The Darkest Minds is about a girl named Ruby who has contracted this new disease that has been killing most of America's children. Although she was one of the ones to survive this disease, her and the other survivors have developed powerful ablilites. Some of these abilites are not very harmful like being really good with puzzles and math. Other abilities are much more frightening; controlling someone just by speaking to them, controlling electricity with their hands, and even moving things with just a flick of the wrist. Everyone is terrified of these children and the only thing the government can think to do is to put all these kids in "Rehabilitation" camps. Ruby, now sixteen, has been in one of the more brutal camps since her tenth birthday. Ruby has one of the stronger abilities and she has no idea how to control them. Her abilities prevent her from letting herself get close to anybody. After breaking out of the camp, she meets up with group of 3 other kids (Liam, Chubs and Zu) that have broken out of a camp and they head out to find a place called East River; where kids like them are supposed to be safe. The kid who runs the camp, also happens to be one of the last few people with the same abilities as Ruby and she is more than eager to meet him and ask for his help. |
The story starts off with Ruby when she is in the “rehabilitation” camp. She describes her very first day coming into the camp and how life inside of the camps has been. Throughout this explanation, you really learn about what type of person Ruby is and a lot about her personality. You learn that she is quiet, and afraid, not just of the PSF’s or ‘guards,’ but also herself and the abilities she has no idea how to control. After being broken out of the camp by an organization called the Children’s League, Ruby sneaks away from them because she doesn’t feel safe with them. She meets Liam, Chubs and Zu, a group of kids that also escaped from a camp not too long ago. She travels with them in search of a place called East River, which sounds a lot like a sanctuary for kids like them. The kid that’s in charge is also said to be one of the last kids who has the same abilities as Ruby, making Ruby more desperate to find him. As the group adventure’s around, trying to find the East River, while at the same time not getting caught, Ruby grows close with her new friends, and even closer with Liam. Even though she obviously wants to be with him, Ruby is too afraid of her abilities to allow herself to get too close to anyone.
By the time they find East River, the group has developed a family like bond, even though they had only been together for about 3 weeks. Even after building this bond, reaching East River causes the group to drift apart. Ruby begins spending her time with the leader, Clancy, who helps Ruby learn more about her abilities and how to control them. Liam takes part in helping guard the perimeters of the camp, while Zu hangs outs with the girls her age, and Chubs struggles to fit in at all. Shortly after arriving, Zu decides she wants to leave with her group of friends towards home. After she left things at East River began to go south and Ruby found out that Clancy wasn’t necessarily the “God” everyone seemed to think he was. Liam, Chubs and Ruby managed to escape from East River and from there they had planned to take Chubs to his parent’s, who he had been able to contact. Things didn’t go too well and the 3 of them ended up back with the Children's League. Ruby agrees that she will work with them if they agree to let Liam and Chubs go. The last time Ruby see’s Liam she doesn't tell him what she agreed to. Instead, Even though they’re obviously in love and she’ll still remember him, Ruby uses her abilities to erase herself from Liam’s memories.
Although the end of the book was absolutely heartbreaking and a little disappointing, the book was definitely worth reading. I really enjoyed the overall plot of the story and I liked how it really showed how much of an impact these kids had on people once they had these abilities that everyone was so afraid of. I also like how you can very clearly see how Ruby changes throughout the story with the help of her new friends. At first you can very clearly see how Ruby has no confidence and is afraid of herself and her abilities. When she meets Liam, Chubs and Zu, they help her to be more confident in a way and less afraid of herself. The book also does a great job of showing how this disease has really affected the country and it shows how desperate people have become. The story also shows how much the children suffer and are discriminated against, leaving them to grow up too soon so they can take care of themselves. It shows how the kids are not only feared, but ashamed of themselves. It’s an emotional book full of twists and turns, but it’s a book I would definitely recommend.
By the time they find East River, the group has developed a family like bond, even though they had only been together for about 3 weeks. Even after building this bond, reaching East River causes the group to drift apart. Ruby begins spending her time with the leader, Clancy, who helps Ruby learn more about her abilities and how to control them. Liam takes part in helping guard the perimeters of the camp, while Zu hangs outs with the girls her age, and Chubs struggles to fit in at all. Shortly after arriving, Zu decides she wants to leave with her group of friends towards home. After she left things at East River began to go south and Ruby found out that Clancy wasn’t necessarily the “God” everyone seemed to think he was. Liam, Chubs and Ruby managed to escape from East River and from there they had planned to take Chubs to his parent’s, who he had been able to contact. Things didn’t go too well and the 3 of them ended up back with the Children's League. Ruby agrees that she will work with them if they agree to let Liam and Chubs go. The last time Ruby see’s Liam she doesn't tell him what she agreed to. Instead, Even though they’re obviously in love and she’ll still remember him, Ruby uses her abilities to erase herself from Liam’s memories.
Although the end of the book was absolutely heartbreaking and a little disappointing, the book was definitely worth reading. I really enjoyed the overall plot of the story and I liked how it really showed how much of an impact these kids had on people once they had these abilities that everyone was so afraid of. I also like how you can very clearly see how Ruby changes throughout the story with the help of her new friends. At first you can very clearly see how Ruby has no confidence and is afraid of herself and her abilities. When she meets Liam, Chubs and Zu, they help her to be more confident in a way and less afraid of herself. The book also does a great job of showing how this disease has really affected the country and it shows how desperate people have become. The story also shows how much the children suffer and are discriminated against, leaving them to grow up too soon so they can take care of themselves. It shows how the kids are not only feared, but ashamed of themselves. It’s an emotional book full of twists and turns, but it’s a book I would definitely recommend.