The Program

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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