Tuesday 1 September 2015

Review: The Body Institute by Carol Riggs

The Body InstituteThe Body Institute

Author: Carol Riggs
Series: -
Pages: 368
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Amazon

Synopsis (Goodreads)  Meet Morgan Dey, one of the top teen Reducers at The Body Institute. 

Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Morgan can temporarily take over another girl’s body, get her in shape, and then return to her own body—leaving her client slimmer, more toned, and feeling great. Only there are a few catches…

For one, Morgan won’t remember what happens in her “Loaner” body. Once she’s done, she won’t recall walks with her new friend Matt, conversations with the super-cute Reducer she’s been text-flirting with, or the uneasy feeling she has that the director of The Body Institute is hiding something. Still, it’s all worth it in the name of science. Until the glitches start…

Suddenly, residual memories from her Loaner are cropping up in Morgan’s mind. She’s feeling less like herself and more like someone else. And when protests from an anti–Body Institute organization threaten her safety, she’ll have to decide if being a Reducer is worth the cost of her body and soul… 

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

I have been really excited about reading The Body Institute, I find the premise to be fascinating and I adore everything that Entangled Teen usually publishes.

Carol Riggs has written an entertaining, original dystopian that has a premise unique amongst others in the genre, and despite the world itself needing additional back-story, the overall book was quite thought provoking.

Seventeen year-old Morgan Dey is new to The Body Institute, a place where she is able to put her own body on hold, enter another girls body, assist her in losing weight and getting into shape – within a certain time frame and return to her old body with her own brain map as it was when she left it but all memories she had in her loaner body will no longer exist.

The Body Institute explores themes of self-image and identity, the concept is creative and really gets you to thinking about the ethical issues which is truly bought to light by a radical group who fiercely oppose what the institute does.

The plot is fast paced and has a sweet romance that doesn’t overtake the story-line; the world is one where people are taxed for being overweight and shamed  for the way they look; it was unsettling but at the same time also quite realistic.

The characters were written well, Morgan was likeable, she could be shallow at times but it made sense why; she was noble in that she was helping her family to pay off her grandfather’s debt so they wouldn’t have to move to a lower level zone. Vonn was also a great character but I would have liked to have known a little more about him. Grandpa seemed to be the only voice of reason; it was difficult at times to hear what he thought about Morgan and what she was doing.

I really enjoyed Carol Riggs detailed writing, I couldn’t put this book down. There were a number of twists I wasn’t expecting and a huge one in particular that was upsetting; I kept thinking the rich people had paid off the institute and what happened wasn’t actually true - a little vague but it was my wishful thinking.

Thank you to Entangled Teen via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review The Body Institute.

At this time, there doesn’t appear to be a sequel but with the way things left off I’m sure it could be a possibility.



Carol  RiggsAbout the author (Goodreads): I'm a YA (Young Adult) writer, experimenting lately with MG (Middle Grade), which means I write books for tweens, teens, and adults. My sci-fi debut novel THE BODY INSTITUTE explores themes of body image and identity. I live in the beautiful, green state of Oregon and have a Studio Arts degree; I'm an SCBWI member. 

You'll usually find me in my writing cave, surrounded by my dragon collection and the characters in my head. I also enjoy reading--mostly young adult novels--as well as drawing, painting, and quilting. I also attend writing conferences, walk with my husband, and enjoy music and dance of all kinds. 

Find me on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/CarolRiggsAu... 
Tweet with me on Twitter. @Artzicarol:https://twitter.com/artzicarol 
Email me! carolriggsauthor [at] gmail [dot] com

4 comments:

  1. Wow, taxed for being overweight. I kind of get it. Sounds like a good one.

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  2. Definitely a fascinating premise Sharon! I don't think I'd want to live in this world:) I'm a little nervous about the upsetting twist you mention at the end, that makes me nervous for sure, but I like the sound of the rest of it:) Lovely review!

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  3. That kind of stuff is creepy. It reminds me a little of Starters by Lissa Price. Definitely interesting, though.

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  4. Good lord what a world...being taxed for being overweight..oh my.I like that the romance was sweet and didn't overpower the story.

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