Birthmarked (Birthmarked Trilogy, #1)

by Caragh M O'Brien

A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.

In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be 'advanced' into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve.

Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

Praise for Birthmarked:
'Readers who enjoy adventures with a strong heroine standing up to authority against the odds will enjoy this compelling tale.'  School Library Journal
'Reminiscent of both 1984 and a Brave New World, this gripping page-turner is a perfect intro to futuristic, dystopian fiction . . . Readers accompany the novel's inspiring heroine on an undertaking brimming with danger, intrigue, and romance.' Education.com

Also by Caragh M. O'Brien:
Prized
Promised

• ISBN10: 0857071394
• ISBN13: 9780857071392
• Publish Date: 28 April 2011 (first published 30 March 2010)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 16 January 2016
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kelly]

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/birthmarked-by-caragh-m-obrian.html

Birthmarked is the story of Gaia, who lives within a society that is rebuilding under the watchful eye of the Protectorat, who rules with an iron fist. She lives in the sector slums, due to being scarred as a child, when only the perfect children are taken to live within the prestigious walls of the Enclave. Growing up with only one friend, her parents are both loving and doting on the child that they were allowed to keep, having previously been forced to give two boys to the advanced society. Gaia is training as a midwife, having achieved her first unassisted delivery when she arrives home to find her parents missing... And her fight begins.

Fans of heavy dystopian novels will thoroughly enjoy the Birthmarked series, Gaia isn't an instant heroine, but it's afraid to stand for what she believes in. She isn't the perfect, doe eyed beauty that we find in so many young adult books of the same genre, but she's likeable, she's emotional and she's tough. There isn't instant love between Gaia and Leon, but a genuine attraction to one another. It's isn't quite suitable for some young teens, as the birthing scenes are a touch too graphic.

Really enjoyed it and will be continuing with the series.

[nannah]

Birthmarked was an impulse buy, despite the fact I barely had money for groceries.

But I'm pleased (and relieved) that I loved it, with all its bittersweet beauty and tragedy that really struck chords and meant something, instead of what's now the fashion: tragedy to be tragic.

I adored the characters, firstly. They each had unique voices, their own set of flaws, and realistic reactions and interactions. And I adore Leon. For some reason it's pretty rare nowadays that I fall for the male romantic lead of a female-driven teen book (mostly because they're all the same: mopey, slightly abusive and obsessive, and only defined by their love for the main protag), but Leon . . . well, he's special. To use a cliche, he was the onion whose layers were peeled back little by little at every mention. And, holy crap, each layer was insightful, beautiful, or disturbing, sometimes all together. There were little peeks to different sides of him now and then, and I would need to stop reading to smile and geek out a little bit.

Gaia was a very strong and true heroine to me. She followed her own instincts; what she really thought was right. And yeah, she made mistakes, but she learned from them. She didn't think of romance all the time, or to be saved. She found her own way out. She found allies by herself, instead of having others map out her journey for her. Gaia's smart, she's true to her own morals, and she's independent without being characterized as aloof or the stereotypical "strong female." (one which I personally despise, as many writers seem to think the only way to make a girl character strong is to masculinize her. Dang Gaia is just such a refreshing person to read about. Maybe it's just what I've been reading before that makes me think of her so extremely highly, but I can't help but fawn over her beauty and strength).

Pacing was fairly good overall. Plot advanced exciting without needing unnecessary "special effects." Not just action propels Birthmarked: it's character reaction, little plot twists, and discovering mysteries, either about the plot or about the characters themselves.

If I had to make some criticisms, it'd be about O'Brien's writing. This kind of read like a second draft sometimes, with needless descriptors like "she was terrified" or "she shrieked in panic," etc. Actions and dialogue were constantly explained, even though it was clear through the actions and words. However, most of the time I could ignore these, as the story was incredibly gripping and beautiful.

Also Maya must be the best baby ever, hardly ever crying when she was being held by someone running through the rain and jumping across long distances.

That aside, I can't wait to read the sequel.

[anne]

Genetic type dystopia that I found very plot driven, and the characters not so engaging. Some humour or even a little joy might have provided some contrast to the grimness.

[inlibrisveritas]

I’m so glad that I decided to pick this up when I was at the library even though I’ve heard next to nothing about it. Now that I’ve finished I’m kind of curious as to why I haven’t heard more, it’s a great read and deserves attention.

The plot involves a rather unique twist on the typical dystopian society that gives it a far more personal feel to it. Babies are born and in order to meet a quota they immediately handed over to the more privileged society called The Enclave hidden behind a wall. The mothers have no say in it, and they are expected to cooperate completely. There is something about it that really gets to me. As the story progresses it doesn’t really get any easier even though you come to understand the reasoning behind everything. It actually put me in a spot that I rarely find myself in when it comes to dystopians, I didn’t really blame anyone for following along in the path set for them. I do blame those in charge because they could actually improve things for everyone, but I found myself understanding everyone else who lives under them and sees what they are doing as ‘good’. I really like the fact that it made me stand on that fine line and see both sides of it. The writing style is fantastic and I liked the way it flowed, though it was a bit slow to get to the point in the beginning. I also thought the clever use of codes was a nice touch. She also gets points for using a few names linked to myths and lore.

The main character, Gaia, is quite interesting and I liked her for the most part. There were times when I just wanted her to be quiet about her scar and move on. I understand that she’s self conscious about it but I just wanted her to stop pointing it out to herself, it was almost like she was punishing herself for forgetting. She is a strong character though and I envy her ability to not give up even when things are at their most dire, I know for a fact that if one of the events had happened to me I would have lost it. Leon is a great counter-point to Gaia and he really had me wondering what his deal was. I liked the way they interact with each other and also the evolution of their relationship, given their different backgrounds it makes it quite interesting to see how they work around the obvious strain it puts on them. I might also mention that I think this is one of the few YA novels where I actually liked the parents, they come off as really caring and brave individuals. The characters have a depth that really makes you care about their futures and that makes the story even richer.

Overall it’s a great dystopian and I can’t wait to read the second one, especially since the ending left me wanting more.

Just as good the second time!!

Blog Review: http://yainfatuation.blogspot.com/2011/12/birthmarked-birthmarked-1-caragh-m_04.html#comment-form

O how I love this book! This is one of the first books I read when I started the dystopia genre and I love it. The first time, I was hesitant because of the “midwife” part. I wasn’t exactly sure where this book would be headed but don’t fear! Mrs. O’Brien creates a brilliant, thought-provoking novel with great, interesting characters.

Gaia, the main character, isn’t perfect like most other main characters. The left side of her face is scarred and she has had to deal with this her whole life. She has a reason to feel insecure and while most of us probably don’t have scars like that, this at least makes her relatable (we’ve all felt insecure). Gaia doesn’t start off as some rebellious, kick-butt girl and she never really physically becomes that but does mentally.

She starts off as the docile, ignorant citizen who thinks that whatever the Enclave does is right. She is ignorant of the wrong-doings of her society and in turn she completes the baby quota each month. It takes the arrest of her parents to make her realize that the Enclave may not be as perfect as it seems. As the story progresses, Gaia becomes a determined young woman who loves life, making me fall absolutely in love with her.

And Leon….O Leon. First off, I’m a sucker for a man in uniform so I may be a little biased ;). I absolutely fell in love with Leon. Although he has a retained composure and sometimes comes across as cold, he has reason too. But underneath that is a kind, caring, respectful man whose just been through a lot. To me, he’s definitely swoon-worthy.

The plot was completely engaging and completely unique in its own ways. Not to mention thought-provoking. As with most dystopias, the characters start to question their society. However, what makes a really good dystopia is when the author can make both the characters and the readers not only question the society, but also understand the society. That is exactly what this book does. Although you may understand their intentions and why the Enclave is doing this, their execution sucks. This is a book that makes you both understand and condemn the Enclave.

Overall, this book was completely engaging and thought-provoking. It isn’t to fast or too slow. I definitely recommend it to fans of dystopia and it is a light enough dystopia for those just starting out on the genre.