THE PROGRAM BY SUZANNE YOUNG - BOOK REVIEW

I recently decided that I wanted to pick up the next book in this series, at least that I still have to read, and I felt like I would find it more enjoyable if I just re-read the entire series. I remember reading the core duology right around the time The Treatment was released, and really loving it. I am happy to report that I still enjoyed this book years later.

Hello everyone!

I am here with another book review, today it is The Program by Suzanne Young.

The story follows Sloane, and her boyfriend, James after the suicide of her brother and his best friend. This series takes place in a world where suicide has become an epidemic, where teenagers are the core demographic of those who are ill and are flagged for thoughts of depression and suicide before being sent away to a facility run by The Program. Through 'therapy' that consists mainly of drugging and memory erasure, the teens are 'cured' of their depression and suicidal thoughts before being re-assimilated to the 'normal' world. When their friend Miller takes QuikDeath and kills himself, Sloane and James find themselves unable to bear the pressures of being watched any longer.

I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to spoil anything, so I will leave it at that.

One of the main things I remembered from reading this book years ago was the relationship between Sloane and James. Young uses the wonderful and highly un-utilized technique of having the couple already dating at the beginning of the book. I find that this concept, especially in this case, helps expedite the story and not bog it down with unnecessary angst. There are many flashbacks and memories that Sloane shares about how they met and started dating, so we still see the beginnings of their relationship, just not right at the beginning when we are still trying to wrap our heads around the idea of this suicide epidemic.

I think the best part of this book is the concept itself. I remember this book as being one of the first ones I would recommend to friends because the plot and synopsis are intriguing and interesting no matter what genre of book you regularly read.

I think there could have been more said about the causes of suicide in this world, reading it again, I see how those details were kind of just glossed over. By no means is suicide glorified in this book, but I think there could have been more of an explanation as to why it had become an epidemic, whether that be a physical 'contagion' or a social pressure.

Overall, I enjoyed my re-read and I look forward to re-reading the rest of the series.