Because it is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin [Review]

4 out of 5 Robots!

   

Because it is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian(ish)
Series: Birthright #2

Release: September 12, 2012

Hardcover: 350 Pages

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
Since her release from Liberty Children's Facility, Anya Balanchine is determined to follow the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, her criminal record is making it hard for her to do that. No high school wants her with a gun possession charge on her rap sheet. Plus, all the people in her life have moved on: Natty has skipped two grades at Holy Trinity, Scarlet and Gable seem closer than ever, and even Win is in a new relationship.But when old friends return demanding that certain debts be paid, Anya is thrown right back into the criminal world that she had been determined to escape. It’s a journey that will take her across the ocean and straight into the heart of the birthplace of chocolate where her resolve--and her heart--will be tested as never before.(Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

All the things I liked in the first book All These Things I've Done, are present in this follow up.  I still enjoy the setting in a future New York overrun by crime, bans, and restrictions.  I still enjoy the crime family drama and Anya's desperate attempts to stay out of the "family business".  I still enjoy Anya as a blunt, no-nonsense narrator.  But the problem is...it all felt the same as the first book too.  After two whole books of "more of the same", I felt a little more disenchanted with the story. (How many times can Anya possibly go back to Liberty?!)  I wanted to see more growth with Anya.  I needed her to come further than she did and grow more as a person.  But she has a lot of the same feelings, a lot of the same grudges, and a lot of the same arguments.  Ultimately, I felt it wasn't as strong as the first book.  The timing was a little off, a little lagging.  The plot moved slowly and sometimes I felt like everyone was spinning their wheels for not going anywhere.  The ending was the hardest part for me, which ended up almost as an allegory for the medical marijuana initiative. It felt a little odd and out of place.  Overall, I have really enjoyed this series, but I hope the third book gives our Anya more to do.