Breathe by Sarah Crossan Review

Title: Breathe
Author: Sarah Crossan (Twitter)
Publisher: Greenwillow
Publish Date: October 2, 2012
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 373
Source: Publisher

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe...The world is dead. The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. Quinn should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. Bea wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

The world is used up. Air is gone, and what little there is, the Breathe Corporation provides at great cost. To survive, you are either very privileged, or you work to the bone to provide a better life for your family in the bleak future of the world. Life outside these lifesaving pods isn't really an option, as the trees are gone, and the oceans are dried up, leaving the Earth with oxygen levels of a mere 6%. For Quinn, life is easy, as he's a Premium and one of the few elite. Bea is an Auxiliary and has worked hard with her family her entire life to secure their future. Alina is a rebel, and doesn't play by the rules. And the lives of these three teens are on a dangerous collision course.

Breathe presents a concept of a dystopian future that, while not entirely original or new, definitely takes its own spin on the concept of a world depleted of its natural resources. The world that Sarah Crossan has created is, indeed, extremely bleak, with a faceless corporation holding monopoly over the Earth's citizens' very lives. The smooth, steady pace of the novel lulls us into a comfortable and false sense of calm, enveloping us in a tale that begins to lash out with dark treachery as we progress. With its well-paced plot, understandable theme and a world that's bleak and devoid of hope, Breathe gives us a chance to root for redemption through it all.

I have to say that, at first, the concept of Breathe didn't immediately entice me, simply because I felt the setup was vaguely reminiscent of one my all-time favourite new dystopians, Pure. However, I was excited to start reading and see that while a few elements were similar, Breathe definitely had its own plot and was taking its execution in a different direction. One of the greatest strengths of the book were the three main characters with whom we're offered a chance to empathize. Bea, Alina and Quinn are stark contrasts of one another, each offering a different viewpoint into the world of Breathe. Their alternating points of view gave me a different perspective with each transition, and I felt as though my insight was more well-rounded by doing so. Throughout the novel though, I didn't see much character growth within their individual characters arcs, which also seemed to be lacking somewhat. However, in a largely plot-driven novel, I can accept it and will say that it made sense for Breathe. Another highlight of this book for me, surprisingly enough, was the love triangle, as we actually got to see two girls falling for the same guy, whereas usually it's the other way around. The only true complaint I have with the book is that I am left with a ton of questions regarding just what actually happened to the world. In a sense, it leaves me wanting more and anticipating the next installment, but in another way, I felt a bit slighted.

Overall though, I thought Breathe was a really well-written addition to the genre. With a clean writing style and a fresh voice, it's sure to find a big audience. I give it a strong 3.5 out of 5, and I definitely recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy dystopian fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.