The Program

March 25, 2013
In Young's chilling and suspenseful story, teen suicide has spiked dramatically and been deemed a "behavioral contagion." Now students are watched closely and not allowed to mourn; if they exhibit the slightest signs of depression they are "flagged" and dragged (often literally) by "handlers" to the Program: six weeks of memory erasure followed by placement in a new school. Seventeen-year-old Sloane can't trust anyone with her true feelings except her boyfriend, James, who was with her when her older brother killed himself. When their best friend takes his own life, too, James is committed, followed by Sloane. Part two details Sloane's time in the Program, in which she's stripped of all control and her dignity, and the third section of the book follows her return to society. While Young's (A Want So Wicked) book is unrelentingly emotional and darkâqualities that sometimes threaten to overwhelm the story lineâit confronts readers with questions about whether the past or the present defines a person, while makes a strong case for the value of all memories, good and bad. Ages 14âup. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Starred review from May 27, 2013
In Young’s chilling Orwellian tale, planet Earth is hit with a suicide epidemic and the only way to prevent additional fatalities is something called “the Program”: a cure that eliminates depression, but also wipes clean the memories of those who are treated with it. Joy Osmanski’s narration in this audio edition has a cold, sterile feel that perfectly reflects the author’s prose. Her well-paced delivery will captivate listeners, and her portrayal of central character Sloane—a 17-year-old girl who is afraid to let her true feelings show for fear of ending up in the Program—is layered with raw emotion. Ages 14–up. A Simon Pulse hardcover.

August 1, 2013
Gr 10 Up-In this alternate reality tale (S & S/Simon Pulse, 2013), suicide is an epidemic that plagues those under 18. In response, the government has developed a treatment known as The Program. Patients have infected memories removed, leaving them cured and depression-free. Having endured the suicides of her brother and best friend and then the breakdown of her boyfriend, 17-year-old Sloane is a likely candidate for The Program and is soon transported against her will to a facility for treatment. What follows is a mind-numbing regimen of therapy and medication that succeeds in wiping away parts of her memory despite her best efforts to hold on to her past. Aware that something is amiss yet unsure what it is, Sloane attempts to piece her life back together and learns that The Program isn't everything it claims to be. Joy Osmanski delivers Young's words with a restraint that belies the tension-filled story, capturing the characters' emotional turmoil without exaggerating their despair. Listeners hear and feel the frustration and confusion in their voices, especially Sloane's, whose first-person narrative drives the story. Whether it's ferocity and anger after beginning treatment or anguish when her boyfriend is gone. Osmanski's depiction of Sloane's vulnerability is understated, hinting at complex emotions that are simmering beneath the surface. This solid production invites listeners to reflect on an uncomfortable subject. A thought-provoking addition to teen collections.-"Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH"

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