The Program

by Suzanne Young

Imagine a future where teen suicide is an epidemic, and the cure for the illness can cost you your memory. . .

Yes, this is the world in which Sloane lives. Her brother, Brady, killed himself, and her parents are now hyper-vigilant about Sloane’s mental health. They are so concerned that they are willing to send her to The Program, if necessary.

The Program, you see, is the country’s response to the suicide epidemic. The Program erases its patients’ memories.

One by one, Sloane’s friends and classmates either kill themselves or get shipped off to The Program. It is only a matter of time before Sloane succumbs to one fate or the other.

This story reminds me of the movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Of course, the memory erasing in this novel is involuntary. And quite chilling.

Though the concept isn’t very original, I did enjoy this novel. It’s hard not to like Sloane. I really wanted to know what happened to her. Of course, I’ll have to read the next book in the series to find out what happened to her.

1/31/15