Name: Bumped
Rating: 3.029411764705882 (34 reviews)
ISBN: 9780061962745

Megan McCafferty

In 2036 New Jersey, when teens are expected to become fanatically religious wives and mothers or high-priced Surrogettes for couples made infertile by a widespread virus, sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony find in one another the courage to believe they have choices.

Bumped

Jess

Read my review here! --&gt; <a href="http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2011/04/review-bumped-by-megan-mccafferty.html" rel="nofollow noopener">http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2011/04/review-bumped-by-megan-mccafferty.html</a> I know the premise of this book is something not to be taken lightly; I mean…teenagers being the only ones able to get pregnant or to impregnate? You know how high school athletes get courted by different colleges, and then they choose the best offer? In Melody’s world, that’s pretty much what happens to teenagers. If they meet certain physical and intelligence criteria, they get representation, like agents. They’re then offered contracts and go with the best offer. If you’re not lucky enough to get such representation, you can go always go “amateur” but of course, the payout will be nowhere near as good. Harmony’s world is a little less transactional. They believe in marrying and having babies, however the marriages are arranged, so you don’t get to marry someone you love most of the time. Depressing, right? Well…I thought this book was hilarious! No…of course not because of what I just described, but because the characters had some awesome lines! Is Megan McCafferty always this funny? I have not laughed out loud so much since reading Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. I had a very distinct picture of this world in my mind while I was reading it. Think of the movies Saved and Juno, with the setting of Minority Report and that’s what was in my head. When I began reading Bumped, I was a little thrown for a loop with all the slang. I wasn’t really expecting it, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a book because of it. Pregging, negging, renegger, egging…some are more obvious than others and it takes reading them a couple of times to get it, but just stick with it. It doesn’t take long to catch on. The book is told in alternating chapters between Melody and Harmony, which I always like in books. Out of the two sisters, I really liked Harmony best. Yes, she’s “godfreaky” and wants to save the world from sin, but she’s just trying to do what she thinks is right. Loving God and loving religion are, to me at least, two very different things and this is what she struggles with most throughout this book. Melody on the other hand, doesn’t have a problem going with the flow of her world. That is until her sister shows up and, thanks to a case of mistaken identity (or maybe stolen identity would describe it better…), she is forced to see what people around her truly care about. Of the boys, Zen was definitely my favorite. He was charming, funny, caring and smart. Jondoe, on the other hand, I wanted to hate. He was so conceited! But then he would show his tender side and it would make me question what was real and what was an act. I need to know the truth, Jondoe!!! Then there’s Ram. I felt really bad for Ram. Poor guy! To keep this review Spoiler-free though, that’s all I will say about him. Like I mentioned before, this book really made me laugh, but it also had some really tender moments. The tone is not as serious or heartbreaking as other Dystopian books I’ve read recently, but that’s why I liked it. Bumped is different and totally plausible. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more about Melody and Harmony. (This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.com for an honest review)

Monicap

I am NOT the hugest fan of the writing style in this book. Something about the writing makes everything--the characters, the plot, even the intense setting--seem so immature.

Nonetheless, as I continued reading, I got used to the writing style and found myself really enjoying the characters and the plot.

Though, I must warn you-- if you've read the description on the inner flap, the book DOES NOTFULLY DELIVER on what is laid out there. Which is a little disappointing, but at the end of book, I was still so caught up in the plot I had to dive directly into the next one.

Sarah Sammis

The description for Bumped by Megan McCafferty says that a virus made everyone older than 18 infertile. The book though opens with Melody explaining that the virus infected 75% of the population. Regardless, it's enough of a problem that teenagers are valuable commodities being the only ones who can keep the human population going.

Bumped is told in alternating voices by twin sisters Melody and Harmony who were separated at birth and adopted by very different families. Melody has gone pro and will "bump" with a specially selected Johndoe for enough money to see her through college and probably beyond. Harmony, though, was raised on the "Goodside" a hyper conservative, Bible thumping commune where teens are married young so they can have their child and raise it together before it's too late. Harmony though has left the compound to bring her sister to God before it's too late.

Bumped is a dystopian in the style of A Clockwork Orange and has two parallel slangs, those used by mainline society teens and that used by the Goodside teens. I didn't find either slang particularly hard to follow but Harmony's seemed better developed and more natural.

With two protagonists carrying the story, each telling her story in first person, both need distinct, believable voices. Here is where Bumped falls short. Melody though self described as smart, beautiful and responsible never demonstrates any of these attributes. At a time when she's expecting the call she neglects to check her messages and doesn't take her phone with her. The last two thirds of the book are only possible because of her laziness and stupidity.

Harmony, though, does manage to carry her half of Bumped. Though presented as the villain or foil of the book, she evolves into a well rounded (no pun intended) and sympathetic character.

Although there is talk of sex and teenagers being paid to have sex I think Bumped could be used in a high school English class. It has themes and talking points that would work well at the same time that Lord of the Flies and The Scarlet Letter are being taught.

eGalley received from NetGalley.

Anna Bold

Honestly, I couldn't even get through 100 pages of it. I feel like this was a sophomore slump, but for a series... the future-talk was just the tip of the iceberg but it was all too much for me.

Jeannette Ordas

I didn't really like this book for the first 3/4 of it. The first bit is all futuristic lingo and scene-setting, but we don't get to know the characters until the last quarter which is frustrating. However, I did like the last bit and wanted to know more. And of course, this is the first in a series and I'll probably check out #2 since it did get to me a little bit.

Amy Grieve

Describe this book in one word: Strange. 

I found all the new slang funny yet cringeworthy at the same time. And how outright everyone was with the whole topic of sex. One of the weirdest things was how everyone in the book would casually use the words humping and bumping, but would have some type of heart attack if someone even dared to say the words Condom or lovemaking. 

Generally, at the start of Bumped I really didn't think I was going to finish it. It was just a bit confusing and didn't really float my boat. However,a bout a quarter of the way through of it I found myself hooked. Harmony and Melody were AMAZING characters. I loved every bit about them and I liked hearing what they were Both thinking. 

I am really looking forward to the next book. Hopefully things turn out well for everyone.

This book was weird, but in a good kind of way. Once again I let my education chose my next YA dystopian novel! I really want to work with in vitro fertilisation and fertility treatments, so I thought it was really interesting to read about a future where a virus is making people infertile around the age of 18. Teen pregnancy all over the place and being encouraged - wow, what a scary future!

The main characters, twin sisters Melody and Harmony, were so totally different that it wasn't hard to keep track of whose chapter I was reading. Especially since Melody had the whole pregnancy-related slang going on (which, by the way, deeply amused me, I thought it was hilarious!) and Harmony was basically an Amish girl. 

Oh, am I the only one who kept picturing Jondoe as a blond Gaston from Beauty & the Beast? Haha!

I'm excited to read Thumped next!

Sofia Pereira

The characters have the range of a teaspoon, the plot is just absurd honestly, the idea initially was good but everything about this was bad.

Chelsea Bates

Great book! It was a twisting story line, something that I know I'm always looking for. It was a fast read because of the story, but definitely worth the time.

Jade Warren

Crystal L

A virus has swept the world, making everyone over the age of eighteen infertile. Teenagers are now the most prized members of society, and would-be parents desperately bid for 'conception contracts' with the prettiest, healthiest and cleverest girls - cash, college tuition and liposuction in exchange for a baby.Sixteen-year-old Melody is gorgeous, athletic and has perfect grades, and has scored an amazing contract with a rich couple. And she's been matched with one of the most desirable 'bumping' partners in the world - the incredibly hot, genetically flawless Jondoe.But Melody's luck is about to run out. She discovers she has a sister - an identical twin, Harmony, who has grown up in a religious community opposed to the idea of 'pregging'. Harmony believes her calling is to save Melody from her sinful plans. Melody doesn't have time for this - she can't wait to meet Jondoe and seal the deal. But when he arrives and mistakes Harmony for Melody, everyone's carefully-laid plans are swept out of control - and Melody and Harmony are about to realise they have so much more than just DNA in common.Sharp, original and sassy, this futuristic take on teen pregnancy is totally readable and scarily believable.

Gillian Rose

Jacalyn Boggs

Briar Rose

Caterina P.

Courtney Gendreau

McKenzie McWhorter

Catie Freymuth

Cassidy

A virus has swept the world, making everyone over the age of eighteen infertile. Teenagers are now the most prized members of society, and would-be parents desperately bid for 'conception contracts' with the prettiest, healthiest and cleverest girls - cash, college tuition and liposuction in exchange for a baby. Sixteen-year-old Melody is gorgeous, athletic and has perfect grades, and has scored an amazing contract with a rich couple. And she's been matched with one of the most desirable 'bumping' partners in the world - the incredibly hot, genetically flawless Jondoe. But Melody's luck is about to run out. She discovers she has a sister - an identical twin, Harmony, who has grown up in a religious community opposed to the idea of 'pregging'. Harmony believes her calling is to save Melody from her sinful plans. Melody doesn't have time for this - she can't wait to meet Jondoe and seal the deal. But when he arrives and mistakes Harmony for Melody, everyone's carefully-laid plans are swept out of control - and Melody and Harmony are about to realise they have so much more than just DNA in common. Sharp, original and sassy, this futuristic take on teen pregnancy is totally readable and scarily believable.

Bumped

Reviews

Highlights