Review of "Starters"

"There had to be some way out of this insanity."

     In Lissa Price's Starters, sixteen-year-old Callie is about to make a life-changing decision. In this future America, chemical warfare has left everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty dead, putting the elders (known as Enders) in charge and leaving the teenagers (Starters) to fend for themselves. Callie's only opportunity to support herself, her brother, and her best friend, Michael, is to allow Enders to put a microchip in her head and rent her body out to those who can no longer roller skate, go hiking, etc. Being possessed by a creepy old lady seems bad enough, but when a malfunctioning microchip brings Callie back to consciousness, she discovers that the woman isn't only interested in swimming or shooting. She's bent on murder.

     Starters should have been a Cannot Put It Down for me. The idea of renting out control of a young person's body so old people can relive their youth...what's not to love? But something was missing for me. Maybe it was the fact that the cast was so small, or that the stakes didn't always feel real enough. Perhaps the romance was too shallow, or the love triangle unconvincing. Or maybe it was the general flatness of the characters. Whatever the case, I cannot rave about this book. It was good, and that's all there is to it.

     The characters in this book are very interesting, if rather flat. Callie is somewhat rounded, as Price demonstrates her thoughts and feelings through both internal dialogue and action, and she often is torn between two impossible choices. Michael is kind and incredibly thoughtful. Tyler, Callie's younger brother, is so adorable you just want to scoop him off the pages and cuddle him whenever he's upset. And the Ender renting Callie's body is mysterious, alternating between grandmotherly and menacing. Some of the characters develop as the story progresses, but the development only goes so far.

     One thing working in this book's favor is the plot. Unless you've read ahead or had parts spoiled for you, you never know what's going to happen next. Will Callie's secret be discovered? Will Michael and Tyler be captured? And what part does Blake, the senator's son, play? Most importantly: Will Callie's renter succeed in her scheme, landing the girl in prison for murder, or will the resourceful young Starter find a way to foil her plan? Price fills this book with dynamic scenes and some very startling plot twists that will blow your mind.

     I would recommend Starters to anyone who is interested in a fun, thought-provoking YA novel featuring interesting characters and an unpredictable plot. However, it is not very long and there isn't too much roundness to the characters. Price has written a good book with some great themes, settling the story neatly atop three stars out of five. Set aside some time and try Starters; you'll be glad you did.