit of a slow-starter, but the story is quickly gains momentum which makes it virtually impossible to put down.
Seventeen year old Celestine North is a logical thinking, rule follower who tries to keep under the radar. She views the world as black and white and she never questions the policies that she is expected to abide by. She has a wonderful relationship with boyfriend Art and her family has a tight friendship with his father, Judge Bosco Crevan. Judge Crevan holds a powerful position in the government as a judge for the Guild who decides the fate of a person accused of moral or ethical violations. When Celestine is accused of being “flawed”, she begins questioning the system while at the same time trying to navigate her new life.
Celestine is a just a normal, average teenager before she is thrust into the spotlight after she is judged and found guilty of being “flawed”. Upon returning to school, she is subjected to the derision of her classmates and she is forced to deal with the fact that some of her teachers are refusing to teach her. The strict set of rules she must now follow as a “flawed” person affects every aspect of her life and her home life is a minefield as she tries to stay out of trouble with the harsh and uncaring Whistleblower assigned to monitor her. Celestine is also under heavy media scrutiny and since the local news is under the control of Judge Craven, she is fearful that her comments will be twisted to suit his purposes. Not knowing who to trust, she finds unlikely allies whose offers of assistance appear genuine, but Celestine remains wary that they might have a hidden agenda.
The storyline is well-developed, very creative and extremely innovative. Several plot points are thought-provoking with some aspects bearing eerie similarities to Nazi Germany. The very premise of perfection is subjective and this provides numerous opportunities to reflect on the violations that are construed as flaws. Basic compassion and acts of kindness are often at odds with the strict rules and the very process of deciding an accused person’s fate is ripe for corruption. The situation with Celestine occurs just as opposition for the flawed process is rising and she is suddenly the face and voice for those trying to end the practice.
Flawed is an outstanding young adult novel with an intriguing storyline. An absolutely brilliant first installment in Cecilia Ahern’s Flawed series that will leave readers very impatiently awaiting the next book in the series.
