Author: Elaine Dimopoulos
Series: Standalone
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Dystopian
Format: ebook
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Source: egalley received from publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 4 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***
Synopsis
from Goodreads:
In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the
gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to
dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the
garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but
seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s
aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively
resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives?
Smart, provocative, and entertaining, this thrilling page-turner for teens questions the cult like mentality of fame and fashion. Are you in or are you out?
My Review:
Let me start this review by saying that I don’t think this book is for
everyone. There were some things within that I think won’t work for people such
as world-building, a quick romance (no instalove though) and a too quick
ending. But if you love fashion, then you’re going to enjoy this book. Because
I love fashion and I devoured the pages.
This book is set in a future where the creative industries such as
fashion, movies, music and video games rule the world. Kids are tapped in 7th
grade to work for one of the industries. Those not tapped become adequates and
get jobs in the lesser industries like teaching or the medical field. The
pressure that’s on these kids is crazy intense. If you don’t get tapped you’re
in for a lifetime of disappointment.
There are two main characters in this book, Marla, who works for one of
the big 5 fashion houses and Ivy, a pop star. Both girls POVs were really interesting.
Marla serves on the Supreme Court at her fashion house which means that she
makes the decisions on whether or not a design gets put into production. I
loved hearing about all the crazy trends that cycled through the industry.
Fashion moves fast in our world, but in this one it moves even faster. People
have these trend guns where they can scan their clothes and see if the trend
has expired. And if it has, most people are throwing the clothes out and buying
new ones. The level of waste was insane. And I loved that the issue was
addressed along with unfair wages and working conditions within the fashion
industry. Even though this novel was dystopian, these are issues that we in our
world can relate to.
For Ivy, life is just doing what she’s told. Even though she’s the pop
star, she has no control over her decisions. She dates who they tell her to,
wears what they tell her to and sings what they tell her to. I felt really bad
for Ivy. She really gets no say in her life. Being one of the top people in her
creative industry, you would think she would get to be a little more creative.
But no, she’s basically just a puppet that her record label dresses up as they
see fit. Again, even though this is a dystopian I believe that these issues
exist in our world as well. I’m sure that certain celebrities are supposed to
have a certain image and their agents/recording studios, etc. make them
maintain that image. Maybe not to this extreme, but I’m sure it’s there. Just
look at the desire to be thin in our world. Celebrities work their asses off
and eat lettuce to maintain the bodies they have. I’m pretty sure that most of
them would really just like to eat some pizza. Okay, maybe I just want to eat
some pizza…
Now this book was not without its issues. The world-building was a bit
lacking. There wasn’t really any explanation as to how the creative industries
rose to power or why they decided to tap 13 year olds rather than adults. I
also wasn’t crazy about the fact that these kids are literally pulled out of
school and that’s it, no more education. I think education is so important and
it made me a little skeptical that all these uneducated people are actually the
ones ruling the world. And I’m not going to lie, I didn’t really connect to
either of our two main characters. They didn’t have a lot of personality,
though I think Ivy was the more interesting of the two. Which is why I think
that this book isn’t going to be for everyone. I think you really have to love
the fashion industry to be able to enjoy this, which I do, hence the four
stars. A book full of crazy fashion trends, celebrity status pressure and an examination
of the fashion industry workers’ working conditions/wages.
Have you read this one? What did you think?
Hmm this sounds really interesting! I'm not positive if it's for me because while I LIKE fashion, I'm not like... SUPER into it? i'm not sure but i'm going to have to put this on my maybe list! It sounds like an interesting look at celebrities and such!
ReplyDeleteI think you need to really love fashion to get into this one. There are quite a few glaring issues and if it wasn't for my love of fashion, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it.
DeleteThis is really intriguing! I do like fashion, and I love some of the issues you mention them bringing up. With the lacking world building, it would be probably be a hit or miss for me. I might see if my library has it. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI think that's how it's going to be with a lot of people. They're either going to be able to look past the issues and just really enjoy the book or they're going to hate it. If you read it, I hope you end up loving it!
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