Slated by Teri Terry
21 July 2014 20:59![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hestia8So we have a book club at work, which has had some *cough* variable results (anti-rec: The Husband's Secret, AVOID) and the last meeting was to discuss Ben Okri's The Famished Road, which I found dense and monotone and which I could not finish (ditto most of the group).
By contrast, I read the latest book - Slated by Teri Terry - in about two hours flat. I was going to make a list of the things I like versus the things I didn't, but really I basically loved all of it. So here's a very positive review, hurrah!
One thing I didn't realise until I started reading was that this is a YA dystopia set in the UK, which immediately raised it a few steps in my estimation (I am ever weak for things set in the UK). Even better, it's not set in London (iirc, I am trying to verify this but have already passed my copy on).
The book starts with Kyla, the main character, being released from hospital after being Slated - having her memories wiped. Slating is a really interesting concept in this book, with some delicate details of the Slated characters not quite understanding things that the other characters take for granted, and having to react in different ways (Slated people are not allowed to commit violence, although it's unclear how this is monitored or if it's something in the monitoring device itself that stops them). Their moods are also monitored, having to stay within a certain boundary or there will be Consequences (e.g. comas, death).
Kyla is the viewpoint character, which allows us to learn about the world the same way as her (Teri Terry is very skilled at avoiding infodumps, which was excellent!). She's an interesting character, and although she skates a bit close to being yet another YA super special character on occasion (there's a repeated refrain that Kyla is different), she's believable and perceptive and tough. The other characters are intriguing as well, from Kyla's 'sister' Amy (also previously Slated, but much more typical and less curious), to her parents and the various professionals surrounding her at the hospital and school. Not everyone is nice by nature or even positive about the idea of having Slated people around, but everyone has their reasons.
The main premise of the book is that 'terrorists' go through Slating rather than being killed by the state. Their memories are wiped and everything about their lives is hidden from them. I won't go into too much detail of the reasoning behind this, but I found it a more plausible dystopia than many I've read (yes, sodding Maze Runner, I am looking at you). There seemed to me to be a clear line you could follow leading to the horrible events leading to Slating as an option, whereas often I get the feeling YA authors are going for set pieces rather than coherent plots (HELLO AGAIN MAZE RUNNER).
The paranoia running through the novel is very well done. Almost everyone is looking over their shoulder in some way, whether they admit to it or not. There are plenty of breadcrumb trails left by characters doing odd things or hiding something or outright stating things*, and you're never quite sure who Kyla can trust.
The weakest point of the book was the apparently inevitable attempted rape (so unnecessary, SIGH) and the appearance of someone from Kyla's past (this may be because he is mostly being set up for future books). Kyla's flashbacks are interesting - I think it's possible that before being Slated she was being set up as some sort of sleeper agent - but this guy comes across as a creep. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Recommended!
*one of my favourite parts was when another character tells Kyla people don't like Slated people because they're being used to monitor and record the people around them. This seems to just be a rumour, but what an idea.
By contrast, I read the latest book - Slated by Teri Terry - in about two hours flat. I was going to make a list of the things I like versus the things I didn't, but really I basically loved all of it. So here's a very positive review, hurrah!
One thing I didn't realise until I started reading was that this is a YA dystopia set in the UK, which immediately raised it a few steps in my estimation (I am ever weak for things set in the UK). Even better, it's not set in London (iirc, I am trying to verify this but have already passed my copy on).
The book starts with Kyla, the main character, being released from hospital after being Slated - having her memories wiped. Slating is a really interesting concept in this book, with some delicate details of the Slated characters not quite understanding things that the other characters take for granted, and having to react in different ways (Slated people are not allowed to commit violence, although it's unclear how this is monitored or if it's something in the monitoring device itself that stops them). Their moods are also monitored, having to stay within a certain boundary or there will be Consequences (e.g. comas, death).
Kyla is the viewpoint character, which allows us to learn about the world the same way as her (Teri Terry is very skilled at avoiding infodumps, which was excellent!). She's an interesting character, and although she skates a bit close to being yet another YA super special character on occasion (there's a repeated refrain that Kyla is different), she's believable and perceptive and tough. The other characters are intriguing as well, from Kyla's 'sister' Amy (also previously Slated, but much more typical and less curious), to her parents and the various professionals surrounding her at the hospital and school. Not everyone is nice by nature or even positive about the idea of having Slated people around, but everyone has their reasons.
The main premise of the book is that 'terrorists' go through Slating rather than being killed by the state. Their memories are wiped and everything about their lives is hidden from them. I won't go into too much detail of the reasoning behind this, but I found it a more plausible dystopia than many I've read (yes, sodding Maze Runner, I am looking at you). There seemed to me to be a clear line you could follow leading to the horrible events leading to Slating as an option, whereas often I get the feeling YA authors are going for set pieces rather than coherent plots (HELLO AGAIN MAZE RUNNER).
The paranoia running through the novel is very well done. Almost everyone is looking over their shoulder in some way, whether they admit to it or not. There are plenty of breadcrumb trails left by characters doing odd things or hiding something or outright stating things*, and you're never quite sure who Kyla can trust.
The weakest point of the book was the apparently inevitable attempted rape (so unnecessary, SIGH) and the appearance of someone from Kyla's past (this may be because he is mostly being set up for future books). Kyla's flashbacks are interesting - I think it's possible that before being Slated she was being set up as some sort of sleeper agent - but this guy comes across as a creep. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Recommended!
*one of my favourite parts was when another character tells Kyla people don't like Slated people because they're being used to monitor and record the people around them. This seems to just be a rumour, but what an idea.
