Pure by Julianna Baggott

Pressia Belze has been fighting for survival in a nightmare world wrecked by detonations for several years, along with others who have become fused to that which was closest to them when the white light came (known as the Wretches). She dreams about life from Before, a life that lies within the safety of the Dome. Partridge is a Pure, an undamaged and whole human, who has been inside the Dome ever since the detonations. But life inside the Dome isn't like the world that Pressia dreams of. It is strictly controlled by the leaders, and even history has become blurred and forgotten. When Partridge starts to suspect that he has been lied to for all these years he decides to go on a journey to find the truth, a journey that will take him into the strange and dangerous world outside of the precious safety of the Dome. Inevitably his path crosses with Pressia's, a meeting which will make both of their lives unrecognisable.

If you've read any other dystopian young adult fiction, then you'll have a good idea of the style and quality of writing that dominates this genre (most of the ones I've come across have all been equally good, this one included). What sets this one apart is that it doesn't just give you events from one or two of the characters, it gives you narration from at least four. Instead of the typical one girl falling for two guys you get a group of characters, all finding one another, joining together to survive and hold on to that which they hold most dear, each playing their own vital role. This gives Pure a unique feel as you get a real sense of this community spirit that is beginning form. It has the standard ruling class suppressing the lower ones, with a hidden rebellion forming underneath the surface, but in Pure you get a real taste for the web of control the leaders have and a feel for the fear that exists in this world. The story is compelling and exciting. The characters and the world are vivid and convincing. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and hope that Baggott continues to use these unique elements of her plot to great effect.

I also love the paperback cover! It's incredibly eye-catching and striking. The flame effect works superbly on the black (although I think Pure could stand alone without the reference to The Hunger Games, particularly as every other dystopian novel seems to be trying to make this claim).

I give it 8/10 :)

Title: Pure
Author: Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Headline
Teenage Fiction