When oxygen levels plunge in a treeless world, a state lottery decides which lucky few will live inside the Pod. Everyone else will slowly suffocate. Be left breathless by this gripping, zeitgeist dystopian thriller
Sarah Crossan is Irish. She graduated with a degree in philosophy and literature before training as an English and drama teacher at Cambridge University and has been working to promote creative writing in schools since. She teaches English at a small private school near New York. She completed her Masters in creative writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing. www.sarahcrossan.com
Wow, wow, wow!! Breathe is absolutely amazing . . . This book
starts with a bang and refuses to let you go. 5 out of 5 stars
*stephlikesbooks.blogspot.co.uk*
This book raises several pertinent issues, but it is the adventure
that drives Breathe
*We Love This Book*
A pacy plot and characters who develop emotionally as the book
progresses.
*Daily Mail*
The all-action plot and the hinted-at romantic triangle will keep
the reader's interest to the end
*Irish Examiner*
Breathe is for all fans of future catastrophe and anyone interested
in preserving the Earth's precious natural resources
*The Bookbag*
Mad Max for the eco-generation it's a superalative dystopian
thriller about courage and freedom, with a love story at its
heart
*Love Reading 4 Kids*
In the start of a new trilogy, Crossan explores a dystopian world in which oxygen is a rare commodity, strictly controlled by the government of a domed city that houses much of the world's diminished population. Sixteen-year-old Quinn, a wealthy Premium, and his best friend Bea, one of the city's many underprivileged Auxiliaries, are about to embark on a camping trip outside the pod when they meet Alina, part of a band of rebels dedicated to replanting trees and restoring the oxygen-rich atmosphere of generations past. As the three work to stay alive in the deadly outside world, their fragile bond is threatened as tensions rise to the point of all-out war and revolution. The concept of Crossan's first YA novel has potential, and it's enlivened by her attention to detail, the trio of narrators, and constant tension. But while the story is well-executed, with characters readers will grow to care about, its reliance on well-worn themes of governmental corruption and class warfare may make it difficult to stand out in a crowded genre. Ages 14-up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary Agency. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Gr 9 Up-The survivors of the Switch are sealed within a domed city, dependent on oxygen supplied by the government according to their social status. Chapters rotate narration among freedom-fighter Alina, privileged Quinn, and empathetic Bea. Quinn and Bea are friends, but he doesn't notice her the way she wants to be noticed. A planned camping trip in which Bea hopes to gain his affection goes awry when beautiful Alina tags along. The relaxing getaway turns serious as the group tries to avoid government forces chasing Alina and heads for the safety of a rebel stronghold. Once at the base, the story hits its only sour note. The leader and her psychopathic, orphaned child sidekick are repulsive characters. Much of the sympathy for the rebels and their just cause evaporates in their leader's lunacy. Woven throughout the trio's perilous adventure to discover if the government has lied and humankind can survive outside the dome is a thoughtful romance. Secondary characters are fully realized. Pacing is quick, but allows the tension to build. While echoes of The Hunger Games lessen the originality of the story, it won't diminish readers' interest.-Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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