Saturday, May 5, 2012

Slated by Teri Terry (ARC Review + Giveaway)

Genre:Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia 
Publication.Date  May 3rd 2012
Pages:384
Published By:  Orchard Books  | 
WebsiteTeri Terry 

Slated - Goodreads
My review copy:ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Where to get:



Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?(Goodreads)



I am a blank page. An uninteresting one at that.
I slip quiet to the window, pull the curtain. Dawn. Red streaks cross the sky, pockets of pink in wisps of cloud, like corrugated twists of metal, light shining through on grass an wet leaves, a riot of colour. Orange, gold, red, and all in between. Beautiful.




     I loved this book. So. Much. Slated by Teri Terry was nothing short of brilliant, and I am so surprised to see the lack of hype for it. I absolutely loved every page of this novel, and immediately after finishing it, felt the overwhelming need to start all over again, and perhaps go slower this time, savour the strange and terrifying world that Terry has created. It's dark. It chills your blood. Sends a cold shiver down your spine. It gets deep under your skin and makes you think about the issues it spotlights. Everything, from the utmost brilliant and eloquent writing style, to the painfully real characters and the unthinkable situations they're thrown into, is astonishingly good. So good, that you seriously won't be able to put it down, and if you do - you will still be thinking about it. Every. Waking. Hour. 

     I thought the premise of this novel was insane! Imagine living in a world where government controls your every action, every thought. You can't voice your opinion too loud, or you're risking your memory, or possibly even your life. You're constantly monitored, you don't know who to trust, or if you could even trust anyone. Criticising the government is practically a suicide - they're way too powerful, they will smash you like a bug, and no one will know - or care - that you ever existed. You can either follow obediently, look away when seeing someone getting hurt and pretend you don't know/care what's happening, or you can risk getting taken away from your family and friends, slated, erased, or - if you're over a certain age - terminated. Your teachers, classmates, people you pass by on the street, friends, or even your own parents - anyone could report you and have you sent away. How absolutely horrifying! 

     The main character has already been slated. She did something - or so the government claims - that was unacceptable and therefore punishable by having her memory and personality wiped clean. The government wants her to believe that it was all for her own good. They tell her that she should be thankful, after all not everyone gets a second chance. Adopted by a new family, Kayla is about to start a new life, and she only gets one shot at it. But the past has a way of catching up with us, whether we remember it or not. And Kayla is no regular girl. Somehow she senses that there is way more to the story than what people are telling her, that she's being deceived and lied to. The ghosts of her past keep crawling out of the cracks in her memory, and she realizes that she can't go on pretending to live a happy life. She needs to find the truth. 

     Extremely compelling writing, unique plot line and world creation, characters that you'll feel and root for, and gut wrenching tension that never lets up - all that (and more) makes this book a furiously excellent read, and one that you really (and I mean REALLY) can't afford to miss. I devoured this book in one afternoon and didn't pause once to take a break. It's the kind of read that makes you bite your nails, shift uncomfortably and look around suspiciously. Yes, it's THAT good! I did have a few moments when I found myself wishing for more background details, but then I realized, that is all yet to come. We didn't have an evil villain to conveniently explain all the inner workings of the wicked master plan. The government didn't bother explaining anything, and they didn't have to - they were the ones in charge, and people in charge don't need to brag about their power and influence (and that makes them really scary). What we were left with was a bunch of slated kids who had no idea whatsover who they were or what they've done to deserve what happened to them, let alone trying to figure out all the political and social structures, with the justice system on top. The vagueness and elusiveness of it all was what really elevated this book, making it even more intriguing. I loved how mysterious and secretive it all was, how everyone seemed to know more than they let on, but no one dared to speak up and do something about it. I was really captivated by how the story unfolded, and found myself connecting to the characters. And let me just tell you, the characters were awesome. Complex, three-dimensional, and so easy to relate to! Teri Terry did a wonderful job fleshing them out. 

     I could go on and on raving about this book, but every second you spend reading my review is a second you could be spending reading the book itself, and that, my dear friend, is exactly what you should be doing right now. It's a crowd-pleaser. Do not miss it.




(in all honesty, I would give it 10 stars without even blinking!)


❤ ❤ ❤GIVEAWAY❤ ❤ ❤ 

I'm giving away my lightly read ARC of Slated (a great book like that deserves to be shared)!



Enter through Rafflecopter below!
Open to: INTERNATIONAL
Ends: May 22nd
(ENTER AFTER THE PAGE BRAKE -> click: read more!) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

70 comments:

polaris said...

this is on my wishlist! i heard about this book a few days ago and i'm intrigued!:D i the loved the idea/story; it seems horrifying. an perfect kind of book i need to read this month (cause' it keeps raining here. i'm so in mood of reading dark-ish book) XD

thanks for the giveaway!

Mirela said...

thanks for the giveaway..

Unknown said...

This one has been on my wishlist for quite awhile now. :3

blanshire said...

Reading your review makes me want to get my own copy now! xD
Being slated is scary...

Thank you for the giveaway!

titania86 said...

This looks amazing! Great review!

Lucka said...

this book looks very good. I added it to my wishlist.

Thanks for the review

Cliona said...

OK I seriously need this NOW!!!! OMG it looks so amazing! Thanks for the awesome review :)

Evie said...

This book sounds amazing! I had no idea this book was a dystopian one. Now it's on my wishlist :) And I'm wondering if there's a little bit of romance in it.

Madalina said...

Great review. It makes me really wanna read Slated :).
Thanks for this amazing giveaway and for making it international :).

Rebecca Hipworth said...

Thank you for the giveaway :)

Janhvi said...

Slated sounds so intriguing especially the whole wiped off the memory thing.Thanks for the giveaway!

Yackers said...

Thank you so much for making this giveaway international. I heard about this book a month or so ago, and I've been dying to get a hold of it. Here's hoping I win this!! :-)

Jane Anise said...

This sounds so good! definitely entering for the giveaway!! thanks so much!

Sarah M said...

I love books that make you read them in one sitting. That is always the sign of a great book.

manda-rae said...

Huh, I'm super surprised I hadn't heard of this book until now. It definitely sounds right down my alley. And thanks to your review, I want to read it...

Thanks for the giveaway!

bookworm105 said...

Great review. This book sounds promising! I think the mystery in this book is going to kill me, but what beter thsan a good mystery! =D

Alicia said...

Great review!! I like hearing about books that really haven't been hyped too much but are just as amazing! Since you gave it 5+++ stars I'm adding this to my TBR list!! Thanks for the chance to win your ARC!!

Amy said...

I haven't really heard anything about this book before now. I love those quotes. The writing seems so beautiful. I love a good mystery. It sounds like a very intense book. Thanks for the fantastic review and for putting this book on my radar!!

Sara @ Forever 17 Books said...

I am really surprised this book isn't getting as much hype as it should too because it sounds great! Infact I only heard about it a week ago! Great review! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! This book sounds amazing. This goverment sounds really intense and scary.
I loved the quotes you put up. Very beautifully wirtten, it seems.
Thanks for this amazing interview!

Unknown said...

384 pages in one sitting? That MUST have been totally keeping you on the edge! I really want to read Slated, it's been on my wishlist since forever. I'm a bit (ok, more than a bit) disappointed after reading Glitch by Heather Anastasiu and I'm looking forward to other dystopians. I've been rather discouraged by the books in the genre lately. it's such a shame, really - dystopian is such a fascinating genre that gives writers a really wide range of opportunities to write something not only gripping, but wise, with a message.

I hope this is the case! :)

And thank you for the giveaway. <3

Kara_Malinczak said...

I was on the fence about this one, but your review makes me really want to read it. I have it on my tbr but I was in no hurry to get a hold of it. I'm now probably going to add it to my amazon wishlist. I do not thank you for that. LOL.

Heather said...

What a haunting description. This sounds really good!

Enbrethiliel said...

+JMJ+

Do you know what you've made Slated sound like? George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four! This novel sounds extremely paranoia inducing, but also very thought-provoking. I happen to think the Thought Police is alive and well even in the countries that believe themselves most free, and the scenario you say the novel presents isn't that implausible, if we stop to think about it.

I'd love to get a chance to read Slated. Thanks for the giveaway. =)

M.A.D. said...

Slated actually does sound pretty darn terrifying, and what is weird is that I've actually wondered if *someday* things would get so bad that there would be honestly be a type of *thought police/monitoring* set into motion.

Anyway ... I hadn't heard about Slated yet, so thank you for the heads up and nice giveaway :D
Mary DeBorde M.A.D.

Ariel Wilson said...

Whoa, this book sounds super intense. But really good!

Barbara E. said...

I hadn't heard anything about this book before I read your interview. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, it sounds like a fantastic story.

Liz. R said...

I agree about the premise, it's pretty damn awesome! I've been wanting to read this book ever since I saw the summary! Fab review, I can't wait to read this one.

Lynn K. said...

I really like the premise! The summary reminds me a little of Glimmer, with the memory wiping thing but I've not read that either. I love conspiracy/sci-fi/dystopian combos so this book has been sitting on tbr shelf for awhile now, reading your review only made me want to get my hands on it even more!

Oh, it's completely unrelated but I really like the sound of the author's name, Teri Terry! x)

Really looking forward to this.

Gigi said...

This book is my TBR list since a saw the cover in other blog and read the plot! I just can't believe how good, exciting and fantastic sound your review, i'm looking forward to read it! I love reading about this kind of books, the conspiracy, the dystopian sociaty, how a person or your memory can we wipe out forever is just mind blowing! So I would love to win it! Fingers crossed! Ileana - rafflecopter

Oana H. said...

Awesome review!This is the first time i read about this book and so far it sounds interesting.Now i'm curious and i want to read it.

Thanks for the giveaway!:)

Bookish in a Box said...

I was kind of unsure about Slated because it sounds like it's a better fit for the big screen than a book, but if the world-building suspense are even half as good as you say, I want to give it a shot. Great review! I'm psyched for Slated now.

Mel@Thedailyprophecy said...

Losing your memories.. How horrible would that be?

Na said...

I also find the premise scary and interesting. I shudder at the government having that much control...imagine! Well it's a good thing I can with a story.

Mel said...

This sounds really haunting - after all what are we but the sum of our memories? Or are instict and personality more than that...so many questions this book raises - even before you add in the story. Definitely one I want to read!

primrose said...

Oh, gosh..Slated sounds so cool Evie. I'm really looking forward for it.

Anonymous said...

Don't you just love finding gems that seem to be glazed over? Your descriptions of how bone chilling this book is totally makes me want to pick it up! This is a fantastic review =)!

Anonymous said...

Oops -- sorry about the above comment.. that did NOT work well!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the review and giveaway! I'm so glad to hear that Slated is a great read - it seems like the overabundance of dystopias is creating a certain amount of mediocrity among them, though apparently not in this case.

Reading Mind / The Loyal Book said...

I love books dealing with memories and their importance/loss. this one sounds great!

Jax Blunt said...

I really like the sound of this, reminds me of the excellent Joss Whedon series dollhouse.

Jax Blunt said...

I really like the sound of this, reminds me of the excellent Joss Whedon series dollhouse.

Becca H said...

This sounds like a pretty interesting read. It's been on my TBR list for a while now. Plus the quotes you put up makes me want to track down a copy ASAP, haha. Thanks for the great giveaway.

Anonymous said...

OMG, this books sounds amazing! I was already kind of excited about this book as I've been hearing about it quite a lot in the blogosphere, but your review has hyped up my excitement even more! From how you described it, this is the type of book in which you have no idea what happens next (which will be a change from the rather predictable plot-lines I often see). I can't wait to read this!

BJ Kenney said...

I hadn't heard of this book until your review. Sounds like a great read.

Ashley Correa said...

Great review, Evie ... Slated seems absolutely delicious!

-Haysel
BCHaysel@yahoo.com

The Little Green Art Witch said...

You have such a gift for expressing yourself with the written word. I really enjoyed your review!

Danielle
Known to Read

Maya Floria Yasmin said...

i want to read this book!

annejude said...

I haven't heard about this book yet, how is it possible?! Because after I saw the synopsis, I just knew that I have to read this book. The idea of government controling each our step and the world, where just having different opinion means risking life sounds so crazy and horrifying!

Lexie@BookBug said...

Wow! What a glowing review! I haven't heard much about this book but your review makes me want to run out and buy it (or win it!)
Thanks for the recommendation!

Janita said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I haven't heard of this book yet, but now I want to read it!

Ellisa said...

10 stars! Really, whoa! It's been on my wishlist and now your review has successfully convinced me to buy this book, like right away, for my next book shopping spree! But let's see if I win the Arc from you *wink*

I always love dystopian fiction. No matter how similar - no matter how the plot is somewhat recycled and overused, I just love it (after all, it's dystopian right?) Seems like Slated offers something new: a story that takes place after the main character herself just experienced something big to the point that the government has her memory slated. Erased. It's just intriguing, what's the secret lurking below the surface? It sounds intense!

That's a great (and persuasive) review! Thank you for the giveaway as well!

Denise Z said...

You know this post is only the second time I have even seen anything about this title and it appears to be a really good read. Thank you for sharing about it, I am definitely putting it on my wishlist, and for you generous giveaway opportunity. I would love to read Slated.

PuttPutt1198Eve said...

The whole premise of the book is creepy! To be controlled entirely by a government that doesn't have to tell you anything or explain their actions beyond a simple, "You should be thankful for a second chance," that's really scary. In otherwords, there are no human rights! WOW -- I want to find out what happens. How could anyone overcome all this?

PuttPutt1198Eve said...

I read your review of We Bought a Zoo. It sounds like you really enjoyed it and found it less concerned with the facts of the story, as some memoirs are, but primarily focused on the emotions of the characters. That makes a true story such as this, much easier to read. Too many facts are overwhelming for the reader.

R3musak3 said...

Thank you very much for the giveaway! Dennysse

Nicole said...

Thanks for the giveaway! The cover is gorgeous :)

Steph said...

Great review! This book sounds really interesting and I can't wait to read it! Love the cover too! :)

Gale Nelson said...

I love reading all your reviews and this one sounds great. Thanks for the great giveaway! Gale

Jen said...

I CAN"T NOT WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK! I saw it on my goodreads and now i just have to read it!!
-jennyC

Kelly said...

It reminds me of the movie "Erased" with Arnold Swarsneggar (Spelling. But I loved the premise of it and so I wouldn't mind taking a stab at it. Your review makes me think that the same things apply in the book that did in the movie. Can't wait to read it myself.

Unknown said...

I cant wait to read this book. It sounds really good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Mary Preston said...

SLATED sounds amazing. Count me in.

Unknown said...

Oh, wow! Such wonderful praise! I can see why though. I've seen this book floating around for quite a while but haven't paid much attention to it until now. After this wonderfully insightful review, I think I might have to go and order my copy right away! I do love a good nail-biting read. :D

(: Isa :) said...

I hadn't heard about this one until now which is pretty strange since it sounds like SLATED will be an amazing book. What a wonderfully gushy review! I am looking forward to picking this one up. Thanks for the giveaway! greenc70 at gmail dot com

Irina said...

Slated sounds just great! And I'm even more interested because you gave it 5 (or 10 as you said) stars :)
Thank you for the giveaway and for making it international!

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I missed the giveaway...but WOW, what an awesome-sounding novel! My interest has been piqued, and I've added this title to my to-read list. Thanks for the recommendation!

Holly said...

It sounds really interesting. I can't imagine how Kayla felt having no memory.Talk about frustrating! Seeing as how you would rate it a ten, I'll add it to my list!

The Little Green Art Witch said...

This sounds like such an amazing book!

:)
Danielle

Jaime Lester said...

There really hasn't been a lot of hype for this one, but it is one that I have wanted to read for a long time. If you say that you wanted to immediately go back and reread it, then it must be insanely good!

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