Audiobook :Pure by Julianna Baggott

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again

I heard this book was being advertised as an adult book. But I have seen many Young Adult bloggers picking it up with some crossover appeal. In finishing the story I felt it was no different than most of the dystopian books in the YA market today and that if you enjoyed The Hunger Games, Divergent, Ashfall or Dark Inside you may like this story as well.
It's dark, it's intense and it's freaky. Deformed people living in horrendous situations in a world that's been almost completely destroyed by the "detonations" and I am not just talking about the "wretches" that live outside the dome. Those that live within the dome are not in the utopian state that the others believe. Although like most people in this world I would choose to live in the dome than outside without a second thought.
The story is told from several perspectives, mostly Partridge and Pressia but as the story progresses we get to jump a round a little into others perspectives as well. Every character has their place, there are no huge info dumps and the pace and intensity of the novel is a constant level of fear and the unknown. A continuing idea throughout the book was, looking for beauty in the small things. From a trinket in the dirt, to the rare and welcomed smile on a face, or the nicety of trading just a little more food than what was agreed upon, just because.
This is by far one of my favorite reads this year. As I stated above this was one I chose to listen to the audiobook and still all this emotion and intensity comes through, maybe even more clear in the emotions of the narrators. I think it was put together very well and I recommend that if you enjoy audiobooks that this is one you listen to. I fully intend on buying myself a physical copy as soon as possible. It's a fantastic cover, that fits this story perfectly and an addition to my collection I'd be happy to own.
Happy Reading!
Krista