Margaret Chatwin

*Received e-book through Read It and Reap program from the Shut Up and Read! Goodreads group from author for an honest review
**Also posted on Amazon.com and Smashwords under Leanne

101 by Margaret Chatwin is told from the POV of Trigg, a teen convicted of grand theft auto while fleeing with his younger sister, Ren, who has shot their abusive father. Both of them, courtesy of the swift and reformed NAO justice system, are sent to a detention facility called Township 101 where the inmates are left to fend for themselves. They are immediately split up and Trigg endeavors to find the missing Ren, which leads to confrontations with Ace, the "leader" of the prison.

Overall, 101 was an easy, fast-paced read with gritty situations and interesting characters. I admired Trigg's dedication to find and protect Ren, despite opposition from everyone else. It was heartbreaking to discover what happened to Ren, but heartwarming to see her resilience and unbroken spirit. In addition, I enjoyed the tension created by the eventual creation of the two fighting factions - the controlling, "evil" one led by Ace, and the surviving, "good" one led by Tripp. This storyline actually pleasantly reminded me of the movie, Blindness (Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo), which also deals with the breakdown of society within an isolated location without supervision. Lastly, I commend Chatwin for omitting foul language, but still successfully imparting the brutality and fierceness of the inmates, especially Ace, and the facility.

I would recommend this book for older teens and adults who are fans of YA comtemporary fiction, such as Boot Camp by Todd Strasser.… (más)