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by Emi Gayle
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Target Reader: New Adult/Young Adult
Keywords: Dystopian
Paperback, EPUB, Kindle
In 2132, “We the people …” means nothing, and it hasn’t for a hundred years.
Like all the citizens of the American Union, eighteen-year-old Erianna Keating is not to ask questions. She is not to believe anything except what the A.U. tells her. More importantly, she’s not supposed to know what she doesn’t know, nor that she’s a pawn.
Like everyone else, though, she is, and like everyone else, she is a hundred percent oblivious to what’s going on.
Or is she? Are they?
Erianna thinks going to Perry Road and joining the national registration program is her next step toward adulthood; the 2132 candidates for adult-classification, though, are in for a big surprise. Especially Erianna.
Thanks to Zane Warren, an awkward but hot guy who won’t shut up about a history that doesn’t—or shouldn’t—matter anymore, Erianna will know. Will learn. That includes finding out what actually happens after registration and doing something, anything, about it.
Fixing what went wrong, what caused the U.S.A. to split into two countries, though, is not on Erianna’s bucket list, but as she faces her future, she must decide whether to fall in line with the American Union’s plan for her, or to consider that Zane might not be wrong, and the time for revolution begins now.
What are people already saying about Perry Road?
“This one, by far, is Emi’s best. Of anything she’s written.”
— Julie Reece, author, Crux
— Julie Reece, author, Crux
“I really hope [this] stirs up controversy and changes some youngsters thinking. God knows we could use that today in this society!”
— Terri Rochenski, author, Eye of the Soul
— Terri Rochenski, author, Eye of the Soul
“… this was a total pleasure to read.”
— Kelly Said, author, Tidal Whispers & Make Believe
— Kelly Said, author, Tidal Whispers & Make Believe
“… [this] will inspire an extreme diversity of opinion. It kept me involved and interested throughout, and I love novels that make me question my current understanding/viewpoint on life.”
— Amaleen Ison, author, Remember Me
— Amaleen Ison, author, Remember Me
Excerpt!
“Well?” Cam asks.
For some reason, I don’t want her to know. I want to find out by myself if I’m going to get a real life, or if I’m destined to wear hand-me-downs from twenty years ago until I’m ninety. I want to prepare, to plan, to cry if we don’t get to go together, or if I’m not like her.
I’m not, of course—in any way like her. Who am I kidding?
After what seems like hours, but is only seconds, I say, “Nothing.”
“Damn.” She throws her arms up in the air. “Figures. And it’s almost five. So, you know, I gotta go. Mom’s sure I’m going to be chosen to pop out babies, like she is, so she wants to make sure I know how to cook before the fake chefs get ahold of me to ‘teach’ me.” Cam gives me a dramatic eye roll and places a hand to her forehead. “Like, oh, my Oz, Eri, you know? We have people to cook for us for a reason. Duh! If I learn to cook, what job am I going to give someone like your mom, you know? And why would I get picked to be fat and ugly when I look like this?” She bats at her blonde curls.
Wanting to change the subject—to anything but the woes of Cam’s perfect life—I walk to her, give her a hug and a quick pat on the back. “I’ll … call you when I get it, ‘kay?”
“You better. We only have two days to shop for the perfect outfit. Why couldn’t your birthday be October twenty-ninth instead of December?” She snatches up her coat—preparation for the winter blast that will tear into uncovered skin. “And … you’re not a fluke. You will get in the white house, and when January first comes, we’ll be official!” She boogies her way out, hips wiggling. For someone who’s not happy about the prospect of becoming a baby factory, she’s awfully chipper.
I know it’s because she’s waiting to hear my fate. To prove I’m not a fluke. To validate my relevance as her friend—the one girl Cam can give backhanded compliments, and, for that matter, insults all day long, and still walk back in with a smile as if nothing happened.
Cam walks through the hallway and says goodbye to my mom who’s probably still working at her makeshift office in our miniature kitchen—trying, I assume, to avoid the whole days’ events. As much as Cam wants me to not be a fluke, my mom wants me to be one. If I’m like her, nothing will change. Like Cam, I’ll be the same old Erianna, just one day older and as useless as all the other flukes in the world.
The front door opens and closes, and I move to the window. Once Cam disappears from view, and only then, I turn over my P-Comm and touch the one message that sits inside.
The one that says: “Invitation for Erianna Price Keating.”
My Thoughts:
Eighteen years I've waited for this moment. Everything is going to change, and that's what I want.
I was so delighted to be reading something new from Emi Gayle. I absolutely love her The 19th Year series, so to read something away from that so exciting. And I wasn't the least bit disappointed. Perry Road is very different to her previous books, but equally as good.
The core of Perry Road is quite political. The U.S.A is split in two. Like everyone her age Erianna will head to Perry Road and join the National Registration program where you are told what job you will do, how you will dress, when and what you will eat, if and when you will have children. The need for decisions is taken from you and your life is controlled by others. It's on her way to Perry Road that Anna meets Zane, not realising the impact that he is going to have on her life.
I really liked Anna. She had such a desire to want to do right by her mum. She trusted and cared about her friends, sometimes to her detriment. My heart really ached for her as the book went on. She has no hope of free will in her future. All choices taken from her and made for her. And on top of all of that, everything she believed to be real and true is also questioned. Anna is so sure of her beliefs and she's not easily swayed to think otherwise. Could the things she thought she could count all be based on lies?
Zane is full of passion. Passion for what he believes in and passion to make things better. He is caring as far as Anna is concerned, but he also doesn't coddle her. He tells her exactly what she needs to know without too much sugarcoating and I really liked that about him.
The secondary characters really came into play much more during the later parts of the book where they really impacted on the story.
There are the murmurings of a romance in Perry Road. Because the story is told from Anna's point of view we can only go on what she is feeling and experiencing. And when she's with Zane she feels comfort. There is no instant head over heels in love romance here. It's a slow progression of trust, care and concern.
Despite the political tones of Perry Road, it was never preachy or difficult to read and comprehend. I found it to be a really easy, well written story and the ending set us up perfectly for the next book in the series with just enough questions left unanswered.
4/5 Stars.
The core of Perry Road is quite political. The U.S.A is split in two. Like everyone her age Erianna will head to Perry Road and join the National Registration program where you are told what job you will do, how you will dress, when and what you will eat, if and when you will have children. The need for decisions is taken from you and your life is controlled by others. It's on her way to Perry Road that Anna meets Zane, not realising the impact that he is going to have on her life.
I really liked Anna. She had such a desire to want to do right by her mum. She trusted and cared about her friends, sometimes to her detriment. My heart really ached for her as the book went on. She has no hope of free will in her future. All choices taken from her and made for her. And on top of all of that, everything she believed to be real and true is also questioned. Anna is so sure of her beliefs and she's not easily swayed to think otherwise. Could the things she thought she could count all be based on lies?
"Listen to yourself. You think someone should take care of you, run your life, tell you what to do, where to live, how to live, even when you don't want to."
" Don't you want the chance to run your life the way you want? Succeed or not, don't you want to choose? Don't you want the opportunity to fail?"
Zane is full of passion. Passion for what he believes in and passion to make things better. He is caring as far as Anna is concerned, but he also doesn't coddle her. He tells her exactly what she needs to know without too much sugarcoating and I really liked that about him.
The secondary characters really came into play much more during the later parts of the book where they really impacted on the story.
There are the murmurings of a romance in Perry Road. Because the story is told from Anna's point of view we can only go on what she is feeling and experiencing. And when she's with Zane she feels comfort. There is no instant head over heels in love romance here. It's a slow progression of trust, care and concern.
Despite the political tones of Perry Road, it was never preachy or difficult to read and comprehend. I found it to be a really easy, well written story and the ending set us up perfectly for the next book in the series with just enough questions left unanswered.
4/5 Stars.
Author Bio:
I had a really great bio in my head around midnight one night …. right before I fell asleep and it disappeared into the nothingness of unconsciousness. Bummer. So here’s something less well thought out.
I want to be young again, so I’m kinda sorta living it again. At least on paper. You see, I write paranormal romance. Now, that stuff can get really hot, and really gritty and well … mine does. But! My characters are teenagers, 18 and under. Like I was once … and want to be again.
Why would I want to be a teenager again? Geez. Because! If you met the man of your dreams at 14 was engaged to him at 19 and married him at 20, wouldn’t YOU want to do all that over again? Especially if you were still in love with him? I mean, c’mon! It’s love! That’s why I write, too.
You see… just because you pass a certain age doesn’t mean you forget what it was like to be 14, 15, etc. Actually, because I kinda grew up with my husband, we both still feel like the 14 and 17 year old kids we once were. So that’s where I’m coming from. You might think it’s totally lame, but you know what? That’s ok! Maybe you’ll like my other me instead.
Thank you so much for the great review! Glad you liked the book!
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