Rite
of Rejection
by
Sarah Negovetich
Straight-laced,
sixteen-year-old Rebecca can’t wait for her Acceptance. A fancy ball,
eligible bachelors, and her debut as an official member of society. Instead,
the Machine rejects Rebecca. Labeled as a future criminal, she’s shipped off to
a life sentence in a lawless penal colony.
A life behind barbed
wire fences with the world’s most dangerous people terrifies Rebecca. She
reluctantly joins a band of misfit teens in a risky escape plan, complete with
an accidental fiancé she’s almost certain she can learn to love.
But freedom comes with a
price. To escape a doomed future and prove her innocence Rebecca must embrace
the criminal within.
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I will be the first to
admit that I was beyond pleasantly surprise about how good this book was. I take that back – it was FANTASTIC! Rite of
Rejection is a perfect example of how young adult dystopian fiction should
be done.
Rite
of Rejection pulled me in with the first chapter and held my attention until
the very end. I devoured this story,
unable to put it down; believe me I tried, but this one kept creeping into my
thoughts, begging for me to finish. This
is a story of desperation, hope, love and the desire to change a corrupt
system. Ms. Negovetich’s attention to
detail and solid writing really drew me into this story and I could picture the
entire thing unfolding in my mind. From
the filth and stench of the PIT to the desperation of the colony, I could not
help but want something better for the characters.
Rite
of Rejection has its own unique personality, and I believe fans of dystopian
fiction will love it. The ending did
leave me with some questions, but overall I finished with a feeling of great satisfaction. If there is a sequel to this awesome story, I
will definitely be reading it.
5 stars
I turn to Eric, but he isn’t staring at the rolling ocean any
more. Reaching up, he tucks a strand of short hair the wind has blown loose
back behind my ear. All of Eric’s features are highlighted in the white light
of the moon. His strong chin and broad mouth. Even his nose, which looks a
little crooked this close. There’s no denying that he’s handsome.
Eric steps closer, taking both of my hands in his own. I have no
experience in situations like this, but I’m almost certain he’s going to kiss
me. Pretty soon we’ll be married, even if it is only a document. I want him to
kiss me.
I slide forward the tiniest bit, unable to resist the draw of his
warmth. His eyes close and his head dips down towards mine, so I lift up my
face to meet him.
His lips are warm and salty against mine. His mouth pushes down
into mine, sending a flood of warmth through my body. Familiar hands move to
the small of my back, finding a perfect spot to rest, pulling me closer. I’m
not sure what to do with my hands, but they find a natural place on Eric’s
shoulders.
Cheryl and I spent countless hours imagining the fateful moments
of our first kisses. I always pictured it happening while sitting on my
parent’s front porch, rocking on the hanging swing. Crickets would serenade me
and my future husband while lightning bugs created the perfect atmosphere. We’d
be sipping tall glasses of lemonade and holding hands because the thought of a
firm hand holding mine always sounded perfect.
My dream man would lean in and whisper ‘I love you’ in my ear and
I would smile back and say ‘I love you, too.’ And then, because we both know
that kind of declaration is always followed shortly by an engagement, he would
kiss me. Our lips touching for the first time would be a brief, but sweet
promise of years of kisses to come.
Eric’s kiss doesn’t hold any of that promise. He’s never said he
loves me and I wouldn’t be able to say it back. But maybe that doesn’t matter
anymore. I wrap my hands around his neck and deepen the kiss, pushing myself to
feel…more. This is my future. Eric is my future.
Porch swings and lemonade belong to Cheryl now. My first kiss is a
rundown rooftop and ocean waves crashing in the background. The PIT has taken
too much. I’m claiming this moment. It owes me this first kiss.
Sarah Negovetich knows
you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.
Her first love is Young
Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are
slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational.
We should come up with a better cliché.
Sarah divides her time
between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with amazing
authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be
only a mildly embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.
You can learn more about
Sarah and her books at www.SarahNegovetich.com or follow her antics on Twitter
@SarahNego.
