All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

chocolate is contraband

caffeine is illegal

the city is riddled with crime

Anya is torn between accepting her birthright and following her heart

--from the cover--

Image from amespubliclibrary.com

All These Things I've Done

by Gabrielle Zevin

First in the Birthright series

Anya is a powerful, no-nonsense character and, at the same time, she's a completely realistic 16-year-old. Not a lot is recognizable about New York City in the 2080s. Everything from water to chocolate, paper to coffee has been taxed, limited, and banned. Anya stands between her desires to honor her father's legacy (the former head of the chocolate mafia) and protect her brother and sister and rise above a life of violence and crime. This is a gripping, fast-paced story. Drama, intrigue, and romance combine with Anya's wonderfully unique humor and well-developed voice. Great read!

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Arielle's Recommendation: Every school and public library should make a place on their shelves for this fantastic book. There are zero instances of questionable language and the few mentions of sex are respectful and mature. Recommend this book to dystopian fans as well as realistic fiction and romance lovers. 7th grade and up.

Don't miss the brand new second book in the series:

Image from barnesandnoble.com

Zevin, Gabrielle. All These Things I've Done. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011. Print. ISBN: 9780374302108 Pages: 354 Hardbound U.S. $16.99