Disappointing.. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons ♥

Article 5
Kristen Simmons

• Publisher: Tor Teen (January 31, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0765329581
• ISBN-13: 978-0765329585
• Genre: Dystopian, Teen
• Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles
• Source: Review copy was sent free of charge courtesy of Tor Teen.
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Synopsis: New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.  Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different. Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

• The Bill of Rights have no existence anymore, and they're replaced with the Moral Statutes. The only time I can imagine the United States in a dystopian setting is if another country invaded and took over, which is apparently what happened in this novel. The protagonist Ember's mother is arrested for violating Article 5 of the Moral Statutes which is having a child out of wedlock. That child is obviously Ember. The mother is arrested by Chase Jennings, Ember's old boyfriend.

• Article 5 has been on my TBR list for a while now, it's insanely popular so of course I had to check out the hype. Dystopian settings are one of my favorites, and the premise of the novel sounded promising.  I needed background information on how the United States became dystopian though, but there was no information given. I was given one reason with no detailed information. Usually with a series, it pretty much explains it in the first novel. Perhaps, it explains it further into the series. Besides that, the beginning of Article 5 seemed intriguing. It was quite easy to fall into the story, it had my attention since the first chapter. I couldn't exactly put it down without knowing what happens next. , Chase is clearly my favorite character in this novel. He's douche bag free, although, he was too patient with Ember. He's broken, and I adored his character in the novel. 

• I liked Ember's character, I thought she was strong and brave. Well, I thought that until her second meeting with Chase, then Ember became increasingly annoying as the plot progressed. I don't agree with her thoughts on murder, she's not exactly a pacifist, but she doesn't believe in murder. I mean come on, if a man is going to shoot me, I'm not going to stand there and be shot at, am I? I'll fight back, If I knew Kung Fu I would try to disarm him without killing him - unfortunately, I don't so my only option is to kill him before he kills me. It's murder, sure, but it's self-defense. I don't have a choice - Ember's logic is ridiculous, she believes self-defense is wrong too. 

• Her growing obsession with Chase was frustrating on why he has changed. My only answer, he's a SOLIDER! War changes you. I don't understand how Chase put up with her ridiculous claims - As the novel progressed, I didn't think Ember was as brave as I had initially thought in the beginning of the novel. She's stupid, and clearly does not deserve Chase. I think Kristen Simmons should give Chase to me instead. 

• Maybe it was the author's intention to make the heroine this way, maybe sometimes people cannot take the situation too well and become increasingly frustrating? It bothered me as the reader though.  Article 5 is more romance than dystopian, I read it for the dystopian aspect more than the romance, and instead I got caught up within teenage love. I found a road trip of two past lovers, sure it was action filled - I like to know, where was the actual plot? Where was this story going? The romance was steamy and sweet though, although, the goose hunt wasn't necessary. Just admit your feelings already guys!

•  It sounded like Bonnie & Clyde on the run. Although, I did like the heavily packed action. I couldn't wait to find what happened next in the story - Simmons does a fantastic job of making the novel interesting and fast paced, she delivered well in that department. In other great dystopian novels I've read before, the badass heroine takes charge and rebels against the government, such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Legend. Article 5 had a wonderful concept but it fell too short for me. It didn't explain anything to me about the corrupt government, it was just teenage angst. I did like the original concept of the novel though, and I liked Chase Jennings character. I did finish the novel as well. Overall, It was engaging, even though, I disliked Ember's character, I did want to know what happened next. Kristen Simmons writes in an engaging and intriguing manner, so I do look forward to more of her work though. I do hope the series get's better, because it has plenty of potential.

Recommended for fans of Selection, The Book of Ivy, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour. 

Shukran for reading this! Leave your blog links in the comments & I'll be sure to check them out & follow :) Stay in tuned pretty creatures..

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."— Mahatma Gandhi

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