Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Title: Breathe
Author: Sarah Crossan
ISBN: 9780062118691
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: October 02, 2012
Series: Breathe #1
Page #: 384
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary:

"Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .
The world is dead.

The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?"

______________________________________________
First Lines:

"Breathing is a right, not a privilege, so I'm stealing it back. I'm nervous, but I'm not scared. This is the mission I've been training for. I'm ready to lead."
Page 1
______________________________________________
Review:

I have decided that this book needs to be used in schools. There's so much science about trees and oxygen intake and such, that I really think it would be a cool tie-in.


So, once we have killed the planet, people have to live in a pod in order to survive. The government has total control over the oxygen intake. People are ranked by their importance and never do they mix. There is a group of rebels trying to make life much better - outside the pod. Alina is part of this revolution... and is trying to make it back to her leader. Quinn and Bea are caught up in the action and desperately want things to go back to normal. Their lives totally intertwine and things start to fall apart.

I think the most interesting part of this book is the world building. It's crazy to think about the world being out of oxygen... but it's not so far-fetched that it's unbelievable. And the whole idea of not being able to breathe is frightening for just about everyone. That almost makes this a horror in that way - but it's more of a cautionary tale. Well, if you're really paying attention to the oxygen stuff. The story offers much more than that, but it has great legs to stand on.

There are three different perspectives you rotate through - Quinn, Bea, and Alina. Sometimes I get thrown off by that type of writing, but I really think this story is helped by it. You get all of the perspectives... a lower-class girl who is in love with an upper-class boy... an upper-class boy who is in love with a revolutionary... a revolutionary who is trying not to disappoint her leader... There's a lot going on. And it helps to have these differences of perspective.

I really appreciated the romance in this book. It's a little different. You have a little more of it in the beginning than the rest of the book, but I think it sets everything up very well. And I won't tell you how things end up, but it was different than many stories like this. There's less of a love triangle feel - and it's more background to anything else. Though, you wouldn't think so in the beginning. I really thought it was well done and I would love to see more that way.

The ending had me a little worried. Things seemed very rushed. You are through the battle to the other side and the world has completely changed. But it changes fast and you sort of jump time a bit to see where things end up. I would have liked a few more things about the immediate changes. And it's more like a telling of what happened - less reaction from our characters.

Goodreads does say that there is a second book in the works. I will definitely be picking up that one. I have to find out what happens! Breathe doesn't leave you on a huge cliffhanger or anything - you do have a finale. But you will wonder what comes next. So I'm excited to hear that there is a second one coming next year.

I really do recommend this book. I think those of you who love dystopian will find this one interesting. It's a bit of a different take on the whole thing. And I love that the situation seems to plausible. And I believe those who are into science fiction stories will enjoy this one as well. As I said before, I plan on trying to sell this book to my science-focused schools. I think it will go over well - even with the rushed ending. So give this one a shot!
______________________________________________
Other Blog Reviews:

Once Upon a Twilight
Reading Lark
The Reading Pile
Ebony Black Lines
Steph Likes Books
Far Escape Reviews