E & K Family Book Review: I Serve the Enclave, As Do I: Birth ...

Birth Marked

Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Published By: Roaring Brook Press
Date Published: February 2010
Pages: 361
Recommended Age: Young Adult
Reviewed By: K
Rating: 3

Summary:
Society as we know it is long since gone. In order to preserve the population, the Enclave has been formed. A small inner community ruled by the Protectorat with a tiered system of wealth. Gaia and her parents live outside the wall in Wharfton.??It is her mothers duty and soon Gaia's,?as midwife to tend to the births in their district and advance the first 3 babies born each month into the Enclave where they will be assigned an adopted family. Scarred at a young age, Gaia was no longer eligible to be sent within the wall, but her 2 older brothers were advanced.

Gaia has always enjoyed serving the Enclave and knew that she was providing these babies with a better life inside the wall.?Her perspective?changes when her parents are arrested and her eyes are opened to the injustices surrounding her. Now she is faced with rescuing her parents and deciphering a code which may be the link to learning where her brothers are.

K's Thoughts:
This was yet another great and unique?dystopia novel. I had heard some wonderful things about this book before I got started, so I was a little disappointed that it took me a while to get settled into the story. About a 1/3 into the book, I finally sunk in as I followed Gaia's adventure. I loved the characters in this book. Gaia is a strong and determined young lady fighting for her beliefs in a unyielding and powerful way. The challenge that Gaia faces though her youth with her scar is completely believable and you can see the truthfulness of how she thinks the world sees her. The supporting characters of her parents, Leon, Mace, and more were well written and colorful.

For me, I felt like this book started slow, picked up and raced through, but then ramped down at the end. Though I am glad there is a next book, there wasn't really that hook at the end to leave you dying to find out what happens next.

The reason I rated this book for Young Adult and not Teen is because of the overall content of midwifes/birthing within the book. Its not that a teenager shouldn't read this book as much as I don't think they would enjoy it as much as a young adult.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I thought it was a completely new version of a dystopian world. I loved the structure of the society that was?created and the?thought provoking angle?that government slowly makes you believe they know whats best as they gently remove more and more of your personal freedoms. I look forward to seeing where?the author?goes with the next?one!

Parents:
If you child chooses to try out this book (since I did find it in the Teen section at the library), there are a few things to be aware of.
Language: Though there aren't any?swear words in this book, there are a few derogatory words for women.
Adult Content: There is a c-section performed on a deceased woman, live births, and death discussed. Genetic testing to purify the gene pool. Abortion mentioned.
Violence:?Hanging death, Oppression, Chase scenes, Threats against friends and family, imprisonment.

Source: http://ekfamilybooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-serve-enclave-as-do-i-birth-marked-by.html

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