The Program (Program, #1)

by Suzanne Young

[Angie]

Wow. The Program was quite intense. In this near future, teenage suicide has reached an all-time high. But now there's the Program which takes depressed teens, clears their minds, and sends them back into society all shiny and new. Sloane's brother committed suicide two years ago, but she puts on a happy face despite the grief that she's never been able to express. She and her boyfriend promised to help each other get through this. They only have to make it a few more months until they turn 18, and then the Program can't touch them. But soon things get too much, James it taken, and after seeing him "returned," Sloane is admitted herself.

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.