The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.
Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they’re financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn’t, Molly’s only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there’s a handsome stranger who’s willing to help.
Restoring Harmony is a riveting, fast-paced dystopian tale complete with adventure and romance that readers will devour.
Title: Restoring Harmony
Author: Joëlle Anthony
Format: hardcover, 306 pages
Genre: young adult
Source: won from online contest
Published: May 2010
Buy the book: The Book Depository | Kindle
My Thoughts
Before Restoring Harmony, I hadn’t read anything categorized as “dystopian”. I even had to look up the word to see what I was in for.
Dystopian: as bad as can be; characterized by human misery; state in which the conditions of life are extremely bad as from deprivation or oppression or terror.
The year is 2041. The world suffered the Collapse in 2031 due to the oil supply running out. The outlook on life is pretty grim since the Collapse left many people in poverty. Sixteen year old Molly lives on a farm on a Canadian Island with her family. She and her family are self-sufficient farmers.
Molly’s family fears that her grandmother may be dead so they send Molly to Gresham, Oregon to find out. Molly’s mom is late in her pregnancy so her parents are unable to go. Her sister is going to be married soon. So it’s up to Molly to make the huge feat from Canada into the United States. Molly will need to count on her instincts and survival skills to make the journey there and back.
I like Molly. She’s a good person. She’s smart, sweet and sympathetic. And it’s her perseverance and resourcefulness that helps get her through this journey.
I was completely engaged throughout the entire book. If life hadn’t gotten into the way, I would have easily finished this book in one sitting. Restoring Harmony is a vivid look at the possible future. It’s an eerie coincidence that this book released during the BP catastrophe. Really makes you think about how much we rely on oil and how much we should really learn to become more self-sufficient, like Molly and her family.
Restoring Harmony is about exploration, determination, survival and family values. I think it was a bit more middle grade level than young adult but I still enjoyed the author’s writing and vision nonetheless.
The Book Vixen’s Rating
Where to find Joëlle Anthony online
website | blog | twitter
Great review.
ReplyDeleteSo far I haven't read any books that deal with a dystopian theme but this one sounds worth a try.
I had to look up what dystopian means some week ago, too. When I told this my lil sis she knew what dystopian stands for right away. Guess I'm out of school for too long.
Great review and I seem to have a dytopian kick too and loved this book too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! I'm not sure how I feel about reading dystopian fiction that takes place in my own backyard... but I'm curious nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI really want to read this one, I love dystopian books :). Great Review!
ReplyDelete-Smart Girls Read