Delirium, Lauren Oliver

Reading Level: Young Adult
 

Paperback: 440 Pages

Publisher: HarperTeen, 2.1.11

Parasols: 5

One thing Lauren Oliver will never suffer from is a sophomore slump.  Her second book amazingly outshines her first book, and I thought that would be really hard to do!  

Oliver has written a dystopian world that is not that far from our world.  Love has been eradicated with a cure that takes place once you've turned 18.  Girls and boy prior to this have been segregated so as not to create any feelings between the two sexes.  This is all they know.

DELIRIUM starts with Lena obsessing over her evaluation that takes place before the 'cure' is administered.  With the help of her aunt, she has her answers down pat.  Lena wants the cure because she doesn't want to be reminded of her mother who's 'cure' never took and ended up committing suicide because she couldn't deal without having love in her life.

During the evaluation, Lena is choking miserably and she is afraid that she will not get the life that she has worked hard for.  But luckily for her, a stampede of cows interrupts her evaluation.  Unluckily for her, she's caught the eye of a guy.

This story sang to me.   My heart swelled and I fell in love all over again with the characters in this book.  I was gripped and literally holding on to the book for dear life.  The book left me breathless and wanting more, more, more.  Lauren Oliver tells a damn good story and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.  I have been forcing this book on co-workers, friends, anyone who will read it.  I loved it that much.

I know that it doesn't come out for a while, but I encourage everyone who read and loved BEFORE I FALL to go out and buy this book.  You will all have a brand new favorite author.