What a surprise! I hadn't heard anything about The Polaris Uprising until I stumbled across a blog tour for it. I'm glad I did. This is a gorgeous hidden gem. A dystopian book that features two very strong, very unique, sisters and their fight to keep what they believe in alive. It's been done before, but Jennifer Ibarra breathes new life into this story line. I was hooked.

I couldn't help but rally behind Ryla. Blame it on my own impetuous nature if you must, but she just stood out to me. The exact opposite of her sister Alanna in every way, Ryla was a spitfire. I loved her charisma, her ability to think on her feet, and the fact that she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. Not that Alanna isn't a wonderful character as well! She's the kind sister, the older one who listens to reason, the one who tries to keep the peace. These two together were a pure joy to follow. I knew there was dissent coming, but the first half of the book held so much sisterly love in it.

What most impressed me about The Polaris Uprising was how easily it flowed. Every chapter brought something new to light and, even though the book switches between the view points of Alanna and Ryla, it was so simple to follow. I slowly had the opportunity to watch these girls grow up. To be right there alongside them as they discovered who they really were, and what they wanted for their futures. I can't really say much more without spoiling anything. Tragic, I know. You'll have to read this for yourself.

Suffice it say, I was impressed. I'm glad that Ryla and Alanna's story was put on my radar, and I can't wait for more! This is the first in the series, and I'm in for the long haul. That ending pretty much solidified it for me. Pick this up if you enjoy well-written dystopian fiction with strong female characters! You won't regret it. ( )

A very enjoyable book written as all the new "future novels" seem to be written but with enough twists to keep the reader engaged. I realized as I rushed to read the end that it was not the end - it was only the end of book one. I am looking forward to reading the next book. ( )

It is possible that the only thing you need to hear from me, is that I will definitely be reading the next one. I thought the plot was a little predictable but with enough twists and surprises to keep you not so sure after all. Yes almost dystopian but not typically so. Characters and story are well developed and keep you interested if not gripped throughout. ( )

[The Polaris Uprising] has a similar plot line of many teen dystopian novels. It seems that the author [Jennifer Ibarra] borrowed the best parts of many and created her own. This is not a bad thing. In fact it helps to get YA readers to try new books.

The plot is set after a war in which the current leadership came to power and had promised to keep the people from want. Although the leader is called a president he is not democratically elected, in fact it represents a monarchy as he is prepping his youngest daughter to take his place when she come of age. His oldest daughter is a doctor who has just come of age and will marry her 'match'.

In this novel the idea that the state takes care of everything including your decisions is a driving force. It has let to the uprising as people want some freedom back. The sisters get entangled in this conflict. The question is what side will they take? ( )

I have received this book as an member give away from Library thing. The story started off slow for me, but it didn't take long for that to change. I am not sure what happened before but there was a great war, The president now Jensen has gone on to making a new world were everyone has what they need. Not necessarily what they want but they are taken care of. The beginning of the book begins when there was an explosion at a factory. Not much is known about what happened there, but anyways. The president has two daughters the oldest one is a doctor and the younger one is on the track to become the next president. Ryla is the younger daughter of the two and was all on track to take over for her father in 7 years until her older sister Alanna engagement party. At this party this older gentleman approaches Ryla and is trying to talk with her about the factory accident that happened saying that he really wanted to talk with her father. He is arrested and sentenced to death and this is where Ryla finds out her father wasn't the man that she had always thought he was. He was a little on the shady side. This makes her doubt if taking over his position is the right thing for her. She also meets Tyson who is the son of her tutor, he brings her in to the Polaris movement group and she begins to see that all that she had learned as a child on how you need know one but the president to tell you what you can and can not do has taken away a lot of free will. You don't marry someone because you love them under her father's ruling you marry because they are a genetic match to you and so you will produce healthy children. She finds that children are being harassed and jail for little things that should be a slap on the wrist. She becomes so ingrained with this movement that she walks away from her father's legacy to start her own destiny. All in all I have to say I enjoyed the story. Just get past the beginning slow part and it will suck you in and you won't want to put the book down.