Dark Parties by Sara Grant

Grant, Sara Dark Parties, 320 p.  Little Brown, AUG 2011.  Language: PG (10 swears, 0 ‘f’); Other Content: G. Neva Allen has spent her entire life under the Protectosphere; rarely has she questioned her life, even as things around her start decaying and people around her start disappearing – including her own, beloved grandmother.  The only way teens feel like they can rebel is to refuse to produce kids for a new generation.  Neva’s boyfriend was picked up by the authorities and he has never been the same since.  A chance encounter at a Dark Party makes Neva question everything she knows - the boy she is attracted to is her best friend’s boyfriend.  But this goes beyond just who you like and right back to two things – are those who disappear dead and where does the government keep getting new babies?  I have read so many upcoming dystopian fiction books lately that I am having a hard time really discerning which ones I like.  Of course maybe that tells me something about the books, too.  I do know that I do not like the title of this book – even though the Dark Party is a catalyst to the changes in Neva’s life, the book is not about dark parties, though I guess you could the case for a metaphor.  While this will not replace Hunger Games in people hearts, it is worthwhile for a very busy library.  MS, HS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher