I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Bumped by Megan McCafferty Series: Bumped #1
Also by this author: Sloppy Firsts, The Mall
Published by HarperCollins on 2011-04-26
Genres: Adolescence, Dating & Sex, Pregnancy, Social Issues, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job. Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.
The other day as I sat in the dentist chair while getting my teeth prodded with a sharp metal rod, a commercial for Teen Mom 2 came on the tv. I go to a fancy dentist, with HD TVs in all of the examining rooms. It’s awesome. Anyways, while watching that commercial, I thought oh hey it would be a great time to write my review of Bumped by Megan McCafferty. You know, what with the similar themes and all.
Bumped is the story of twin teenage girls not from Sweet Valley High. One of these twins is totes down for sexytimes, but only if the price is right. AND NO, she is not a hooker. You see, the society featured in Bumped prominently has teenage girls pregging for profit and getting bumping contracts. After a certain age, one becomes infertile, so that youthful uterus is super valuable because old people can’t have kids. Anyways, you make a lot of bank pregging for profit if you have good genes.
The twins, Melody and Harmony were separated at birth. Melody was adopted by a well-to-do family, and raised in a very secular fashion. Melody has been given every advantage and has taken lessons and participated in activities to raise her earning potential when she pregs for profit. Harmony, on the other hand, got adopted by the Church and went to this compound called Goodside,where all of the Church people live.
I found Melody to be a bit bratty. I mean, I get why she’s that way — because she wants mad profits from bumping. She is under a lot of pressure, plus her adoptive parents have a stake in her bumping profits. So, when Harmony shows up on her doorstep, Melody isn’t exactly excited. Yet, Melody isn’t always heinous. In fact, she shows her true colors and reveals herself as a caring, genuine person beneath the slang and urge to bump.
Harmony, unlike other reviewers, was my favorite perspective to read. She’s definitely churchy and devout. Yet, she also questions her religion. I can relate to that. I used to get dragged to church two days a week AND get shipped off to church camp every summer. Yep, I used to be God fearing girl, but then I changed. And, I think the questioning of faith that Harmony goes through is definitely something that I can relate to.
The satire in Bumped is brilliant. Hell, I might as well just come out and say Megan McCafferty is brilliant. This is an incredibly smart book with astute observations of our society. I mean, sure we aren’t exactly at the same point as Bumped. Yet, we’ve made teenage pregnancy such a spectacle, from Bristol to Teen Mom, then we’ve got the budget fight over uterus control and planned parenthood. It makes sense that this novel, in MY interpretation takes on those fertility issues and our hypersexualized culture. I mean, I wonder if we ever will get to the point where people pregg for profit, it doesn’t seem so far off the mark to me.
I won’t mention the boys, because that wasn’t the point of Bumped for me. I will just end on the note, that if you are interested in satire, if you are down for new slang and a reformed churchy, you will enjoy Bumped. I hope.
Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley.
Other Reviews:
Pure Imagination
Anna Reads
Bookalicio.us
Forever Young Adult
The Zen Leaf
Purchase Bumped here.
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I really liked the bit about Harmony questioning her religion, too. It’s something that most teens can relate to (I used to get dragged to church frequently, too).
I also really dug the satire, like you did. We don’t see that in YA too often, so it was really nice to see, like, depth.
I’m really dubious about this one. I may give it a try, so it’s good to see at least one positive review for it, as I’ve heard others haven’t enjoyed it.
I found the end way too preachy.
I still don’t know how I feel about this one. Sometimes I thought it hit the mark, and sometimes it really didn’t. And it grossed me out a bit, which was surprising.
I know this is getting a lot of mixed reviews, but I loved it! The satire is brilliant! The whole concept is brilliant! Awesome review.
I really loved this book something fierce. Megan is a complete genius. Truly she is. fabulous review as always.
I have been really looking forward to this one. I’ll need to read it soon – I’m curious what I will think.