Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Simon Pulse (2013), Edition: Reprint, 417 pages
Description
When suicide becomes a worldwide epidemic, the only known cure is The Program, a treatment in which painful memories are erased, a fate worse than death to seventeen-year-old Sloane who knows that The Program will steal memories of her dead brother and boyfriend.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
In a not-so-distant future, teen suicides have reached epidemic proportions. The government’s response is The Program, a course of treatment that erases any depressing memories, thereby allowing patients to move on with their lives. To the parents, its track record of 100 percent recovery
While young adult romances have arguably been overdone, there is something about James and Sloane. The Program classifies their relationship as co-dependent and the reason why they both get sick, and it is a viable opinion. A reader can see how they feed off of one another and filled with survivor’s guilt. At the same time, though, a reader can also see the legitimacy of their feelings. Sloane is a different person when she is around James – happier, relaxed, comfortable. It is when they are apart that they succumb to the pressures of the near-constant surveillance. They may be young, but their bond is more than due to their mutual grief and guilt. Theirs is a relationship that grew over time, and Sloane’s memories prove that. Sloane and James are two bright spots of hope within a story that is bleak and clinical.
Those potential readers worried about reading yet another dystopian novel should have no fear. Actually, to classify The Program as a dystopian novel is to lump this clever story into a bloated, heavily diluted genre. There is nothing about the setting that indicates the fall of society. There is no group of people struggling to exist. There is no futuristic (or archaic) technology. The novel is better served when classified as an alternative reality-type novel, where the only thing that is different or otherworldly is the idea of depression as a contagious, and often terminal, infection.
Speaking of the infection, there are so many questions left unanswered about it, and therein lies some of the story’s power. The questions raised by Sloane and through a reader’s own curiosity hint at a more insidious plot than what The Program would have one believe. Yet, there is nothing concrete to confirm those hints. Is this depression really an infection to be cured, or is it a self-fulfilling prophecy created by the constant surveillance and pressure these teens face on a daily basis? How much is internal and how much of their sickness external? For that reason, The Program is incredibly intense. There is the underlying threat of danger that evokes a reader’s flight-or-fight response, but the truly interesting part is that this supposed danger could easily be explained as Sloane’s paranoia. A reader must decide whether Sloane’s suspicions and fears are over-the-top teen angst or truly deserved. The doubt - Sloane’s and the reader’s own - makes the story that much more compelling, as one tries to decipher if Sloane’s hatred of The Program is justified. A reader’s own uncertainties create a level of anxiety that only adds to the already heightened tension.
The Program should come with a warning label cautioning readers about elevated blood pressure and racing pulses. It is a natural reaction to this powerful story, where the truth might not be what it seems. Then again, it very well might be exactly what it seems. On the surface, the idea of a suicide epidemic is appalling, and it makes sense that the government would get involved in saving an entire generation. Then, The Program happens. Sloane’s experiences are heart-breaking in their cruelty, and watching her lose certain memories is very upsetting. Her struggle to get her life back after her return is just as agonizing. Just like Sloane, a reader has many unanswered questions, which leave one feeling unbalanced at all of the possibilities. Yet, these very same possibilities are 100 percent enticing and draw a reader further into the story’s web. The Program is a strong contender for one of the better releases this spring and definitely worth getting drawn into another series.
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justifies any uncomfortableness surrounding it. To those who are in danger, it is a constant source of worry and tension as no one wants to lose their memories or worse. Sloane and James have managed to survive without becoming infected or drawing unwarranted, and unwanted, attention to them. However, it is still a long time until they are legal adults and out of the reaches of The Program, and the fight to appear calm and happy grows increasingly more difficult as they watch their friends succumb one at a time. It is just a matter of time before The Program comes for them, and their desperation is palpable. Suzanne Young’s The Program deftly weaves the emotional turmoil Sloane experiences and uses it to both confuse and entice readers, leaving them wondering just how good The Program really is.While young adult romances have arguably been overdone, there is something about James and Sloane. The Program classifies their relationship as co-dependent and the reason why they both get sick, and it is a viable opinion. A reader can see how they feed off of one another and filled with survivor’s guilt. At the same time, though, a reader can also see the legitimacy of their feelings. Sloane is a different person when she is around James – happier, relaxed, comfortable. It is when they are apart that they succumb to the pressures of the near-constant surveillance. They may be young, but their bond is more than due to their mutual grief and guilt. Theirs is a relationship that grew over time, and Sloane’s memories prove that. Sloane and James are two bright spots of hope within a story that is bleak and clinical.
Those potential readers worried about reading yet another dystopian novel should have no fear. Actually, to classify The Program as a dystopian novel is to lump this clever story into a bloated, heavily diluted genre. There is nothing about the setting that indicates the fall of society. There is no group of people struggling to exist. There is no futuristic (or archaic) technology. The novel is better served when classified as an alternative reality-type novel, where the only thing that is different or otherworldly is the idea of depression as a contagious, and often terminal, infection.
Speaking of the infection, there are so many questions left unanswered about it, and therein lies some of the story’s power. The questions raised by Sloane and through a reader’s own curiosity hint at a more insidious plot than what The Program would have one believe. Yet, there is nothing concrete to confirm those hints. Is this depression really an infection to be cured, or is it a self-fulfilling prophecy created by the constant surveillance and pressure these teens face on a daily basis? How much is internal and how much of their sickness external? For that reason, The Program is incredibly intense. There is the underlying threat of danger that evokes a reader’s flight-or-fight response, but the truly interesting part is that this supposed danger could easily be explained as Sloane’s paranoia. A reader must decide whether Sloane’s suspicions and fears are over-the-top teen angst or truly deserved. The doubt - Sloane’s and the reader’s own - makes the story that much more compelling, as one tries to decipher if Sloane’s hatred of The Program is justified. A reader’s own uncertainties create a level of anxiety that only adds to the already heightened tension.
The Program should come with a warning label cautioning readers about elevated blood pressure and racing pulses. It is a natural reaction to this powerful story, where the truth might not be what it seems. Then again, it very well might be exactly what it seems. On the surface, the idea of a suicide epidemic is appalling, and it makes sense that the government would get involved in saving an entire generation. Then, The Program happens. Sloane’s experiences are heart-breaking in their cruelty, and watching her lose certain memories is very upsetting. Her struggle to get her life back after her return is just as agonizing. Just like Sloane, a reader has many unanswered questions, which leave one feeling unbalanced at all of the possibilities. Yet, these very same possibilities are 100 percent enticing and draw a reader further into the story’s web. The Program is a strong contender for one of the better releases this spring and definitely worth getting drawn into another series.
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LibraryThing member Tinasbookreviews
In Sloane and Jack's world, the idea of teen angst could literally get you locked up. Rebelling, talking back, crying or anything that most normal teens experience will get you flagged and hauled into The Program by a teacher, a parent, or even another student. Daily questions, observations and
As a couple they hide the tears and grief they have suffered over the loss of friends, siblings and the pressure to remain emotionless daily. They hide the intensity of their relationship even when it borders on desperation and rely on each other for intimacy and strength. Secretly the only time they cry or even show real feelings is when they are alone and no one is watching. An unexpected suicide of a friend pushes James over the edge and unfortunately for them, someone is watching. As each day seems to get longer and each day seems to be harder to hang on to, James and Sloane try desperately not to get caught, but the once small cracks are deep fissures that lead them straight into The Program.
I loved the intensity and passion of this book, and even though the subject centered around tragic issues of teen depression and suicide, they were not the main focus in the story, after the last page it came down to a story about love and the extent one could go to save another. The whole concept of love being stronger than the grave- the idea that even with our minds erased, our bodies ravished, the heart knows what the heart wants.
Young brought to the surface many thought provoking concepts and while a few (Sloane and Jack's love, Sloane's emotions) stay strong, the idea of the teen suicide virus or what was driving the plaque seemed to fizzle out once the actual program is introduced. Instead of a deeper look into what the virus was or is, we see the main character manipulated to give up her memories, and they take precious memories, not ones that would cause depression, but the ones that made Sloane happy. made her who she was. The reasoning left me irritated and while I love where this series is going and very much enjoyed the writing I did have issues with the why and why-nots of the cure itself. Hopefully the idea behind the program and the whys will be answered later on.
I highly recommend The Program to readers who love dystopian or science fiction drama. Id even go so far to say readers who love the tragic, never gonna tear us apart love story's would enjoy.
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routine keep the teens in line, but for James and Sloane they are anything but staying in line, both hide the stress knowing that once in The Program, memories and emotions are erased and what comes back out is a blank slate of the person who once was.As a couple they hide the tears and grief they have suffered over the loss of friends, siblings and the pressure to remain emotionless daily. They hide the intensity of their relationship even when it borders on desperation and rely on each other for intimacy and strength. Secretly the only time they cry or even show real feelings is when they are alone and no one is watching. An unexpected suicide of a friend pushes James over the edge and unfortunately for them, someone is watching. As each day seems to get longer and each day seems to be harder to hang on to, James and Sloane try desperately not to get caught, but the once small cracks are deep fissures that lead them straight into The Program.
I loved the intensity and passion of this book, and even though the subject centered around tragic issues of teen depression and suicide, they were not the main focus in the story, after the last page it came down to a story about love and the extent one could go to save another. The whole concept of love being stronger than the grave- the idea that even with our minds erased, our bodies ravished, the heart knows what the heart wants.
Young brought to the surface many thought provoking concepts and while a few (Sloane and Jack's love, Sloane's emotions) stay strong, the idea of the teen suicide virus or what was driving the plaque seemed to fizzle out once the actual program is introduced. Instead of a deeper look into what the virus was or is, we see the main character manipulated to give up her memories, and they take precious memories, not ones that would cause depression, but the ones that made Sloane happy. made her who she was. The reasoning left me irritated and while I love where this series is going and very much enjoyed the writing I did have issues with the why and why-nots of the cure itself. Hopefully the idea behind the program and the whys will be answered later on.
I highly recommend The Program to readers who love dystopian or science fiction drama. Id even go so far to say readers who love the tragic, never gonna tear us apart love story's would enjoy.
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LibraryThing member Jaylia3
The premise of The Program sounds (to me) no more interesting than a lot of books, but its execution is so potent, the author is so skilled at pulling on your heart while keeping you on edge, that I can't remember the last time I continued to read anything so late at night that I almost reached the
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black out state and still I didn't want to put the book down. Teen suicide has reached epidemic proportions around the world and the only way the government has found to deal with it is forced admittance into The Program for any young person deemed at risk, but when those teens come back to their lives they are hollowed out shells with no memories. Sloane and her boyfriend are tight and do their best to have what fun they can while staying safely under radar, but because they witnessed a tragedy they are under constant surveillance by the authorities who determine who enters The Program. Can love and a sense of self survive when the world is falling apart and it's unclear who to trust? To say the story is compelling is a gross understatement. There is enough of a wrap up at the end to satisfy, but I was glad to find out this is the first of a series because I can't wait to find out what happens next. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
The teen suicide epidemic has become so widespread that some cities are piloting The Program, where teens flagged as being "at-risk" are whisked away for six weeks of therapy. But when they return, their memories have been wiped and they don't remember their former friends or significant others.
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When Sloane's boyfriend James is flagged, she almost loses it, so much that her mother enrolls her in "The Program" a couple weeks later. There she meets Realm, a boy who befriends her, and tries to hold on to her memory of James. But after 6 weeks she's wiped clean and released back to her home. Can she remember anything of James and who she was? Show Less
LibraryThing member LauraAshlee
Wow. If you’re looking for something that will hook you and won’t let you go until the end, this is the book for you.
Sloane lives in an alternate version of the U.S., where suicide has become an epidemic. The only cure is The Program. Kids are closely monitored for symptoms and tagged when they
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thrilling, twisting plots that also contain a dose of sentimentality. I’ll be picking up the next one as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Sloane lives in an alternate version of the U.S., where suicide has become an epidemic. The only cure is The Program. Kids are closely monitored for symptoms and tagged when they
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are thought to be at risk. That’s when they are taken to The Program. Sloane and her boyfriend, James, try their best to put on a brave face, but the painful memories of her brother’s suicide still haunt them. I was not expecting this to suck me in the way it did. I listened to nearly the entire audiobook in one day, almost in one sitting. It was riveting. Young’s characters are real and raw. Her plot twists were awesome, and her writing was engaging the whole time. When I began listening, I expected another dystopia that was a copy of all the others out there, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how great this book is. It took me a little time to get used to the narration. After I got into it, I couldn’t stop listening. She did a great job with the character voicing and the flow. By the end, I just felt like I was listening to Sloane tell me a story.I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thrilling, twisting plots that also contain a dose of sentimentality. I’ll be picking up the next one as soon as I can get my hands on it.
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LibraryThing member lilcrickit
Suicide is an epidemic, this is different. I admit at first, I thought this was crazy but as the story unfolds, I became wrapped up in all the details. Sloane and James are few of the last teens not touched by the epidemic. They each have suffered much loss but they don't dare cry, to cry is to
I think the situation is completely unfair to Sloane. How can the parents in this book willingly send their children off to these facilities that make them less of a person, unable to remember someone they once loved or better yet hated. I found this to be quite disturbing and the fact that the people at The Program take away the choice to seek treatment. It's just so weird how they come out of it so odd...like they are drones or something. I am curious as to what sparked the epidemic, why is it only being seen in teens? I also want to know The Program's motivations for administering the supposed cure and who came up with it?
The writing is captivating to say the least. I never would've imagined a suicide outbreak could be believable but the writer has woven it in such a way that it comes off as plausible. The characters are emotionally developed and it is easy to identify with their situation. This is a good read about suicide and the affects it has on others. I would recommend this book to readers that are looking for a dystopian book that's emotionally twisted with a hint of mystery and romance.
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show that something is wrong and once that happens, they will lose everything. Slowly it becomes harder to cope with all the emotions, people close to them falter and succumb to the disease. It's spreading, and they are being watched. Sloane and James are on edge waiting to see if they will be the next one to be re-programmed. I think the situation is completely unfair to Sloane. How can the parents in this book willingly send their children off to these facilities that make them less of a person, unable to remember someone they once loved or better yet hated. I found this to be quite disturbing and the fact that the people at The Program take away the choice to seek treatment. It's just so weird how they come out of it so odd...like they are drones or something. I am curious as to what sparked the epidemic, why is it only being seen in teens? I also want to know The Program's motivations for administering the supposed cure and who came up with it?
The writing is captivating to say the least. I never would've imagined a suicide outbreak could be believable but the writer has woven it in such a way that it comes off as plausible. The characters are emotionally developed and it is easy to identify with their situation. This is a good read about suicide and the affects it has on others. I would recommend this book to readers that are looking for a dystopian book that's emotionally twisted with a hint of mystery and romance.
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LibraryThing member NCDonnas
The Program The Program was an unusual read that tackled the topic of teen suicide in a dystopian-like society. In this world, there is an epidemic of teen suicide and The Program was created to try to "cure" these teens and prevent them from killing themselves. In order to avoid being flagged and
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carried off to "The Program" by a handler, teenagers had to be very careful to show no emotion other than happiness and never draw attention to themselves. And these teens definitely felt that The Program was to be avoided at all costs, since everyone who returned from The Program was drastically altered, their memories wiped clean. I thought that the premise was interesting but too full of holes to be plausible. This story requires that the reader suspend a great deal of disbelief to accept the plot as it is presented. However, it was enough to keep me glued to the story from start to finish. The problem with the thin plot is that it makes the characters less than believable and even a bit annoying at times. The main character especially seemed like the proverbial "damsel in distress" always putting herself in positions where she needed to be rescued. Which brings me to the "almost" love triangle. Bleh. The positives were the relationship between Sloane and James and the suspense of the story. James was extremely likable, flaws and all, and I thought their relationship was sweet and tragic. I was definitely rooting for them against all odds throughout the story. The "other" guy was a bit too shady and he never worked for me as a possible love interest. I'm generally uninterested in the romantic aspects of books but in this instance, James & Sloane were a couple that made me want them to succeed. I was also pulled along by the suspense in the story, wanting to know what was going to happen, where the story was going to go, wondering if the MC would somehow overcome all of the obstacles against her. The Program, for all its faults, was an engrossing read. I don't know that I would describe it exactly as dystopian, but it had some dystopian-like aspects such as that all-powerful government that does what it wants with impunity. I would recommend this for fans of dystopian but with the warning that this is a bit different than what one would expect from that genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member jeneaw
Have to think about this one.
A world where most basic emotions are forbidden. Grief, and sorrow are emotions that one that can get you put in The Program. The kids that are under 18 years of age, are under constant supervision always looking for one that might show sign of suicidal tendencies.
This is where we are introduced to the main character Sloane. Her family has suffered a terrible loss, the suicide of her brother. She has managed to keep her emotions in check, and the relationship she has with James helps. The relationship between Sloane and James was a strong and sweet one. Sloane is a fighter and one head strong girl that’s for sure, she just wants to hold on to the memories. The memories that Sloane shares while in the Program shed some light on how they came to be and why she is so determined to fight it all. There were a few other characters that I was a little unsure of, but that is to be expected in the Program facility.
The world building was terrifying one. Memories are something we all cherish, and having them taken whether happy ones or painful ones they are still ours to keep. So, the idea of memories being taken is something I couldn’t imagine. They come out of the “Program” like empty shells of person they once were, and they are just kids with what they are told is a “fresh start”. Almost all of them accept this and move on, but not Sloan and James. I have to say that I did like Sloane and James both, maybe it’s the rebel in me. There really isn’t any shortage of action, there is constantly a sense of fear and uncertainty of what was yet to come. It wasn’t hard to figure out who the bad guys were early on, but the why is what I want to know. Why is teen suicide an epidemic, and what led up to it? Is The Program really meant to help? I was somewhat satisfied with the ending, but I read the epilogue and now I just have mixed feelings. I think it would have been okay as a stand alone, but there will be a sequel. So, maybe some of the questions will be explored more. I feel the one thing that saved this for me was the bond that Sloane and James seemed to share, even with the memories being wiped, they still have a connection to each other.
The Program is a definitely an interesting book, it had a intriguing plot and the characters were fairly likable. If you are looking something that get you all twisted emotionally, and a heart breaking romance, this is for you..
A world where most basic emotions are forbidden. Grief, and sorrow are emotions that one that can get you put in The Program. The kids that are under 18 years of age, are under constant supervision always looking for one that might show sign of suicidal tendencies.
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When symptoms appear, they are taken to a facility where they are helped to rid themselves of the pain and are given a “fresh start”. Interesting right, well that’s what I thought too. So I gave this a go.This is where we are introduced to the main character Sloane. Her family has suffered a terrible loss, the suicide of her brother. She has managed to keep her emotions in check, and the relationship she has with James helps. The relationship between Sloane and James was a strong and sweet one. Sloane is a fighter and one head strong girl that’s for sure, she just wants to hold on to the memories. The memories that Sloane shares while in the Program shed some light on how they came to be and why she is so determined to fight it all. There were a few other characters that I was a little unsure of, but that is to be expected in the Program facility.
The world building was terrifying one. Memories are something we all cherish, and having them taken whether happy ones or painful ones they are still ours to keep. So, the idea of memories being taken is something I couldn’t imagine. They come out of the “Program” like empty shells of person they once were, and they are just kids with what they are told is a “fresh start”. Almost all of them accept this and move on, but not Sloan and James. I have to say that I did like Sloane and James both, maybe it’s the rebel in me. There really isn’t any shortage of action, there is constantly a sense of fear and uncertainty of what was yet to come. It wasn’t hard to figure out who the bad guys were early on, but the why is what I want to know. Why is teen suicide an epidemic, and what led up to it? Is The Program really meant to help? I was somewhat satisfied with the ending, but I read the epilogue and now I just have mixed feelings. I think it would have been okay as a stand alone, but there will be a sequel. So, maybe some of the questions will be explored more. I feel the one thing that saved this for me was the bond that Sloane and James seemed to share, even with the memories being wiped, they still have a connection to each other.
The Program is a definitely an interesting book, it had a intriguing plot and the characters were fairly likable. If you are looking something that get you all twisted emotionally, and a heart breaking romance, this is for you..
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LibraryThing member MsHooker
[The Program] is a way to prevent teenage suicide which has become an epidemic. That is they way THEY sell it but is it really? Sloane and James do not believe it. Neither so the other teens. They have seen Returners and they are not the same, they are missing their memories.
[Suzanne Young] has
[Suzanne Young] has
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created a compelling look into the future. The story keeps you wanting more. Luckily the sequel The Treatment is already out. Show Less
LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Fans of the Delirium Trilogy, look no further than Suzanne Young’s THE PROGRAM for the next unbelievably heartbreaking dystopian. This book delivers a story with a deeply unsettling premise and a devastating romance. Powerful, provocative, and
Dystopian fiction works only as well as the corruption that defines it. In THE PROGRAM, it’s the supposed cure for the suicide epidemic that is claiming the lives of one out of three teens. Teens are monitored for any kind of emotional outburst. If they cry or get mad or get ‘flagged’ for any number of reasons, they get dragged from their homes, their classrooms and shipped off to The Program. When they return six weeks later, it’s like the invasion of the body snatchers. They don’t look the same and they have had their memories wiped of ‘infected’ memories and people.
There are countless wonderful and terrifying moments in THE PROGRAM including the achingly tender romance that grows between Sloane and James. Every moment is made all the more acute because it could be lost forever. There is a desperation about their love because they are each the only thing keeping each other from an increasingly irresistible death. Talk about epic.
THE PROGRAM sucked me in with a frightening world and a with a hurts so good love story that is as tragic as it is wonderful. The is the kind of book that lingers. Beautiful writing, pain and passion mixed with near perfect results. I can’t wait for the next book in The Program series.
Sexual Content:
Kissing, sensuality, multiple references to sex. References to sexual misconduct
Fans of the Delirium Trilogy, look no further than Suzanne Young’s THE PROGRAM for the next unbelievably heartbreaking dystopian. This book delivers a story with a deeply unsettling premise and a devastating romance. Powerful, provocative, and
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unputdownable.Dystopian fiction works only as well as the corruption that defines it. In THE PROGRAM, it’s the supposed cure for the suicide epidemic that is claiming the lives of one out of three teens. Teens are monitored for any kind of emotional outburst. If they cry or get mad or get ‘flagged’ for any number of reasons, they get dragged from their homes, their classrooms and shipped off to The Program. When they return six weeks later, it’s like the invasion of the body snatchers. They don’t look the same and they have had their memories wiped of ‘infected’ memories and people.
There are countless wonderful and terrifying moments in THE PROGRAM including the achingly tender romance that grows between Sloane and James. Every moment is made all the more acute because it could be lost forever. There is a desperation about their love because they are each the only thing keeping each other from an increasingly irresistible death. Talk about epic.
THE PROGRAM sucked me in with a frightening world and a with a hurts so good love story that is as tragic as it is wonderful. The is the kind of book that lingers. Beautiful writing, pain and passion mixed with near perfect results. I can’t wait for the next book in The Program series.
Sexual Content:
Kissing, sensuality, multiple references to sex. References to sexual misconduct
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LibraryThing member BeckyGandee
The Program was an incredibly, good book! I love when a book surprises me or just blows me away. There was a little bit of everything, which is what I look for in a book. The romance was excellent, there were times were I was smiling so big or just laughing out loud. I honestly could not put this
I absolutely adored the name Sloane for a girl, I thought it was pretty unique. Sloane and James were amazing to read about and I love how their relationship started. James was just adorable and I hated to see the change in him after he went through The Program. I have very mixed feelings about Realm, he seemed to really be genuine but still has some stuff about him that I haven't quite figured out.
There is a lot of sadness in the book, but the way things work out in the end, made it so beautiful. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and see what is in the future for Sloane and James.”
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book down till I finished reading it.I absolutely adored the name Sloane for a girl, I thought it was pretty unique. Sloane and James were amazing to read about and I love how their relationship started. James was just adorable and I hated to see the change in him after he went through The Program. I have very mixed feelings about Realm, he seemed to really be genuine but still has some stuff about him that I haven't quite figured out.
There is a lot of sadness in the book, but the way things work out in the end, made it so beautiful. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and see what is in the future for Sloane and James.”
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LibraryThing member momgamerwriter
AH-FREAKING-MAZING...review to come
LibraryThing member ahappybooker
The Program The Program was an unusual read that tackled the topic of teen suicide in a dystopian-like society. In this world, there is an epidemic of teen suicide and The Program was created to try to "cure" these teens and prevent them from killing themselves. In order to avoid being flagged and
Show More
carried off to "The Program" by a handler, teenagers had to be very careful to show no emotion other than happiness and never draw attention to themselves. And these teens definitely felt that The Program was to be avoided at all costs, since everyone who returned from The Program was drastically altered, their memories wiped clean. I thought that the premise was interesting but too full of holes to be plausible. This story requires that the reader suspend a great deal of disbelief to accept the plot as it is presented. However, it was enough to keep me glued to the story from start to finish. The problem with the thin plot is that it makes the characters less than believable and even a bit annoying at times. The main character especially seemed like the proverbial "damsel in distress" always putting herself in positions where she needed to be rescued. Which brings me to the "almost" love triangle. Bleh. The positives were the relationship between Sloane and James and the suspense of the story. James was extremely likable, flaws and all, and I thought their relationship was sweet and tragic. I was definitely rooting for them against all odds throughout the story. The "other" guy was a bit too shady and he never worked for me as a possible love interest. I'm generally uninterested in the romantic aspects of books but in this instance, James & Sloane were a couple that made me want them to succeed. I was also pulled along by the suspense in the story, wanting to know what was going to happen, where the story was going to go, wondering if the MC would somehow overcome all of the obstacles against her. The Program, for all its faults, was an engrossing read. I don't know that I would describe it exactly as dystopian, but it had some dystopian-like aspects such as that all-powerful government that does what it wants with impunity. I would recommend this for fans of dystopian but with the warning that this is a bit different than what one would expect from that genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member ahappybooker
The Program The Program was an unusual read that tackled the topic of teen suicide in a dystopian-like society. In this world, there is an epidemic of teen suicide and The Program was created to try to "cure" these teens and prevent them from killing themselves. In order to avoid being flagged and
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carried off to "The Program" by a handler, teenagers had to be very careful to show no emotion other than happiness and never draw attention to themselves. And these teens definitely felt that The Program was to be avoided at all costs, since everyone who returned from The Program was drastically altered, their memories wiped clean. I thought that the premise was interesting but too full of holes to be plausible. This story requires that the reader suspend a great deal of disbelief to accept the plot as it is presented. However, it was enough to keep me glued to the story from start to finish. The problem with the thin plot is that it makes the characters less than believable and even a bit annoying at times. The main character especially seemed like the proverbial "damsel in distress" always putting herself in positions where she needed to be rescued. Which brings me to the "almost" love triangle. Bleh. The positives were the relationship between Sloane and James and the suspense of the story. James was extremely likable, flaws and all, and I thought their relationship was sweet and tragic. I was definitely rooting for them against all odds throughout the story. The "other" guy was a bit too shady and he never worked for me as a possible love interest. I'm generally uninterested in the romantic aspects of books but in this instance, James & Sloane were a couple that made me want them to succeed. I was also pulled along by the suspense in the story, wanting to know what was going to happen, where the story was going to go, wondering if the MC would somehow overcome all of the obstacles against her. The Program, for all its faults, was an engrossing read. I don't know that I would describe it exactly as dystopian, but it had some dystopian-like aspects such as that all-powerful government that does what it wants with impunity. I would recommend this for fans of dystopian but with the warning that this is a bit different than what one would expect from that genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member Emily_Anne
The Program exceeded my expectations, especially after reading a lot of "meh" reviews! However, I can really see how this is only for certain people, and they should probably to be in a certain mood, so check out the other reviews to see if The Program is for you!
The idea, a teen suicide epidemic,
Sloane was a cool character, while she is not one I will rave about, I believe she was the perfect character for this story. You see her trying to stay strong, despite that almost everyone close to her, starting with her brother, is in The Program or dead. Also, I felt like screaming for her and James when they were just grieving and afraid of being flagged for The Program. It's not fair!
James was also a great character, I especially liked the early memories with him Sloane and her brother that Sloane reveals later on. In the beginning, I wasn't sure how I felt about him, but the sweet early memories made me like him better. Also, it was interesting (and relieving) to see him at the end of The Program.
The Program itself is right creepy. The parent's may think it is a miracle but the kid's know it is not. There is so much to learn about, and I can't wait to have my questions answers in the second book, The Treatment. The workers take memories, sometimes by force, and I believe everyone should have their memories... as long as they don't commit suicide... hmm. Also, there seems to be some flat out bad people working at The Program, with perhaps some good. Right now, however, I believe the bad is dominating.
I also like how the book was divided into parts, kind of like: Pre-Program, Program, Post-Program. This made it fell like you were reading three different stories all connected, and I loved seeing how different things were. My favorite part was probably just the one in The Program, as you all know how curious and mad and suspicious I am at it! Also, I loved hearing Sloane's early memories, which made me love the characters more and grieve for what they lost.
I thought the ending of the book was perfect, however I cannot wait to get my greedy hands on the second book, as you have seen first hand all my questions, suspicions, and inner battles. All I know is that I do not like The Program, and want to know what they are up to! Wow, I take books too seriously. Also, I want to see more of James. And, of Sloane's friend, Lacey. She seems pretty awesome.
The writing is impressive too. While the words are not a masterpiece, they sucked me in and I especially loved how the author shows Sloane losing her memories. It feels... just... interesting for the reader. You see the same Sloane, yet different because of the slow deterioration of memories. Also, I thought the writing was powerful. And the dialogue felt very real.
Overall, if you think The Program is for you, I recommend you try the book right now! The book brings up a lot of questions, vivid characters, a great romance, and a killer plot. I think this book earned a full 4.5 stars! That is a pretty high rating from me... so you know how much I enjoyed The Program.
4.5/5 Stars
The idea, a teen suicide epidemic,
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is a bit depressing, yet it really makes you think: What is happening here? Do the depresses teens really need their memories wiped? Is it for the best? What is The Program up to? Why is it happening? Is the Program the reason for the suicides? Also, as you continue, you get even more questions about the book!Sloane was a cool character, while she is not one I will rave about, I believe she was the perfect character for this story. You see her trying to stay strong, despite that almost everyone close to her, starting with her brother, is in The Program or dead. Also, I felt like screaming for her and James when they were just grieving and afraid of being flagged for The Program. It's not fair!
James was also a great character, I especially liked the early memories with him Sloane and her brother that Sloane reveals later on. In the beginning, I wasn't sure how I felt about him, but the sweet early memories made me like him better. Also, it was interesting (and relieving) to see him at the end of The Program.
The Program itself is right creepy. The parent's may think it is a miracle but the kid's know it is not. There is so much to learn about, and I can't wait to have my questions answers in the second book, The Treatment. The workers take memories, sometimes by force, and I believe everyone should have their memories... as long as they don't commit suicide... hmm. Also, there seems to be some flat out bad people working at The Program, with perhaps some good. Right now, however, I believe the bad is dominating.
I also like how the book was divided into parts, kind of like: Pre-Program, Program, Post-Program. This made it fell like you were reading three different stories all connected, and I loved seeing how different things were. My favorite part was probably just the one in The Program, as you all know how curious and mad and suspicious I am at it! Also, I loved hearing Sloane's early memories, which made me love the characters more and grieve for what they lost.
I thought the ending of the book was perfect, however I cannot wait to get my greedy hands on the second book, as you have seen first hand all my questions, suspicions, and inner battles. All I know is that I do not like The Program, and want to know what they are up to! Wow, I take books too seriously. Also, I want to see more of James. And, of Sloane's friend, Lacey. She seems pretty awesome.
The writing is impressive too. While the words are not a masterpiece, they sucked me in and I especially loved how the author shows Sloane losing her memories. It feels... just... interesting for the reader. You see the same Sloane, yet different because of the slow deterioration of memories. Also, I thought the writing was powerful. And the dialogue felt very real.
Overall, if you think The Program is for you, I recommend you try the book right now! The book brings up a lot of questions, vivid characters, a great romance, and a killer plot. I think this book earned a full 4.5 stars! That is a pretty high rating from me... so you know how much I enjoyed The Program.
4.5/5 Stars
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Very unique dystopian novel with interesting characters, wonderful romance, and a suspenseful plot. I would highly recommend this to anyone that is a Hunger Games or Divergent fan.
Opening Sentence: The air in the room tastes sterile.
The Review:
Teen
Sloane Jacobs is 17 years old and her older brother committed suicide a couple of years ago. They were so close and she never saw it coming. Then just a few months ago her best friend was taken into The Program, and Sloane didn’t even know she was depressed. The depression can set in so fast and Sloane can’t lose anyone else in her life. She has a hard time hiding how hard it has been on her to lose all these people she cares about, but she knows better than to show emotions in front of others. The Program is always watching and the only person she can really be herself around is James. He was best friends with her brother and he has been Sloane’s boyfriend for the last two years. They have promised to protect each other from The Program. But with everything that has happened and all the loss they have experienced the depression is starting to set in and there is only two options left for them. Either they die or they go to The Program.
Sloane is a very diverse character. Throughout the story you get to see so many different angles of her personality, which made me really come to understand her. She is very strong, but she has had a lot of crappy things happen to her in her life. With everything she has lost you can’t blame her for being depressed, any normal human would be. But in the world she lives in depression is the enemy. To make it through this hard time she has relied on the only good thing in her life and that is James. But when he is taken away she has to start relying on herself. She grows tremendously throughout the story and I really liked her. She was easy to connect with and I am excited to continue her story in the next book.
James is like a rock. He has stayed strong through everything that has happened, but rocks can break and James eventually does. The only things he fears in life are losing violet and going to The Program. He would rather die than lose all of his memories. I couldn’t help but love James; he is sweet, charming, and just a good person. He is such a strong person for not only himself but everyone around him and I really respected him. His relationship with Violet is pretty epic and I genuinely loved them together. James was a great love interest that was absolutely swoon worthy!
This was a very unique dystopian novel full of emotion, romance, and great characters. The idea was so different from anything else I have ever read, which was very refreshing. The plot was very intriguing and kept you interested. The best part for me was how well the characters were developed; it made them easy to relate to. Which also made you feel more emotionally attached to the story. Young’s writing is so captivating and her style is original. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book. I would highly recommend this book to any young adult dystopian fans, it will not disappoint.
Notable Scene:
I park outside of a farm and take out a notebook, writing down my feelings. I have no one to tell anymore—not one person I can trust. I’m so alone it’s like being dead but still conscious. In forty-five minutes, I’ve scribbled down so many words that they start to lose meaning.
Kiss, death, love, loss … the words are crashing into each other, and my tears soak the page. Then I give into the urge to cross off the words, pressing harder with each pass, making large circles. Soon I’ve gone through all the pages and I’m digging into the cardboard cover. I press so hard it’s going through to my lap, scraping against my jeans. My skin. I press as hard as I can, and I whimper because it hurts. But I don’t care. I can’t care anymore.
I wish I were dead.
FTC Advisory: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster Book Group provided me with a copy of The Program. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Very unique dystopian novel with interesting characters, wonderful romance, and a suspenseful plot. I would highly recommend this to anyone that is a Hunger Games or Divergent fan.
Opening Sentence: The air in the room tastes sterile.
The Review:
Teen
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suicide has become an epidemic and no one knows why. They are blaming it on the overuse of depression drugs, but really they have no idea why hundreds of teenagers are committing suicide every day. There is only one known cure and that is The Program. Once you are committed they wipe all of your teenage memories away. You won’t remember your friends, your first kiss, the person you love, but you also won’t remember being depressed. Then you are slowly reintroduced back into society. The Program has a 100% survival rate and more and more teenagers are being sent every day.Sloane Jacobs is 17 years old and her older brother committed suicide a couple of years ago. They were so close and she never saw it coming. Then just a few months ago her best friend was taken into The Program, and Sloane didn’t even know she was depressed. The depression can set in so fast and Sloane can’t lose anyone else in her life. She has a hard time hiding how hard it has been on her to lose all these people she cares about, but she knows better than to show emotions in front of others. The Program is always watching and the only person she can really be herself around is James. He was best friends with her brother and he has been Sloane’s boyfriend for the last two years. They have promised to protect each other from The Program. But with everything that has happened and all the loss they have experienced the depression is starting to set in and there is only two options left for them. Either they die or they go to The Program.
Sloane is a very diverse character. Throughout the story you get to see so many different angles of her personality, which made me really come to understand her. She is very strong, but she has had a lot of crappy things happen to her in her life. With everything she has lost you can’t blame her for being depressed, any normal human would be. But in the world she lives in depression is the enemy. To make it through this hard time she has relied on the only good thing in her life and that is James. But when he is taken away she has to start relying on herself. She grows tremendously throughout the story and I really liked her. She was easy to connect with and I am excited to continue her story in the next book.
James is like a rock. He has stayed strong through everything that has happened, but rocks can break and James eventually does. The only things he fears in life are losing violet and going to The Program. He would rather die than lose all of his memories. I couldn’t help but love James; he is sweet, charming, and just a good person. He is such a strong person for not only himself but everyone around him and I really respected him. His relationship with Violet is pretty epic and I genuinely loved them together. James was a great love interest that was absolutely swoon worthy!
This was a very unique dystopian novel full of emotion, romance, and great characters. The idea was so different from anything else I have ever read, which was very refreshing. The plot was very intriguing and kept you interested. The best part for me was how well the characters were developed; it made them easy to relate to. Which also made you feel more emotionally attached to the story. Young’s writing is so captivating and her style is original. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book. I would highly recommend this book to any young adult dystopian fans, it will not disappoint.
Notable Scene:
I park outside of a farm and take out a notebook, writing down my feelings. I have no one to tell anymore—not one person I can trust. I’m so alone it’s like being dead but still conscious. In forty-five minutes, I’ve scribbled down so many words that they start to lose meaning.
Kiss, death, love, loss … the words are crashing into each other, and my tears soak the page. Then I give into the urge to cross off the words, pressing harder with each pass, making large circles. Soon I’ve gone through all the pages and I’m digging into the cardboard cover. I press so hard it’s going through to my lap, scraping against my jeans. My skin. I press as hard as I can, and I whimper because it hurts. But I don’t care. I can’t care anymore.
I wish I were dead.
FTC Advisory: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster Book Group provided me with a copy of The Program. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member br14brst
This book was one of the best books I've read in a long time. I never wanted to stop reading and there was never a dull moment in this book. Slone, the main character hides her depression so she doesn't get taken by the handlers. The handlers are the people who will take you into the program if you
Slones brother, Brady, died from committing suiside because he was so depressed and didn't want the program to take him. So now all Slone has is James, who was her brothers best friend but is now her boyfriend. Slones other best friend, Lacy, got pulled into the program. Lacy will never remember Slone even after she recovers for the program.
This book was an amazing book. It was filled with thrills and romance, adventure and mystery, laughs and cries. This book will make you fall in love with the characters over and over again as you join them on there breath taking adventure through the program. No one chooses to go into the program, the program chooses you.
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show any tears, depression, or sadness. The program gets rid of your depression but also erases all of your memory. The reason why they have the program is because suiside is an epidemic. Slones brother, Brady, died from committing suiside because he was so depressed and didn't want the program to take him. So now all Slone has is James, who was her brothers best friend but is now her boyfriend. Slones other best friend, Lacy, got pulled into the program. Lacy will never remember Slone even after she recovers for the program.
This book was an amazing book. It was filled with thrills and romance, adventure and mystery, laughs and cries. This book will make you fall in love with the characters over and over again as you join them on there breath taking adventure through the program. No one chooses to go into the program, the program chooses you.
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LibraryThing member samaside
Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Edelweiss DRC
Genre(s): YA Dystopia, YA Science Fiction, Teen Suicide
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Review Spoilers: Low
Usually I like the books that I read. There are very few books that I do not like to some
And I suppose that remains true about the Program despite the fact that I rated it so lowly.
Before I explain why I rated the book so low, I should begin by telling you a little bit about the plot. In Sloane’s world teenage suicide is a world-wide pandemic. Teenagers everywhere – for whatever reason – are increasingly depressed and prone to suicidal thoughts and tendencies. The adults of the world have been driven to drastic measures and require teenagers to attend mandatory therapy in school, fill out daily surveys about their feelings, and constantly be wary of the watchful eyes that are always on them. ‘Handlers’ walk through school hallways looking for any sign of depression or sadness and if you look too sad they may tag you and take you away to The Program.
In the program, they cure you. But their cure is not some sort of in-patient therapy. It’s a complete memory wipe. Well, at least a partial one. Nothing else has worked so they decide that they have to take away the sad thoughts and the bad thoughts entirely… along with anything else that’s happened to them in the period of time that those bad memories and thoughts developed. Understandably, Sloane and her friends are determined to avoid losing everything that they think makes them who they are. They don’t want to lose their memories. They don’t want to lose their relationships – their friendship, their relationships, etc. And so they rebel against the system and do their best to survive until they are eighteen and can avoid being sent away to the Program.
I liked the characters and I found them all to be rather compelling. I liked Sloane, James, and Miller. Their friendship was something tangible and real. They had a lot of little things that meant a lot to each other. I also liked the way Miller reacted to losing his girlfriend to the Program’s memory wipes and I felt for him and the others as he kept desperately trying to reconnect with her.
Other than that though?
I felt very uncomfortable throughout the entire book. These kids obviously had some problems. Sloane herself is depressed after losing her brother to suicide and she did things like burning herself intentionally. Despite feeling depressed she and her boyfriend lie and pretend that they are not. I thought maybe in this world there was some sort of explanation where the Program was some sort of lie and the teenage suicide pandemic was some big lie by the government to control kids. I figured that would be a plausible explanation.
But it seems like the whole teen suicide thing? It’s really real. Like, it’s an actual problem. There are kids all over the world killing themselves at an increasing rate and no one seems to know why. Therapy doesn’t seem to work. Once the kids are taken over by the depression it’s not long before they are trying to commit suicide. Like, it’s an actual problem. Some of the kids – Sloane included – may have been pushed to the whole depression thing by the idea of losing their memories if they were too sad. But for the most part the book seems to admit that it’s a problem.
So, yeah, the Program is very serious and I don’t know if I would agree with it but it seems to be a genuine response to a genuine problem. So all the fighting back against the Program and all the psyche evaluation just seems like angsty teenagers with real problems refusing to get mental health treatment that they actually do need. And that was what really bothered me. The book applauded these kids for hiding their problems. It seemed like the kids who actually had problems and admitted to them and got in-school counseling were fine. It was the kids that hid it all and who needed immediate intervention who went to the Program. And sometimes the parents or the school was way too overzealous in pulling people and sending them away but still.
All I got from this book was that these kids were pissed at the way the world was and the fact that they couldn’t just be depressed and go off themselves as they liked. Meanwhile the rest of the world was desperate to find a way to deal with a pandemic that was killing off people left and right. I’m not defending the Program and the fact that it wipes these kids’ memories but at the same time I understand how society would have gotten to that point if literally no other treatments were working with so many of these kids and they were all going around killing themselves. It’s like… I’m sorry they decided to erase the last three years of your life but what happened in those three years is why you tried to kill yourself or you were depressed and removing those memories has saved your life so… It sucks but you get a second chance, right?
I don’t know. I understand why the kids were upset but I just felt uncomfortable about the anti-mental health treatment vibe I got from the book as a whole. It doesn’t seem like the right message to be sending teenagers.
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Edelweiss DRC
Genre(s): YA Dystopia, YA Science Fiction, Teen Suicide
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Review Spoilers: Low
Usually I like the books that I read. There are very few books that I do not like to some
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extent. Most books that I leave unfinished are not books I dislike but books that I just don’t have much interest in at the time. I generally finish all the books I start eventually because each one has some redeeming quality that I can latch on to and appreciate.And I suppose that remains true about the Program despite the fact that I rated it so lowly.
Before I explain why I rated the book so low, I should begin by telling you a little bit about the plot. In Sloane’s world teenage suicide is a world-wide pandemic. Teenagers everywhere – for whatever reason – are increasingly depressed and prone to suicidal thoughts and tendencies. The adults of the world have been driven to drastic measures and require teenagers to attend mandatory therapy in school, fill out daily surveys about their feelings, and constantly be wary of the watchful eyes that are always on them. ‘Handlers’ walk through school hallways looking for any sign of depression or sadness and if you look too sad they may tag you and take you away to The Program.
In the program, they cure you. But their cure is not some sort of in-patient therapy. It’s a complete memory wipe. Well, at least a partial one. Nothing else has worked so they decide that they have to take away the sad thoughts and the bad thoughts entirely… along with anything else that’s happened to them in the period of time that those bad memories and thoughts developed. Understandably, Sloane and her friends are determined to avoid losing everything that they think makes them who they are. They don’t want to lose their memories. They don’t want to lose their relationships – their friendship, their relationships, etc. And so they rebel against the system and do their best to survive until they are eighteen and can avoid being sent away to the Program.
I liked the characters and I found them all to be rather compelling. I liked Sloane, James, and Miller. Their friendship was something tangible and real. They had a lot of little things that meant a lot to each other. I also liked the way Miller reacted to losing his girlfriend to the Program’s memory wipes and I felt for him and the others as he kept desperately trying to reconnect with her.
Other than that though?
I felt very uncomfortable throughout the entire book. These kids obviously had some problems. Sloane herself is depressed after losing her brother to suicide and she did things like burning herself intentionally. Despite feeling depressed she and her boyfriend lie and pretend that they are not. I thought maybe in this world there was some sort of explanation where the Program was some sort of lie and the teenage suicide pandemic was some big lie by the government to control kids. I figured that would be a plausible explanation.
But it seems like the whole teen suicide thing? It’s really real. Like, it’s an actual problem. There are kids all over the world killing themselves at an increasing rate and no one seems to know why. Therapy doesn’t seem to work. Once the kids are taken over by the depression it’s not long before they are trying to commit suicide. Like, it’s an actual problem. Some of the kids – Sloane included – may have been pushed to the whole depression thing by the idea of losing their memories if they were too sad. But for the most part the book seems to admit that it’s a problem.
So, yeah, the Program is very serious and I don’t know if I would agree with it but it seems to be a genuine response to a genuine problem. So all the fighting back against the Program and all the psyche evaluation just seems like angsty teenagers with real problems refusing to get mental health treatment that they actually do need. And that was what really bothered me. The book applauded these kids for hiding their problems. It seemed like the kids who actually had problems and admitted to them and got in-school counseling were fine. It was the kids that hid it all and who needed immediate intervention who went to the Program. And sometimes the parents or the school was way too overzealous in pulling people and sending them away but still.
All I got from this book was that these kids were pissed at the way the world was and the fact that they couldn’t just be depressed and go off themselves as they liked. Meanwhile the rest of the world was desperate to find a way to deal with a pandemic that was killing off people left and right. I’m not defending the Program and the fact that it wipes these kids’ memories but at the same time I understand how society would have gotten to that point if literally no other treatments were working with so many of these kids and they were all going around killing themselves. It’s like… I’m sorry they decided to erase the last three years of your life but what happened in those three years is why you tried to kill yourself or you were depressed and removing those memories has saved your life so… It sucks but you get a second chance, right?
I don’t know. I understand why the kids were upset but I just felt uncomfortable about the anti-mental health treatment vibe I got from the book as a whole. It doesn’t seem like the right message to be sending teenagers.
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LibraryThing member PrescottKris
I don't really know how to feel about this book. I really enjoyed the premise and the characters, but I felt like I had more questions at the end then I did at the beginning.
LibraryThing member brandileigh2003
Brilliant! I was not expecting it to pack such an emotional punch, but man, did it ever. It is so chilling to think about a teenage epidemic of suicide! My father did it back in October, so I know all too well the ramifications of family and friends left behind. Suzanne did such a good job
The twist-- Sloane (the main character) and the other teens in this chilling world are being monitored for any signs of depression so they can't outwardly express their grief. I can only imagine not being able to cry for fear of losing all my memories.
Because that is what happens to the teens who are deemed at risk of suicide. They are sent through the program, and while it erases the depression it also erases all memories from their life before. So, I can't decide which they mourn more, the ones who are gone through suicide or their friends or boy/girl friends that have gone through the program but don't remember them anymore. So sad!
The dynamic of the characters was so well written and layered. Sloane and her boyfriend James used to run around with Lacey (taken into the program) and her boyfriend Miller. But James used to be a close friend of Sloane's brother Brady. So there is so much complex history and emotions driving their interactions.
One of the scenes that really got to me was when Sloane injured herself just so she would be free to cry because she missed her brother who died and her best friend Lacey who just came out of the program and didn't remember Sloane or her boyfriend Miller.
I adored the romance in this one. James and Sloane and their dynamic had me right away. I loved how they looked out for each other and provided the strength for the other when they were falling apart a bit, and glued them right back together. James is devoted and I was swooning all over him. Their teasing, banter, and loyalty had me cheering for them.
Each part of this book hooked me in even more, and made me realize how much I liked Sloane's character. There are new characters that I didn't know whether to trust, and even by the end of the book I have no idea what their angle is on everything, and how this person will play into things in the next part.
I love the line that if it is meant to be, it will happen. The first time I heard it I rolled my eyes, but I love how that is a theme, and the people that show up to prove that right, and things that happen more than once. I know that is vague, but I think that once you read it, you'll understand what I am talking about. It is so hard to review a book like this sometimes because so much happens that I want to talk about but, I also don't want to spoil anything. So I try to talk about what you can figure out from the synopsis or within the first couple of chapters.
The pacing was amazing, and kept me in suspense waiting for the next bit of action, or seeing how the characters are growing. I loved this first book and will definitely be continuing this series.
Bottom Line: Intense and emotional. I connected with Sloane and swooned over James.
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portraying that. The twist-- Sloane (the main character) and the other teens in this chilling world are being monitored for any signs of depression so they can't outwardly express their grief. I can only imagine not being able to cry for fear of losing all my memories.
Because that is what happens to the teens who are deemed at risk of suicide. They are sent through the program, and while it erases the depression it also erases all memories from their life before. So, I can't decide which they mourn more, the ones who are gone through suicide or their friends or boy/girl friends that have gone through the program but don't remember them anymore. So sad!
The dynamic of the characters was so well written and layered. Sloane and her boyfriend James used to run around with Lacey (taken into the program) and her boyfriend Miller. But James used to be a close friend of Sloane's brother Brady. So there is so much complex history and emotions driving their interactions.
One of the scenes that really got to me was when Sloane injured herself just so she would be free to cry because she missed her brother who died and her best friend Lacey who just came out of the program and didn't remember Sloane or her boyfriend Miller.
I adored the romance in this one. James and Sloane and their dynamic had me right away. I loved how they looked out for each other and provided the strength for the other when they were falling apart a bit, and glued them right back together. James is devoted and I was swooning all over him. Their teasing, banter, and loyalty had me cheering for them.
Each part of this book hooked me in even more, and made me realize how much I liked Sloane's character. There are new characters that I didn't know whether to trust, and even by the end of the book I have no idea what their angle is on everything, and how this person will play into things in the next part.
I love the line that if it is meant to be, it will happen. The first time I heard it I rolled my eyes, but I love how that is a theme, and the people that show up to prove that right, and things that happen more than once. I know that is vague, but I think that once you read it, you'll understand what I am talking about. It is so hard to review a book like this sometimes because so much happens that I want to talk about but, I also don't want to spoil anything. So I try to talk about what you can figure out from the synopsis or within the first couple of chapters.
The pacing was amazing, and kept me in suspense waiting for the next bit of action, or seeing how the characters are growing. I loved this first book and will definitely be continuing this series.
Bottom Line: Intense and emotional. I connected with Sloane and swooned over James.
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LibraryThing member TinaTome
Really pretty good book. Some emotional parts, some suspense... I look forward to future books in the series.
LibraryThing member Banoczi_Henrietta
it was different from what i expected. but it was really good.
however, based on the ending, i don't think i'm going to read the sequel
however, based on the ending, i don't think i'm going to read the sequel
LibraryThing member nsmith529
I really liked this book. It took me a little bit to get into this book and to understand what exactly was going on, but once I got a few chapters in, I took off and read the rest in two days. I liked Sloane and James together. They were a good couple with complementary traits. It sucked what they
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had to go through, but I guess that is what makes the book good. The treatment for the suicide epidemic is severe, but goes along well with the plot line of the story. Overall I give this four stars simply because it took me a few chapters to really get into it, but worth reading. I even had to tell my mom to stick it out for a few chapters, and then she really started getting into it too. But she will write her own review. Show Less
LibraryThing member mariannelee_0902
Ever finish a book and immediately want to open it back up again? Even if you know the book will tear your heart out and leave you an emotional mess, like this?
You’ve probably read The Program by Suzanne Young then. If you haven’t, here’s the deal: If you can’t handle emotional ups and
In all seriousness, The Program is one of the only dystopians that has made me completely terrified of the society presented in the book. The only other dystopian that was able to do that to me was George Orwell’s 1984 . Am I getting carried away? Probably. But, seriously, I was head-over-heels terrified of the “Program” (not the book, the actual Program).
The synopsis makes us believe that ” love” is just a sub-plot, but in reality, it’s actually very predominant in the book. I thought this would have been a disappointment, but it was incredible. The love between Sloane and James was completely believable and not at all cheesy. This story isn’t completely over the top in sci-fi-ness, so it’s not a difficult concept to grasp. That’s what makes it entirely more terrifying! The fact that ” the program” is even scientifically explained (I’ve no idea if it’s true, though) makes me think that, just maybe, it could happen in our everyday life.
This book is divided into different parts, each part emphasizing a different aspect of Sloane’s life.
The first part of the book is completely heartbreaking! Sloane deals with grief over and over again, all while having to keep it bottled up in fears of being taken in by the Program. We the readers get a front row seat to her sadness and suffering. I couldn’t help but feeling the same pain and sadness that she felt. What really made this part for me was the romance between Sloane and James.
They’re both burdened by holding in their feelings and being the “strong” ones that everyone else needs. They both suffered first hand the death of a loved one (specifically, Sloane’s brother) and the complications that come after someone you loved died.
The love story they had together was so cute and smile-inducing. James was cocky and arrogant, but at the same time, a perfect match for Sloane. He was sweet, incredibly attractive, and caring.
“You know I’m never going to be able to not kiss you again, right?” he said. “For the rest of my life, every time I look at you, I’ll have to kiss you.”
The second part of this book is where the real substance comes creeping in. It’s where you see firsthand what actually happens inside the Program. This is truly the most terrifying part of the book.
We practically realize how everything is being taken away because of the Program, with absolutely no hopes to stop it; but also, we see the reason behind the Program.
"…can a proper decision be made when the mind is clouded with disease? It’s an infection; a behavioral contagion. And we’re the only cure."
The final part of the book is where everything comes together. This third part was so emotionally layered that I had to remind myself to breathe once in a while. I was up ’till the wee hours in the morning trying to finish this book, and I regret nothing .
Part by part, Suzanne Young creative a wonderful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. You’ll feel as if you were living in the frightening and unsettling world that Sloane is living in. If you think that Dystopians aren’t your thing, then maybe you should reconsider.
I can’t wait for Book 2, The Treatment after the frustrating cliffhanger at the end of this book.
You’ve probably read The Program by Suzanne Young then. If you haven’t, here’s the deal: If you can’t handle emotional ups and
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downs, frightening situations and an incredibly suspenseful plot, then… maybe you shouldn’t read this.In all seriousness, The Program is one of the only dystopians that has made me completely terrified of the society presented in the book. The only other dystopian that was able to do that to me was George Orwell’s 1984 . Am I getting carried away? Probably. But, seriously, I was head-over-heels terrified of the “Program” (not the book, the actual Program).
The synopsis makes us believe that ” love” is just a sub-plot, but in reality, it’s actually very predominant in the book. I thought this would have been a disappointment, but it was incredible. The love between Sloane and James was completely believable and not at all cheesy. This story isn’t completely over the top in sci-fi-ness, so it’s not a difficult concept to grasp. That’s what makes it entirely more terrifying! The fact that ” the program” is even scientifically explained (I’ve no idea if it’s true, though) makes me think that, just maybe, it could happen in our everyday life.
This book is divided into different parts, each part emphasizing a different aspect of Sloane’s life.
The first part of the book is completely heartbreaking! Sloane deals with grief over and over again, all while having to keep it bottled up in fears of being taken in by the Program. We the readers get a front row seat to her sadness and suffering. I couldn’t help but feeling the same pain and sadness that she felt. What really made this part for me was the romance between Sloane and James.
They’re both burdened by holding in their feelings and being the “strong” ones that everyone else needs. They both suffered first hand the death of a loved one (specifically, Sloane’s brother) and the complications that come after someone you loved died.
The love story they had together was so cute and smile-inducing. James was cocky and arrogant, but at the same time, a perfect match for Sloane. He was sweet, incredibly attractive, and caring.
“You know I’m never going to be able to not kiss you again, right?” he said. “For the rest of my life, every time I look at you, I’ll have to kiss you.”
The second part of this book is where the real substance comes creeping in. It’s where you see firsthand what actually happens inside the Program. This is truly the most terrifying part of the book.
We practically realize how everything is being taken away because of the Program, with absolutely no hopes to stop it; but also, we see the reason behind the Program.
"…can a proper decision be made when the mind is clouded with disease? It’s an infection; a behavioral contagion. And we’re the only cure."
The final part of the book is where everything comes together. This third part was so emotionally layered that I had to remind myself to breathe once in a while. I was up ’till the wee hours in the morning trying to finish this book, and I regret nothing .
Part by part, Suzanne Young creative a wonderful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. You’ll feel as if you were living in the frightening and unsettling world that Sloane is living in. If you think that Dystopians aren’t your thing, then maybe you should reconsider.
I can’t wait for Book 2, The Treatment after the frustrating cliffhanger at the end of this book.
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LibraryThing member t1bnotown
Dystopian fiction is fun, the romance was cute, and the story was catching. I really loved this and went straight for the sequel (very glad I found it after the sequel had already come out). The only downside was the science behind erasing memories just wasn't there, otherwise I thought it was
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fascinating. Show Less
Awards
Gateway Readers Award (Nominee — 2016)
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2017)
Florida Teens Read Award (Nominee — 2016)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2014)
Young Adult Favorites Award (2014)
Language
Original publication date
2013-04-30