Book Review and Giveaway: Rite of Rejection by Sarah Negovetich


Summary:
"Before you stands the future."

Straight-laced, sixteen-year-old Rebecca can't wait for her Acceptance. A fancy ball, eligible bachelors, and her debut as an official member of society. Instead, the Machine rejects Rebecca. Labeled as a future criminal, she's shipped off to a life sentence in a lawless penal colony.

A life behind barbed-wire fences with the world's most dangerous people terrifies Rebecca. She reluctantly joins a band of misfit teens in a risky escape plan, complete with an accidental fiancé she's almost certain she can learn to love.

But freedom comes with a price. To escape a doomed future and prove her innocence, Rebecca must embrace the criminal within.
 
Release Date: December 4, 2014
Age Group: YA
Source: Review copy from author
Reviewed By: Kelli
 
Review:
I loved this book!  Rite of Rejection is Sarah Negovetich's debut novel, and she certainly starts her writing career on a high note with this book.  Rite of Rejection was so well-written, engaging and fast-paced.

I love the premise of Rite of Rejection.  The Acceptance ceremony has a unique feel to it.  On one hand, Acceptance reminded me of a 19th century debut ball.  On the other hand, it made me think of other dystopian novels, in that when teens come of age their place in society is determined.  But in this world, the determination comes from a machine.  The Machine, in fact, reads biomarkers from the teen's hands and flashes green for Acceptance, and red for Rejection.  People can be rejected on the basis that there is something inside of them that will make them future criminals or discontents.  That made me think of the precogs from Minority Report: how people are arrested for a crime before the crime even happens.  The premise in Rite of Rejection is that people are removed from society before they can hurt anyone.  It's a really neat concept and I loved that Negovetich focused the story on the Machine and how the Cardinal uses it to control the entire country.

Negovetich has an excellent writing style.  Sometimes authors can write action really well, but lack in emotional intensity.  Or their books are full of emotion but the pace is so slow and the plot lacks depth.  This is not the case for Rite of Rejection.  This book had it all: a great premise, perfect pace, a super-sweet (and clean!) love story, and a thrilling plot that left me on the proverbial edge of my seat.  The story had such a great flow to it.  There were no slow parts or sections where I felt like putting the book down for a break.  Every chapter was as good as or better than the last.

I love the way that Negovetich writes emotions.  Her characters' emotions just jumped off of the page, and into my heart.  I grew to love the characters and felt so invested in their stories.  This is not always the case, so when it happens, I really enjoy the feeling. 

There were some great surprises as I read.  I found one part of the conflict resolution to be predictable, but overall, I was happy with the twists the plot took and how the book ended.  Speaking of the ending, Negovetich gives some closure but leaves plenty of room for a sequel.  And that's a sequel I will eagerly await! 

I've read so many dystopian novels---and I've loved so many of them---that books in this genre can start to feel predictable.  I really felt like Rite of Rejection stood out from others in the genre.  I highly recommend this novel, and cannot wait for book two!
 

 
 
Giveaway
Sarah Negovetich is generously offering this book-themed international giveaway to readers! 
 
 
Prize description:
Chapter 17 tissues (because that’s when you’ll need them), a jumbo sized chocolate bar (a hot commodity inside the PIT), an orange scented candle (courtesy of Rebecca’s fondest memory from home, a dandelion pen (as featured on the cover), handcrafted Molly bag (named after the character responsible for sewing them in the book, these are the bags used extensively by the main characters), and a $10 Amazon gift card. 
 

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