Review: Scored by Lauren McLaughlin

Written By: Kellie - Oct• 04•12

scored by lauren mclaughlin

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: October 25, 2011
Source: Library
Goodreads

Rating: 5/5 College Acceptance Letters

Synopsis: Set in the future when teenagers are monitored via camera and their recorded actions and confessions plugged into a computer program that determines their ability to succeed. All kids given a “score” that determines their future potential. This score has the ability to get kids into colleges, grant scholarships, or destroy all hope for the above.

Scored’s reluctant heroine is Imani, a girl whose high score is brought down when her best friend’s score plummets. Where do you draw the line between doing what feels morally right and what can mean your future? Friendship, romance, loyalty, family, human connection and human value: all are questioned in this fresh and compelling dystopian novel set in the scarily forseeable future. -Goodreads

Review: Scored by Lauren McLaughlin was a fantastic book in so many ways, and one I think a lot of teenagers would appreciate. The premise is that of a world where your entire future is determined by your ‘score’ after graduating high school. Sounds pretty familiar, right? The difference is, in this world everything you do goes towards your score from who you hang out with to what you do with your spare time, and once your score is set at graduation there is no going back. I at least like to think that there is some hope for all of us who make late in the game career changes etc. but there is no denying that a lot rides on what you do with your youth and this book captures that brilliantly.

The characters were somewhat secondary to the world building in this case but it worked for the story as it’s a standalone novel that spends as much of it’s time making a good point as it does telling you a great story. That being said, Imani was exactly the main character to pull this story off. She’s smart but still passionate and young, mixed race (which is always a nice change of pace) and needs to learn to stand out in a world designed around fitting in. I also really enjoyed her contentedly naive parents and her best friend. They all play important parts in showing the reader the larger picture.

Of course, there’s some romance here too which is fairly standard and thankfully never the driving point of the story. In every aspect of her life Imani has some tough choices to make that straddle the line between doing whats right and doing what’s right for you. Obviously, if Imani always made the morally perfect choice this story would be preachy and not nearly as enjoyable so you know you’re in for a great story.

I know I’m always looking for bothgood standalone books and books that make me think and Scored by Lauren McLaughlin manages to do both. It is technically a dystopian and I know a lot of readers are currently a little burnt out with the genre, but this book is still well worth the read.

Visit Lauren on her website or on twitter.

Buy the book @Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@Gimme the Scoop Reviews
@Romancing the Book
@Ashley Loves Books

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One Comment

  1. Kate- Midnight Book Girl says:

    Wow, this sounds amazing! I have not heard of this book, but I will defintely be adding it to my Goodreads! Thanks, Kellie!

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