Review: Slated (Slated #1) by Teri Terry

Will wiping your memory, everything you knew down to the basic things like walking, smiling, give you a second chance? Find out in this thrilling debut by author extraordinaire, Teri Terry!

Title: Slated (Slated #1) by Teri Terry
Pages: 448
Release Date: May 3rd 2012
Published by: Orchard Books
Source: Publisher (Thanks, Victoria and Laure!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

I've loved the concept of the book from the first time I've read it. If you were Slated and given another chance to live life, how would you feel? Grateful? Confused? Curious to know how your life was before you become the new you? Kyla tried her best to conform to the government's rules. If you are Slated, then you must be a model citizen because this is your only other chance in life. Be obedient and do not question what the government has given you: a new family, a new school, a chance to learn and become a good part of society once more. But Kyla just doesn't feel that way. She's been having nightmares for as long as she can remember and she doesn't know why. She remembers fragments of the life that was erased from her memory. But why? All of these curiosities, how dangerous they might be, just keeps on urging Kyla to do the unthinkable: find out who she was before she was Slated. But at what cost?

The very concept of Slated is part of what will make you curious about it. To my surprise, I enjoyed reading of Kyla and the world she lives in. I loved how Teri was able to strike balance between the sci-fi aspect of the story and still give it a somewhat contemporary YA vibe. Kyla's life wasn't easy. It was like she was a criminal freshly out of prison, criticized, mocked and looked down upon by the citizens she met outside. In a sense, it's what she was, but what makes Kyla so sure of it? She definitely doesn't feel evil. When you think about it, she was never really out of 'prison', not really free to do what she wants and feel what she wants to feel because of her 'Levo', the device that measures her happiness rate and zaps her out when her numbers go dangerously low. It's like a modernized form of punishment, like putting on tracking devices on people to check up on them, and in Kyla's case, her tendency to become evil. Was that what it really means to be free?

Slated kept me on my toes most of my time, guessing the motives of everyone around Kyla. It was hard reading into the intentions of Kyla's mom, her father, even the doctor who started it all, Dr. Lysander. The first book in the series felt like a puzzle with pieces still missing, readers need to figure out just where Aiden and the terrorist fits into Kyla's life. It's like she's part of a larger secret whose biggest, most important parts are still waiting to be found out. I loved the suspense and the air of mystery still not quite cleared even when the book came to a close. My heart skipped quite a few times while I was reading this. I should have figured that the unexpected surprises and intense moments go hand in hand with Kyla's search of her true identity. I loved that little jolts of thrill I get from those scenes.

Teri Terry introduces us to another tormented character, Ben. He's sweet and like all the other Slated, he's satisfied with his life.Until Kyla came along, and Ben started to think that maybe there's something more to being Slated. That if he broke free, he can help make a change. I liked Ben because he shows the side of being a Slated that is good, that maybe being one isn't all that bad. But his curiosity and his single minded desire got the best of him. Teri Terry made my heart ache for him! Just when you start liking him, Teri Terry will rip your heart out. Why, Ben... why? This boy will make you wonder just how much you are willing to give up to live life as a normal person all over again. He's charismatic, stable. He's not overly flashy but he'll work his way into the readers hearts just like he did with Kyla. 

Slated throws on readers some questions that touches upon the true meaning of being free. With the technology we have it might be possible. What if it can be done? Wipe your memories and start over, would it be the right thing to do? The stigma Kyla and other Slated kids carry sounds familiar even to us living in the present. It's like whatever they do, they cannot put the past behind them. They might smile and be as obedient as they can but society will not easily accept them to the fold because they know that these kids did something bad.

What more can I say to convince you to read this book? It's interesting, it's thrilling, and it presents a story worth thinking of. Slated makes you think, make your heart race as Kyla gets a step closer to uncovering her true self and make you swoon just a little bit with characters like Ben. You will love the characters you will meet who are extraordinary in their own ways! Overall a very strong debut for Teri Terry! Slated's got a big potential to be a big series!

Content (plot, story flow, character):
Awesome start to a series!

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Those green eyes are so gorgeous!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Another sneak peek at Teri Terry's debut novel, Slated!

Hi guys, I'm back!

And I have here another extra that will (hopefully) help tide you over until Slated's release. I know I speak for a lot of people when I say this is one of the most anticipated novel of 2012, and that A LOT of people are waiting for it. Why not? Evil government organization capable of wiping clean a person's identity, a lively heroine in search for the truth about herself. What more can you ask for?

Slated (Slated #1) by Teri Terry
May 2012, Orchard Books
Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository

Kyla's memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost forever.

She's been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla's mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

Without further ado, here's the 2nd extract for Slated!

Slated - 2nd Extract!

So what do you think? I'm still feeling a little worried for Kyla and her parents attitude towards her, but her sister Amy seems to be doing a good job cheering her up. Sebastian sounds like a nice pet.

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

HOT! HOT! HOT! Slated by Teri Terry (Extract 1 of 4)

(Okay, so I might be a little late in posting this since I had to edit the post and republish again)

The next four weeks is going to be an exciting and fun filled week as we build up the anticipation for Teri Terry's debut novel and one of the most talked about books this 2012, Slated. Every week leading to publication date, I will be posting some exquisite extracts which can help tide you over until release date. And believe me, the wait will drive you crazy! My review for Slated is scheduled to be posted in a few days and all I can say is... IT IS AWESOME!

Now look at those green eyes and be mesmerized.

Slated (Slated #1) by Teri Terry
May 2012, Orchard Books
Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository

Kyla's memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost forever.

She's been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla's mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

THE EXCERPT:

Thank you Hachette/Orchard Books for making me a part of this great book as we take over the blogosphere until Slated's release!

Share your thoughts about the extract! How is it? Good? Intriguing? Awesome?

Interview with Teri Terry + Slated ARC Giveaway!

And DD2 continues! Now we are featuring an awesome book that I am pretty sure you all are so excited about. I am too!

We are dishing out some juicy info about Slated, so sit tight! Please welcome Teri Terry to our blog!

Follow Terry: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Teri has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England at more addresses than she can count, acquiring three degrees, a selection of passports and a silly name along
the way. The footpaths and canal ways of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns where she now lives inspired much of the setting of Slated. She hates broccoli, likes cats, and has finally worked out what she wants to do when she grows up.

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Your biggest inspiration in writing Slated?

Oh, go on, start with the toughest question first!

Though, when I think about it, writing a story about someone who doesn’t know who they are or where they come from was a natural place for me to go. We moved constantly when I was growing up, and I carried on dashing about the globe when I left home: always trying new things and new places. I think the sense of dislocation I’ve always felt, of not really belonging anywhere, comes out in Kyla.

What do you think is the perfect quote (from Slated) that can describe the book as a whole?

‘But how can I know who I am now, if I don’t know who I was?’

(Kyla to Ben, chapter 23).

I think this encapsulates Kyla’s growing realization of what has been done to her, and the cost of it. Her search for - and fear of - who she was, are central to her story.

What's the future like in Slated? How different is it from the present?

Slated is set in a near future. Decades before it begins, in the 2020’s and 30’s, the UK closed borders and become isolationist after collapse of the EU. Student riots, gangs and terrorists were brutally quashed by a Law and Order Government. But the Lorders had to compromise in a coalition, to give underage criminals and terrorists a second chance and a new life: Slating.

Kyla’s story begins in 2054 England. Mobile phones are illegal to under 21s, there are only 3 channels on TV and unauthorized public assembly is forbidden. Computers and internet use are closely monitored. Teens still live with their parents, go to school, have friends. But they are watched; their lives are controlled. This true for all but particularly so for Slateds like Kyla.

Would you like to be "Slated"?

Definitely not!

Yet…there is a certain attraction to the idea of being able to start over, to have a second chance. Everyone, I’m sure, has moments they wish they could take back, events they’d rather forget than relive in their minds. Decisions they’d like to reverse. Yet you lose everything; it isn’t selective. I’ve never been in a dark enough place to want that.

What are the themes tackled in your novel?

Identity is a big one. Also learning to listen to yourself, to your instincts. Understanding that people are complicated: most of us are good and bad, not just one or the other. And no matter how hopeless things seem or how stacked against you, you still have a voice: you can’t stand by and be quiet when things are wrong.

Who's the character that is the hardest to write? The one you enjoyed writing the most? Do you have a favorite character?
Did you ever base Kyla (or any of your characters) on a real person(s)?

Kyla was my favorite character to write. She is strong, deceptively so, even though she doesn’t always know it. She was also tricky to write in some respects, because she does have different sides. Hidden sides. Especially in the sequel which I’ve just finished writing, but you’ll have to wait until 2013 for that one!

None of my characters are based on real people: they live entirely in my head. They have loud arguments there if I don’t pay enough attention to what they want.

Can you give us one line from your novel that you find important, striking or unforgettable?

I’d like to pick the last two lines of Slated: they are given as two sentences, though they need to be read together. But I can’t possibly quote that here, it would be too much of a spoiler!

Another that really sticks in my mind is the last line of chapter 1: ‘Failure is not an option.’

Imagine being in a position where you can’t make mistakes, where any wrong move could be your last…

Tell us one thing that people do not know about Slated. (A random fact, a weird habit you have developed, etc.)

The prologue was a dream: honest! As soon as I woke up I grabbed a pen and notebook I keep by the side of the bed for these moments, and scribbled it down. It came from some unknown and dark place in my subconscious: the panic, the running. What was this girl running from? Why was someone shouting to never forget who she is? What is the wall she puts up?

It took me a long time to decide if I wanted to go to this strange, dark world, and what would happen there if I did. But eventually I couldn’t stop myself. The voices in my head wouldn’t shut up.

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And have you seen how the cover of Slated became what it was? (A captivating, haunting cover befitting such an intriguing book?) Check out the post at Notes from the Slushpile.

Slated by Teri Terry
Add Slated to your Goodreads list!

Kyla's memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost forever.

She's been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance – as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla's mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

Orchard Books, May 2012

GIVEAWAY TIME! 

WIN AN ARC OF SLATED BY TERI TERRY!

The lovely folks over at Hachette UK has given us an ARC to giveaway! You can read Slated 3 months before it's release! This is your chance! And yes, this is OPEN INTERNATIONALLY.

Fill out the form below and the very same question I asked Teri:

Would you like to be Slated? Why or why not? (If you don't know what Slated means, it's a process of wiping out someone's memory and giving that person an entire different identity.)


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