Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is an action-packed young adult dystopian novel that immerses the reader in a world of superhuman abilities, drama, political intrigue, incredibly complex characters, and wondrous romance. The story introduces the reader to a future world where society is in environmental decay and intense political unrest. The main character, Juliette Ferrars, has been cursed with a dangerous ability: a fatal touch. After an event where she accidentally used this ability, she has been isolated and imprisoned in an asylum for almost a year. Unexpectedly, she is given a roommate. However, this roommate isn't just anyone; it’s the one and only boy who was ever kind to her during her childhood. And even more unexpectedly, he is the first and only person she has ever met who isn’t affected by her lethal touch. Soon after this discovery, Juliette is suddenly released from her imprisonment and begins her gripping, thrilling, and intensely emotional journey that will constantly have you on the edge of your seat. Tahereh Mafi infuses a beautifully raw and poetic writing style into the novel and uniquely incorporates strikethroughs to demonstrate Juliette’s internal turmoil and ambivalent mental state. The story is filled with depth and intense emotion that immerses the reader into Juliette’s perspective, allowing them to watch her evolve remarkably throughout the novel from a weak and fearful young girl to an empowered heroine. Overall, Shatter Me is a truly captivating, suspenseful, and vivid novel that contains the perfect amount of romance and demonstrates the importance of self-discovery. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fast-paced read that will have you interested from the first page and dying to buy the next book right after you finish it.

Reviews by: Chloe H.

Chloe is a volunteer at the Westwood Branch Library. She is a 17-year-old senior.

—Ruth Chung, Young Adult Librarian, Westwood Branch Library