The Pledge

September 26, 2011
Derting’s chilling dystopia envisions an America ruled by monarchy, most of its cities razed, and its citizens straitjacketed in a caste system divided by language. Deviations from the limitations of one’s caste are punishable by death. Rebels threaten the authority of an aged, amoral queen, who in the opening scene murders her daughter to assume control of the younger body. That body has now reached its limits, and another host is required. Seventeen-year-old Charlie Hart doesn’t know anything about this; she is coping with totalitarianism as best she can and keeping her one secret—that she can instinctively understand the languages of every caste, even the royal dialect. Not even her best friend Brooklynn knows, but now strangers suspect her, notably Max, a beautiful, frightening man who believes Charlie could be the key to changing their society. But can Charlie trust him? Frequent perspective shifts give the narrative a certain busyness, and the absolute, unrealistic limitations on language have the artificiality of a thought experiment. But Derting (Desires of the Dead) is right on when depicting the bonds of family, friendship, and first love. Ages 14–up.

February 1, 2012

Gr 9-11-Words have unexpected power in this well-imagined, but poorly executed, fantasy. The citizens of Ludania are kept segregated by a law that requires each class to have its own language that no one from another class can speak or learn. The penalty for breaking this law is death. But 17-year-old Charlaina has a dangerous secret: she is able to understand any language, regardless of whether or not she's ever heard it before. To escape from the strict rules and fear that govern her life, she and her friend Brooklyn spend many evenings in illegal, underground clubs where drugs and alcohol are plentiful. In one of these clubs, she meets two mysterious young men, Max and Xander. She is drawn to Max, and Xander intrigues her. Unbeknownst to her, both of them have need of her and her gift, and they will do anything to obtain it. Unfortunately, Charlaina is not a nuanced character, and it's hard to figure out exactly why Max (who is ultimately revealed to be someone quite special in Ludania's society) is attracted to her. The only real proactive move she makes is at the climax of the story when she insists upon a simplistic course of action that is so ridiculously reckless that it's laughable when the characters are surprised that it goes awry. Some plot twists are so completely out of the blue that they have a hey-wouldn't-it-be-neat-if... feel to them. Kudos to Derting for her clever premise, but the book as a whole doesn't stand up to close scrutiny.-Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2011
Grades 7-10 Seventeen-year-old Charlie's world is becoming increasingly dangerous. Though the classes are separated by a language caste system, there's a growing rebellion flooding her city with refugees, and the Queen is making it her personal mission to execute anyone caught disregarding the language barriers. Charlie has the ability to understand all the languageseven those she's never heard beforedespite being a member of the merchant middle class. If anyone finds out that she is an abomination, she will face the gallows. To forget, she spends time with her best friend in underground clubs, where class doesn't matter. There she meets a mysterious boy named Max, who seems to know her secret and swears to protect her, no matter the cost. Derting (Desires of the Dead, 2011) gives texture to Charlie's future society, hinting at a not-so-distant past when cities had names and people wanted democracy but became corrupt and turned to an all-powerful Queen. Danger, dread, mystery, and romance are a potent combination for those that enjoy their dystopian-light fiction action packed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

October 1, 2011
A girl reluctantly faces her destiny in this gripping dystopian fantasy. Seventeen-year-old "Charlie" knows she has unusual, even dangerous, powers. In the far future, in a land controlled by a brutal and ancient queen, the common language of Englaise may be spoken and understood freely, but all upper classes have their own languages. If a lower-class person even looks up when such languages are spoken they are subject to execution. Charlie can understand all languages, a fact she hides to protect her life. As war descends on her city, Charlie hides with handsome Max, a member of an upper class who pledges to protect her. But why? When Charlie discovers a vast underground rebel camp she also learns a highly guarded secret: She herself may be the cause of the rebellion. Derting (Desires of the Dead, 2011, etc.) keeps her story consistently engaging through vivid description and brisk pacing, propelling Charlie through her adventure. She throws enough romance into the mix to satisfy but keeps the main focus on suspense. Although some of the plot depends on the paranormal, turning the story more into a fantasy than a dystopia, the author keeps readers involved all the way by gradually increasing the emotional pressure on Charlie. More great suspense from a prolific new writer with a vibrant imagination. (Dystopian fantasy. 12 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2012
Language is one of many ways Ludania's social classes are divided. Charlaina Hart understands all languages, a deadly secret that grows more dangerous as rebel tensions rise and she meets a mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she has never heard before. This supernatural dystopia features intriguing twists and turns and a little romance.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)