All These Things I've Done (Birthright)

I read the last page, closed the book, smiled and kind of hugged/patted it lol Have you ever gotten that feeling? All These Things I’ve Done was the ultimate comfort and deliciously good read.

I fall in love with Zevin’s writing. Her characters are PHENOMENAL! Anya Balanchine, she is such an

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honest. I was with her every step of the way. And even through I didn’t get I chance to meet her father, he seemed like a wise man(even though he was a notorious crime boss.)Who shaped Anna to be the young brilliant lady she is today. Family and the people close to her mean EVERYthing. She goes through hell to keep everyone safe and protected. They’re what keeps her going. Loved Win too...he is so sweet, intelligent and honorable. I know some people have expressed how her best friend, Scarlet, kind of “betrayed” her. But I didn’t get that impression at all. Yeah she did a “girl code no no” but who doesn’t make mistakes every now and then. AND clearly she’s still Anya’s BF. She’s a loyal friend and hopefully it stays that way.

You guys should definitely read this, if you like dystopian and a dash of contemporary. Strong female protag, great characters and plot. THEN JUST READ IT! you won’t regret it, seriously. I’m so addicted, I don’t even need the chocolate or caffeine just give me the 2nd book! lol

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Cozy dystopia. All These Things I've Done is a cozy dystopia, meaning that, for the most part, it's not too suspenseful and thrilling, and everything generally turns out okay, without the protagonist being greatly scarred by anything. (Most dystopias aren't cozy, with the exception of Restoring

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Harmony). Another comparison to make would be with the recent release Wildefire: most of the book is spent setting up the characters, location, and situations for the rest of the series, with comparatively little time spent on actual plot. There ends up being a lot of ways the story could go, but most are let dropped (personally, I find this rather unsatisfying). Romance is the main path of the story in All These Things, making the novel seem like more of a "contemporary" or realistic fiction book than a science fiction dystopian.

Yet I couldn't stop reading it. Somehow Zevin keeps the story exciting, even if there's not really that much going on at times. It helped that I could just breeze through pages in a snap, but I *did* end up staying up late so I could finish the last hundred pages. Will I read the sequel? Yes. Despite my above issues with All These Things, I did enjoy reading it, and I want to see where Zevin is going to go with the rest of the series.

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In Gabrielle Zevin’s new novel ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE, the first in the Birthright Trilogy releasing September 6th from FSG, we are dropped into 2083 New York and the life of mob princess Anya Balanchine (George Balanchine reference anyone?). Her family controls the city of New York’s

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illegal chocolate supply in an almost apocalyptic (note: not dystopian – nothing remotely utopian appearing here) cityscape where everything from water to paper is rationed and caffeine and cocoa are illegal. Sadly for 16 year old Anya, her parents both died in mob hits and she is left in the care of her dying, bedridden grandmother and her mentally handicapped older brother Leo. She has a lot on her plate, that’s for sure.

ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE begins with a douche of a boyfriend trying to take advantage of Anya, Anya’s revenge, and a fateful meeting of a potential romantic interest while waiting to be seen by the headmaster. From this point things begin to unfold slowly but surely. Poisonings, potential hits, intrigue, arrests, reformatory sentences, and so forth. Anya’s story is one of personal growth and coming of age, along with romance, as she goes from beleaguered caretaker to a self-sustaining young woman who is strong and powerful in her own right.

I loved Anya. She was a great heroine and protagonist, taking on everything that came at her with such deft ease. Even after being smacked down, she picks herself back up and grows. At times her manner of narration (speaking directly to the reader) can be a bit tedious, but the easy mix of literary writing with clean-cut and eloquent is successful. Zevin’s skills as a writer are evident. What I missed, though, was a connection with the other characters, especially Win, the designated love interest in this tale obviously based on Romeo and Juliet. I thought at times the relationship seemed forced and based on little or nothing. It just happened, as did the story at times. An entire year is covered in the novel while only seeming like a month or two, which was somewhat confusing.

About the setting… The story takes place half in 2082 and half in 2083, but besides tablet computers, the mention of rationing and plagues, and the Statue of Liberty’s mysterious fate, it could easily be 1983. There was nothing that set this story apart from now, and that was distracting. To be successfully science fiction, ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE needed more world-building, but this was easy to overlook and so I did, but it is the main reason why I cannot give this a higher rating. And it gets a bonus half point because at the end there is a mention of Mount Koya in Wakayama-ken, Japan. Having been there, I agree – it’s a wonderful place to go into hiding. If book two or three takes a jaunt to Koyasan I will suggest this series to any and everyone. If you ever go to Japan, Mount Koya is a MUST SEE. And stay at a temple. You will not regret it, trust me.

Pros: great writing, awesome heroine, 日本が大好き！！, interesting premise

Cons: nothing really happens, somewhat blah romance, world building issues

VERDICT: Even if the action is kept to a minimum, the pacing keeps pulling you along for the ride, which is the sign of a great writer. At least in my opinion. Ignore the world building issues and you’ve got yourself a tight piece that is sure to keep you interested and hooked.

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I really wanted to give All These Things I've Done five stars because it was so darn unique. I mean REALLY original. But in the end I couldn't, for a couple of reasons. Number one, chocolate and caffeine were illegal and considered as drugs. I thought the idea was pretty cool, but it just didn't

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work for me because I couldn't imagine people clamoring for the stuff like addicts do for cocaine and other serious drugs. It's just hard to suspend disbelief for things like that. But I can honestly say I appreciate the effort of trying to be original.

The other thing that I didn't care for was the lack of world-building. As a dystopian novel, I just felt world details were needed and they were severely lacking. I kept waiting and waiting to get more information about the world and what had happened to make it that way, and they never came. Good thing it's a series and it might get more detailed as it goes on. There's always that hope.

I really loved Anya/Annie as a protagonist. I just thought she was awesome and I wanted to know her. She is a kick-ass heroine and I loved how loyal she was. I loved her never give up and fighter attitude. She was sexy, smart, and a lot of fun. I loved her voice and adored being inside her head. Her relationship with Win was super-hot and I love them as a couple.

I loved the details of the mob, and how the family worked. I think eventually Annie will end up taking over and being the head of the family and I really cannot wait to see where this story goes, because I think there are so many different directions it could possibly go in.

There wasn't a whole lot of action in the book, I can honestly say it was a more character-driven young adult novel, and that is truly a rare occurrence in young adult. That was another thing I appreciated. And yet, even though it was character-driven, it was still a quick read. I couldn't put it down. All in all, I really, really liked it. Yeah there were things that could have been improved upon, but overall it was a lot of fun and I appreciate the originality. I did not intend to read this originally because it didn't interest me, and I am truly glad that I changed my mind.

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There doesn't seem to be an actual cataclysmic event to begin this story, it's more like there's been a gradual deterioration of the world as we know it. Set slightly in the future of 2083, things seem pretty grim. Parks and bodies of water are dead and dried up. Paper books are seen as interesting

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collectibles. Ration tickets are available for rare items, and chocolate and caffeine are banned in the US. Enter the Balanchine chocolate business, run by a mafioso style family group. Both of Anya's parents were killed as a result of the family ties and she and her siblings are under the care of their grandmother. Anya's a good heroine, she has the smarts necessary to fly under the radar and stay out of the family business. For now.
The story didn't move very quickly and it was apparent that this will be a multi-book story. I don't know if I felt this way because you can tell that Anya is re-telling these events from some future point. Zevin touched on some great bits, like the 'slates' the students use at their private high school and Anya's dedication to Catholicism in this futuristic time.
Zevin uses a very thought provoking David Copperfield quote in the beginning of the book. "Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held b anybody else, these pages must show." I thought about that a lot as Anya was revealed both as a teen with age appropriate issues and the possible head of a chocolate syndicate.

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All these things I’ve done by Gabrielle Zevin

This book is narrated by Anya, the daughter of a deceased crime boss in the year 2083. Generally, I don't care for books written in the first person, it is a difficult style to write. However, I liked it in this case. It was effective and instantly

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provided a connection between the reader and anya. The author , Gabrielle Zevin, gives voice to Anya that rings true. She is as a 16 year old, with a wonderfully diverse vocabulary and just a touch of humor that remains humerus and not corny, annoying or distracting from the story she is telling.

Set in a world that is battling shortages of every type with extremely restrictive laws that are enacted as a result of the shortages, the setting itself should get young adult readers to consider the potential of this future world becoming a reality. While, this sounds ominous, it doesn't translate this way to the reader. Anya deals with these background issues in such a way that the result is not a scary, dark and despairing world, but one that is thought provoking. Other reviews have criticized this book for not being “dystopian”, but you need to remember the audience that this is written for. Think of it as intro to dystopia. There are some religious overtones. Anya is a Catholic and attends a Catholic school. She is not out to convert others, the religion simply provides a basis for her moral code and faith in a world that could seem pretty dim without it.

Anya is strong and intelligent, yet flawed and impulsive at times. After all, she is a sixteen year old. She is a character that I hope young female readers will relate to. Anya does quote her deceased Father frequently. Some may find these “Daddisms” to be annoying, however I felt that they were a reminder of how much she loved and missed her Father. Some of the quotes were actually quite good.

While Anya has a “love interest”, while there is no graphic sex, there are some sexual situations. Anya has vowed to wait until marriage before having sex. There are a few scenes where the couple let their raging hormones loose, but in the end they honor her vow. She is also pressured to have sex by another boy. Parents may want to preview this book before passing it on to their children. In comparison with the Twilight Series, this book has less sexually charged situations. Zevin handles Anya's sexuality with discretion yet, she doesn't compromise the story or her characters by omitting Anya's sexual feelings from the novel. For this reason, I would recommend this book for an audience a bit older than the age of 12, possibly 14 or 15.

The other characters are just as well written as Anya. They are interesting and a little quirky. The plot is unique and the short chapters keep the story flowing at a fairly fast pace. I love that the chapters have titles and the book has a table of contents! It provides just enough foreshadowing to keep the reader intrigued!

I was about two thirds of the way into this book when I realized that this was going to be a series of books (Yes, I know, it says that on the back cover.). I don't dislike book series, however the ending of this first book felt abrupt. While it left the reader “hanging”, I felt it left too many unresolved questions and issues. I would have liked to have seen a few more chapters.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and loved Anya. Yeah for strong (but not militant) female characters! I will be passing this one on to my 15 year old daughter. I look foreword to discussing it with her, I think it will provide a basis for some really interesting fuel for conversation!

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"In 2083, chocolate and caffeine are illegal, water is carefully rationed, books are scarce, and New York City is rife with poverty and crime." That little blurb was found on the back of the ARC of All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin and that was what initially drew me to this story.

Anya

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Balanchine is not a typical sixteen year old. She has to see to the care of her aging and dying grandmother, as well as her twelve-year-old sister Nattie and nineteen-year-old brain-damaged brother Leo. If that wasn't difficult enough she must do this while attending school and dealing with the reputation forged by her family . . . her criminal, mafia-like family. It also doesn't help that her family has legitimate and illegitimate ties to the chocolate industry, especially when her ex-boyfriend becomes poisoned by her family's chocolate. Anya is, of course, the prime suspect. She is promptly arrested and thrown into juvenile detention. Fortunately for Anya, she had recently befriended Goodwin "Win" Delacroix, son of the new attorney in the District Attorney's office. Win's father is able to have her charges dismissed and she is sent home. But she returns to the same chaos she left behind, and now she must deal with family politics and scheming in order to protect her brother.

As I said earlier, Anya is not a typical sixteen year old. She was forced to grow up and assume adult controls at a very early age. It helps that she is a very smart young lady and likeable. She comes across as prickly but she is forced to weigh the pros and cons of any given situation before jumping in. She tries to be the protector for everyone . . . her sister, her brother, her best friend Scarlet, and her boyfriend Win. When tragedy strikes (expected in some form but startling nonetheless), Anya must also protect her immediate family and friends from her extended family.

Anya's story was captivating from beginning to end. Although this is classified as a YA book, I feel that it could easily be read and appreciated by many. All These Things I've Done provides great family and personal drama, romance, and intrigue set in not-too distant future in an all too believable dystopian society. I was a little saddened to leave Anya, Nattie, and Win until I learned that this was just the first in the Birthright series by Ms. Zevin. I eagerly await the next installment . . .

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In the future, chocolate and caffeine are illegal, water is rationed, no more clothes are produced and even books are no longer. In this world, Anya (Annie) is trying to grow up. Being a daughter of a crime boss adds a bit of pressure, not to mention having to care for her two siblings and her sick

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grandmother. Running a household can be hard, add a forbidden love, and we have a problem.

This never happens, but I really enjoyed all the characters. Sometimes they didn’t exactly act like I would expect teenagers to, but overall, none of them pissed me off. This is a feat in of itself. Anya is a rock. She is super smart and navigates the crime world like a pro. She is a super strong woman who earns the respect of the right people. Badass Heroine Factor: 8. She has a quick tongue and knows how to use a gun! Does she always make the right decisions? Of course she doesn’t — there wouldn’t be a book otherwise. Let’s spread some of the love over to Win. I think he falls into the YA guy problem of being too good, but I still love him anyway. (Let me wear one of your hats!) I am guessing that something will come up in the later installments by the heavily referenced “bad past,” but we shall see.

A mostly coming-of-age book that is being promoted as a dystopia, “All These Things” is worth taking a look at. I don’t think being set in the future really added that much. It was interesting to have the mayfia dealing in chocolate, but I’m not sure it was needed. The absurdity wasn’t lost, but sometimes distracting. I wasn’t actually expecting anything worthwhile from this book, but now it’s in a pile with my other favorites. With only a few flaws, I would highly recommend it. Read and fall in love with a mayfia girl, too!

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This is an AMAZING book! At first it was simply very strange, and when I read Anya’s words as she narrates her story I thought to myself, “hmmmm....I don’t know if I can believe these are the thoughts of a 16 year old”. Then you realize she has internalized everything her deceased father

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ever told her and that she draws comfort from his adages and parrots them even if she doesn't fully understand them yet. It's her trust in her father's love and past guidance that she leans on for support. We see her repeatedly quote him and return again and again to his words to her, no matter how small the advice. The problem is her father was a crime boss and his death has left Anya and her siblings in a precarious situation because of illegal chocolate connections. Chocolate is an illegal substance in 2083! (It's not so crazy/impossible if you think about it lol)

Being so astute and practical, Anya thinks she has little use for typical teen luxuries like romance, dances, or even hobbies. Her free time is instead spent looking after her dying grandmother, her handicapped older brother and her younger sister. She puts all her effort and energy into making sure they are able to stay a family and not separated by child services. What’s interesting is how the book takes place in a future time of 2083 and yet its problems are both contemporary and reminiscent of our history at the same time;the illegal status and bootlegging of chocolate have the vintage feel of the 20s and Prohibition era times.

Anya does well keeping her head above water and in keeping her family’s survival stable until the most unexpected happens: she falls in love. And not just with any boy, but with the D.A.'s son. He makes her feel what she never let herself feel before and this scares her like nothing else. Why? Because Anya needs always to have a clear head if she is to survive. But love is not logical and that is how her story turns even more interesting.

I didn't know what this book was about when I started it but I loved it and very much looking forward to next in the series!

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I can be a pretty tough critic when it comes to YA literature. It's because YA authors are exploring some really creative premises and topics - thus, making it possible for some mind-blowing books. Anyways, I'm prefacing my thoughts on this book with this disclaimer because, compared to other

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bloggers, I wasn't as impressed with this book. Despite this, check out the links to other (more positive) reviews at the bottom of this post...because you may disagree with me :)

My favorite part of the book? Easily it's the interesting dystopian premise (chocolate and coffee are illegal?!). I also loved Anya's family and friends (Natty, Leo, Scarlet and Win). My least favorite part of the book? The ending...talk about abrupt! I know it is a part of a planned series but I was still unhappy with the ending.

But really, the main difficulty I had with this book is that I didn't like Anya. I wanted to like her. She is a tough female protagonist (I prefer those to the damsel-in-distress types) but she could also be so obtuse despite constantly being called smart and objective. Also, the whole star-crossed lovers aspect gets played out a lot in YA books. Sometimes it works (like in Starcrossed) and sometimes it doesn't...and it just didn't work for me in this book. The series as a whole has potential, but I felt that All These Things I've Done as a standalone was a bit of a let down.

Main takeaway: I was disappointed...maybe there was too much buzz or maybe it was my own expectations but this book didn't deliver for me. Despite all of my grumbling, it wasn't awful by any means. I did like it...I just didn't love it.

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I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. Anya is sassy, spunky, smart, and wise beyond her years. I don't normally read mafia style books, but I really enjoyed this story. This is my first book by Zevin, and I would certainly read more. I would like to read the next in this series. I see much

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potential for Anya and her family and wonder how and where they will all end up. Recommended, If you like Veronica Mars, try this book!

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All These Things I’ve Done is a tasteful YA take on the mafia with fresh futuristic elements that will have you clutching your coffee and chocolate for dear life. While I did have my typical nitpicky problems, I really enjoyed the new world of danger and prejudice and family values that Gabrielle

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Zevin has created.

This book is just exciting. Maybe it’s because I’ve only read about one other book that deals with the mafia, but I was engrossed in the dynamic of Anya’s family and the impact that their illegal business has on their lives. I also loved how different it was. Instead of drugs or weapons or anything else you’d expect mobsters to illegally deal, they handle chocolate. I was completely skeptical of chocolate and coffee being against the law because this is a contemporary novel and it just seemed so out of this world to me, but it’s written so realistically that for a short time I was very appreciative of my coffee maker.

The major thing that deterred me from really loving this book was the constant summarization. I felt like the book would lead up to these huge important moments and instead of elaborating with details or dialogue, everything is knocked back down with small paragraphs quickly explaining what had just happened. It seemed like I was skimming through the book unwillingly. This was also a problem when it came to the romance between Anya, our protagonist, and Win, the DA’s charming son. I was so excited and prepared for all of the tension and forbidden feelings; a mafia boss’s daughter and a DA’s son? Star-crossed, much? But with the brief paragraphs, it didn’t feel personal at all. I came out of the book really liking Anya and Win, of course, but I definitely think there was room for more when it came to them.

Overall, although I had a few problems with it, I really enjoyed All These Things I’ve Done. It’s most definitely not like any book I’ve read before with it’s unique spin on the mafia and the future. I absolutely recommend that you give this one a shot! (Shot ... mafia ... corny pun definitely NOT intended)

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Having read several fine and not so fine specimens of the Dystopian YA genre, I'm a bit at a loss for what category to classify this book in. So many people like to speak to the validity of a good dystopia being dependent on the world-building fashioned by the author. Granted, logistics is

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something I tend to ignore and generally base a book's worth on how it made me feel. However, a strange thing happened to me in my reading of this book in that I got distracted by the poorly formed world loosely portrayed in the story but I had a very strong attachment to the book's characters. There in lies the problem.

The very choppy, sketchy, vague setting that is Zevin's 2083 post-whatever-awful-thing-happened world left me with so many what-ifs, buts and questions that it took every ounce of willpower I possess to keep myself in the story. My flighty little magpie attention span can present a real challenge for an author to completely suck me in. In a world with such sketchy outlines, with very little shading, my imagination didn't have much to run with, so I'd get bored, see something shiny and off my brain would go.

What kept me coming back was the main character, Anya Balanchine, a tough as nails, spitfire who would take on the world to save her family. Hers was a very isolated, lonely life. A life that finds her, at the age of only sixteen, the acting head of her household, and the heiress to a rather large, rather dangerous and very illegal family business. Chocolate is one of the few pointless, insignificant and ridiculous things that is outlawed in this dystopia, and the Balanchine's have made a fortune out of the illegal sale of it. She has a variety of things to contend with and none of them pleasant. For starters, she is raising her older brother and her younger sister; their legal guardian being a frail and failing grandmother who lives in a sort of make-shift home ICU and is kept alive on life support.

For the most part I was pleased with Anya's relationship with Win who is so charming and adorable that I'd forgive him for just about anything. I was also surprised to find myself 100% on his father's side. He is the very ambitious, driven new district attorney and he doesn't want his son dating the daughter of a notorious crime lord. He's also extremely likeable so it will be interesting to see how he turns out in the next book.

And yes, I'm on board for the sequel. I'm in it for Anya.

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So first of all I need to mention I really enjoyed this unique dystopia novel. It was the first of Zevin's work that I'd read, but I'd happily read her other work and the sequel (when this is finally published!). The plot line was very interesting and I loved it.

Anya, a 16 year old, is left taking

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care of her mentally handicapped older brother (Leo) and her younger secretly-genius sister (Natty) as well as her ageing, dying Nana.. Though everything is running normally for Anya and her family, things go wrong when her boyfriend Gable attempts to rape her and then proceeds to ruin her. She is accused of poisoning Gable and her friends Scarlet and Win along with her lawyers, Mr Kipling and Simon Green, try their best to get her out of Liberty (a place for children in trouble with the law go).

Following her release, things continue to get worse! Though everything after that event, I'd consider a spoiler - so i'm not going to comment on them.

I love all the main characters, Anya and her immediate family, Win and Scarlet, and Mr Kipling and Simon. I think they were well developed and intriguing. Though, I'd love to have Win and Scarlet and Anya as friends (okay, well maybe in this world, not in their's.. I don't want to live in 2082.. I mean come on! Chocolate is illegal! I'm eating chocolate whilst writing the review!).

I really enjoyed All These Things I've done, and i'm happy to give it a really high rating.

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I am starting this review off by announcing that this is one of the best books I have read in 2011 so far. It's a dystopian novel of sorts set in 2083. Unlike normal dystopian novels, it's not all about the protagonist breaking out of a monitored society, which is SO refreshing. I did not put this

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book down once I started reading it. It was completely engrossing and consuming of me.

It's 2083 in NYC. And coffee is banned. As is chocolate. On a personal note, I think I would probably die if this happened in 2011! Coffee and chocolate are essentials for me. "OMG" is an old-fashioned saying that only the elderly say, and the meaning is lost on the younger generations. People are fined for carrying paper without permits, water is rationed and extremely expensive, books aren't any longer printed and if you own one you value it, businesses are closed down for hygene related laws that are made up on the spot and art museums are now dance clubs.

Anya Balanchine is 16 years old. She is the daughter of a (dead) notorious crime boss and her family is the mafia, who own and produce chocolate. She finds herself falling in love with Goodwin (aka Win) Delacroix who is the son of NYC's new assistant D.A. and who wants to make an impression as someone hard on crime.... see where this is going?

Anya finds herself in a situation.. which starts immediately when you start reading the book, and it really is all just a major chain of events in her life. She is blamed for accidentally poisoning her ex-boyfriend when she gives him some chocolate. She certainly didn't poison the chocolate.. so who did?

This book had me hooked in the first chapter, which honestly not many books do (a lot of the time I have to warm up to them). It starts of with a bang and I absolutely adored that this was a dystopian that focused on the mafia and crima. And it had some fantastic relationship drama going on as well.

The characters that Zevin has created are facinating. I absolutely love Anya's characyer. She is completely likeable. Moreso than some of the main female characters of books I have recently read. And her brother Leo who has a mental disability after an accident written in such a true way. He is so innocent, but so difficult to manage at times. He is a young boy in a grown ups body. I particularly liked that this book showed a different type of family, with different dynamics.

If Win was a real life person, every girl would want this boy to be theirs. He is flirtacious, persistent, completely charming and sweet. I love him!

This is the first book of Gabrielle Zevin's that I have had the pleasure of reading, but if her other books are anything like this, then I am a fan! I am so looking forward to the other two books in this trilogy as well.

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Set in a semi-dystopian future where chocolate and caffeine have been deemed illegal, All These Things That I've Done evokes the bootlegging Prohibition where alcohol was illegal, but most of the population blatantly ignored the ban, thus the law did nothing accept promote the creation of organized

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crime. All These Things That I've Done applies the same concept to chocolate and alcohol, complete with mafia princesses and forbidden romances.

Anya is the daughter of one of New York's most notorious crime lord, though he died prior to the events of the book. Left alone to manage her family, Anya tries to maneuver through life at her strict Catholic school while juggling her ex-boyfriend (who insisted on perpetuating horrid rumors about their break-up) with her new flame, who happens to be the son of the local assistant DA -who is out to shut down illegal chocolate running. And it doesn't help when Anya's ex-boyfriend is poisoned by the quality chocolate from Anya's family.

At the beginning, I enjoyed this book, it had a fun concept and a compelling main character who was incredibly likable -she stood up for herself, was respectable, loved her family and was easy for readers to connect with. The setup had so much promise for me -I mean illegal chocolate-running? Dystopian setting? Mafia? How can you go wrong with so much awesome going on?

But that's when the mixed feelings about this book started to settle in...the whole mafia thing never really took off. The characters were somewhat flat and interesting...and the plot never really seemed to get into first gear. But for me the biggest letdown was the fact that there is virtually no description of why chocolate and caffeine are banned, no exploration of this one fascinating social phenomenon that the concept of the entire book hinges on. There's also the fact that I felt like the blurb promised me a really juicy mafia-like drama, but there was hardy a hint of mafia anything in this. Where was the backstabbing and the other great, juicy drama?

Instead, All These Things That I've Done ran out of steam to me around halfway through the book and turned from a semi-dystopian mafia drama into a typical teen forbidden romance...thing. While I do have mixed feelings about this book, and I feel a little cheated by the plot, author Gabrielle Zevin is a great author with a very comfortable and honest style that is easy to read and screams of polished, excellent potential and great technical skill.

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Dystopias are proliferating like weather disasters, and in fact often are set in a world that has endured a great many such weather-related events (in which case the books morph into post-apocalyptic novels). There are enough dystopias being written to generate sub-genres, such as:

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zombie-inhabited, virus-riddled, ecocidal, sex-repressive, bent on breeding, obsessed with organ-harvesting, anti-female, anti-male, anti-monogamy, plagued by violence, anomie, materialism, commodification, incarceration, avarice, vast disparities between the rich and the poor, inter alia. This particular dystopia is the first I have read in the “cozy” dystopia category, positing a world in which chocolate and coffee are banned, and one must go to an underground speakeasy for a latte. (One anticipates bakery and knitting circle dystopias to follow.)

This cozy dystopia, set in 2083, is lots of fun, and often had me laughing out loud (although whether that was the author’s intent is another question). It is quite formulaic, with all the usual YA dystopian suspects:

It is book one of a trilogy (heaven forbid any author should tell the whole story in one book);

It stars a spunky, resourceful teenaged girl;

an overly sweet, nice no-flaws boyfriend (with hair that flops over his eyes, another sine qua non);

and a more mysterious, dark-haired boy of interest that disquiets the not-so-monogamous-in-her-heart girl;

Social privations;

Ineffectual government;

Cracks in society’s facades.

In 2083, things have changed. Only old people remember the meaning of “OMG,” and books are rare. Coffee and chocolate are outlawed. Water is rationed. The black market is flourishing. Into this mise-en-scène the author places Anya (“Annie”) Pavlova Balanchine, 16, who is the de facto primary caretaker for her 12-year-old sister Nataliya (“Natty”) and her brain-damaged 19-year-old brother Leonyd (“Leo”). Annie’s Nana was in charge of them after their parents were killed, but Nana is dying, and is not of much help. In fact, they must have a full-time nurse to care for Nana. They have plenty of money though and even hidden chocolate, since Annie’s dad was Manhattan’s crime boss in charge of the black market chocolate business.

Annie's time is spent going to high school, gossiping about boys with her best friend Scarlet Barber, going to confession, or caring for her family. Then a new kid arrives at school, Goodwin (“Win”) Delacroix, and takes a shine to Annie. Annie reluctantly (but of course!) starts to reciprocate. The only problem is, Win is the son of Charles Delacroix, who is the Assistant District Attorney. He doesn’t want Win associating with even a dead mob boss’s daughter. Then there is Annie’s dad’s family, the members of whom are still jostling for the position of “Godfather” now that Annie’s dad is gone. When the chocolate supply is poisoned, everyone turns on everyone else, and Annie is caught in the middle.

Evaluation: This is very silly, but I enjoyed it, since I enjoy silly things more than is proper. I think teens will enjoy it even more than I (since they won’t share my guilt at silly indulgences). It is only book one of a trilogy, but it actually ends (even though you can see how it could keep going).

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All These Things I’ve Done explores some fairly new terrain for YA—it examines organized crime and its complications through the eyes of a smart, involved sixteen-year-old girl. Though the items being trafficked—namely, chocolate—are still legal in our world, Gabrielle Zevin’s imagined

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future doesn’t seem too impossible. The story may seem dystopic in theory due to the frequent banning of certain items, but it is more about relations and balancing responsibilities than an oppressive government (something that, by the way, All These Things I’ve Done doesn’t really feature).

Anya’s narration is very calm and measured, though almost nothing around her is. She switches back and forth from addressing the reader directly to narrating in first person—a style that, while occasionally inconsistent, I came to enjoy quite a bit. All These Things I’ve Done’s pace kind of glides along as Anya tells the story, and I liked that it doesn’t really attempt to be too dramatic in order to catch the reader’s attention; it hooks you well enough with its complexity. From the little romantic sub-plot to Anya’s dealings with the mafiya, readers won’t be able to put All These Things I’ve Done down—I certainly couldn’t (it’s still sandy from lugging it to the beach; I couldn’t leave it at home!).

One of the most enjoyable aspects of All These Things I’ve Done, I think, is the characters and their relationships with each other. Anya has ties to many, many people, and they seem to pop in and out of the story at the best moments. Anya’s closest ties are to her family: her damaged older brother, her flirty younger sister, and her dying grandmother, and she is most genuine (and relatable) when she interacts with them. A whole different Anya comes out when she addresses members of the organized crime syndicate (aka her extended family), and it’s this Anya that I really liked. She’s cool, collected, and incredibly wise despite her young age.

There are so many things that make up All These Things I’ve Done, which the title reflects perfectly. There’s a slight romance that occasionally gets left in the dust; there’s a cast of detailed, memorable characters; and there’s a really unique and thoughtful premise. All These Things I’ve Done is about love, and sacrifice, and doing things that need to be done, and its ending is just beautiful. Readers who are looking for something truly different should definitely turn to All These Things I’ve Done—it really delivers.

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As I read this book, I fell in love with it. I love the way the author created such a world that could be realistic. One were things of today are contraband. I especially loved the whole mafia twist to it. It gave the story a full back round much more enjoyable.

What I loved the most is the main

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character Anya.She is not only courageous, but steps out of her comfort zone for her family and loved ones. I adore her characters traits of strength and honor. There are so many things in this young ladies life that she does out of the goodness of her own heart. The length that she goes for people is beyond awe!

I really loved the development of the story. The pacing is great in giving the reader an enjoyable read as well as the processing the back round story as well. I loved how Ms. Zevin weaved in the mafia and Anya dark past. Though it do not happen to her, her bloodline affected her life in many ways. Some ways good and others bad.

The love interest is great! I loved seeing these two learn and grow with each other. So many secrets, fights, and many other obstacles holding them back that it makes their love stronger then ever. I loved the ending. It was liked Anya was claiming her place with him. It made me love their relationship more!

If you want a world riddled with mafia fights, betrayals, and a strong young women trying to find her place, read this book. There are so many great aspects to the story that held me as I read this book. Filled with tainted chocolate, murders, and a loved fighting to be together, All These Things I've Done left me breathe less.

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I thought this book was worth reading, I personally think it was written for teenagers who are struggling. all in all this is a beautiful piece of writing

I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't love it nor did I hate it. The premise is really interesting though. A futuristic world where the things we take for granted are rationed or are illegal. If I lived in a society where coffee and chocolate where illegal, they'd have to lock me up

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because those are two of my favorite things.
The story centers around Anya. She's sixteen and basically the head of household. She looks after her younger sister and her brother who after an accident was left with a brain injury. Their grandmother, who is basically on life support, is their 'caretaker'. Anya falls for the new kid, Win, who happens to be the D.A.'s son. This is a problem because, Anya's deceased father was a notorious mafia head. Leo, Anya's brother, starts hanging out with other members of their 'mafia family'. Anya worries because Leo is easily manipulated. She's doing her best to distance her past from her future.
The lack of parental supervision in YA books seems to be trending. Although technically there is a parental figure, she's not able to take care of the children and make decisions. Anya basically does everything on her own. I really really don't like this trend. I remember being sixteen. Even though I wasn't helpless, I definitely wasn't mature enough to run things on my own. Even though at the time I probably would have disputed the last sentence. However in this novel there were a few saving graces. Anya made mistakes. She was put in some situations that had a parent been around she probably wouldn't have gotten into. Also there is a nurse that takes care of the grandmother, that helps Anya from time to time.
The story line is okay. Anya and Win are star crossed lovers. Anya tries not to get involved but of course she can't help her self. Anya and Win have some obstacles to overcome. Anya also has to deal with someone setting her up when her ex is accidentally poisoned. She suspects it's someone from her father's past. The writing is good and the story flowed flawlessly. I just wasn't wowed by the story line. I found it hard to believe that the mob would be worried about a sixteen year old girl wanting to take over. However King Tut became pharaoh at the age of 10, I guess a teenager could rule the underground world of chocolate. I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't. Despite that, I would still read the next book in the series. I think this series has potential.

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Although I liked the setting of the book (NY sometime in the future when chocolate and caffeine are illegal substances and paper and water are outrageously expensive), I found the plot dull. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. The main character, Anya Balanchine, isn't interested in

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being part of her family's illegal chocolate importing business, but doesn't have a lot of choice because her brother, the oldest, is simple minded as a result of an accident and can't run the family business. There's a boy, Win, who she likes but can't have (isn't there always) because his father is the assistant DA, but they manage to be together anyway. Overall, just one of those “meh” kinds of stories.
Won't be giving it room on our shelves.

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In a future NYC when chocolate and coffee are illegal, Anya is trying to hold her family together. Her grandmother (the family's guardian and matriarch) is in failing health. As part of an organized crime family, she has to deal with her reputation, the legacy of her father (former crime boss), and

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her future. Anya is a likeable narrator with a unique voice. The story is a solid, enjoyable read - just what I'd expect from a Zevin novel.

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This was a unique 'light' dystopian with characters that 'popped' and a story unlike any other.
This book ended up being fabulous. I loved that the dystopian aspect was much different from most dystopians these days. It was just there, more in the background. Yeah, chocolate is illegal but they

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don't actually kill people for having it. And lots of items are rationed and NYC just isn't what it use to be (well, what it is today). But it wasn't about taking down the government or anything.
The characters in this book really popped. They may have been my favorite part. I totally adored each and everyone of them. They had distinctive and quirky personalities and strong belief systems and they stuck to them. I believed in each of them and was rooting for everything to work out.
I wasn't sure how much the mafia would play into the story and it turned out to be very important and very present. And I loved this aspect. It was totally different from anything I've read and yet I was completely able to see and hear everything going on. I just got it.
The romance was amazing and very sweet with some conflict, but not too much. I think it worked out well and I never felt irritated because of their actions. Well, maybe just a bit at one point toward the end. I could have yelled at Anya a bit. But it worked out fairly quickly, which made it not so bad for me.
The emotions this book brought out were just amazing. I felt for Anya for the stuff she had to go through, for the horrible way she was treated a few times. But I was thankful she had her support system of her friends and family. And her faith. I forgot to mention that earlier but Anya is a devout Catholic. I kind of love that Gabrielle added that to the story because it adds to the different'ness of the story. There's no preaching or anything like that, she just is. And her being so strong in her beliefs made her a stronger person, in my opinion. I mean, she lost so much, and has to deal with so much. And in most books that turns the character away from faith, not to it.
It looks like this is the first in a series and that definitely makes me happy! But luckily there wasn't any major cliffhangers, just a few loose ends that I would like to see get tied up and I want to see what choices Anya makes for the next book. I'm definitely excited for it!

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