Starters

Price, Lissa. Starters. 2012, 365p. ISBN 978-03857-4237-5. Available as an eBook from Overdride Media.

The world in Starters is a stark one. In the near future, the spore wars have wiped out most of the adults between the ages of 16 and 85, leaving behind only Starters, children and teens, and Enders, old people in the twilight of their lives. With the death of their parents, any Starter with no living relative becomes “unclaimed” and therefore belongs to the government until their 18th birthday. They are institutionalized in little more than prisons. Those who are not caught live day to day in the ruins of destroyed buildings, trying to stay away from the marshals while fighting off renegade teens with the help of their friendlies.

Cassie and her brother Tyler lost their parents two years ago, and have lived on the streets for the last 18 months. With Tyler sick and the siblings once again evicted from a building by the Enders and their marshals, Cassie is confronted with a stark choice. Michael, her friend, has helped her keeping Tyler alive. But now that winter’s coming and they have nowhere to live, Cassie must get money, and quick. The fastest way? Rent her body to Prime Destination, where an Ender will pay good money to relive their youth for a few days, weeks, or even up to a month. After three rentals, Cassie will find herself with enough money to buy a living space for her, Michael and Tyler.

Forced by her circumstances, Cassie leaves Tyler with Michael and joins the Body Bank. Her first two rentals, for three days and for a week, go well. While in rental her consciousness is removed from her body and the consciousness of an Ender replaces it. She remembers nothing of those days. When she must go for a third and final rental, however, she finds out it will be for a month. She will not be able to care for her brother, but she really needs the money.

That’s when something goes horribly wrong. Cassie comes to in the middle of the rental several times, only to realize that the renter is bent on using her body to commit murder. And she’s met a boy, Blake, whom she falls for. Now in a race against time, Cassie must prevent herself from killing someone important while at the same time solving the reasons behind the action, dealing with a love triangle, and staying one step ahead of Prime Destinations, who would dearly like to get her back in the Body Bank.

This was a page turner which sets up one of the most realistic dystopia since The Hunger Games. If you like reading about Katniss, you will love Cassie’s strengths and drive to save what’s left of her family. The series conclude in Enders. Fans of the Hunger Games will like this book, and might also enjoy the following dystopian novels: Arena 1, Divergent, and The Maze Runners.

Fans of this book will enjoy Arena One.