Scythe

Contributed by Eli, gr. 12, June 2019

I was not amazed by this sci-fi novel, which came as a surprise since I had seen many positive reviews, but I do plan to continue the series. The premise is that, hundreds of years from now, humans can only die if they are selected by “scythes” -- people who keep population growth under control. While it is a young adult book, it leans toward the younger end of YA fiction, and definitely focuses more on plot than character development.

 The main reasons I did not love this novel are the overly simple and sometimes repetitive writing, and that the major characters’ feelings and personalities are described instead of shown to the reader. However, it is a strong narrative in its intense action, thought-provoking themes, and realistic conflict (although the villains are exaggerated and I could not always take them seriously). The world-building and pacing are not consistently impressive, but in the best moments -- combined with several well- executed plot developments -- they make for a true page-turner. The author wraps up the primary issues while still leaving questions about the characters’ futures, so the first installment in this series can work as a single story.

I would recommend Scythe to grade 9s and 10s in search of a fast, entertaining tale with minimal romance, but that also tackles moral and philosophical dilemmas. The satirical atmosphere may not appeal to everybody, but could be ideal for people who do not want to become deeply invested in the protagonists. Readers should also be warned of violent elements including self-inflicted injury, and that there are occasionally insulting jokes made about side characters due to their appearance.