by Megan McCafferty
Balzer & Bray Hardcover
ISBN 9780061962745
323 pages
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Available for purchase
Why did you choose this book? The cover caught my eye first; then I started noticing it mentioned many book blog and decided I had to read it.
When did you read this book? November 2011
Who should read this book? older teens; some of the language and circumstances are probably not appropriate for anyone younger than 16
Disclosure: The copy I read was checked out of my local library
Here is a synopsis of ‘Bumped' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.14 stars.
When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.
Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.
Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.
When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.
From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.
My Review
This one is really hard for me to review, because I’m still not sure what I thought of it. I first noticed the cover several months ago and thought it was interesting, but really didn’t know what they book was about. Then it started showing up all over the blogging world and I saw the synopsis, as well as many favorable reviews.
The premise is certainly interesting. About 25 years into the future, a virus has attacked the world and rendered everyone over 18 infertile. Suddenly teens, who can still reproduce, become essential for the continuation of the human race. And older couples, being those over 18, must PAY if they want a baby to raise. Teens are encouraged to ‘pregg for profit’ in order to fill this demand for babies, and girls are cultivated as young children to become a desirable surrogate who can command a huge contract for ‘bumping and delivering’.
Unfortunately, though the premise was interesting, the story was not so much. For one thing, all the slang got in the way. ‘Pregging’ was just the start of it. And for me, anyway, the constant theme of teens having sex got to be too much. The characters didn’t have a lot of depth to them either.
Having said that, the story did get a bit interesting in the last third of the book. Before that, there was a lot of time spent on Melody, and why she hadn’t bumped yet. But once her ‘match’ was found, and her twin, Harmony, got involved in a case of mistaken identity, the story picked up a bit. It was interesting enough that when I was left hanging, wondering what happens with Melody and Harmony, I wanted to know more. Lucky for me the sequel, ‘Thumped’ is due out next spring. At least I think it is lucky. Because it did get interesting towards the end, I am giving this a generous extra 1/2 star.
My Rating: ★★+ 2-1/2 Stars
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