Pure by Julianna Baggott

#1 in the Pure Series
Published February 8, 2012 by Grand Central Publishing
4 Stars

Goodreads Review
We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it’s his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.


Review:  Pure is a gut wrenching post apocalyptic novel.  The world building is fantastic, with rich descriptions that don't skimp on the horror of what has happened.  Pure has a unique concept that, while bizarre, is engrossing.  Pure paints a vivid picture of bodies fused to objects, the ground, other bodies, and the shock of how these people came to be disfigured really punches your heart.  

Pure is unlike the majority of other YA apocalyptic novels, both in the pacing and characterization.  Most YA apocalyptic stories are told at a blazing pace, often sacrificing explanation of the plot (like here, and here) but Pure is definitely not the norm.  There is lush descriptions and atmosphere which give a fantastic world set up, but also moves at a much slower pace.  If you like a more literary approach to your science fiction, such as The Road, you will enjoy Pure.  Another aspect of Pure that differs from the normal YA fare is the romance, or lack there of.  There is a hint, but it is not the major plot point which is a welcome relief.  

Pure is told from multiple perspectives, and I found myself really enjoying half of them.  I really liked Pressia and El Captain, the two perspectives that were outside the dome.  Their world was so interesting and horrific, I was completely drawn into their lives and how the world had changed.  I found myself not as connected to Partridge and Lyda, the two characters in the dome.  I don't think the political structure and history of the dome was clear enough for me to understand fully why it existed and how it failed as a society. 

Pure's strength lies in the atmosphere.  The world is frightfully disfigured, but the fact that human life perseveres on and adapts to their mutations creates a disconcerting tone  that is unlike the other YA dystopians out there.   I would recommend this to anyone who loves apocalyptic novels but is tired of the same old formulas.