Veronica Roth takes the concept of portable, wearable computing devices into dangerous territory in Poster Girl. In her dystopic fantasy, all citizens of an authoritarian state had been required to receive an eye implant for tracking purposes. Roth’s narrator, Sonya, is a political prisoner being held following a coup that wrested control from the previous regime. Sonya was literally the “poster girl” of the former government and she is the only surviving member of a family that was influential within the old Delegation. Serving a life sentence, Sonya is marooned in an apartment complex turned prison with others identified as dissidents. A cinematic plot sees the heroine conscripted to help track down a missing girl in exchange for her release. Throughout her search, Sonya will learn some hard truths about her own family and their replacement leaders. Poster Girl is primarily a warning about the insidious creep of surveillance and the voluntary surrender of privacy. The novel illustrates how corruption flourishes when a select few have access to personal information, regardless of who is in power. Sonya and her backstory are well drawn, and the constructed world uncannily reflects a society very much like our current one. This book will undoubtedly attract the many YA and adult fans of Roth’s Divergent series and solidifies the author’s reputation as a writer skilled at transmitting a moralistic message through a compelling story.
Thanks to the author, William Morrow and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. ( )

First sentence: When she thinks of the time before, she thinks of the photo shoot. The woman who applied Sonya's makeup smelled of lilies of the valley and hair spray. When she leaned close to dust Sonya's cheeks with blush, or to cover up a blemish with a fingertip dotted beige, Sonya stared at the freckles on her collarbone. When she finished, the woman slicked her hands with oil and ran them through Sonya's hair to make it sleek.

Premise/plot: Poster Girl is dystopian fiction [for adults, I make this distinction because Veronica Roth has written books for both young adults and adults, and some adult readers are very opinionated when it comes to NOT wanting to 'accidentally' read YA].

Sonya Kantor, our heroine, was literally the poster girl for the now-overturned government. She's spent years--a decade? a little over a decade???--imprisoned in the Aperture paying for her "sins" and her family's sins. And by sins I mean political beliefs and views. Of course personal blends with political and political blends with personal. She was a teenager following in the steps of her parents. Other kids--younger kids--whose parents were involved in this now-overturned government--have been released from the Aperture and returned to society (often with new names, new identities). But not Sonya.

Sonya is given the opportunity for release, for freedom, or so-called "freedom," if she'll help find a missing person, a child--an illegal second child. But tracking down this mystery will raise more questions than it may answers, and the truth may just SHOCK Sonya and disrupt her life forever...

My thoughts: There is world-building. I didn't include many details of the world-building because it is easier to understand while reading than to try to summarize succinctly and explain to someone else. I would not do justice to the two governments, the revolution, the warring ideas and beliefs, in just a few sentences. This one has a LOT to say about technology, about policing ideas, morals, values, behavior, etc.

I enjoyed this one. It was a fast-paced read with some action, plenty of mystery. There's an attempt at light romance that just didn't make sense to me (at all). The romance was the weakest element, but there were plenty of stronger ones. I do almost wish that a little more time had been spent on personal relationships--just another fifty or so pages might have helped me like it (even) more. ( )

After the fall of the Delegation government, its top members and families were locked in the Aperture, a prison city. Sonya, the Delegation's poster girl, has been imprisoned for ten years. When she is offered a deal, find a missing girl in exchange for your freedom, she reluctantly takes up the challenge.

I'm not sure that I loved this book, it was overly nostalgic and a bit bland. I would have loved to learn more about the Delegation and the revolution. I would love to read a prequel or something set earlier in the world. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars. ( )

A linear story of what can happen once everyone is digitally connected. In the near future all inhabitants of the sector receive a biotech implant, an Insight, at birth. Then, revolution. Poster girl walks in two worlds, seeking reconciliation of her past and present. I enjoyed listening to this book as the author's spare language brought details to life. I'll look for other books featuring this narrator. What was not so good was the tiring political moralism. ( )

3.5
Kinda like Evie from V for Vendetta meets Katniss Everdeen with less skills and spunk.

It definitely felt way more like YA than adult. I liked the premise, and whilst it did keep me reading til the end (I wanted to see if she found Grace Ward) - overall it was kinda slow and quiet.

watch my reviews here: https://www.youtube.com/@starkissedstories ( )