Welcome back Chargers! Now that the summer has unfortunately come to an end, what better way to greet the new school year than reading a great book? (In the spare time between classes, sports, clubs, and homework, of course). Lucky for you all, I spent part of my summer catching up on the novels collecting dust on my cluttered bookshelves; you will not be disappointed with my findings.
This “Commentary” is extra special because it involves the book, Wither, a novel written by former Albertus Magnus University student, Lauren Destefano. Destefano grew up right here in New Haven! And her debut novel is nothing short of spectacular.
The story is set in a dystopian future year where modern science has found the cure for cancer and practically any other illness you can think of. Newborns of that generation are injected with the antidote and are, in a sense, “perfect.” They live long lives and never fall victim to disease. For years, scientists suspected nothing was wrong; that is, until they grew up and began having children of their own. For reasons unknown, their children are genetic time-bombs. Males only live until the age of 25 while females only live until 20. They succumb to an inexplicable illness at these ages and slowly wither away until death.
To keep the human population alive, girls are kidnapped and sold into polygamous marriages. This is where we find Rhine Ellery, a sixteen year-old girl sold to Governor Linden Ashby along with two other girls: Jenna (eighteen) and Cecily (thirteen). Rhine wants nothing more than to escape the mansion she has been confined to, find her brother, and taste freedom once more. But as she spends more time in the Ashby home, Rhine realizes there is more to this twisted family than once believed. Housemaster Vaughn, Linden’s unusual father, is determined to find a cure for the virus—at any cost. There are rumors of gruesome things being done in his underground laboratory, but Rhine does not plan on staying long enough to find out what they are.
As she plans the ultimate escape, Rhine meets Gabriel, a servant in the household. She begins developing feelings for Gabriel despite her marriage vows to Linden. Linden, Rhine also learns, is not the monster she once thought he was and actually begins to pity him and his misfortunes in life. When Jenna turns nineteen and begins showing symptoms of the deathly virus, Rhine knows something is definitely wrong. No one has ever died from the virus early, and Rhine is convinced that Vaughn is behind Jenna’s sudden illness.
In one final attempt at freedom, Rhine and Gabriel escape the mansion and enter the crowded city before them, unaware of what is to come or whether anyone has acknowledged their absence. Rhine knows this isn’t over, but she will do anything to keep her independence.
Beautifully crafted and worded, Wither presents a fresh plot and setting to the reader. There is something dark and mysterious about the characters. You expect them to act a certain way only to be surprised by a personality trait you never knew existed. Most importantly, the age virus is an extremely intriguing subject. It makes you wonder “what would the world be like if we only had 20 or 25 years to live?” Wither is powerful and simply astounding. Author Lauren Destefano could not have created a more intricate and twisted world than this one.
The sequel Fever is due out in February 2011. But until then, pick up a copy of Wither if you so desire.
