Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

 

Over the summer I read Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien. This novel is dystopic--you know the end of the world has come and gone, and re-formed, there are those in power and those who aren't. It is also a conspiracy novel. The Enclave, is the powerful community in this story and they live in a walled city. Some of the children from outside have been adopted and live with the conveniences of the privileged. The outside families are not allowed to know anything about them. But, 16 year old Gaia has followed her mother's trade and become a midwife. The first three babies she delivers each month are given by her to the Enclave. Gaia's parents are taken from her and the community by the Enclave and it seems to be because they know something about what families the babies came from. I like dystopic novels, but I used to like them more when they were rarer. As always, there is a lot of coincidence which allows the major characters to come together--but maybe that is how it is in a small community!  I found this book at our school’s Scholastic bookfair and I was not disappointed.  http://www.caraghobrien.com/