Riot by Sarah Mussi

Title:  Riot
Author:  Sarah Mussi
Genre:  Young Adult/Mystery and Thriller
Publisher:  Hatchette Children's Books
Publication Date:  1st May 2014
ISBN:  9781444910100
Stand Alone/Series:  Stand Alone
Pages:  352 pages
First Lines:  Mothers from problem families should feel 'ashamed'.  They are damaging society and should stop getting pregnant, according to a senior government advisor.

Synopsis:

A hard hitting, near future thriller from the author of SIEGE
Years of cuts have devastated Britain: banks are going under, businesses closing, prices soaring, unemployment rising, prisons overflowing. The authorities cannot cope. And the population has maxed out.

 The solution: forced sterilization of all school leavers without secure further education plans or guaranteed employment. The country is aghast, but the politicians are unshakeable. No more free housing for single parents, no more child benefit, no more free school meals, no more children in need.

It's time for the young to take to the streets. It's time for them to RIOT.

My Thoughts:
After reading some of the various short reviews I was a bit worried I wouldn't like Riot.  The idea of sterilization amongst school leavers had me interested but a bit wary.

I hit 11% of Riot and was pretty much hooked.  There is one part that involves a baby that I really didn't like but apart from that, I was flying through the pages wanting to find out what happened next.  The book follows Tia the main character also known as Anonymous or EVE.  She's part of the resistance to the Snip bill they are trying to bring in for uneducated youths leaving school and without jobs.  She's also the daughter of the man trying to bring in the snip bill.  While the riots she helps organize with ADAM are meant to be harmless, the first time we see her protesting, it turns violent, ending in bloodshed and an injured Tia.

In steps Cobain.  A yob as the book refers to.  As I don't live in England I had to Google this. "a rude, noisy, and aggressive youth." is the meaning that Google produces. but Tia soon learns this is not the case with Cobain when he saves her more than once.  

The scary thing about Riot is that it is only set in 2018, and most of the topics that are brought up in the books, seem quite possible.  Although, I couldn't see a government bringing in the Snip Bill on Teenagers.  It wouldn't be so far fetched in doing this to prisoners etc.  So it felt realistic enough to me.

I really enjoyed reading Riot. The beginning does throw you a little when it starts with a patient being snipped, but once you keep reading all the blocks fall into pace.

I'd definitely be interested in picking up more books from Sarah Mussi to read.

Book received from:  Net Galley