Bumped: Review

Title: Bumped
Author: Megan McCafferty
Release Date: April 2011
Published By: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 336
Goodreads Rating: 3.53 stars


Review: In the future, everyone becomes infertile at the age of eighteen, leading would-be parents to pay teen girls to conceive for them. Sixteen-year-old Melody has landed an enviable contract for a couple who is searching for the perfect partner for her to bump with. However, her twin, Harmony, who was separated from her at birth, grew up in religious Goodside, and showed up on Melody's doorstep to convince her to stop sinning... except she has secrets of her own. An identity mix-up brings the two on a journey that shows them they have more than DNA in common.

Possibly the thing that stands out most in BUMPED is the plot. I would have expected nothing less from the author who brought us the witty and sarcastic Jessica Darling series, but all the same, this bold concept was what initially attracted me to the book. McCafferty wasn't afraid to push the boundaries of young adult literature, and held nothing back with every honest word of this novel. Some might interpret the ideas as crude, but I found the world she painted to be fascinating.

This is told in alternating points of view between Melody and Harmony, and both are very different characters. I didn't really like either of them at first, and that made it hard for me to get into the book. Melody was obsessed with getting bumped (impregnated), and she used so much futuristic slang that I had trouble understanding it. On the other extreme, Harmony came across as naive and ultra-religious.

However, as the book went on, I found myself getting more and more drawn into the characters' conflicts, and I gradually became used to the lingo. Though I didn't find myself completely relating to the characters, I started realizing that to a certain extent, BUMPED is a satire. McCafferty had purposely exaggerated the obsession with pregnancy and the intense religious devotion. By around the three-quarter mark, I got really into this book.

Though I wouldn't say I liked this as much as the Jessica Darling series, I still enjoyed reading it and would absolutely read more by Megan McCafferty. It took me a while to start liking BUMPED because of the characters, but once I got sucked in, I was completely engrossed. The concept is really quite intriguing, although definitely not for those who don't like "edgy" books. If you're a fan of satire, edgy dystopians, or just want something different to read, this book is for you.


FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review. This is no way affected my review, which is 100% honest.