reviewsbyerin

After a nuclear war has made most of the planet uninhabitable, a group of scientists called The Ten have taken refuge in a giant underground facility. They are genetically engineering future generations, creating life void of anything except productivity. Emotions have been removed to prevent questioning or strife, or even love.

But Thalli is an anomaly. She has emotions, and recognizes at a young age that this sets her apart from the others. Realizing that it would mean her annihilation if the monitors noticed that she is different, Thalli becomes adept at hiding her feelings and acting the part of the obedient student, training to be a musician. Music boosts productivity for those who hear it, and that will be Thalli's role once their generation has matured.

All of Thalli's years of acting as expected and hiding her curiosity are undone when the monitors bring her an ancient piece of music that has been preserved from the world before. As Thalli plays Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, she realizes that this piece of music somehow holds answers to some of her deepest questions. Her display of rapturous joy and wonder calls for her removal from the pod, and Thalli is taken to the scientist's area while knowing her annihilation will surely come soon. If only she understood what the answers in the music meant.

To Thalli's surprise, the scientists wish to run tests on her before ending her life. As the days of questions and simulations pass, Thalli meets a very old man who is also housed in the isolation wing. John remembers life above ground. He is more than happy to share with Thalli about the answers in the music, about the Designer who created things long before the scientists took over. He tells her of love and family and life. He teaches her that she has a part in the Designer's plans that are beyond anything The Ten might have thought up for her.

The plot of "Anomaly" is full of twists and turns. Just when you think you understand what is going on, everything changes. What is real? Will Thalli prove herself so useful that the scientists will not annihilate her? One young scientist was once part of Thalli's pod and he's fighting for his childhood friend, even scheming behind the backs of the others for ways to save her life. Can they stay one step ahead, or will the predetermined outcome be victorious at last?

I love Krista McGee's books! This one was well-written and intriguing on every level. It left me hungry for more, and so thankful that I have known about our Designer God my whole life. His plans for us really are beyond anything we can imagine. Our emotions and feelings are gifts from Him, and in the center of our beings is a deep need to know Him. Where Krista McGee will take the sequel to this novel is a mystery, but July 2014 can't get here fast enough for its release!

This book was provided for me by LitFuse in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own. Below is the information on how you can enter to win an iPad Mini and a chance to read "Anomaly" for yourself!

Krista McGee is celebrating the release of Anomaly, the first book in her new YA dystopian series, with an iPad Mini Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

An iPad Mini

A $25 iTunes gift card (download Anomaly to the iPad!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 31st. Winner will be announced at Krista's website on August 2nd.