Review of "Shatter Me"

"I'm surprised I remember how to speak."

     Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me is quite unlike every other book I've read. It follows seventeen-year-old Juliette, who has been locked up for 264 days--barred from human contact since her touch sent a young boy spiraling to his death, his life force snatched away by her fingertips. All she wants is a friend, someone who'll talk to her and listen when she talks like she isn't a tool, isn't a weapon. Instead, she has the Reestablishment, the government that has taken over in the ruins of a shattered world. Shortly after we meet Juliette, a Reestablishment leader approaches her with an offer: freedom and a comfortable life in exchange for the torture of prisoners. But though Juliette is on the brink of insanity, she has no intention of becoming a monster. Now, with the help of a soldier with a power of his own, Juliette finally has a chance to escape...if only she can overcome her fear of herself.

     It's part dystopia, part superhero story, part romance, all tangled up in ways that, though they're confusing at times, can be pretty interesting. In the beginning, Mafi's writing is littered with struck-out sentences that show what Juliette really thinks, whether or not she wants people to know it. As the story progresses, these instances become fewer and fewer, but even still they lend the author's hand a distinctive style that contributes greatly to character development. Juliette also includes what she wants to say in her description of dialogue, with an afterthought stating that she doesn't actually say it. This, in particular, can cause a bit of frustration for readers despite the flavor it adds to the narrative.

     Most of the characters are extremely likeable. From Juliette, who is a little too kick-butt but impossible to dislike, to Kenji, her boyfriend's hilarious friend, every person who populates Mafi's book feels like a natural part of the story. Adam, the boy she is quickly falling for, is well-written, though his motives for "loving" Juliette are somewhat questionable. Even the villain, Aaron Warner, is sympathetic and, if not relatable, at least understandable. Each interacts with the others in a smooth, believable fashion that goes a long way toward making this a good story.

     If there's one thing to watch out for in this story, it's the romance. While the violence is pretty intense, it isn't terribly gory, but Juliette's relationship with her childhood-friend-slash-current-bodyguard occasionally gets...steamy. Adam's special abilities allow him to touch her with impunity, and he does--constantly. Thrilled by her sudden ability to come in contact with another human, Juliette gets a little overzealous in her relationship with Adam. Sadly, this is not balanced out by relationship development, as they spend more time making out than having heart-to-heart conversations. There's also a love triangle that begins to develop near the end, which is sudden and seems almost forced.

     One of the upsides to Mafi's writing style is the way everything seems like a live streaming of Juliette's experiences, but readers should be sure to check the genre label before they set expectations. While this seems like a dystopian or post-apocalyptic romance at first, the plot twist at the end reveals that it's anything but. And since Juliette doesn't see it coming, chances are good that unsuspecting readers will be blindsided. You've been warned.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a steamy YA novel that feels like it should be NA. It's got fighting, blood, immersive emotions, and fascinating characters, but the romance is more physical than emotional and the setting seems almost pointless. However, despite this and the sudden genre-change near the end, Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me is a great book that sits at at the upper end of three stars.