Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony

Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony

Publication Date/Version: May 2010/Hardcover

Publisher: Putnam

Age Group: Young Adult

Received From: Editor (Thanks!)

The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they’re financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn’t, Molly’s only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there’s a handsome stranger who’s willing to help.

Molly is heading off on her own, trying to find her grandparents. It's 2041, and the world is desolate. After huge oil shortages, people must depend on the wits to survive as crime runs wild. Molly lived safely on a small island in Canada, but now she must head to Oregon to find her aging grandparents and bring them back. The trip there isn't easy, nor is convincing her grandparents to come back. Molly has to tough it out and learn to fend for herself. With the help of a in-the-know young man, however, she'll get an extra boost.

I love dystopian novels, simple as that. They're exciting, they're always full of adventure, and they amaze me. I always try to put myself into the character's situation, and I ask myself what I would do. Would I be brave enough? Would I do anything it took to survive? These questions, along with the characters' situations fascinate me. Restoring Harmony was another great addition to my endless wondering.

Molly is a headstrong young woman, though somewhat worrisome in the beginning. She travels to Oregon hoping to rescue her grandparents, making it all the way there to discover they don't want to go to Canada. So begins the long process of surviving and convincing. The cast of characters Molly meets is diverse, ranging from nice old women to mean and tough mobsters. One young man, eventually nicknamed Spill, is especially enticing. He always has help for Molly, but she's wary of just how he gets it. Spill seems to be working for the wrong people, and Molly isn't sure if she should risk getting involved.

The story progresses quickly with new turns around every corner. I thoroughly enjoyed the overall plot, especially the end. Lately I've been on a really good reading streak. I haven't read a bad book lately. Restoring Harmony hasn't broken it for sure. Molly serves as a proper role model. She's willing to fight for herself and her family, and she's strong in the face of danger. One can see her mature through the course of the novel, as you can expect from a good novel.

I recommend Restoring Harmony to lovers of dystopian fiction, especially ones with a knack for strong heroines.

Overall: Strong female character. Exciting story. Another great addition to dystopian fiction.

My Advice: Buy it if you love dystopian. Borrow it if you're not sure. I recommend this to all readers. I'm excited to own a copy.

Cover: Gorgeous. It looks more like art than a book cover. I love the way the white arches fade. The cover is very representative of the novel as a whole.

*This was read as a part of the 2010 Debut Author Challenge and the 100+ Reading Challenge