Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

 
First: I've been on vacation, and I'll be on the road for a while longer. I'm not sure how the formatting is going on some of these reviews! I apologize also for being a little slow on e-mails and comments.

Second, based on the stats that Google provides to blogs, I think it's time for another reminder. I review books that I think have merit, even if they're not for me as a reader. If I can't find something positive to say, or if I can't think of someone who might like to read the book, or if I really, really didn't like a book for personal reasons, I don't write about it here.

I've found that I've had equal success with absolutely positive and perfectly truthful reviews; readers have varying tastes, and I have friends who look out for the books I don't seem to like as much, because those tend to be perfect matches for them! Bets are off during Cybils season, because I can't possibly review every book I've read for the YA fantasy and science fiction category, unfortunately, and can only highlight a few that speak to me personally.

But: the review!

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder (Harlequin Teen) was a surprise. I was reminded, ever so slightly, of Incarceron, because the central question of the book is this:

Where are we, what is the nature of our prison, and how do we get out of here?

Trella lives in the lower levels of Inside, scrubbing out the pipes and wondering what life is like for the ruling classes that live in the spacious upper levels. Her only real friend is Cog, who introduces her to a man who says he knows about the Gateway--the way out of their increasingly overcrowded and totalitarian society. Trella knows that investigating could mean death, but her curiosity wins out, and soon, she's on the run, infiltrating the ruling classes, finding out the unpleasant truth about why she's on the bottom rung of the social ladder, and discovering that love can't be stopped by society's rules.

Inside Out suffers from some mechanical issues as well as some unanswered questions, particularly regarding technology--if you have this, why don't you have that? But Trella is a compelling character, and the author holds off on revealing what's outside until just the right moment (and leaves open several possibilities to leave readers guessing). Readers who like some romance in their dystopia will be hooked on the series.

I read this book as a first-round judge for the Cybils Awards, which means that I may have received a review copy from the publisher (or not; I own a lot of the books in this category). I read some books nominated for the YA fantasy and science fiction category in 2010 before the nomination period, and may have already reviewed them or declined to make a public review; these books might not have a Cybils post tag. As a first-round judge, I was tasked with helping create a shortlist of books. My personal reviews do not reflect any actions or discussions of the judging committee.