Rise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The first book of The Y Chronicles, Lexi Verity is preparing to take her test that would determine her career path and living situation. The Imperium ruled after the Collapse and war. It decreed humans squandered too much; therefore, all foodstuff went into bland but healthy bars. It was rare to have fresh vegetables and real meat. Everyone was assigned work according to a test, determined the best genetic match for a mate, and assigned housing units. Change wasn’t allowed. Only those just married or with children got apartments. If a couple failed to achieve pregnancy after the first year or their children had grown were forced into a dormitory living.

Lexi was groomed to follow in her family’s footsteps and work in Administration. Everyone who worked in Administration lived in the White building and wore white uniforms. She dreamed of working in the greenhouses. Lexi threw her test by purposely incorrectly answering the questions for Administration’s section. When Lexi finished the computer announced she was assigned to Reclamation. In 72 hours she would be assigned a mate and her new home.

Lexi’s father was in a rage when he learned what she had done. He insisted that she retake the test. Lexi refused to bend to what he wanted. When she reported to Reclamation she was assigned a brown suit and was to sort trash that could be recycled. Just before she was finished with work, a gold necklace appeared at he her station. It had a gold cross on it. She wasn’t sure if it was valuable so she chose to scan it with the computer. Red lights and an alarm sounded “Contraband detected, Supervisor alerted.” Her supervisor told her that religious symbols led to devastation of the world.

The following evening, both of her grandparents receive messages that they were being retired and moved to a nearby town called Solitude. Lexi was stunned; nobody ever returned from the retirement city. She would never see her grandparents again. The following morning, her mother gave her a necklace with a locket on it. She accompanied her mother and grandparents to the train platform. Her mother claimed she was going to escort them to their train. Lexi started towards the opposite direction for her train to work. Yelling was heard, Lexi saw a fireball fill the station where her grandparents and mother were. Then a large explosion and Lexi’s life was about to change in ways she had never imagined.

This was a thrilling story of rebellion against conformity and tyrannical government. Lexi was unwilling to live a life dictated by others. However, she was extremely loyal to her grandparents and her mother. Readers who enjoy stories told from the perspective of a strong female protagonist will enjoy Rise of the Y. Unpredictable plot twists and supporting characters prove to add adventure and fuel the fire of pursuing dreams.

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