Dark Parties by Sara Grant

Dark Parties by Sara Grant

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

My Take: I simply enjoy a well written dystopian novel and this is one of them.

Neva, our protagonist, is likeable and intelligent. She's also brave and curious. She wants to know what happens to the people who go "Missing" and she wants to know what's outside the protective covering of her world. She's willing to sacrifice quite a bit in order to attain freedom since she realizes she doesn't have it.

Some interesting and compelling snippets to the story:

Brayden's collection of masks. He recognizes the subtle differences in the homogeneous population and appreciates them but also recognizes how empty their lives can be as demonstrated with the masks.

Neva's mother's quiet resistance and genuine appreciation for Neva's attitude and curiosity.

Neva's father's job to rewrite history even as it is happening.

The overall feelings of fear.

Neva's best friend, Sanna. I loved how Sanna and Neva flip from conservative to rebellious and they seem to keep each other balanced to some degree.

Good symbolism and balance overall to this dystopian book.