"My father always said that you shouldn't make an agreement unless you know exactly what you're going to get out of it," I said.
In All These Things I've Done, Gabrielle Zevin presents a strong female lead named Anya Balanchine. Anya is a sixteen year-old mafia daughter who has the weight of the world on her shoulders. When she was just a young girl, she and her younger sister (Natty) witnessed the murder of their father not long after the hit meant for him took the life of their mother and mentally damaged their older brother (Leo).
Now their guardian, their elderly grandmother, is dying and Anya runs the household. Leo is nineteen, but considered to mentally be about the age of eight. Natty is only twelve, but far more clever than most her age.
It's then that a new boy arrives at school. Son of the DA, Win Delacroix is handsome and sweet. Not to mention, he is immediately taken with Anya. Problem is, she doesn't have time for him or his romantic feelings right now. But that's not her only concern. It's not long after a public confrontation with her ex that he winds up in the hospital from poisoning and all eyes are looking to her as the one who did it. And now Mr. Delacroix is putting pressure on her to keep away from his son. Only, now she's beginning to think that Win may be the one for her after all.
Set in New York in the year 2082, All These Things I've Done is an interesting take on the way things are run now and how they may be in the future. It's another coming-of-age book, but one that has a vastly different feel to it that I found myself really enjoying. Anya is a thoroughly likable, yet jaded character that you'll find yourself rooting for throughout the entire story.
All These Things I've Done is the first book in a series entitled "Birthright". The sequel is set to be released in Autumn 2012. I'll definitely be hitting the bookstore as soon is it's out. This is not a series I want to miss.
Rating: ★★★★☆
He agreed. "It's sad when you think about it, but also kind of beautiful."
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