Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Have you heard all about the hype surrounding Shatter Me? Every last piece is true. This book is one hundred percent beauty, truth, and raw emotion. I loved every bit of it and sincerely think that everyone will too.

What first caught my attention with this book was Mafi's style of writing. The narrative is very poetic and captures such a unique perspective of the story. It's almost as if you're reading Juliette's train of thought, although not as scattered as you would think. Phrases are repeated, thoughts are crossed out and there are an abundance of metaphors, and all the while you are able to read the true feelings behind Juliette. This literary technique is genius and fits with the story perfectly as you truly feel like you're inside Juliette's mind.

There was also a great romance in Shatter Me between Juliette and Adam. The two characters have a misty background together which only amplifies their feelings toward one another when Adam is charged as being Juliette's guard inside the The Reestablishment. I found their progression was a tiny bit rushed, but is explained away due to their history with one another, which I was able to accept. I definitely loved the two of them together, expecially those shower scenes which really got the heart pumping. The sweetest though, was Adam's desire to save Juliette from her captor, Warner, and give her the freedom and love she's never had.
 
The corruption of the government was also fairly complex which not only plants doubts in Juliette's mind, but the reader's as well. Everything isn't so black and white, which makes it difficult for Juliette to remain absolutely against her captors. There was also plenty of action, especially towards the second half of the book, that keeps the reader on edge with anticipation.

Despite being labeled a dystopian, I didn't really find a lot of focus on that aspect of the book. The world is explained slightly through Juliette's eyes where plants and animals are dying, there is a lack of resources and The Reestablishment has the population living in closer quarters so that many areas are now abandoned. Since Juliette spends the majority of the book either locked in a cell or trapped in Warner's mansion, we do not see a lot of the country's ruins.

Overall, Shatter Me was an excellent debut from Mafi. There was plenty to keep the reader enthralled with this story, love, secrets, corruption, betrayal, all molded together. The ending just barely begins to explain the future for Juliette and her powers which leaves you anxious to find out how she will choose to use them. I'm definitely captivated by Juliette and Adam's journey and desperate for the sequel!