The Program written by Suzanne Young will take your breath away. It is a world where suicide is an epidemic in teens and any signs of depression put teens in The Program, a facility where the bad memories are removed. Sloane, the main character, fights to stay out of The Program, faking every day, so she can keep her memory of her brother Bradley, her friends, and her boyfriend James.
Suzanne Young wrote The Program in a very black and white point of view with no shades of gray. The teens believe the government is wrong for wiping away the memories, and the adults think it’s good. Besides that it is a good book. It is hard to put down because each chapter flows into the next fluidly, to where readers want to know what happens next. In the beginning Sloane does not seem to be a very interesting character, but then as the story progresses readers are able to see how headstrong she is. James is protective over the people he loves, and readers are able to see how far he will go to keep them safe.
The Program is worth the read. It will capture your attention and never let it go even in the end. You’ll question whether or not Sloane and James really are meant to be or if the government is truly the worst thing. With people dying all around them or being taken by The Program, it would seem impossible to find happiness or love, but somehow in this remarkable novel, they did. The author knows how to write and this book shows it. I’d recommend this book to anyone who asks and even the ones who don’t.