Possession (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Possession April Spisak Johnson, Elana. Possession. Simon Pulse, 2011. 405p. Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-4424-2125-7 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-4424-2391-6 $9.99 Ad Gr. 8–10 Vi has never been great at following the rules, and where boys are concerned, she is rebellious to the point of being considered dangerous in this carefully controlled and regulated dystopian future. Although Vi always thought she was fated to be with Zenn, it seems that the Thinkers (the ruling force) might have other plans for her. She is thrown into close contact with a hottie named Jag (whom she obligingly falls for immediately), then allowed to escape and develop her supernatural powers to control others, and finally confronted with family members who she thought had died years before and who have specific ideas of who Vi should be. In spite of the super-cool, surprise ending that stays entirely true to the plot and will leave readers grudgingly admitting that any other option would be unlikely at best, the sometimes ambiguous (and rather ambitious) mix of magic, sci fi, romance, and realism (family drama plays a key role) is often unbalanced. In addition, Jag and Vi themselves actually seem to be badly matched, although since they are both difficult to like, perhaps readers will conclude they deserve each other. Nonetheless, the romantic tribulations have their appeals and may serve to draw romance fans into the sci-fi side; in addition, the setting is developed with care and detail, making for a vividly drawn alternative world. Fans of Matched (BCCB 11/10) and other recent romantically focused additions to the dystopian sub-genre may wish to add this to their reading list. Copyright © 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois