87. Starters by Lissa Price

Starters by Lissa Price
Published April 2012 Random House

From the publisher:

16-year-old Callie lost her parents when the 'genocide spore' wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first - the very young and very old. She and her little brother must go on the run, living as squatters, fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes in the form of the Body Bank run by a mysterious figure, known only as The Old Man. The Body Bank allows teenagers to rent out their bodies to 'Enders' - the elderly members of society - who want to be young again. But Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party in her body. She intends to commit murder . . .

Dystopian and utopian fiction is giving the paranormal genre a run for its money.  Since The Hunger Games was released in 2008 there have been many teenage fiction titles that look toward the future.



In Starters the world is made up of Enders (the very old) and the young made up of claimed minors and unclaimed minors.  When all of the adults were killed, those with surviving Grandparents are considered claimed minors, and their life remains pretty much unchanged.  For those with no surviving relatives, they are unclaimed minors, and they are either institutionalised or live life on the streets and on the run.  Callie and her brother are unclaimed minors, and Callie will do whatever she has to do to give her brother a better life.

This is where Prime Destinations come in to the picture.  There is a technology that allows the brain of an Ender to be connected to the brain and body of a teenager.  The body of the Ender remains on a sleep state, and their brainwaves now in the body of a teen get, a chance to be young again.  Enders can rent theses bodies for anything up to three months, and the teens, on waking have no memory of what  they have done in this time.

The money offered to the teenagers is substantial, enough to save Calllie and her brother, so she signs up.  Her experience does not go to plan, she can still hear her Ender, and she has plans that Callie does not want to be a part of.  Callie learns that Prime is not satisfied with simply renting the bodies, they are going to start selling them...which basically means death for the teenage donors. 

A futuristic thriller that is sure to appeal to Hunger Games readers that are looking for something new to read.

Who will like this book: Girls age 14+
Read it if you like: Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld