November

     This month I read the book Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken. Keep in mind, this is the second book in the series The Darkest Minds and may contain some spoilers for the first book. In Never Fade, Ruby, a sixteen year old girl, wants to find her boyfriend, who has an important flash drive that can cure a country-destroying disease, the president has taken a very unethical path. However, she has to find him without anybody reporting her, the United States requires citizens under 21 in abusive camps. With a team of close friends, she finds and saves her boyfriend in an Non-government, but still abusive camp, with his memory lost, then unfortunately, she meets an old rival that has information she no-doubt wants. I would rate this book 10/10 because it kept me on the edge of my seat, while having great cliffhangers, and being a great sequel. I recommend this series and book to anyone who enjoys books like The Hunger Games and Divergent. Anyone who loves reading the dystopian genre and doesn't mind mature language would enjoy this book, as well as it's entire series. Never Fade is fantastic, however it has very strong and mature language as well as other mature content. The narrative, Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken, demonstrates the theme, taking big chances frequently leads to bad outcomes.

     For example, Ruby decides to take a big chance by gathering a group of kids to raid an airport of food and medicine. An acquaintance makes the outcome of the raid very bad, by injuring Ruby.  "The knife, or whatever he'd used, twisted in my lower back, and that time I knew I screamed....'Miss me?' he hissed. I tried throwing my head back, twisting, anything to get away."(Bracken, 309-310) In this quote, Ruby is betrayed by someone who she thought was not bad. The knife is twisted in her back is because of the betrayal that comes with taking chances. Taking big chances frequently leads to bad outcomes, because if Ruby hadn't gone to the airport to raid it, she wouldn't have had come across Michael and gotten severely injured.

     In sum, the novel, Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken, exemplifies the theme, taking big chances frequently leads to bad outcomes. Leaders of any kind, known or unknown should take precautions when making important decisions and try not to take big chances. When people imply this to their everyday lives, the decisions they make will be more controlled and successful, therefore improving their existence. Sometimes chances, especially the big ones, are too risky and consequently not worth taking.