Anomalies-Sadie Turner, Colette Freedman

This science fiction dystopian novel by Turner and Freedman is something to really look forward to. The book is set 50-60 years ahead from now, where most of the world as we know now has drowned. After the Great Technology War, when the powerful countries used their nuclear weapons, all hell broke loose and all the polar caps melted away submerging half the lands.
This new World headed by one leader named Sobek Vesley, is propagated as the saviour of mankind and earth. He builds up Global Governance and takes over most of the world. In this new world, there are no diseases, no wars and no mayhem. Everyone lives peacefully and contented, but is that really the situation?
The world is now divided into six communities with their assigned colours. The most powerful community is the ‘Protectors’ and they work directly with Sobek. Keeva Tee, who has just turned fifteen and has a vibrant life in the ocean community is about to get her life altered forever. As it happens to every kid at the age of fifteen, Keeva is supposed to go to the Monarch Camp where she will be assigned a life partner and they will live happily ever after. But does this much perfection really exist?

When she reaches there, she is left out as an Anomaly with other kids who also have no partners. They all are made to go through rigorous mental and physical tests for some reason no one knows, maybe because they are different form everyone else. As the days unfold Keeva experiences and notices things around her which makes her sceptical and cautious. It makes her ponder upon the fact that is the government really what it claims to be?
In the camp she shares same thoughts with a co-anomaly named Kai. At the end of the camp, when they return to their homes her mind is unusually troubled. As she swims through the ocean thinking all of this, she watches her house go up in flames. Keeva reaches to see her home in burnt pieces and to find her dad on the ground nearby. As soon as she reaches him, he puts a bag in her hand and tells her that this world is a hoax. You need to save yourself Keeva, just follow your intuitions and you will reach where you truly belong. This disarray of information makes all of her past an illusion and brings upon turmoil on her.

Will she be able to find her true identity? Will she succeed in finding the truth that her dad asks her to? Or will she dwindle along her path and finally diminish into nothingness? This intriguing science fiction, with its finessed turning points and having an ultimate plot is a definite read for all age groups. The story is fast paced and keeps you engrossed all through it. The thing that I really did not like was the ending because it ends very dramatically and makes you keep on thinking “what next?” Eagerly waiting for the sequel! I will give it a 8.5/10.