Saturday, January 18, 2014

All These Things I've Done (Birthright Series #1) by Gabrielle Zevin





All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle (Birthright Series #1) by Gabrielle Zevin



Summary:
In a dystopian future where chocolate and caffeine are contraband, teenage cellphone use is illegal, and water and paper are carefully rationed, sixteen-year-old Anya Balanchine finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight as heir apparent to an important New York City crime family.

Review: A dystopic novel about crime families fighting for control of the illegal chocolate and caffeine trade? I had to check this one out!!  Anya has had to grow up quickly. Both her parents were murdered in separate mob hits. Although she's only 16, she primarily cares for her dying grandmother, disabled brother and younger sister. She's keeps her precarious situation away from the attention of Family Services by following the wise business advise of her late father.  Anya Ballanchine's character has both a confident, practical understanding of the "family" and the vulnerability of a teen. Although some of the characters are a bit shallow and cliché, especially the Ballanchine crime family members and Anya Ballanchine, chocolate mafia princess', growing relationship with the city's District Attorney's son. I found the overall story.... fun! Perhaps it's because I listened to the book via an audio CD. Narrator Ilyana Kadushin's calm, practical voice perfectly captured Anya's character. Book 2, '"Because It's in My Blood", is already in my car's CD player.

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