Review: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Article 5

By: Kristen Simmons

Pub. Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

Pages: 368

Source: ARC

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The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.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.

I have been wanting to read Article 5 since I first heard about it. It sounded like an amazing dystopian, the characters seemed interesting and I loved the cover! I am so glad that I finally read it. It was everything I expected and more!

The world that Ember Miller lives is a scary place. The government completely controls it's peoples lives. There is no divorce, there are curfews in place, and old world views on females. A family can only consist of a mother, father, and children. Children born to unwed mothers are considered not valid and sent to rehabilitation centers. This is what happens to Ember after her mother is arrested by her childhood best friend and once boyfriend, the boy from next door, Chase Jennings. Once a sweet boy, now a cold-blooded soldier. 

The story started off on a very high note, and just kept on going. There was so much action, it was impossible to be bored. After Chase helps Ember escape from the girls home, it got even better. I needed to know what was going to happen and how the two of them were going to make it out alive.

Oh Chase, how I love him! A few years after his family was killed in a car accident, Chase gets drafted into the army. Being a solider completely changed him. He is so broken and tortured but he loved Ember so much and was willing to sacrifice himself for her safety. You can still see the sweet boy beyond the hard exterior shell that Chase became. He was definitely mine, and Ember's hero.

Ember was actually my one main issue with this book. I seriously could not stand her for about 75% of the book! She was annoying and never, ever listened to Chase, even when he was trying to protect her. It seems like she just made every situation worse with her stupidity, and then complained when it didn't go the way they wanted it too. She also complained about the soldier that Chase turned into, that he was willing to kill. Except every person Chase was going to kill, was planning to kill him and Ember first. Apparently Ember would rather have been raped and killed. Then, when Chase does put down his gun, and negotiates with a mad-man, she complains that he is now defenseless and how will he protect the two of them. Ember was just never happy.

I also got very discouraged with Ember and Chase's relationship. They had the worse communication ever! They had such a great connection and I kept wanting them to finally get together, but it seemed like it was never going to happen!

Overall, I really enjoyed Article 5. It was fast paced and original. I can not wait to see what the author has in store for Chase and Ember next!