No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.
Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.
CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.
Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.
*My Thoughts*
The 100 is a post-apocalyptic story set 300 years into the future. The backdrop to the story is that a nuclear cataclysm forced humanities survivors into outer space where they have remained. Those in charge have been afraid that the nuclear fallout would kill anyone who tried to return. Now, generations later, the leaders of the ARC have decided to send 100 delinquents to the surface of the planet in order to see if the planet is livable and a way to extend humanities existence.
The 100 is told by several different characters who we are briefly introduced in the beginning, and eventually via flashbacks, we find out what each of them did to earn confinement and a one way trip to the surface. I think a better understanding of the past, would have given this story more of a likability factor for me. Don't get me wrong folks. The story is intriguing or otherwise I wouldn't have finished the book, or watched the TV show.
I truly believe that I made a huge mistake in watching CW's The 100, before jumping into this book. Although "most" of the characters remain the same, there are some major differences, and we don't get a look at the others, like the Chancellor, who have made their presence felt in the TV show. As I was discussing with a follower recently, one of the characters in THIS book, Glass, is more or less there to show how life aboard the space station is slowly going to hell in a hand basket, and how those on board are dealing with the eventuality that they will have to find a way off the station and to the surface like the delinquents.
While she was one of the original 100, it's apparent that Kass made Glass the station's storyteller while rotating between Clarke Griffin, Wells Jaha, and Bellamy Blake, all of who make it to the surface. Obviously, there will be differences between the book and the TV show. There always is. Case in point is the Vampire Diaries which has absolutely nothing in common with the CW show. I have given up on watching. I would love to see the writers of TVD fall back on the books, and end the show like the books did.
I do think the book is a bit short and could have expanded more on the so called Grounders or the dangers The 100 face and how the so called nuclear fall out dispersed allowing the 100 to adequately breathe and live. I would have also preferred another avenue when it came to Clarke's parents. I think that by watching the TV show first, I have spoiled different things that will happen in future releases. Of course, The 100 ends on a pretty obvious cliffhanger, and therefore one who has enjoyed reading this book, will find themselves moving on to Day 21.
Of the characters that are introduced, it is no surprise that I adore Clarke, while loathing Wells, and not really understanding all the angst that Glass's POV brings with it. I also liked how Bellamy stood by his sister and would do anything for her. With Wells, I just don't see how anyone could made the choices he did all in the supposed name of love. I do think the chemistry between Clarke and Bellamy is adequately written, unlike the TV show where it has been hanging on the surface begging to be let out. One of the other differences I see is the lack of faith in allowing Octavia to be one of the main characters. Hopefully, that will change in the next installment.
Overall, The 100 is an entertaining yet lacks in certain characters and world building. I would love to see more of Bellamy's POV, as well as other survivors who have remained in the background. I would have preferred the book to remain along the lines of the TV show, but, we can't always get what we want, can we?
Author - Kass Morgan
Title - The 100 (The Hundred # 1)
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Released: September 3, 2013
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Format: Hardback, 336 pages
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