Before I start my review of the book, I have to set up the backdrop for how I read the book, since I think it contributed to what made the book so amazing. I was curled up on a bus set (I had two seats to myself, since the bus was only at half capacity). I devoured the first two thirds of the book, as the bus zipped along the Trans-Canada Highway, through windy mountainous roads. The sky was dark grey with rain threatening to fall at any moment. Then, I arrived in Kamloops and trekked across the street to Starbucks, where I read the last third of the book, sipping a chai latte, and waiting for my friend to pick me up.Sometimes the best way to fall in love with a book is when you have uninterrupted time to read the entire thing from beginning to end. I've been dying to read this book since I read LC's Adventures in Libraryland's review of it a few months ago. When my copy FINALLY arrived at the library, I just knew that it was the perfect book to accompany me on my weekend bus adventure. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's fairly lightweight, despite the fact that it's a hardcover (weird, I know).The storyline in this book is AMAZING. Basically, the American Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. Anyone who doesn't comply with these Moral Statutes can be fined, imprisoned, or worse. The story begins with a bang when Ember's mom is arrested for violating Article 5, which states that "Children are considered valid citizens only when conceived by a married man and wife." Ember herself is sent to a reformatory school to learn how to become a "valid citizen," since she's come for such an "immoral" family unit. But, here's the best part, the arresting officer is none other than Chase Jennings, the first boy that Ember ever loved.And that's just the first 30 pages or so. What follows is a story that is told at breakneck speed, as Ember hurtles from one adventure to another. I found myself barely able to tear my eyes away from the pages, and only did so when I needed to shift position to stop my foot, or my butt, from falling asleep in the bus seat. GoodReads says that it's "Article 5 #1" and I'm hoping this means that there's going to be another one, since I loved the characters so very, very much. Lately, I've been growing tired of books that are just the first in a series, but this is one book that I just wanted to keep reading. It's incredible that it's Kristen Simmons' first novel too -- I'll definitely be watching for more of her work! Review also posted at: http://writergrrlreads.blogspot.ca/2012/05/article-5-kristen-simmons.html
