With most books I read, I have a fairly clear sense of what I want to rate it and what I want to say to it by the time I get to the last few chapters. But I finished this 3 days ago and I've still been chewing over it.Which I think is good. But I'm not 100% sure.
Here's what I think:
I like that this author is interested in taking chances and playing with form within the YA genre.
I'm glad that she wrote this book, which is very different from other YA books. Even if it didn't grab me as much as Feeling Sorry for Celia or Listen Taylor.
Do you remember when we got all excited about S1 of The OC, because EACH EPISODE had a whole seasons' worth of dramatic twists and turns? This reminded me of that. It's an entire YA novel from start to finish before you're even 2/3 through.
Also: the information on the back and dust jacket is misleading. The stuff mentioned there is all stuff that happens in the last 1/3 of the book. Something to bear in mind.
Anyways. It's an interest book, an interesting set-up character, an interesting journey, but for me more interesting from an academic standpoint than an emotional one. I never got super into Bindy as a character, and the book takes a very long time to answer some of the central questions about the set-up that were bugging me. I mean, yes, that's where the tension of the novel comes from, but still. I kept thinking "What doesn't X happen?" and the only answer seemed to be "Because the author needs it to happen later."
It's hard to talk about this book without filling it with spoilers.
Also: I read in another review that Bindy makes appearances in other Jaclyn Moriarty books, but I don't remember her. So if anyone can shed some light on that, hook it up. It took me slightly longer than I would have liked to recognize Elizabeth Clarry. I just love her so much, I feel like I should have noticed her right away. Bad reader.