In this near future, men die at age 25 and women die even younger, at age 20. Because of this, men have become polygamists to help perpetuate the human race while scientists work tirelessly for a cure. To facilitate these marriages, pretty girls are kidnapped off the streets and shipped to their future husbands. Such is the case for 16 year old Rhine. She is stolen off the New York City streets and sent to Florida to marry a man she has never met. But Rhine is no shrinking violet, she is determined to escape to get back to New York and her brother.
A Handmaid's Tale for teens would be my best description of Wither which would most likely not help promote it to teens and would most likely scare away parents. So, in selling it, I would say for teens (or adults) who liked Condie's Matched, Roth's Divergent, or, of course, Hunger Games since it is one more to add to the ever growing list of YA dystopian literature. That being said, this story was very interesting with the author deftly handling some tricky subject matter for teenagers. Wither is the first book in a planned trilogy and I plan to continue on with this series.
