Bumped by Megan McCaffer: a review

Posted 26 April, 2011 by Danny in / 8 Comments

gorgeous cover, perfect on the blog hehe

Bumped

by Megan McCafferty (website, Twitter)
Publish date: April 26th, 2011 by Harper Collins
ARC copy received from NetGalley
synopsis from goodreads:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until 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 religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her 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.

The following review is done by cutie and Danny!

Danny: I’m so excited about this review. I love this book so much!!

cutie: Me too!!! You want to start with a description?

Danny: After you, my dear cutie.

cutie: Awww shucks, thank you! *hugs Danny*

a cutie description: In a world were being pregg is the coolest of the cools and ten year old girls sporting shirts claiming they were “born to breed” is the norm, identical twins Harmony and Melody are struggling to understand their places in the world. Separated at birth, Melody has grown up being groomed to “go pro” and earn her adoptive parents a healthy pay off for the years they’ve sacrificed making her the perfect bump. Harmony has grown up with God, being taught that a woman is to be humble, fruitful, and accepting of what the elders tell her without questions. Yet, neither girl feels comfortable with the lives they’ve been forced to live. And when Harmony takes actions into her own hands by leaving Goodside to find Melody in Otherside, they come face to face with life changing decisions. In a world were everyone becomes infertile at the age of 18, what debt do young people owe to their societies? And can a society still remain moral or does it lose all sense of decency?
Danny: This one so took me by surprise! This is most definitely a unique take in the dystopian world. Normally, when I read Dystopian I expect darkness, end time feeling and such, not that I want it, but this is how nearly all dystopian novels I read lately are.

Bumped is so different!!

In Bumped Teens are the most valued people on earth because they are the only ones that can still have kids. A virus that most people catch around 18-20 makes them all infertile so Teens are the only ones that can deliver new babies to the world. While Mrs McCafferty could have told the story in a dark and brooding way she decided to take it lightly with a fun undertone. WONDERFUL!

And, she did that without missing the tragic behind and the problems and consequences that comes with young people being only focused on delivering a baby. Sex is just a way to get pregnant it has nothing to do with intimacy or even love, those kids are talking about Sex only to get the best genetic baby ever… it is a highly disturbing thought.
cutie: I ab-so-freakin’-lutely agree! Ms, McCafferty’s biggest and brightest achievement with Bumped is how she successfully tackles such heavy issues as teen pregnancies, sexual mortality, religion, and prostitution with a light and carefree hand that never feels mocking. This is satirical fiction at its best and brightest. Taking a page from fantastic authors like Scott Westerfeld, Ms. McCafferty gives her world a “bubbly” feel by making up her own lingo. And while there is a strong message presented in the story, she doesn’t bog it down by being preachy or one-sided. Instead, she gives a well balanced message. By the end of the novel, I was cheering for both girls and on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I sincerely fell in love with Melody, Harmony, and especially Zen.
Danny: The story is told by two Twins that were separated at birth and couldn’t have grown up more different from each other. While Melody’s only goal is to get the best sperm for her baby and is under contract with an agency that searches that for her, Harmony’s life is all about God, family and motherhood. When Harmony suddenly appears on Melody’s door with the wish to convince her of her own god driven life style things happen that will affect both girls in the end…
cutie: Melody and Harmony are totally polar opposites. And Ms. McCafferty uses these extremely different characters effortlessly to create tension within her story. The premise is fantastic and the author presents the plot in a very organic way. Ms. McCafferty never comes out and tells us the main themes of this novel, but reveals them cleverly and effortlessly through her seamless story telling. Her characters grow before our eyes, seemingly stock characters that over time reveal their truth natures through deeds.

Danny: This book was seriously hilarious and I laughed out so loud so many times that my hubs started to get worried. Both voices, Melody and Harmony are both funny in their own ways without lacking their own personalities. Girls, put that on your list!

cutie: Once again, I completely agree, Danny. My friends, you should go out now and buy or rent this one! I will be buying this novel and passing it along to my own daughters when they are older. I think this book is not only a great read, but a powerful take on our modern society. Ms. McCafferty not only wrote an amazing story, but used her talent to speak to a generations of young women who are being marketed by advertising agencies and society to be sexier and more sexual at younger ages then ever before. As a mother of three beautiful girls, I am not only grateful to her, but applaud her for tackling this important topic!

cutie and Danny both give this book an extremely enthusiastic:
cutie: I want the sequel NOW!
*stomps foot*
Danny: Me too!
In conclusion:
We’d like to thank Harper Teen for lending us a copy of this e-book.
Until next time…
Yours truly,

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Danny

Obsessive Reader by Night - Scientist at Day! You can also find me on goodreads. I'd love to get to know you so, don't be shy and say Hello!

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8 Responses to “Bumped by Megan McCaffer: a review”

  2. Jenny

    I love when you ladies do your reviews together, it's so much fun to read both of your thoughts! I found this book to be so very interesting, I was laughing and then would be absolutely appalled at what I was laughing at which I think was the point. I had some trouble with Harmony's character, but I really liked Melody and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book:)

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  5. cutie

    I've been hearing great things about this author for a while now, so when I saw this book I KNEW I had to read it. And I'm soooo glad I did. =) Go get it for sure!! And let us know what you think pleasy cheesy!!

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  6. cutie

    1. THANK YOU!!! We are so glad you like the duel reviews. We have a blast doing them and have a ton lined up!
    2. I felt the same way. I would think this is sooooo bad I should NOT be laughing but Bwahahahahhahahaha…
    3. I was the opposite, at first I couldn't stand Melody, but by the end of the novel, she was my favey fave!

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  8. cutie

    It's a very disconcerting topic. But the author deals with it brilliantly. Truly, if you are looking for something that is not only entertaining but thought provoking, this is the book for you!

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