Wow.  Just wow.  If you are a fan of dystopian novels, young adult books, or just thrillers in general, this is a not-to-be-missed book.   I was given the opportunity to review Anomaly as part of the Litfuse book tour.  Now I’m just going to have to wait for the next book (Luminary) to be released in 2014.  It’s gonna be a LONG wait.

Anomaly by Krista McGee has a “Divergent” vibe to it with a bit of the Matrix thrown in for good measure.  The Christian theme in this book is quite extraordinary.  I love that the main character who shares the love of Jesus is a wise old man.  When the world as we know it is reduced to poison in a nuclear war, some people are hidden away in “The State” where they are genetically engineered to be talented yet devoid of emotions.  Thalli, however, is the anomaly. She feels strongly, passionately, about many things.  She is curious about everything.  She is dangerous because her mind is a threat to the sterile environment of the State.  Luckily Thalli has a childhood friend who endeavors to protect her.  The writing style even changes throughout the book to reflect the change in Thalli’s understanding and mindset.  In the first few chapters, the words are choppy and sterile.  If you’ll push through that section, however, you’ll be rewarded with a thrill of a ride.

This would be an excellent story for a Sunday School book club or something similar.  As a youth leader, I would probably take the time to develop more in-depth questions than the discussion questions provided at the end of the book.  Some concepts to explore in this book study would be, “How does Thalli use her talents to glorify God?”  and “How can you relate to Thalli’s understanding of the gift of salvation?”

This is a book that I can’t wait to share with the teens in my life.  The message of love, hope, and salvation are important for everyone to hear!