Book Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Breathe by Sarah Crossan
Courtesy of Greenwillow

The Switch

When the humans destroyed all the trees leaving the world with next to no oxygen, the population quickly dwindled. Those who did survive the Switch live in a dome, run by an organization known as Breathe. Using their own technology, Breathe regulates the oxygen levels in the dome. The wealthier Premiums have an unlimited supply, while the less fortunate auxiliaries are forced to pay for their oxygen and must use theirs sparingly.

On the Outside

When best friends Quinn (a Premium) and Bea (an auxiliary) set out on an overnight trip outside of the dome equipped with airtanks, a beautiful girl named Alina, who just happens to be part of the Resistance, attracts Quinn’s attention. They wind up traveling with her and learning that Breathe isn’t the stand-up organization they’ve always presented themselves to be. Not only that, but Quinn’s dad, who works for Breathe, has some devastating secrets of his own. Quinn and Bea will be forced to choose sides – between the unknown and the only home they’ve ever known.

The Bottom Line

Teen dystopian series’ have become a dime a dozen since The Hunger Games made the genre explode. And it’s rare to find ones that are really worth reading. But Breathe is definitely one of them. You can tell that Sarah Crossan did a lot of research in order to make this book factually correct. But at the same time, it’s not overrun with scientific jargon. The story is fast-paced, and written in such a way that we get to see through three different character’s viewpoints – Quinn’s, Bea’s and Alina’s. If you’ve enjoyed other dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games, Legend by Marie Lu, Matched by Ally Condie, then you're sure to like Breathe. 

Breathe Rating: 

Have Your Say

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