liz089
Written on Sep 20, 2019
The first book in Suzanne Young’s New York Times bestselling series is a “gripping tale for lovers of dystopian romance” (Kirkus Reviews) about two teens in a world where true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program—now with a freshly reimagined look.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.
And The Program is coming for them.
- ISBN10 1442445823
- ISBN13 9781442445826
- Publish Date 30 April 2013
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Simon & Schuster
- Imprint Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 416
- Language English
Reviews
Angie
Written on Jul 5, 2015
I loved The Program from the beginning. It's dark and disturbing. It made me think a lot how adults dismiss the feelings of teenagers as trivial or fleeting, not a part of who they are. And when there is a cry for help, it's completely overlooked. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine this being our world (minus the brainwashing drugs). These teens can't show any type of shifts in mood or else they're flagged as depressed. They don't even feel safe enough to grieve with their families about dead relatives for fear of being sent away! That is no way to live, but it's what Sloane does everyday until it became too much. I was completely sucked into her emotional trials.
The actual program portion of The Program was also fascinated and disturbing. Of course, Sloane doesn't want to lose her memories. It's not just that she's in love with James and wants to keep a part of him, but her memories make up who she is. It was really interesting to me to see how some of her personal skills were altered inadvertently by removing these select memories. Also, the way the patients are treated in the name of health care is pretty despicable.
The only reason I couldn't rate The Program higher was because of Realm. What happens when the love of your life is removed from your memories? You meet a new boy! Admittedly, things did not go the typical YA love triangle route. But I still didn't like Realm's attachment to Sloane. I did really like his role in everything, but I could have done without the added kind of romance. I was cheering 100% for James and Sloane to find their way back to each other. Although that epilogue was genius! But what does it mean?!
The Program was really great. I love these more subtle type of dystopian societies. Suicide and depression is a real problem, and they've come up with a solution. Do I think it's a good solution? Absolutely not! Obviously you can't be upset about events and people that you can't remember, but it causes a whole new set of problems that we get to see Sloane deal with! I do suspect that something bigger is going on here though, which means I need to dive into The Treatment now!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
cornerfolds
Written on Jun 4, 2015
The Program immediately grabbed my attention with its eye-catching cover and description. I love reading about conspiracy theories in my free time because I'm a nerd with nothing better to do, so when a book comes along that sounds like it might be up that alley, I'm definitely going to take notice! I didn't really know much about this going in other than what was on the inside cover, but I had high hopes for a conspiracy laden novel in the same vein as The Twilight Zone!
---Characters---
Sloane is the main character in The Program. She and her boyfriend James are navigating their lives and trying to survive without getting flagged for The Program, where people inevitably come back as shells of their former selves, memories missing. Anything could send them there - even crying - as the country panics to save their young adults from the suicide epidemic. And so, Sloane doesn't allow herself to show emotion except when she's with James. As her life falls apart around her and one by one her friends are either taken into The Program or "terminate" themselves, it's obvious that it's only a matter of time until she ends up in one of the two categories.
I liked Sloane for the most part. She fought like a champ, refusing to give up and lose her memories, and never stopped fighting even to the last page. I could definitely admire her will to survive The Program and come out in tact. It felt like I was there with her as she experienced the hopelessness of knowing she was really at the mercy of those around her. I didn't fully understand the decisions she made in every instance, especially when it came to Realm, but I still liked her.
The two love interests (you knew there would be a love triangle) were James and Realm - James from before and Realm from The Program. I didn't fully love either of them, and if I had to pick one of them to "win" I'm not sure who it would be. Both cared about her deeply, although Realm did some pretty reprehensible things. James was obnoxious and arrogant, but Sloane seemed to find that endearing. Either way, I enjoyed both of them and the love triangle actually made sense in this story rather than detracting from it.
I also enjoyed the more minor characters of Lacey and even Miller. The parents in every case really got under my skin. They all seemed incredibly weak and deluded. It makes me wonder how people might really react if something like this were to occur.
---Setting---
Suzanne Young did a great job of bringing this not-to-distant-future world to life! There weren't many locations featured, but the Program facility especially seemed to come off the page in a totally creepy way. I could definitely feel the dread of the characters as they roamed the stark white halls and smelled that hospital scent. I felt like I was right there sneaking around with Sloane and Realm (or James) throughout the book.
The other setting I felt was really well-done was the river. It was written in such a way that I could understand the peace that came over Sloane when she was there, especially when the rest of her life is so chaotic and depressing.
---Plot---
Speaking of depressing, that's what this book is. Granted, it's about a world with a suicide epidemic among young people. Still, I didn't realize just how bleak a world I'd be diving into with The Program. There are brief moments of happiness here and there, but for the most part I felt like I might get flagged while reading this book!
Perhaps that feeling is part of the originality of The Program, or maybe it's just because I usually steer clear of anything that's not going to give me the warm fuzzies at the end. I'm not quite sure if there's supposed to be some deeper commentary on problems in the mental health system, but I wasn't really in a mood to contemplate that much further. Please fill me in if you know something I don't!
In any case, The Program is pretty unique, at least among the books that I've read. The story, though bleak, did draw me in and make me want to find out what was really going on! Unfortunately, I didn't find out. I felt like there needed to be more backstory - more answers about what caused the epidemic and where The Program came from. There was one (what I assume was supposed to be) big twist, but it was actually quite predictable, although I'm still at a loss of whether or not the epidemic is something deeper and more sinister. The ending was satisfying though, and didn't end on a huge cliffhanger.
---In Closing---
I really did enjoy The Program even though I'm a little hung up on the depressing nature of the book (about an epidemic of depression and suicide). I'll definitely read book two to find out what happens next, although I don't feel a huge rush to do it right this second.
Joséphine
Written on Dec 18, 2013
There is this whole paranoia surrounding teenagers committing suicide. Parents are worried of losing their children, so they will do anything to keep them safe. Since the state has instituted The Program, there is renewed hope that their children will recover and live because everyone who goes in comes out cured. Identifying teens who are at risk means administering a daily questionnaire in school to assess their likelihood of also committing suicide. Extreme emotions also are indicators, especially when crying is involved. Whenever Sloane feels like crying then, she hides. How long she can keep this up, not even she knows.
The overarching question of the first book for me is whether The Program exists to cure depression and suicide or if it actually drives teens towards depression and suicide. Some would rather die than undergo treatment because apparently it also means memory loss. Why others took their lives though remains a mystery. When it comes to Sloane's brother, nobody seems to know what drove him to take his own life. That is what makes everything all the more uncertain and scary at the same time.
For all the focus that has been cast on suicide though, The Program surprisingly isn't all that much about suicide. Yes, suicide drives the plot but otherwise, suicide as a subject matter isn't dealt with all that much, so I was rather disappointed about that. I really hope that the sequel, The Treatment, will address these issues. Instead, there is a huge emphasis on the relationship between Sloane and James. I didn't expect this extent of romance in the plot, and I wish I had known that because then I probably would've read a few other books I've been wanting to read first. Although, I did like the idea of how emotions and memories affect people and how they can be tampered with. I think that's what made this book stand out for me. Also, the transition of Sloane's voice, as the narrative was from her first person point-of-view, was very well thought out, portraying her transition phases very very well. At the same time though, some characters got lost in translation because even though they seemed to be important to Sloane, they came off more as extras.
Despite detracting from the seriousness of the issue of suicide, there still were dark undertones. Some of the events really did shock me, while others completely disgusted me. Some of these situations were disturbing and I appreciated that the characters themselves did not always have the perfect answers or solutions. They were victims of their circumstances, which was made evident through the narrative.
Overall, I think that The Program is a good book and that The Treatment has great potential if it addresses all these major lingering questions of the first book in the duology. The voice is strong, and the narrative flows well. The premise allows for a lot of reader engagement with gripping events and intense emotions. However, the plot does have a lot of gaps for the reader to fill that might leave some frustrated. As expected with any series, there is a cliffhanger. (I only realized then that this book is part of a series. For some reason, I expected a stand-alone.)
This review is also available at dudettereads.com.
inlibrisveritas
Written on May 25, 2013
The writing is very strong and it has some very interesting world-building involved. It almost seems like a normal place despite some futuristic advancements, however teen suicide has been labeled an epidemic and if you’re diagnosed you’re sent to The Program. It’s a place where they wipe you clean and leave you with none of yourself. That in itself is really unsettling, but as a person who deals with depression it kind of hits me on a different level. The arrogance of needing to ‘fix’ someone with depression and the fact that everyone is behind it brings out a bit of anger in me at the same time it puts me ill-at-ease. Teen depression is already a hard mountain to climb and most teens don’t have it, it’s just normal angst and stress but this a world where your own family can turn against you. Imagine the amount of stress that causes a person, now add in the fact that if you even look sad you might end up at The Program. It’s just crazy.
I really loved the way the characters are in this one. Sloane is a great character who deals with immense stress and grief from loosing the people she cares about. She also fights even though she’s in a place designed to make her lose, and I found myself rooting for her. I loved how the loss of memories in some of the characters was handled and how slow and progressive it was. It really gives you a certain kind of insight into the situations and at the same time breaks your heart a bit because you can see the loss but they can’t. I was also surprised to see that this was the first ina series because it sort of sounds like it might be a standalone, but the set-up for the future books is clear and the last few chapters really get things rolling.
I can’t wait to see what has happened with Sloane, Lacey, and James in the next book. I’m really hoping that I get some answers that were not touched on in this one and I’m hoping to see what exactly is going on with those who don’t support the mind-washing.
Kelly
Written on May 6, 2013
The Program could be the elephant in the room for quite a number of teens nowadays. The awkward conversations that adults try to engage in when they see a warning sign, that something may be wrong with their child. The Program isn't far from that aspect, in theory.
Parents, teachers and adults seeing depression or emotional turmoil in teens, believing the only way to keep them safe from themselves, is to call the authorities and have them committed. What they are seeking are emotionally, well adjusted and complacent teenagers, boring, and devout of life. Leaving them only with happy, fond memories. Molding them into Stepford children.
I really enjoyed The Program, and felt it was more of a creepy contemporary romance novel with science fiction aspects. Sloane is a normal teenage girl, grieving over what her life has become and forced to keep her emotions locked away. This is her story and you'll want to fight the system alongside her the entire way.
Ashley
Written on Apr 20, 2013
Nose Graze — Young Adult book reviews
4.5 stars
Wowie, The Program book was awesome! Even though the synopsis hints at a love story, I didn't expect it to dominate the book the way it did. I think I expected more of a sci-fi than a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out otherwise! This love story completely rocks. Imagine soul mates, destiny, "meant to be", love that knows no bounds.. but all without being cheesy.
The Program is completely effortless. I feel like it deals with so many intense topics, but without shoving it in your face. It just glides across the page flawlessly so you can soak it all in.
The first half of this story is completely heartbreaking. Just imagine: your brother commits suicide, your best friend forgets who you are, your other best friend commits suicide, left and right your friends from school have their memories wiped... and you know that you're next. Sloan and James are an adorable, super sweet couple, but they're on The Program's radar. If The Program takes them in, their memories will be wiped and they'll forget about their relationship and their love. They're head over heels for each other and don't want that taken away.. but they're also grieving over all the deaths and they can't hide from The Program.
I mean, holy crap. I didn't even know how to approach a situation like that. I completely felt for Sloan. I was heartbroken right there with her. And she and James were such an adorable couple. James was kind of cocky and arrogant, but so insanely sweet. I LOVED him!
"I think I broke my femur," James says, as he lies underneath me. "On the console when you were attacking me? I think I broke it."
I laugh. "Shut up."
"I didn't mind though," he says conversationally. "Like when you bit my shoulder. It was—"
I reach up and put my hand over his mouth, not moving it even after he licks my fingers. "Shut up." As if agreeing, he pulls me closer, resting his cheek on top of my head. When it's quiet, I move my palm and rest it on his chest.
"It was nice," he whispers, but not jokingly. "It wasn't weird, either. And that's... kind of weird."
Then when I settled into the second half, the book started focusing on a different element: if your memory was wiped, would you fall in love with the same person all over again? Are some things meant to be? And if your memories were wiped, how would you piece together the fragments of your life? You would have to rely on what people tell you.. but can they be trusted? This book was a whirlwind of confusion, hope, betrayal, loss, and love.
We had so many secrets together and now they're just mine. The weight of them is too heavy for me to carry.
My only gripe was with Realm. An almost love triangle develops between Sloan, James, and Realm, and Realm was kind of a creepy bastard. It wasn't really a love triangle, but it sort of was. It's hard to explain and I don't want to get into spoilers. But yeah, Realm = odd and creepy. Stay away.
But overall this book was super strong. It brilliantly explores the idea of star-crossed lovers and fate, but without causing me to roll my eyes. Honestly, not a lot actually happens in it in terms of action and plot development, but it has so much emotion that I didn't mind all that much. Just be prepared for an emotional love story rather than some hardcore plot stuff. But in the context of the book, I totally think it worked. The story wasn't so complex that it needed a lot of plot or world building. A lot of it is experiencing Sloan's memories, but they were so sweet, tender, and heartbreaking all at once. Even when not much was happening the book was still gripping! I'm eagerly awaiting book 2!
What I see is someone broken and fierce. Someone loyal and hardened. Someone who could belong to me completely, and me to him.