When She Woke
Oct 3, 2011
Author: Hillary Jordan
Publisher: Algonquin
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-56512-629-9
I love when authors throw you a curve! Hillary’s first book was set post Civil War in the destitute South with blacks and whites learning to work and survive together.
In her newest novel, Hillary shoots into the near future for a completely different type of story. She shows that she has incredible range with her writing. I loved both books and found neither lacking or suffering from lack of knowledge or technique.
On to the story.
Hannah lives at a point in the near future, in the good old USA. At first you start to think that there is a fantastical sci-fi future vision coming, but soon realize that except for some leaps in technology, the future is pretty much the same as now, except that religion is booming due to many world crises bringing people deeper into belief and faith.
One of the new technologies, however, is to dye convicted criminals certain colors, depending on their crime, and turn them loose to survive as best they can in society. The US government has decided this is more humane that prison. Of course, no one really stops to help anyone dyed colors either so their lifespan after the implant tends to be quite short.
Hannah finds herself convicted of murder after she’s caught having an abortion. Abortions were completely outlawed after a virus went through the world, causing sterility in a large part of the population. All children are wanted and needed. But her pregnancy would have brought down a great man who was not only high up in the government, but a healer to millions. She sacrificed her own well being to protect him.
This is the story of Hannah and her struggle for survival in a world that sees her as red only. A criminal to be disregarded, abused and neglected, regardless of the reason.
It’s a great, fast read – I could not put it down once I opened the first page. I tore through it.
I cannot wait to see what Hillary comes up with next!
