Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 20/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 20/20
Overall: 94/100 or A
Source: ARC Tour
Climate change has caused all of the great lakes to evaporate. On the north shore of Unlake Superior, there is a world that is separated between the people that live inside the wall and the people that struggle on the outside. Sixteen-Year-Old Gaia Stone is a midwife who lives on the outside. Gaia's job is to advance a certain amount of infants from the poverty on the outside and into the exclusive Enclave. That is until her parents are arrested and her world is changed. Gaia is badly scarred from her childhood, because she stick out like a sore thumb. She begins to question the society that she grew up in. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.
I really enjoyed this book. Gaia was a strong character, she was always treated differently by her scars. She also cares about her family and friends so much. I really liked the voice that she had in the book and it was really strong at times. Sometimes, it felt like an adults voice. I also liked that she was very innocent about what was happening in her world. I adore Captain Grey. He was very mysterious, but O'Brien slowly unraveled his back story and his real personality. He seemed really sincere and honest after learning more about them. The Procreate was a great villain. He didn't have any redeeming qualities and was rather nasty. Gaia's father was really sweet and cared about his family a lot. There were a lot of characters that could be developed more. The plot was really original. I don't think that I have read a book like this in the while. The Baby Code part of the book was awesome. It was really interesting for the people that were inside of the wall. O'Brien is a great writer. She created a unique dystopian novel that was one of a kind. I think that you would enjoy this book, if you enjoyed The Giver or The Hunger Games. I really hope that there will be a sequel.