Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons 

Published: January 31th 2012
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages hardcover: 364

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back. Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different. Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.    

Article 5 was everything I wanted it to be and more. It is quite a dark dystopian and I loved it. This future of the US is terrifying. If you don't stay under the radar and obey the Moral Statues you get send to prison or worse. Ember's mother is caught for breaking Article 5, basically being a single mom. When she gets arrested,  Ember is sent to a reform school for girls. Ember is determined to break out and save her mom. 


This isn't your dystopian where some things are wrong and it is not pleasant, but you'll live. No. It is a dystopian where people who won't obey get beaten up or killed. Where you can't trust anybody. The pace is great and the story is amazing. It is so realistic it gave me chills. I could picture everything in my head even though I sometimes really didn't want to.


The characters are what really made this story. Ember was strong and fierce, maybe a little naive, but she had to be in order to make it through. But Chase, oh Chase, he is just amazing. He has been through a lot and makes mistakes, but he loves Ember more than anything in the world. He is one of the best male protagonist out there for sure. He has been scarred, but still tries to protect Ember, even though there is a lot at stake for him. Also Sean, one of the soldiers from reform school, was a great secondary character. I loved how he was woven into the story and tied everything together. 


I can't believe there isn't a hype surrounding this book. It is definitely one of the best dystopians out there and I really encourage you to read it. I will preorder the second book for sure! I wish it could be 2013 already..


5 out of 5 stars!