Review: Possession

POSSESSION
Elana Johnson
Young Adult/Dystopian
416 pages
Simon & Schuster
Available June 7th
Received for review as part of the Cornucopia of Dsytopia Blog Tour

THE STORY
In Vi's world independent thought is discouraged. People think what they are told to think, plugged into daily transmissions from the governing bodies, their minds controlled by those who have the unique ability to influence those around them. But Vi has never been one to dutifully do as she's told.

Arrested for being with her best friend Zenn, a boy, after dark, she's taken to court and banished to the Badlands never to return. While awaiting her transfer, she's placed in a holding cell with Jag, a young man from the Badlands caught distributing illegal technology when he stole across the border between their territories.

In spending forced time with Jag, Vi begins to realize the "baddies" as they're called aren't really bad at all, and they seem to have more freedom than she's ever been granted. When she and Jag escape and go on the run, not only does she learn more about the Badlands, but she discovers she might have an important role to play in a building resistance against the Thinkers and those who would rule through absolute forced control.

MY THOUGHTS
In the world of Possession, utter complacency and total compliance are a result of those in power having the ability to exert an incredible level of mental control over the masses, operating under the questionable belief that a society of productive drones is better and stronger than one consisting of those would exercise their free will. Such a world makes us wonder if our own minds would be strong enough to resist as Vi's is, and if we answer yes, we then must ask ourselves if our backbones would be made of equally substantial material. Would our spines stay rigid and unyielding against a controlling force, or would we crumble under the sheer power of individuals like those depicted in this tale? Possession is a fascinating read, one of resistance versus submission, family versus family, and individual choice versus societal obligation, and we eagerly travel along with Vi as she shields her mind from outside influence and allows herself to think freely.

One of the more impressive aspects of this story is a stunning array of well-developed and entertaining characters, their thoughts and actions anchoring us in a foreign environment and wrapping us in the familiar blanket of human emotion amidst a future we do not want to imagine possible. Vi is a fighter, someone not content to simply follow rules that would mold her into someone she doesn't recognize, and whose smart, sassy mouth reflects a sharp mind and independent nature. Jag is a character of particular interest, his confidence in his status as a "baddie" and the ease with which he approaches his flouting of the "goodie" rules and regulations instantly appealing. We can't help but gravitate toward someone who knows exactly where his true allegiance lies and is perfectly comfortable with the actions he must take to ensure he helps his cause in whatever capacity he can. Their attraction to one another, though a bit hurried, is understandable given the context of their surroundings and current predicament, and their complex interactions have the potential to make them a romantic pair we remember for quite some time.

Though Ms. Johnson's characterization is beautifully executed and her writing style easy to read and enthralling, the plot is sometimes a bit difficult to follow. Events happen in rapid succession, and Vi and Jag's multiple escapes and subsequent repeat captures are often accompanied by the use of complicated technologies as well as cryptic remarks from those apprehending them. It becomes clear to us that Vi has a purpose, something unique to offer both the Thinkers and the resistance, but it sometimes feels as though we're swimming through muddy and tumultuous waters as we progress deeper into the story–just when a few pieces of information make things a bit clearer, a new wave crashes down on us, sweeping that clarity away and replacing it with murky truths, uncertain allegiances, and numerous questions.

The ending is left fairly open, not so much as to be tear-your-hair-out frustrating, but definitely enough to have us hoping there will be a second installment where we can revisit a world that, despite it's complex and sometimes confusing nature, houses characters who have become important to us. Ms. Johnson is certainly an author I will be following closely, anxiously awaiting whatever tale she might weave next.

Rating: 3.5/5