Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: April 26th, 2011

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

When I heard about this book, I was immediately intrigued. What an original premise! I knew I would need to get my hands on this. When I did, I absolutely devoured it; then I couldn't review it... It is just one of those books that I find so hard to put into words my feelings about it. It makes you really think. I found myself wondering what I would have done as a teen if I were in this situation. I was tall, pretty, smart, and athletic; I would have certainly been marketable. Would I have basically sold my offspring after basically having sex for money? At 15 or 16 years old, lacking the life experience I now have? Abso-freaking-lutely. Would I let me daughters do the same in 5 or 10 years? No freaking way. It is so funny how things change.

I love books that make the reader think, and this one does. Honestly, anyone who doesn't find this book thought-provoking is probably too immature to be reading it. What I liked best though, was the way the story was told- there was enough humor thrown in there at the right times that the subject never felt heavy. I laughed so many times. The old-skool hip-hop duo Fed Double X had to be my favorite. Did anyone else get the joke? (Shoot me an email if you didn't, and I will explain it). I really don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I am not going to go much further than to say, "You really must read this if you like a futuristic take on some modern day questions.". There is a level of plausibility here and it is interesting how the story unfolds. I am anxious to read book #2, Thumped, which is expected to release in 2012; this is a story that makes me wonder where it could go...

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: This is definitely a HS level book. There is language and commercialized sex galore. The typical middle school, and probably early high school aged reader will not be able to process this book the way it should be processed. I would recommend this for readers grades 10 and up (ages 15+).

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