Slated by Teri Terry (review)

Deemed a threat to humanity for reasons unknown, sixteen-year-old Kyla Davis has been given a second chance to be a useful member of society by having her memory wiped. At first things seem to go well for newly "slated" Kyla, who's placed with new family and even sees the possibility of a new romance. Then students start to disappear: first other slated kids, then a few troublemakers, then those who seemed completely innocent. Then Kayla starts to remember things: some small, like knowing how to drive, and others much more dangerous. Violent images from her past begin to force their way to the surface in nightmares, hinting at a powerful secret, and suddenly everything she has is at risk, even her life. Building on an intriguing concept, this novel offers readers a chance to consider the power of memory and the inescapable influence of one's past. While Kyla sometimes seems almost too insightful, her instincts and innate curiosity make for a refreshing change from the often overly naïve heroines of recent YA science fiction, and readers will enjoy watching her learn to be crafty in the face of danger and adult deception. What truly makes this novel stand out from the dystopian pack, though, is the well-crafted suspense. Layers of mystery shroud not only Kyla's past and the slating procedure but also her family, her doctor, her teachers, and a tragic bombing six years earlier, and the shifting blend of half-truths, misdirection, and obfuscation heightens the suspense. Many of the underlying secrets are left undiscovered, so readers will anxiously await sequels to come.