February 1, 2015
Another debut. Another dystopia. Another leading man called by a number. In Bodger's soft dystopia, years of legislation restricting families to one child has resulted in a significant imbalance-roughly six boys to every one girl. In Koyanagar, a walled city-state formed on the edge of India in 2042, the small coterie of women in charge has created a series of tests to select the boys who will be lucky enough to win wives. A lottery determines competitors; girls are primped while boys compete, with death as a possible outcome; and no one is happy (sound familiar?). Sudasa narrates in poetry, and Contestant Five (readers do not learn his name until the very end, unless they read the flap copy that completely destroys that particular element of suspense) narrates in prose. They both hate the Tests and wish there were another way. Contestant Five could win but doesn't want to; Sudasa just wants to live her life. It's a match, although neither of them immediately sees how they can help each other. Set over just three days, this novel is a mishmash of tropes that have been done better elsewhere, sophomoric poetry that uses typographic elements for emphasis ("n#mber"), and weak characterization with about as much Indian flavor as the curry powder supermarkets sold in the 1950s. Like most of the boys in the Tests, this one can't compete. (Dystopian romance. 10-14)
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February 1, 2015
Gr 7 Up-In this debut novel told in alternating points of view, one in poetry and one in prose, Bodger explores a future in which gender selection in India has led to there being five boys for every girl. The prose is captivating in its authenticity, portraying Kiran's point of view very well. The poetry is appropriately jarring and nuanced, showing many aspects of Sudasa's culture and lifestyle. Sudasa is about to come of age, meaning that she, along with many other girls just like her, will watch eight boys compete for her hand in marriage. Kiran is one of those boys, but he has a plan to escape the tests, his inevitable military assignment, and the oppression of his country. Sudasa struggles against her grandmother's strong and repressive influence, while Kiran battles pressures from the other boys in his testing group. Over days of trials and judging, Sudasa comes to realize that Kiran may have another agenda besides winning her hand in marriage. Meanwhile, Kiran comes to see that Sudasa is not just a power-hungry woman looking for a male companion to obey her every wish. What these two discover puts them on the cusp of changing their worlds forever. In a not-so-distant future, readers see the possibilities of giving too much power to one gender or the other, and the negative impact that inequality can have on young people and an entire country. VERDICT An engaging dystopian novel set in India that poignantly explores gender politics.-Eden Grey, Kenton County Public Library, KY
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 1, 2015
Grades 7-10 In the year 2052, after a twisted outcome of the one-child laws in Koyanagar, India, boys outnumber girls five to one. The annual marriage tests of Sudasagranddaughter of Nani, a renowned matriarch of the systemand her five suitors span three days and are witnessed by thousands. Bodger writes in verse narrative for Sudasa and in prose for Kiran (aka Contestant Five). While Sudasa's name translates to obedience, that is certainly not the caseat 17, she is anything but obedient. She knows that Nani has stacked the deck in favor of her cousin, Contestant One, and Sudasa is not about to let that marriage happen. Test after test, from football to cooking to poetry, Kiran shows himself to be her true choice. However, Contestant Five has his own reasons for not wanting to be the chosen one, even if it means lifelong penance. Flavored by a South Asian cultural essence, this accessible dystopian novel builds readers' belief in the driving message: to be fair to oneself.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2015
In a future-Indian dystopia, sex selection has created a steep gender imbalance. As a scarce and privileged female, Sudasa is forced to select a husband, and surplus male Contestant Five is trying not to be picked in order to escape the whole system. Sudasa's free-verse observations alternate with Five's prose narrative in this fascinating what-if tale about gender discrimination and Indian culture.
(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)