Review: Bumped

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Book Rating: 4/5 Stars

Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray (April 26, 2011)

 When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

THOUGHTS: This book was a quick but enjoyable read. Lots of people say that they had problems with the slang, but I think it added a certain feel to the world- it shows you this this world encourages sex, and the younger you are, the better. There are 11 year old girls in this book who can't wait to grow up and sell their babies. It's a little disturbing, but necessary to the book. This book was also hi-flipping-lairious, and I love a book that can have a serious plot and still be funny. 

SETTING: Setting isn't really a key element in this one. While it is important about Harmony growing up in Goodside (the religious community) and Melody in Otherside (Not so religious), that's about it. 


CHARACTERS: I do like how the POV alternates. First of all, the story wouldn't have made much since if you just heard it from one of the twins views. I did like Melody better out of the two, but I can't really explain why. I guess it's because she's a bit more easygoing than Harmony. Harmony is really mysterious, in a way, however. You know that, because she is from Otherside, she's highly religious and engaged instead of pro-pregging. But as you get further into the book, you find out a lot more about Harmony and where she's from. She's a really interesting character. Jondoe sort of confuses me. He does something at the end of the book that I won't post because it's sort of a spoiler, but it just doesn't seem like something a guy like him would do. And I wish that we had seen more of Zen- he's got a great personality and huge potential. 


PLOT: The plot in this book feels sort of like a soap opera. Mistaken Identity, Love, Babies..... yeah. The books definitely grabs you're attention, and if you're into drama-ish books, you would definitely like this one. It's just not for everyone. I feel like this book was mainly just a long beginning- it leaves a lot of loose ends hanging. I think this book would have been better as a stand-alone, but now I have to read book two so I can find out what happens to everyone. Like I said, this book is sort of a required taste, but I enjoyed it.