When suicide has become an epidemic, how can you save the youth?
In America kids between the age of 15 and 19, 7 out of 100,000 kill themselves each year. It is not a really shockingly high number. But how many are averted by them seeking out help? In the world of The Program by Suzanne Young, kids have to be forced into intensive therapy for them to be saved. And there is a whole program for it…
Book Review: The Program by Suzanne Young
Rating:
Title & Author: The Program by Suzanne Young
Genre: Dystopia, Fantasy
Release Date: March 4 2013
Series: The Program
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Synopsis
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.
I find it hard to write something about The Program by Suzanne Young. I was really curious when I started. Teen suicide, constant vigilance, sounds to me like an on the tip of your seat kind of book. I did not think it was this way though. It felt like a disappointment, also I got depressed from this story and it made me glad when it was over. Which – to me- does not sound like a good thing.
Though the story is well written and the characters are pretty well developed. It was well thought through, the characters had read emotions, fear, depression, love, etc. The build of the story was well done. It was not just the start – Sloane hiding her true feelings – and then ending when she enters the worst place possible – her getting into treatment – but even moves on through therapy, then her restarting her live and ruining it again.
Maybe I did not get the earnest of the situation or something, but I really felt like most of the reactions were just too extreme. Or maybe I just have to read the next book too. I have no idea, so I will read The Treatment as soon as I can put my hands on it and have time, because I got confused by it.
Let me know what you thought of this book!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.
For now, let books enrich your life!