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Bumped #2
Thumped
Megan McCafferty’s Bumped series of books are must-read teen dystopian fiction, along with Ally Condie’s Matched series and Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy. Thumped, the sequel to Bumped, manages to be satiric, scary, and romantic at the same time. It continues the story of separated-at-birth twins, Melody and Harmony, girls as engaging as McCafferty’s Jessica Darling. These sisters are the most popular teen girls on the planet. To their fans, they seem to be living ideal lives. Harmony is married to Ram and living in Goodside, the religious community that once meant everything to her. Melody has the genetically flawless Jondoe as her coupling partner, which means money and status—and a bright future. But both girls are hiding secrets. And they are each pining for the only guys they can’t have…. The biggest risk of all could be to finally tell the truth.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
55 people are currently reading
5052 people want to read
About the author
Megan McCafferty
27 books2,536 followersMegan McCafferty writes fiction for tweens, teens and teens-at-heart of all ages. The author of twelve novels, she’s best known for SLOPPY FIRSTS and four more sequels in the New York Times bestselling Jessica Darling series--available throughout 2021 in updated 20th anniversary editions. She published two new books in 2020: TRUE TO YOUR SELFIE (MG, Scholastic) and THE MALL (YA, Wednesday Books). Described in her first review as “Judy Blume meets Dorothy Parker” (Wall Street Journal), she’s been trying to live up to that high standard ever since.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 642 reviews
August 2, 2021
Note qui va très probablement changer j’ai lu le livre en genre 3 heures mais en tant que tel je vois que c’est mauvais mais c’est comme tellement mauvais que c’est bon genre on dirait une histoire wattpad vous savez le feeling d’addiction étrange dont je parle
L’écriture était encore cringe mais meilleure que dans le tome 1 d’ailleurs
L’écriture était encore cringe mais meilleure que dans le tome 1 d’ailleurs
May 1, 2012
The scariest thing about Thumped -- a story told about a futuristic dystopia where teen girls have their bodies sold for reproductive purposes -- is how eerily similar it is to our own world right now.
Before saying a whole lot more, I'll say it's absolutely essential to read Bumped before diving into this one or it will make no sense at all. A year out from reading Bumped, I was a little lost for a while (partially my fault and partially because the first 1/3 or so of Thumped is the weakest).
After Bumped, Harmony returns to Goodside, a community where religious beliefs are law in order to maintain a sort of utopian world (it's where she grew up and was comfortable) but she's anything but happy here. More than that, though, she's due soon to give birth to twins. Melody desperately wants Harmony back in her life, and she makes it her mission to rescue her. Melody's pregnant, too, with twins, and now the world waits eagerly for their Double Double Due Date. While important to the plot, the writing and story here are clunky, but in these moments, Harmony's voice and character shine through. Whereas the first installment in this series gives readers a sense of Melody and what the stakes are for her, this book homes in much more on Harmony. I think for good reason, too. While there are a number of important male characters in the story (ones that were especially influential in Bumped), I didn't spend much time caring about them in Thumped. That's a point of the book, not a point of weak writing.
I found the conclusions drawn in this book satisfying and relevant. It's a world where females -- teen girls -- have lost rights to their own bodies. It's a world where the government is so concerned about "taking care" of its citizens that it chooses the way one lives. Where people are so fanatical about making money, gaining fame, garnering status, that they overlook the fact every individual is entitled to do and act with their bodies and their lives as they wish to. That means if they don't want to be sold for procreation, they don't have to be. It means if they want to use contraception, they can (and I think it's brilliant McCafferty illustrates this point via condoms rather than birth control, only further amplifying the male/female divide and notion of sexual responsibility on this issue). It means if a woman wants to breastfeed their children, she have the right to do that. It means if someone doesn't want to live his/her life under a religious canopy s/he don't believe in or don't want to subscribe fully to, s/he don't have to.
Thumped isn't the same as Bumped, in that the story is thinner and the world-building is tamer. It's still a satire, but not in the degree Bumped was. Part of the payoff was seeing how Melody and Harmony came to find themselves as more than simply satire and more than simply products of their world. The reason it lacks in story is because it matters much less than their coming into themselves and their realization they're autonomous and freely independent beings who can act that way. More than that, though, the story aspect of the book was precisely what their government and their fans wanted them to tell. It was essential in Bumped but because Thumped turns the twins' worlds upside down, it was much more important for them to break free from the story they felt they had to tell and instead, tell the one they wanted to tell.
Melody sums it up really nicely: "I'm the only one who will take credit for my successes. And I'm the only one who will take the blame for my mistakes. From now on, I live for me."
I appreciate how McCafferty offered up a sequel to Bumped, but she does it in an unexpected, fresh, and thoughtful way. It wasn't a lazy book at all.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/05/t...
Before saying a whole lot more, I'll say it's absolutely essential to read Bumped before diving into this one or it will make no sense at all. A year out from reading Bumped, I was a little lost for a while (partially my fault and partially because the first 1/3 or so of Thumped is the weakest).
After Bumped, Harmony returns to Goodside, a community where religious beliefs are law in order to maintain a sort of utopian world (it's where she grew up and was comfortable) but she's anything but happy here. More than that, though, she's due soon to give birth to twins. Melody desperately wants Harmony back in her life, and she makes it her mission to rescue her. Melody's pregnant, too, with twins, and now the world waits eagerly for their Double Double Due Date. While important to the plot, the writing and story here are clunky, but in these moments, Harmony's voice and character shine through. Whereas the first installment in this series gives readers a sense of Melody and what the stakes are for her, this book homes in much more on Harmony. I think for good reason, too. While there are a number of important male characters in the story (ones that were especially influential in Bumped), I didn't spend much time caring about them in Thumped. That's a point of the book, not a point of weak writing.
I found the conclusions drawn in this book satisfying and relevant. It's a world where females -- teen girls -- have lost rights to their own bodies. It's a world where the government is so concerned about "taking care" of its citizens that it chooses the way one lives. Where people are so fanatical about making money, gaining fame, garnering status, that they overlook the fact every individual is entitled to do and act with their bodies and their lives as they wish to. That means if they don't want to be sold for procreation, they don't have to be. It means if they want to use contraception, they can (and I think it's brilliant McCafferty illustrates this point via condoms rather than birth control, only further amplifying the male/female divide and notion of sexual responsibility on this issue). It means if a woman wants to breastfeed their children, she have the right to do that. It means if someone doesn't want to live his/her life under a religious canopy s/he don't believe in or don't want to subscribe fully to, s/he don't have to.
Thumped isn't the same as Bumped, in that the story is thinner and the world-building is tamer. It's still a satire, but not in the degree Bumped was. Part of the payoff was seeing how Melody and Harmony came to find themselves as more than simply satire and more than simply products of their world. The reason it lacks in story is because it matters much less than their coming into themselves and their realization they're autonomous and freely independent beings who can act that way. More than that, though, the story aspect of the book was precisely what their government and their fans wanted them to tell. It was essential in Bumped but because Thumped turns the twins' worlds upside down, it was much more important for them to break free from the story they felt they had to tell and instead, tell the one they wanted to tell.
Melody sums it up really nicely: "I'm the only one who will take credit for my successes. And I'm the only one who will take the blame for my mistakes. From now on, I live for me."
I appreciate how McCafferty offered up a sequel to Bumped, but she does it in an unexpected, fresh, and thoughtful way. It wasn't a lazy book at all.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/05/t...
January 23, 2021
2.5 stars
I strongly believe Meghan Mccafferty's Jessica Darling series is THE MOST UNDERRATED YA series out there. But this book was so disappointing, I can't even consider her one of my favorite writers anymore.
The previous book in this duology wasn't bad: it was unique and kept my attention. But Thumped? Oh boy. Looking back on my journey reading it, I can only recall about 5-6 important scenes in the book. Everything else was simply prolonging the story.
Short chapters made it easy to read, but jumping from one POV to the other every 2-3 pages got old quickly and made the storyline seem choppy.
And what bothered me the most was how everything resolved in the end. I HATEhateHATEhateHATEhate when there's a big, unrealistic moment where everyone learns a lesson and decides to live a better life from that point on, which this book definitely had.
I strongly believe Meghan Mccafferty's Jessica Darling series is THE MOST UNDERRATED YA series out there. But this book was so disappointing, I can't even consider her one of my favorite writers anymore.
The previous book in this duology wasn't bad: it was unique and kept my attention. But Thumped? Oh boy. Looking back on my journey reading it, I can only recall about 5-6 important scenes in the book. Everything else was simply prolonging the story.
Short chapters made it easy to read, but jumping from one POV to the other every 2-3 pages got old quickly and made the storyline seem choppy.
And what bothered me the most was how everything resolved in the end. I HATEhateHATEhateHATEhate when there's a big, unrealistic moment where everyone learns a lesson and decides to live a better life from that point on, which this book definitely had.
Want to read
January 4, 2012I'm confused. How can Melody be pregnant if she never had sex with anybody..? Am I missing something?
December 11, 2012
I am honestly not sure why Bumped and Thumped haven't received more love from the YA community. I wish that they did; they offer something lighter, less romantic and certainly different from other dystopian novels on the market. Where most of these (Wither, Matched, Legend, Divergent, and many more) offer bleak, dramatic visions of the future where romance and hope should prevail through tragedy, Megan McCafferty works on similar ideas by way of the satire. And it (in my opinion) works beautifully, offering a refreshing yet realistic take on a possible future.
Thumped offered a really nice conclusion to Bumped. The story was entertaining enough, there was a bit of humor, and I remembered enough of the previous book's new words to be comfortable with them this time. There's a great cast of secondary characters, some good and some less than good, and I love all the technologies and products appearing through the story.
There is something quite impressive about the future McCafferty has created, which seems to be both too crazy to be true, and entirely realistic. Melody's parents, for instance, were awful people, using their daughter for their own profit. I kept thinking, where do these parents come from? I can't imagine parents could do that to their own child! But then, I thought about it again, and I realized that yes, I could absolutely see it. We see worse all the time on the news, so why not? And that's what satire is a little bit, isn't it? Taking a horrible truth, twisting it a little, and forcing you to think on what it hides, what it means. The book certainly opens many doors for discussions on sexuality, faith, free will, etc.
There were a few things I liked less in the book. I found the girls to be a tad preachy, and not really likable. I also missed Zen as he was in the first book. I would say that Thumped really isn't a book for readers who want to relate to characters and live strong emotions through them; the book was, to me, more about the world it described and the ideas behind it. I also felt that the "mission", the great plot around which the book is built, was a bit weak.
Despite its flaws, Thumped was a fun book. It's short and could easily be read in one session. While it didn't make my heart beat a little faster of make me root for its characters, it certainly entertained me. Is it for everyone? Probably not. But for something just a little different and entertaining, Bumped and Thumped are nice picks.
Thumped offered a really nice conclusion to Bumped. The story was entertaining enough, there was a bit of humor, and I remembered enough of the previous book's new words to be comfortable with them this time. There's a great cast of secondary characters, some good and some less than good, and I love all the technologies and products appearing through the story.
There is something quite impressive about the future McCafferty has created, which seems to be both too crazy to be true, and entirely realistic. Melody's parents, for instance, were awful people, using their daughter for their own profit. I kept thinking, where do these parents come from? I can't imagine parents could do that to their own child! But then, I thought about it again, and I realized that yes, I could absolutely see it. We see worse all the time on the news, so why not? And that's what satire is a little bit, isn't it? Taking a horrible truth, twisting it a little, and forcing you to think on what it hides, what it means. The book certainly opens many doors for discussions on sexuality, faith, free will, etc.
There were a few things I liked less in the book. I found the girls to be a tad preachy, and not really likable. I also missed Zen as he was in the first book. I would say that Thumped really isn't a book for readers who want to relate to characters and live strong emotions through them; the book was, to me, more about the world it described and the ideas behind it. I also felt that the "mission", the great plot around which the book is built, was a bit weak.
Despite its flaws, Thumped was a fun book. It's short and could easily be read in one session. While it didn't make my heart beat a little faster of make me root for its characters, it certainly entertained me. Is it for everyone? Probably not. But for something just a little different and entertaining, Bumped and Thumped are nice picks.
May 10, 2021
“All this girl-on-girl hate is exhausting. Sometimes I wish we could dose on testosterone, punch each other in the face, and get it over with already.”
It's bad. I'm sorry, it's plain bad. I'm giving it an extra star for the inspired idea, the plot had a lot of room to do something so cool and unique in the YA genre, but it didn't. The writing was weak (the futuristic language used is even hard to follow at times) and the characters lacked a clear motivation (apart from maybe Zen, who had the potential to be my favourite character, but unfortunately was barely even there to make a difference).
It had potential. Unfortunately, potential doesn't solely make for a good book.
It's bad. I'm sorry, it's plain bad. I'm giving it an extra star for the inspired idea, the plot had a lot of room to do something so cool and unique in the YA genre, but it didn't. The writing was weak (the futuristic language used is even hard to follow at times) and the characters lacked a clear motivation (apart from maybe Zen, who had the potential to be my favourite character, but unfortunately was barely even there to make a difference).
It had potential. Unfortunately, potential doesn't solely make for a good book.
January 17, 2021
We’re making babies. We’re creating people. And we’re having meaningless sex to do it! And yet we pretend like it’s no big deal. We pretend that we aren’t in the business of buying and selling human beings...
This was a satisfying, fitting conclusion to Melody and Harmony’s story. I’m definitely glad I don’t have to read “for seriously!” and “motherhumper” or “pro-boner” ever again. But I will admit that McCafferty’s tale is actually really clever and thought provoking.
This book takes a much more direct stance in demonstrating a sort of “mission.” There are sexual politics at play, from sexual liberation to expectations to control. But there are more layers, too. It gets into the bare bones of a political drama, which drives home much more the dystopian aspects of this story.
To these patriotic public servants, I’ve committed what amounts to reproductive treason. I haven’t just hurt the Jaydens, my parents, or my own future. I’ve hurt America.
Harmony is due to give birth to her and Jondoe’s twins. And everyone thinks Melody was also impregnated by Jondoe—but it’s an elaborate guise. They’re fooling everyone. Harmony is also realizing that her life in Goodside isn’t really what she thought it was. Ram is having his own tryst. And Melody is still falling hard for Zen. Zen has really thrust himself into creating and promoting the concept of nonprocreative sex. But Melody’s having second thoughts...
If that seems like a lot, it certainly is. This book is shorter than the previous, and it tries hard to pack in various character threads, politics, drama—and it’s almost an overload of stuff. I mean, it still works in the end, and I think it ended as perfectly as it could have, but this book was a lot to handle. The writing makes you think you’re going in for a lighthearted joyride of crazy teenagers living in a rather oppressive-under-the-surface America, but there’s so much more between the simplicity in the writing.
And yet, I’m little confused by the point of it all. The characters talk up a good game about having meaningful sex, using protection, etc. But is meaningless sex not okay? What happened to sexual liberation, doing what you want to do? And then, there’s the wacky, kind of terrifying picture of parents in this book. Ash and Ty are scheming pieces of work in the end. And, even still, there’s a brash critique of consumerist, hyper capitalistic society, media-driven, brand-obsessed people... I could go on. This book is d-e-e-p.
This was a satisfying, fitting conclusion to Melody and Harmony’s story. I’m definitely glad I don’t have to read “for seriously!” and “motherhumper” or “pro-boner” ever again. But I will admit that McCafferty’s tale is actually really clever and thought provoking.
This book takes a much more direct stance in demonstrating a sort of “mission.” There are sexual politics at play, from sexual liberation to expectations to control. But there are more layers, too. It gets into the bare bones of a political drama, which drives home much more the dystopian aspects of this story.
To these patriotic public servants, I’ve committed what amounts to reproductive treason. I haven’t just hurt the Jaydens, my parents, or my own future. I’ve hurt America.
Harmony is due to give birth to her and Jondoe’s twins. And everyone thinks Melody was also impregnated by Jondoe—but it’s an elaborate guise. They’re fooling everyone. Harmony is also realizing that her life in Goodside isn’t really what she thought it was. Ram is having his own tryst. And Melody is still falling hard for Zen. Zen has really thrust himself into creating and promoting the concept of nonprocreative sex. But Melody’s having second thoughts...
If that seems like a lot, it certainly is. This book is shorter than the previous, and it tries hard to pack in various character threads, politics, drama—and it’s almost an overload of stuff. I mean, it still works in the end, and I think it ended as perfectly as it could have, but this book was a lot to handle. The writing makes you think you’re going in for a lighthearted joyride of crazy teenagers living in a rather oppressive-under-the-surface America, but there’s so much more between the simplicity in the writing.
And yet, I’m little confused by the point of it all. The characters talk up a good game about having meaningful sex, using protection, etc. But is meaningless sex not okay? What happened to sexual liberation, doing what you want to do? And then, there’s the wacky, kind of terrifying picture of parents in this book. Ash and Ty are scheming pieces of work in the end. And, even still, there’s a brash critique of consumerist, hyper capitalistic society, media-driven, brand-obsessed people... I could go on. This book is d-e-e-p.
October 16, 2012
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Thumped focuses more on Harmony as the girls fight their own popularity to save the future they really want.
Opening Sentence: I face my reflection, an engorged distortion I barely recognize anymore.
The Review:
You absolutely have to read Bumped before picking up its sequel. Nothing will make sense and unlike other authors, McCafferty doesn’t waste pages going over the previous novel. If you read it, you’ll remember it. If you skipped it, you’ll drown in the world and relationships explained and built up in Bumped. In a world where the government is concerned with taking care of its citizens to the point of robbing females of their body’s rights, Melody and Harmony’s true stories would set off a reaction that would skyrocket them into infamy.
As Harmony tries to find out where she belongs — Goodside or Melody’s world, neither of which make her happy — her husband is suffering with her fame. Melody, who originally fought Harmony’s presence in her life, now fights to find a way to get her twin out of Goodside. This story is much more Harmony-centric, which I liked because I couldn’t get along with her as a narrator in Bumped. In Thumped, the twin’s worlds are turned upside down — mainly because in Bumped they told the story the government and their fans wanted to hear.
Thumped is still a satire, but not to the extent its prequel was. In many ways Thumped falls short of Bumped. The worldbuilding isn’t as in-your-face this time around. (And I don’t think I just got used to it. I think she toned it down.) The plot is definitely smaller and more contained. (Even though it involves millions of people. Ha.) This book is not for the lazy reader, though. It demands engagement, questions, challenges the reader into thinking about their independence, choices, and autonomy in a world like our heroines’. It’s not a heavy book — McCafferty is far too hilarious for that — but it’s not an easy read either.
This book is a lot more focused on choices — which is odd, because that’s what the first novel was about too. What I mean is, the girls chose in book one to tell a certain story and in Thumped they’re not only living with the consequences but are finally seeing themselves as independent. There’s a lot of romance with Zen and Jondoe — which I welcomed with open arms. McCafferty knows how to write heroes and romantic tension. If you were dying for more lovin’ in Bumped, I promise you get your money’s worth in the sequel.
Moral of the story: Ladies, you are more than the sum of your uterus. While I liked this novel better than Bumped, it still didn’t rock my world. Everything wrapped up a bit too quick and clean at the end for my tastes, but it was definitely a satisfying read all around. If you read Bumped, then this is definitely worth picking up, if only to find out how Melody and Harmony’s story ends.
Notable Scene:
“Look at me, Harmony. I’m a mess.”
Ignoring the low wail of the kettle, I do as he asks. He’s slumped over the table now, wearing a desperate hangdog look I’ve never seen before. Not even his luminious smile can lift him up.
He is a mess.
He’s a bigger mess than I am. And I’m the adulteress here.
FTC Advisory: Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins provided me with a copy of Thumped. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Thumped focuses more on Harmony as the girls fight their own popularity to save the future they really want.
Opening Sentence: I face my reflection, an engorged distortion I barely recognize anymore.
The Review:
You absolutely have to read Bumped before picking up its sequel. Nothing will make sense and unlike other authors, McCafferty doesn’t waste pages going over the previous novel. If you read it, you’ll remember it. If you skipped it, you’ll drown in the world and relationships explained and built up in Bumped. In a world where the government is concerned with taking care of its citizens to the point of robbing females of their body’s rights, Melody and Harmony’s true stories would set off a reaction that would skyrocket them into infamy.
As Harmony tries to find out where she belongs — Goodside or Melody’s world, neither of which make her happy — her husband is suffering with her fame. Melody, who originally fought Harmony’s presence in her life, now fights to find a way to get her twin out of Goodside. This story is much more Harmony-centric, which I liked because I couldn’t get along with her as a narrator in Bumped. In Thumped, the twin’s worlds are turned upside down — mainly because in Bumped they told the story the government and their fans wanted to hear.
Thumped is still a satire, but not to the extent its prequel was. In many ways Thumped falls short of Bumped. The worldbuilding isn’t as in-your-face this time around. (And I don’t think I just got used to it. I think she toned it down.) The plot is definitely smaller and more contained. (Even though it involves millions of people. Ha.) This book is not for the lazy reader, though. It demands engagement, questions, challenges the reader into thinking about their independence, choices, and autonomy in a world like our heroines’. It’s not a heavy book — McCafferty is far too hilarious for that — but it’s not an easy read either.
This book is a lot more focused on choices — which is odd, because that’s what the first novel was about too. What I mean is, the girls chose in book one to tell a certain story and in Thumped they’re not only living with the consequences but are finally seeing themselves as independent. There’s a lot of romance with Zen and Jondoe — which I welcomed with open arms. McCafferty knows how to write heroes and romantic tension. If you were dying for more lovin’ in Bumped, I promise you get your money’s worth in the sequel.
Moral of the story: Ladies, you are more than the sum of your uterus. While I liked this novel better than Bumped, it still didn’t rock my world. Everything wrapped up a bit too quick and clean at the end for my tastes, but it was definitely a satisfying read all around. If you read Bumped, then this is definitely worth picking up, if only to find out how Melody and Harmony’s story ends.
Notable Scene:
“Look at me, Harmony. I’m a mess.”
Ignoring the low wail of the kettle, I do as he asks. He’s slumped over the table now, wearing a desperate hangdog look I’ve never seen before. Not even his luminious smile can lift him up.
He is a mess.
He’s a bigger mess than I am. And I’m the adulteress here.
FTC Advisory: Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins provided me with a copy of Thumped. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
April 26, 2012
*Spoiler Free*
This was a fantastic conclusion to a crazy, refreshing, inventive dystopian series.
I absolutely loved Bumped with its wacky vocabulary and its odd concepts of pregnancy in a world where past the age of 18, girls become infertile. I could only vaguely remember parts of Bumped so I would suggest re-reading it before digging into Thumped. However it does all come back to you and the progression of the characters and their lives are clearly explained.
Thumped hooks you in straight away and you quickly become immersed in both Melody and Harmony's complicated, confusing lives. The switching perspectives between the two twins worked really well and both protagonists had a distinct voice. I especially felt that we learnt more about Harmony and her life on the 'Otherside.' I also thought it was easy to relate to their characters and I really felt so sorry for them! They both were trapped by society, its pressures and everyone else's expectations of them.
The story did have elements of a satire as did Bumped, but in my opinion, it also had more of a deeper message in respect to girls and the choices they make with the their bodies. Of course, on the surface our society seems so different, yet there are alarming similarities between our world and the world painted in this book. McCafferty definitely gives us readers many issues to consider.
There was also quite a bit of romance and I loved both Zen and Jondoe. The latter was a particularly hard character to figure out, however I can assure you, Jondoe's true intentions are revealed. The developments in this book also set a good pace to Thumped so you'll most likely read this in one sitting.
Overall, this was a fantastic read with well developed characters and some great unique world-building.
THE VERDICT
4 stars - A satisfying ending to a unique, dystopian series. Recommended to ALL!
Source: received from publisher for review. Thank you!
For more of my reviews and other bookish goodness go to: http://bookchowdown.blogspot.com/
This was a fantastic conclusion to a crazy, refreshing, inventive dystopian series.
I absolutely loved Bumped with its wacky vocabulary and its odd concepts of pregnancy in a world where past the age of 18, girls become infertile. I could only vaguely remember parts of Bumped so I would suggest re-reading it before digging into Thumped. However it does all come back to you and the progression of the characters and their lives are clearly explained.
Thumped hooks you in straight away and you quickly become immersed in both Melody and Harmony's complicated, confusing lives. The switching perspectives between the two twins worked really well and both protagonists had a distinct voice. I especially felt that we learnt more about Harmony and her life on the 'Otherside.' I also thought it was easy to relate to their characters and I really felt so sorry for them! They both were trapped by society, its pressures and everyone else's expectations of them.
The story did have elements of a satire as did Bumped, but in my opinion, it also had more of a deeper message in respect to girls and the choices they make with the their bodies. Of course, on the surface our society seems so different, yet there are alarming similarities between our world and the world painted in this book. McCafferty definitely gives us readers many issues to consider.
There was also quite a bit of romance and I loved both Zen and Jondoe. The latter was a particularly hard character to figure out, however I can assure you, Jondoe's true intentions are revealed. The developments in this book also set a good pace to Thumped so you'll most likely read this in one sitting.
Overall, this was a fantastic read with well developed characters and some great unique world-building.
THE VERDICT
4 stars - A satisfying ending to a unique, dystopian series. Recommended to ALL!
Source: received from publisher for review. Thank you!
For more of my reviews and other bookish goodness go to: http://bookchowdown.blogspot.com/
September 23, 2012
I'm going to be honest, I don't remember a lot about Bumped. I remember I read it, thought it was an interesting concept, and liked it enough to be mildly excited when I saw there was a sequel.
I have a great love of dystopian fiction but this particular novel failed to live up to my expectations. I kept reading, waiting for it to get exciting, for something to happen, and it never did. Zen and Melody are supposed to be planning this "Mission", this rebellion against society and they hardly ever talk about it, explain what it means or what they are actually doing, except to say that Melody is faking her pregnancy and oh boy is everyone going to be mad about it when they find out! I wanted some sense of danger, something to put me on the edge of my seat, to keep me turning the pages and I just felt like nothing actually happened. I never felt like I connected with the characters in any way and definitely didn't connect with their world. I got that there was technology and girls were paid to have babies but other than that....I never felt like I was brought into their world.
And I wanted to punch Johndoe in the face for the entire book. He was just so syrupy sweet and annoying.
Then there was the ending. Besides being completely predictable, I felt like I was being beat over the head with the preachy, preachy message. Make your own decisions! Don't be pressured into doing things! Have sex with someone you love! I get it.
It definitely is a light, easy read but overall, I think it was just too light hearted for me.
I have a great love of dystopian fiction but this particular novel failed to live up to my expectations. I kept reading, waiting for it to get exciting, for something to happen, and it never did. Zen and Melody are supposed to be planning this "Mission", this rebellion against society and they hardly ever talk about it, explain what it means or what they are actually doing, except to say that Melody is faking her pregnancy and oh boy is everyone going to be mad about it when they find out! I wanted some sense of danger, something to put me on the edge of my seat, to keep me turning the pages and I just felt like nothing actually happened. I never felt like I connected with the characters in any way and definitely didn't connect with their world. I got that there was technology and girls were paid to have babies but other than that....I never felt like I was brought into their world.
And I wanted to punch Johndoe in the face for the entire book. He was just so syrupy sweet and annoying.
Then there was the ending. Besides being completely predictable, I felt like I was being beat over the head with the preachy, preachy message. Make your own decisions! Don't be pressured into doing things! Have sex with someone you love! I get it.
It definitely is a light, easy read but overall, I think it was just too light hearted for me.
April 19, 2016
I read Bumped and I thought it was quite ridiculous, but I wanted to see if the sequel was better in some way. Alas, no.
This book just made me sad.
Humanist is the word. The author's views of God, Jesus, and the Holy Bible are awful. You cannot tailor-make God to fit your own desires and whims; and the Bible is not to be spit upon (no matter how subtly you do it).
The church Megan presents in this book, is obviously terrible. The Good News is, you don't put your faith in a church. You put it in Jesus. He paid for everyone's sins and now asks us if we will accept the payment. It's not dictatorial, oppressive or 'Godfreakiness'.
I'm praying for you Megan McCafferty.
This book just made me sad.
Humanist is the word. The author's views of God, Jesus, and the Holy Bible are awful. You cannot tailor-make God to fit your own desires and whims; and the Bible is not to be spit upon (no matter how subtly you do it).
The church Megan presents in this book, is obviously terrible. The Good News is, you don't put your faith in a church. You put it in Jesus. He paid for everyone's sins and now asks us if we will accept the payment. It's not dictatorial, oppressive or 'Godfreakiness'.
I'm praying for you Megan McCafferty.
August 10, 2012
OMG I won this as a goodreads giveaway! This is my first one, I can't believe it! SO EFFING EXCITED
November 9, 2022
This was such a fun and thought provoking duology, I'm glad I finally gave it a chance!
November 9, 2012
First published on: http://readmybreathaway.blogspot.ca/
Oh, Thumped. What can I say about Thumped?
I read the first book, Bumped, and honestly, I did not enjoy it. So don't ask me what compelled me to pick up Thumped and read it, but I did.
And I didn't enjoy this one either. Surprise, surprise.
So I'm just going to keep this review short.
This book was very frustrating for me. In more than one aspect.
First, the relationships between characters. Zen, who supposedly loves Melody, doesn't act at all like he cares about her for a while. Yes, this is for the benefit of the public, who is not allowed to know about their feelings for each other, but really? What teenage boy has that much restraint? Certainly not one I've ever met. Also, if he loves her so much, why is Ventura even an issue? She shouldn't be able to steal Zen away in any aspect if he truly does love Melody. I'm also not a fan of Melody's almost permanent jealous state. That was extremely frustrating to read! Another relationship that bothered me was that between Melody and Jondoe. Partially because it is barely developed, despite them living together. The only thing we see is Jondoe being miserable about Harmony being gone and Melody trying (not very hard) to give him hope that Harmony will come back.
Speaking of Harmony, I like that she was rebelling against her oppressive community, but it seemed so dramatic. I understand that it's important and shows her personal growth, but it felt overdone. I did like that Melody and Johndoe did show some actual growth as characters, even if it was just how I expected.
Also, can I just mention the lingo? Wow. I get that it's part of world-building, but that was just painful. Everyone in the book seemed so... dumb. That was really frustrating. And the fact that Lib spoke almost entirely in capitals. I got extremely annoyed with the character simply because of that.
There were a few things I did enjoy, though. I really like that Melody has such an attitude with Ventura, that was fun to read. It was also impressive how everyone (except Harmony, anyway) was so completely brainwashed by their society. That consistency was good. Finally, at least there were some surprises. Some things happened that I completely did not expect, which I was very glad for!
I think one of my biggest problems with the book was that I couldn't seem to get into the characters' heads and understand them, which meant I couldn't sympathize or feel anything for them except annoyance. It's not that this was a bad book, it just wasn't for me. Therefore:
2 Stars.
Oh, Thumped. What can I say about Thumped?
I read the first book, Bumped, and honestly, I did not enjoy it. So don't ask me what compelled me to pick up Thumped and read it, but I did.
And I didn't enjoy this one either. Surprise, surprise.
So I'm just going to keep this review short.
This book was very frustrating for me. In more than one aspect.
First, the relationships between characters. Zen, who supposedly loves Melody, doesn't act at all like he cares about her for a while. Yes, this is for the benefit of the public, who is not allowed to know about their feelings for each other, but really? What teenage boy has that much restraint? Certainly not one I've ever met. Also, if he loves her so much, why is Ventura even an issue? She shouldn't be able to steal Zen away in any aspect if he truly does love Melody. I'm also not a fan of Melody's almost permanent jealous state. That was extremely frustrating to read! Another relationship that bothered me was that between Melody and Jondoe. Partially because it is barely developed, despite them living together. The only thing we see is Jondoe being miserable about Harmony being gone and Melody trying (not very hard) to give him hope that Harmony will come back.
Speaking of Harmony, I like that she was rebelling against her oppressive community, but it seemed so dramatic. I understand that it's important and shows her personal growth, but it felt overdone. I did like that Melody and Johndoe did show some actual growth as characters, even if it was just how I expected.
Also, can I just mention the lingo? Wow. I get that it's part of world-building, but that was just painful. Everyone in the book seemed so... dumb. That was really frustrating. And the fact that Lib spoke almost entirely in capitals. I got extremely annoyed with the character simply because of that.
There were a few things I did enjoy, though. I really like that Melody has such an attitude with Ventura, that was fun to read. It was also impressive how everyone (except Harmony, anyway) was so completely brainwashed by their society. That consistency was good. Finally, at least there were some surprises. Some things happened that I completely did not expect, which I was very glad for!
I think one of my biggest problems with the book was that I couldn't seem to get into the characters' heads and understand them, which meant I couldn't sympathize or feel anything for them except annoyance. It's not that this was a bad book, it just wasn't for me. Therefore:
2 Stars.
May 19, 2015
I don't know why I decided to pick up the second book of the "Bumped" duology considering the fact that I didn't particularly like the first one. I guess I just wanted to know what happened and how Melody ended up pregnant since she didn't have intercourse.
I must admit I enjoyed "Thumped" more than its predecessor. The first book focused more on the relationship between Melody and Harmony, the whole baby-making corporation and the potential love interests for the two sisters. This book was so much more though. We see Harmony and Melody develop as book characters, as lovers, as sisters, as human beings. We catch a wider glimpse of their inner world, their thoughts and how they want to go on with their lives. We deeply understand why Harmony acted the way she did and why Melody chose to act otherwise. It's not only about pregnancy and deliveries anymore, it's also about love and the way to stand up and fight for what you believe in.
I overall enjoyed this book a lot. Megan MacCafferty's writing style isn't something particularly talented or memorable, but it achieves a great purpose: to make you think, to make you imagine what our world would be like if Harmony's and Melody's story was real. So, 3 out of 5 stars, or maybe 3.5 out of 5. It wasn't a magnificent read, but it was something that will keep me thinking for many months to come.
I must admit I enjoyed "Thumped" more than its predecessor. The first book focused more on the relationship between Melody and Harmony, the whole baby-making corporation and the potential love interests for the two sisters. This book was so much more though. We see Harmony and Melody develop as book characters, as lovers, as sisters, as human beings. We catch a wider glimpse of their inner world, their thoughts and how they want to go on with their lives. We deeply understand why Harmony acted the way she did and why Melody chose to act otherwise. It's not only about pregnancy and deliveries anymore, it's also about love and the way to stand up and fight for what you believe in.
I overall enjoyed this book a lot. Megan MacCafferty's writing style isn't something particularly talented or memorable, but it achieves a great purpose: to make you think, to make you imagine what our world would be like if Harmony's and Melody's story was real. So, 3 out of 5 stars, or maybe 3.5 out of 5. It wasn't a magnificent read, but it was something that will keep me thinking for many months to come.
June 10, 2013
Book #2, this is the sequel to Bumped. Melody and Harmony are back, looking very pregnant and the center of some national attention for their pregnancies. Twin girls, each pregnant with twins? The media is going crazy! What will happen after their births? How will the public and the religious commune accept each of the girls?
Though I wasn't crazy about Bumped, I read this wanting to see what happened to the girls and how they handled their situation. Again, there was so much potential here and it may have fallen flat a bit. Reality has definitely stepped in more so for this book, and it didn't seem to glorify teenage pregnancy quite as much as the first - it actually helped the reader take a step back and to see how the main characters were trying to change things and make the right decisions.
The writing is still mediocre, but it was a decent conclusion to the first story. I am not sure if there will be a third, but there does not need to be - the story was finished and I'm not sure if the readers will care what happens further down the road enough to warrant a third book.
Though I wasn't crazy about Bumped, I read this wanting to see what happened to the girls and how they handled their situation. Again, there was so much potential here and it may have fallen flat a bit. Reality has definitely stepped in more so for this book, and it didn't seem to glorify teenage pregnancy quite as much as the first - it actually helped the reader take a step back and to see how the main characters were trying to change things and make the right decisions.
The writing is still mediocre, but it was a decent conclusion to the first story. I am not sure if there will be a third, but there does not need to be - the story was finished and I'm not sure if the readers will care what happens further down the road enough to warrant a third book.
May 19, 2012
I was very unsure about my thoughts on BUMPED, the first book in the series, but I think I decided, overall, that I did enjoy the story.
So, what happened here with THUMPED? I just can't put my finger on it. The characters were selfish and irritating. The story was getting tiring and the weird bump-esque language just became annoying after a while.
Just stop at BUMPED and pretend like it's a cliff-hanger ending on purpose -- that'd be my recommendation, at least.
So, what happened here with THUMPED? I just can't put my finger on it. The characters were selfish and irritating. The story was getting tiring and the weird bump-esque language just became annoying after a while.
Just stop at BUMPED and pretend like it's a cliff-hanger ending on purpose -- that'd be my recommendation, at least.
May 3, 2023
Still an uncomfortable read given our current political climate, but the message really works.
April 23, 2012
Melody seems to have everything she ever wanted – a relationship with the most famous ReProductive Professional on earth and one of the best Surrogette contracts she could have ever hoped for.
Fame and fortune, Melody seems to have it all. She is a marketer’s dream. She has her own brand. She has her own fragrance. Her fan base is enormous. Everyone wants to know about her. The cheerclones want to be her.
And as one half of the Hotties with a Double Double Due Date or D4, she and Harmony are what everyone is talking about on the MiNet.
Even the stock market is betting on her and Harmony’s delivery dates. Identical twins bumped with twins due on the same day. What could be more exciting?
Even Harmony seems to have it all. Back in Goodside with Ram, her popularity has brought more money into the community. Her fame has allowed her to spread the word of her community to a wider audience.
Everything seems to be perfect. And it would be if it weren’t all a lie.
***
Thumped is the compelling, witty and utterly engaging follow-up to Bumped, a story set in a dark and disturbing future where getting bumped at a young age is essential to human survival. Alternating between the dual perspectives of Harmony and Melody, this sequel brings this shocking, exciting and thought-provoking series to its bittersweet end.
Picking up months after the first book’s conclusion, both Harmony and Melody are now famous. While Harmony has returned to Goodside and to Ram, Melody is still in Otherside promoting her brand and trying to maintain contact with her sister.
But while to the rest of the world everything seems perfect, not everything is as it seems. And Harmony and Melody may not be able to keep up the fake image they are showing the world or the lies that they are telling themselves for much longer.
Fast-paced and humor-filled, Thumped answers the question of what is the truth – the truth about Jondoe’s feelings, the truth about Ram and the truth about Melody’s motives. This immensely entertaining story, that is light on the surface with a dark premise beneath, will keep readers engaged as all is revealed and everything comes together at the end.
Both Melody and Harmony grow as characters in this sequel. They discover their own strengths and weaknesses and find their own voice in a society where marketers, advertisers and community leaders would dictate otherwise. Deviating from what’s expected of them and figuring out for themselves what is best for them makes them incredibly likable and relatable protagonists.
Author Megan McCafferty has written an exceptionally unique series with Bumped and Thumped, which tackles sensitive and potentially controversial subjects – promoting teen pregnancy, promiscuity and procreating for money. Her futuristic society is disturbing yet scarily realistic. And the issues she addresses – just what will our society do to ensure its survival and just how will people react and fight back – offer readers much to think about.
Thumped is a captivating must-read conclusion to this series for fans of the first book looking for answers. And this series is a must for readers looking for a surprisingly different peek at a very real dystopian future where marketing and advertising play a key role in the survival of the human race.
On a personal note:
After the wildly differing opinions about the first book in this series, Bumped, I wasn’t sure if there would be a sequel. But I’m so glad there was. It tied up all the loose ends and answered all those questions I had. About Melody. About Harmony. And about Jondoe.
I absolutely adored Thumped. This was such a super quick read, and I totally devoured it in one sitting. But just like with Bumped, this wasn’t simply a light and fluffy book. Those very real and disturbing issues that were presented in that first book were addressed in this follow-up and a few new issues were introduced. Though the sequel felt a bit more mild, less weighty.
The propaganda machine wasn’t out in full force like it was in Bumped. The shocking lingo wasn’t utilized quite as much. It was as if all that glamour was stripped away. Perhaps this was because Melody wasn’t blindly going along with things anymore. Neither was Harmony. But I missed that extra kick the first book had.
Much of Thumped was about the characters’ storylines that were left hanging. I loved getting back into their lives, seeing where they were just about eight-and-a-half months later. I loved getting an answer to the question as to whether Jondoe was “for serious” or not.
And I loved finding out just what happened with Melody, Harmony, Zen and Ram. I just wish a bit more time was spent, like it was in the first book, tackling those heavier issues.
In Bumped the messages were delivered in a much more subtle way throughout the story. The book really made me think. In Thumped, the messages were spelled out in a much more obvious way and their delivery felt a bit rushed at the end. It was still thought-provoking, but I didn’t have to dig quite as deeply to uncover any hidden meaning.
But, rushed or not, the ideas in this book, and this series, were chilling, fascinating, meaningful and important. And It was still every bit the super scary future that was introduced in Bumped. Things did not magically improve overnight. There was no perfectly packaged ending. It felt very real and very believable. And I absolutely loved it.
While the ending does tie up the loose ends, there are still so many possibilities left open for the characters’ futures. But it doesn’t feel incomplete. Though it was most definitely bittersweet. And my heart ached just a bit at the end.
And while it was the story and the ideas that kept me intrigued in the first book, it was the characters – Melody and Harmony – that I was captivated by in Thumped. They were both strong in their own ways. And smart and brave and true to who they were. They were both independent thinkers and I loved them for it.
I definitely plan on reading both books in this series again back-to-back to experience the story as if it were one read and to see just how things changed from one book to the next.
I found this series to be incredibly thought-provoking, but presented in a way that was unique, fun and full of humor.
Fame and fortune, Melody seems to have it all. She is a marketer’s dream. She has her own brand. She has her own fragrance. Her fan base is enormous. Everyone wants to know about her. The cheerclones want to be her.
And as one half of the Hotties with a Double Double Due Date or D4, she and Harmony are what everyone is talking about on the MiNet.
Even the stock market is betting on her and Harmony’s delivery dates. Identical twins bumped with twins due on the same day. What could be more exciting?
Even Harmony seems to have it all. Back in Goodside with Ram, her popularity has brought more money into the community. Her fame has allowed her to spread the word of her community to a wider audience.
Everything seems to be perfect. And it would be if it weren’t all a lie.
***
Thumped is the compelling, witty and utterly engaging follow-up to Bumped, a story set in a dark and disturbing future where getting bumped at a young age is essential to human survival. Alternating between the dual perspectives of Harmony and Melody, this sequel brings this shocking, exciting and thought-provoking series to its bittersweet end.
Picking up months after the first book’s conclusion, both Harmony and Melody are now famous. While Harmony has returned to Goodside and to Ram, Melody is still in Otherside promoting her brand and trying to maintain contact with her sister.
But while to the rest of the world everything seems perfect, not everything is as it seems. And Harmony and Melody may not be able to keep up the fake image they are showing the world or the lies that they are telling themselves for much longer.
Fast-paced and humor-filled, Thumped answers the question of what is the truth – the truth about Jondoe’s feelings, the truth about Ram and the truth about Melody’s motives. This immensely entertaining story, that is light on the surface with a dark premise beneath, will keep readers engaged as all is revealed and everything comes together at the end.
Both Melody and Harmony grow as characters in this sequel. They discover their own strengths and weaknesses and find their own voice in a society where marketers, advertisers and community leaders would dictate otherwise. Deviating from what’s expected of them and figuring out for themselves what is best for them makes them incredibly likable and relatable protagonists.
Author Megan McCafferty has written an exceptionally unique series with Bumped and Thumped, which tackles sensitive and potentially controversial subjects – promoting teen pregnancy, promiscuity and procreating for money. Her futuristic society is disturbing yet scarily realistic. And the issues she addresses – just what will our society do to ensure its survival and just how will people react and fight back – offer readers much to think about.
Thumped is a captivating must-read conclusion to this series for fans of the first book looking for answers. And this series is a must for readers looking for a surprisingly different peek at a very real dystopian future where marketing and advertising play a key role in the survival of the human race.
On a personal note:
After the wildly differing opinions about the first book in this series, Bumped, I wasn’t sure if there would be a sequel. But I’m so glad there was. It tied up all the loose ends and answered all those questions I had. About Melody. About Harmony. And about Jondoe.
I absolutely adored Thumped. This was such a super quick read, and I totally devoured it in one sitting. But just like with Bumped, this wasn’t simply a light and fluffy book. Those very real and disturbing issues that were presented in that first book were addressed in this follow-up and a few new issues were introduced. Though the sequel felt a bit more mild, less weighty.
The propaganda machine wasn’t out in full force like it was in Bumped. The shocking lingo wasn’t utilized quite as much. It was as if all that glamour was stripped away. Perhaps this was because Melody wasn’t blindly going along with things anymore. Neither was Harmony. But I missed that extra kick the first book had.
Much of Thumped was about the characters’ storylines that were left hanging. I loved getting back into their lives, seeing where they were just about eight-and-a-half months later. I loved getting an answer to the question as to whether Jondoe was “for serious” or not.
And I loved finding out just what happened with Melody, Harmony, Zen and Ram. I just wish a bit more time was spent, like it was in the first book, tackling those heavier issues.
In Bumped the messages were delivered in a much more subtle way throughout the story. The book really made me think. In Thumped, the messages were spelled out in a much more obvious way and their delivery felt a bit rushed at the end. It was still thought-provoking, but I didn’t have to dig quite as deeply to uncover any hidden meaning.
But, rushed or not, the ideas in this book, and this series, were chilling, fascinating, meaningful and important. And It was still every bit the super scary future that was introduced in Bumped. Things did not magically improve overnight. There was no perfectly packaged ending. It felt very real and very believable. And I absolutely loved it.
While the ending does tie up the loose ends, there are still so many possibilities left open for the characters’ futures. But it doesn’t feel incomplete. Though it was most definitely bittersweet. And my heart ached just a bit at the end.
And while it was the story and the ideas that kept me intrigued in the first book, it was the characters – Melody and Harmony – that I was captivated by in Thumped. They were both strong in their own ways. And smart and brave and true to who they were. They were both independent thinkers and I loved them for it.
I definitely plan on reading both books in this series again back-to-back to experience the story as if it were one read and to see just how things changed from one book to the next.
I found this series to be incredibly thought-provoking, but presented in a way that was unique, fun and full of humor.
February 3, 2018
A tough book to review. I read the first book in this series when I was about 13 and remember really wanting to get my hands on the sequel, but never finding it till recently. Eight years on I unsurprisingly found the writing rather juvenile (even for YA), and in places littered with typos. Nonetheless it was a fast-paced, fun read.
In many respects this book is a YA version of The Handmaid's tale. I see the issues the author is trying to approach in her writing however didn't find them hugely compatible with writing style of the book.
I whole heartedly agree that reproductive rights and sex should be discussed,and adolescence is an appropriate time to open that discussion - and also accept that this book was not written from my world view- however I'm not sure I agree with many of the morals in this book, and were I a parent myself I would probably want to have an ongoing discussion with a child reading it.
In many respects this book is a YA version of The Handmaid's tale. I see the issues the author is trying to approach in her writing however didn't find them hugely compatible with writing style of the book.
I whole heartedly agree that reproductive rights and sex should be discussed,and adolescence is an appropriate time to open that discussion - and also accept that this book was not written from my world view- however I'm not sure I agree with many of the morals in this book, and were I a parent myself I would probably want to have an ongoing discussion with a child reading it.
August 15, 2018
The sequel and finale of the Bumped series is everything I could have wanted. I love the language used in these books, it's so amusing to hear what they call certain things and behaviors. And things like "For Serious" have been adopted in my daily language while reading!
Zen is one of my favorite characters and I was glad to see so much more of him in this book. I also think it's wonderful that we got to know more about Ram and see more interaction with him.
Melody and Harmony are still very different, but I feel like they really connect toward the end of the story. I like to imagine their future as very happy and very involved in each other's lives. I also like to envision that Melody and Zen's plans for the future work out and they start the revolution that is needed.
Zen is one of my favorite characters and I was glad to see so much more of him in this book. I also think it's wonderful that we got to know more about Ram and see more interaction with him.
Melody and Harmony are still very different, but I feel like they really connect toward the end of the story. I like to imagine their future as very happy and very involved in each other's lives. I also like to envision that Melody and Zen's plans for the future work out and they start the revolution that is needed.
September 15, 2017
Everyone in this book is dumb. Almost did not finish.
April 19, 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
Thumped returns us to a world that dropped our jaws when we initially encountered it in Bumped, and though we’re more prepared for it with this sequel, we find we’re no more comfortable with this future the second time around. Perhaps part of the reason Ms. McCafferty’s distorted reality is so unnerving is not because we can’t possibly imagine a time in which we’d view the sexual exploitation of our young men and women as necessary no matter how desperate our future selves might be, but rather because in many ways Harmony and Melody’s world is simply an exaggerated version of what has been historically accepted as the norm. In a not-so incredibly distant past women were forced into sexual relationships at shockingly young ages, passed from father to husband in business transactions meant to consolidate wealth and power through the begetting of heirs; their bodies used for procreation alone while the same cool indifference was given to their emotional state as this society gives to Melody and Harmony’s.
Recognizing that Ms. McCafferty’s sex-centric world with its Reproductive Professionals and its bumping contracts has a direct link to our reality if we follow the line of thinking from this future all the way back to our pasts is part of what makes both Bumped and Thumped so uncomfortably fascinating. However much we’d like to deny the potential for this society to exist, the connecting thread our minds can't help but draw between future and past simply refuses to be disregarded as pure fiction. Though Bumped and Thumped may be too over the top and too outrageous for some, it can be said that anyone reading will certainly not walk away from these books without an opinion on them–either positive or negative–thus making them worth reading for no other reason than they inspire a great deal of thought, introspection, and conversation.
While Melody, Harmony and Jondoe were extreme examples of their disparate upbringings in Bumped–completely foreign to us in the beginning with their different approaches to sex and intimacy–Thumped finds them all remarkably more tangible, each of them having moved slowly but inexorably to the center of the spectrum where independent thought thrives. Instead of simply living their lives in accordance with the tenets of their respective factions, they draw us deeper into their lives by questioning what they’ve been told is “right” and refusing to be a carbon copy of what their society considers ideal. While we don’t necessarily feel a visceral attachment to them, we can’t help but respect the changes we see in them from book one and throw our support behind them as they fight what seems like a losing battle.
Those who had trouble settling into Bumped due to the strange terminology and teenage slang so prevalent throughout will welcome the toned-down nature of Thumped, the use of sex-related witticisms and general sexual propaganda few and far between as the focus shifts to the characters themselves rather than the world. The one complaint to be had with this sequel is the seeming ease with which the main conflict gets resolved and the open-ended nature of the conclusion. We can appreciate the connection between the final pages of Thumped and the beginning pages of Bumped, the ending of Thumped presenting nothing but possibilities for each of the characters–a stark contrast to the rigid structure imprisoning them hundreds of pages prior–but at the same time we can’t help but want to know a bit more about the fallout resulting from actions taken in the last chapters as well as a few specifics as to what’s in store for their futures given no third book is on its way.
May 1, 2012
Not sure how I feel about this one. I liked Bumped, but Thumped disappointed me. Everything happened quickly, it was incredibly predictable, and the ending was a little too perfect.
The Good:
Um...I liked seeing more of this world. And the terminology that the characters use was interesting.
Even though he's a bit too love sick, Jondoe is still somewhat likeable. The fact that he's a major celebrity because he doesn't shoot blanks is funny.
Melody still kept me interested, despite the fact that she was a bit stupid in this novel. She does grow up a bit, but there is only so much growth you can do in a few days.
The Okay:
Zen and Melody's relationship was better developed in Bumped. Since there is an eight and a half month time skip, we don't see what happened once they realized they liked each other. It was almost as if their relationship stood still and that they didn't see each other until this book happened.
So when the two are talking about sex and love, it kind of made me wonder why. I do understand that in this world sex happens, but when it came to these two it seemed like Zen was a bit too desperate for that.
I also didn't like that Zen had a growth spurt. I liked that he was 'vertically challenged.' It made him different and stand out. Now he's getting offers to be the next Johndoe.
The Bad:
It didn't have the same feeling as the first book, so maybe that's why I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. The first book, while not perfect, was incredibly over the top and I'm assuming was meant to be taken as satire. In Thumped, it's not as over the top and instead of seeing more of their world, the story is bogged down by romances and boy trouble.
It was due to this that I got to see the characters a bit more and realized that they're not really that great. They're very one note and not developed properly.
But I think the thing that I didn't like the most was the lack of interaction between Melody and Harmony and I think this ties into the time skip problem as well. In the last book, the two were still trying to figure out a relationship between one another. During the time skip, they apparently talked almost every day and did their best to keep in touch. In Thumped, they only have a few scenes with each other and their interactions seemed different.
I'm still glad I read this, just so I could see the conclusion to the story. I just wish that it still had the same tongue-in-cheek flavour as Bumped.
The Good:
Um...I liked seeing more of this world. And the terminology that the characters use was interesting.
Even though he's a bit too love sick, Jondoe is still somewhat likeable. The fact that he's a major celebrity because he doesn't shoot blanks is funny.
Melody still kept me interested, despite the fact that she was a bit stupid in this novel. She does grow up a bit, but there is only so much growth you can do in a few days.
The Okay:
Zen and Melody's relationship was better developed in Bumped. Since there is an eight and a half month time skip, we don't see what happened once they realized they liked each other. It was almost as if their relationship stood still and that they didn't see each other until this book happened.
So when the two are talking about sex and love, it kind of made me wonder why. I do understand that in this world sex happens, but when it came to these two it seemed like Zen was a bit too desperate for that.
I also didn't like that Zen had a growth spurt. I liked that he was 'vertically challenged.' It made him different and stand out. Now he's getting offers to be the next Johndoe.
The Bad:
It didn't have the same feeling as the first book, so maybe that's why I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. The first book, while not perfect, was incredibly over the top and I'm assuming was meant to be taken as satire. In Thumped, it's not as over the top and instead of seeing more of their world, the story is bogged down by romances and boy trouble.
It was due to this that I got to see the characters a bit more and realized that they're not really that great. They're very one note and not developed properly.
But I think the thing that I didn't like the most was the lack of interaction between Melody and Harmony and I think this ties into the time skip problem as well. In the last book, the two were still trying to figure out a relationship between one another. During the time skip, they apparently talked almost every day and did their best to keep in touch. In Thumped, they only have a few scenes with each other and their interactions seemed different.
I'm still glad I read this, just so I could see the conclusion to the story. I just wish that it still had the same tongue-in-cheek flavour as Bumped.
April 9, 2012
I was nervous reading this one. Bumped was such a great story that I was worried that Thumped wouldn't live up to it's awesomeness. Not to mention the fact that the description confused me. But I must say that McCafferty not only did and amazing follow up to Bumped, she left me wanting more of these characters.
Thumped picks up about 8 months after Bumped left off. Harmony is back with her church community and her husband Ram pregnant with Jondoe's twins. She thought it would be the best to go back but things are complicated and not getting any better. Melody on the other hand is still in Otherside the princess of a media frenzy that is now surrounding the twins of The Hotties as they have been branded. She and Jondoe are pretending to be an item to keep up appearances and another big secret...the world also thinks Melody is pregnant with twins. When Harm comes back to Otherside the twins whole world gets shaken up and not only are truths finally revealed but both girls seems to finally figure out who they are and what they want out of life.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this story. Sometimes when reading a sequel you can actually eel like you are reading two different books. There is no flow in some so it almost seems like you aren't reading a continuation but an entirely different story. That wasn't the case here. I almost felt like this was just an extension of the first book. The characters were all the same, minus some flaws I found with Zen this time around, and the situations and circumstances were the same. It was like coming home and just following on with their journey. I liked seeing where Melody and Zen's relationship was and how Jondoe was missing Harmony terribly. There were also some twists in this story that I didn't expect and some I saw coming from the first page.
Really what I liked the most was the message at the end. Melody explained perfectly what was being taken away from this teenage girls by parents, media and peer pressure. By these kids being forced to bump they weren't really getting to make any choices on their own and it just wasn't right. McCaffrety did an excellent job of pointing out exactly what the problem was in Harmony and Melody's world and it was done with tact and great execution. I know there is likely not a third book in the works, but for the record I wouldn't be opposed if she changed her mind. Really a great series.
Thumped picks up about 8 months after Bumped left off. Harmony is back with her church community and her husband Ram pregnant with Jondoe's twins. She thought it would be the best to go back but things are complicated and not getting any better. Melody on the other hand is still in Otherside the princess of a media frenzy that is now surrounding the twins of The Hotties as they have been branded. She and Jondoe are pretending to be an item to keep up appearances and another big secret...the world also thinks Melody is pregnant with twins. When Harm comes back to Otherside the twins whole world gets shaken up and not only are truths finally revealed but both girls seems to finally figure out who they are and what they want out of life.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this story. Sometimes when reading a sequel you can actually eel like you are reading two different books. There is no flow in some so it almost seems like you aren't reading a continuation but an entirely different story. That wasn't the case here. I almost felt like this was just an extension of the first book. The characters were all the same, minus some flaws I found with Zen this time around, and the situations and circumstances were the same. It was like coming home and just following on with their journey. I liked seeing where Melody and Zen's relationship was and how Jondoe was missing Harmony terribly. There were also some twists in this story that I didn't expect and some I saw coming from the first page.
Really what I liked the most was the message at the end. Melody explained perfectly what was being taken away from this teenage girls by parents, media and peer pressure. By these kids being forced to bump they weren't really getting to make any choices on their own and it just wasn't right. McCaffrety did an excellent job of pointing out exactly what the problem was in Harmony and Melody's world and it was done with tact and great execution. I know there is likely not a third book in the works, but for the record I wouldn't be opposed if she changed her mind. Really a great series.
May 18, 2012
Last year I read and loved Bumped, the first book in this series. It was so refreshing to read something different, something I never would've imagined someone would write and I laughed my ass off. Since then, I've been waiting anxiously for Thumped to arrive. And I was not disappointed!
Thumped picks up eight and a half months later, both identical twins, Harmony and Melody are preggo with twins and are due to give birth at the same time. Harmony went back to Goodside, her preachy-teachy gated community with her husband, Ram, and Melody is busy branding herself and her soon-to-be bumps all over the world with the hottest sperminator, Jondoe. Though the whole world is worshiping them and they're the most popular trend on the MiNet, both girls are living humongous lies. It seems like they're both more weighed down by the burden of telling the truth than their pregnancies. Melody, once again, has hatched the perfect plan. This time to start a reproductive revolution with her best friend, Zen. But she starts to question her reasoning behind it when she sees who could get hurt in the process. Harmony is still conflicted about her Goodside ways even though she chose to go back and play "good wife" to her husband. She's due any day now but isn't sure if she's ready for all the responsibility. Does she want to be a mom? Does she want her babies brought up the way she was? And she can't stop thinking about Jondoe...and for good reason!
Just like its predecessor, Thumped was hilarious and had subtle messages about religion, woman's sexuality, and feminism without being preachy. When their secrets are revealed, Harmony and Melody had some very serious decisions to make and I thought they really matured by the end of the book. I even got a little teary-eyed on the last couple of pages. Megan McCafferty, I love her. I love the lingo, gadgets and terminology she created for the teen-preg obsessed society of the future. I caught myself laughing out loud so many times. It made me want to read Bumped again. I'm sad that this is the last book!!! Harmony and Melody were great characters, I'm gonna miss them. Because the book is told from their alternate points of view, you get a better sense of their individuality and how different they are from each other.
I hope sometime in the future, there will be some short stories related to this series that I can download on my Kindle. But until then, I think I'll dig into Megan's Jessica Darling series.
Thumped picks up eight and a half months later, both identical twins, Harmony and Melody are preggo with twins and are due to give birth at the same time. Harmony went back to Goodside, her preachy-teachy gated community with her husband, Ram, and Melody is busy branding herself and her soon-to-be bumps all over the world with the hottest sperminator, Jondoe. Though the whole world is worshiping them and they're the most popular trend on the MiNet, both girls are living humongous lies. It seems like they're both more weighed down by the burden of telling the truth than their pregnancies. Melody, once again, has hatched the perfect plan. This time to start a reproductive revolution with her best friend, Zen. But she starts to question her reasoning behind it when she sees who could get hurt in the process. Harmony is still conflicted about her Goodside ways even though she chose to go back and play "good wife" to her husband. She's due any day now but isn't sure if she's ready for all the responsibility. Does she want to be a mom? Does she want her babies brought up the way she was? And she can't stop thinking about Jondoe...and for good reason!
Just like its predecessor, Thumped was hilarious and had subtle messages about religion, woman's sexuality, and feminism without being preachy. When their secrets are revealed, Harmony and Melody had some very serious decisions to make and I thought they really matured by the end of the book. I even got a little teary-eyed on the last couple of pages. Megan McCafferty, I love her. I love the lingo, gadgets and terminology she created for the teen-preg obsessed society of the future. I caught myself laughing out loud so many times. It made me want to read Bumped again. I'm sad that this is the last book!!! Harmony and Melody were great characters, I'm gonna miss them. Because the book is told from their alternate points of view, you get a better sense of their individuality and how different they are from each other.
I hope sometime in the future, there will be some short stories related to this series that I can download on my Kindle. But until then, I think I'll dig into Megan's Jessica Darling series.
August 24, 2013
I decided to read Thumped because I like the idea of dystopian texts however, most dystopian books are too gruesome and sad for me to enjoy them. However Thumped had the attributes of a dystopian text but luckily not the same disturbing outcomes.
This book completes "a book with themes related to those we've studied in class in the 2nd half of the year". This book shows the same theme as Never Let Me Go because they are both dystopian texts with protagonists' questioning what is happening to them, and if it is right. They also both involve complicated relationships between the main characters, meaning they both have the theme of love.
The character I found most interesting was Harmony. She is from Goodside, which is very religious, while her twin sister Melody is from otherside, which is quite similar to present day places in America like LA, except with a futuristic twist. Harmony goes against the good side and decides to chop off her hair which she has been growing for her whole life. This is a direct defiance of the orders and causes Harmony to get shunned and possibly have her twins taken away from her. This causes her to runaway back to her sister in otherside, not only that bat she dyes her hair black and shaves most of it off! I find this really interesting because she is from Goodside, and this is the exact opposite of what you would expect someone from there would do.
A quote I found interesting was "we are to blame. She is a product-and I mean that in both senses of the word-of her times. We need to look at ourselves, and the conception-crazy culture we have created that have turned girls into breeding machines". I think this quote is the part in the book that I was waiting for. This is because it is when Melody finally stands up and says what she thinks to make a change in the way that they live.
What I learnt from this book is that we need to appreciate what we have now, because in the future there is a chance that we wont have the same opportunities. In this book teenagers are stripped of their childhood because they are obligated to get pregnant at such a young age before the virus gets to them and they become infertile at 18. We can't waste our childhood when we have so many opportunities and don't have anyone or anything stopping us from enjoying them.
This book completes "a book with themes related to those we've studied in class in the 2nd half of the year". This book shows the same theme as Never Let Me Go because they are both dystopian texts with protagonists' questioning what is happening to them, and if it is right. They also both involve complicated relationships between the main characters, meaning they both have the theme of love.
The character I found most interesting was Harmony. She is from Goodside, which is very religious, while her twin sister Melody is from otherside, which is quite similar to present day places in America like LA, except with a futuristic twist. Harmony goes against the good side and decides to chop off her hair which she has been growing for her whole life. This is a direct defiance of the orders and causes Harmony to get shunned and possibly have her twins taken away from her. This causes her to runaway back to her sister in otherside, not only that bat she dyes her hair black and shaves most of it off! I find this really interesting because she is from Goodside, and this is the exact opposite of what you would expect someone from there would do.
A quote I found interesting was "we are to blame. She is a product-and I mean that in both senses of the word-of her times. We need to look at ourselves, and the conception-crazy culture we have created that have turned girls into breeding machines". I think this quote is the part in the book that I was waiting for. This is because it is when Melody finally stands up and says what she thinks to make a change in the way that they live.
What I learnt from this book is that we need to appreciate what we have now, because in the future there is a chance that we wont have the same opportunities. In this book teenagers are stripped of their childhood because they are obligated to get pregnant at such a young age before the virus gets to them and they become infertile at 18. We can't waste our childhood when we have so many opportunities and don't have anyone or anything stopping us from enjoying them.
March 30, 2012
When I first started the Bumped series, I thought it was weird and I probably wouldn't like it...I was so wrong. I ended up loving the first book and it was no different for Thumped! It was funny and fast-paced and kept me on my toes the entire length.
Harmony is back living in Goodside, trying to make right some of the things she's done as of late. But, turning things around that she doesn't regret in the first place is a lot tougher than she would have liked. Meanwhile, Melody is busy selling the baby story to the world and what she really needs to do is spit out the truth...sooner rather than later. Everything seems to be crashing down on the girls and getting through this ordeal is harder than everyone imagined!
I loved the relationship between the sisters, Melody and Harmony, in this sequel. Their bond has grown so much since the first book and I appreciate that, because it was relatable to a lot of people. Harmony was much less annoying than before and I am so happy of her growth. The supporting characters were also really important in Thumped and I absolutely loved them! If you've read Bumped, you've already been introduced to Jondoe, Zen, and Ram. I loved getting to know each character more, especially Zen and Ram.
Megan throws some twists and turns at the reader, again, in book two! It's like the book of secrets and surprises. The concept is so creepy, yet its put in a funny kind of context. However, this book took things a little more seriously and that was a much needed change.
Thumped is such a fun book and hard to put down once you start! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loved good humor and a fast-paced storyline.
For those who like: Humor, fast-paced, cute love
Source: Publisher (ARC)
Originally posted at The Book Worms.
http://thebookworms.org/2012/03/revie...
Harmony is back living in Goodside, trying to make right some of the things she's done as of late. But, turning things around that she doesn't regret in the first place is a lot tougher than she would have liked. Meanwhile, Melody is busy selling the baby story to the world and what she really needs to do is spit out the truth...sooner rather than later. Everything seems to be crashing down on the girls and getting through this ordeal is harder than everyone imagined!
I loved the relationship between the sisters, Melody and Harmony, in this sequel. Their bond has grown so much since the first book and I appreciate that, because it was relatable to a lot of people. Harmony was much less annoying than before and I am so happy of her growth. The supporting characters were also really important in Thumped and I absolutely loved them! If you've read Bumped, you've already been introduced to Jondoe, Zen, and Ram. I loved getting to know each character more, especially Zen and Ram.
Megan throws some twists and turns at the reader, again, in book two! It's like the book of secrets and surprises. The concept is so creepy, yet its put in a funny kind of context. However, this book took things a little more seriously and that was a much needed change.
Thumped is such a fun book and hard to put down once you start! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loved good humor and a fast-paced storyline.
For those who like: Humor, fast-paced, cute love
Source: Publisher (ARC)
Originally posted at The Book Worms.
http://thebookworms.org/2012/03/revie...
July 1, 2012
Geez. Somehow, I thought maybe this one would be a bit better than the first one. The ending was pretty good, but it was a long time coming. It takes forever for anyone to figure anything out. I guess if you are raised a certain way, it is hard... but I don't know.
I still liked Harmony more than Melody. (Shaving at dying her hair gave her bonus points too) Melody was supposed to be super-smart, but she was just sort of like a blond bimbo to me. Sort of like Shannon on the show "LOST". You know, how she's supposed to be smart, but all the while you're thinking: REALLY??? I'm not saying that beautiful blond chicks can't be smart, but... meh. I prefer the plain heroines myself. Maybe it's because I too am plain.
Anyway, there were a few other things that annoyed me to no end. Like: the slang. AGAIN. I guess ever since I read the "Uglies" series, I can't put up with made up slang too well. And another thing. How many times does Melody have to say that Zen was going "manifesto"??? I think that is in there at LEAST 6 or 7 times! It drove me nuts each time. If there is one thing I can't stand more than slang, it's repetitive slang.
As for the plot, the pacing was about the same as the first one. Not too slow, and just interesting enough to keep you hanging on. I guess I liked the concept of the story, since I like flawed communities... but, not in this style.
One last thing that really bugged me. I don't mind that Harmony got out of the cult, since it was a little much, but did Ram really have to say "Gay for God?" That was unnecessary and very sacrilegious. I am not judgmental of gay men, but don't try to be a Christian, and gay at the same time. It doesn't work.
I still liked Harmony more than Melody. (Shaving at dying her hair gave her bonus points too) Melody was supposed to be super-smart, but she was just sort of like a blond bimbo to me. Sort of like Shannon on the show "LOST". You know, how she's supposed to be smart, but all the while you're thinking: REALLY??? I'm not saying that beautiful blond chicks can't be smart, but... meh. I prefer the plain heroines myself. Maybe it's because I too am plain.
Anyway, there were a few other things that annoyed me to no end. Like: the slang. AGAIN. I guess ever since I read the "Uglies" series, I can't put up with made up slang too well. And another thing. How many times does Melody have to say that Zen was going "manifesto"??? I think that is in there at LEAST 6 or 7 times! It drove me nuts each time. If there is one thing I can't stand more than slang, it's repetitive slang.
As for the plot, the pacing was about the same as the first one. Not too slow, and just interesting enough to keep you hanging on. I guess I liked the concept of the story, since I like flawed communities... but, not in this style.
One last thing that really bugged me. I don't mind that Harmony got out of the cult, since it was a little much, but did Ram really have to say "Gay for God?" That was unnecessary and very sacrilegious. I am not judgmental of gay men, but don't try to be a Christian, and gay at the same time. It doesn't work.
August 21, 2014
Whereas Bumped gave us strong social commentary in the form of satire without commentary, Thumped is a lot less subtle. We really are "Thumped" in the head with the real issues of teen pregnancy and sex, celebrity, and media pressure. But, even though I enjoyed Bump's style of more bite and less bark, Thump's bark had plenty of bite itself:
I glance down at the for seriously wanked True or False quiz our teacher distributed to all of us sidelined preggers to pass the time while the rest of the class is at play,
1. Nine out of 10 girls who have NOT pregged by 18 regret their obsolescence....
Answer: TRUE! Girls who have NOT helped in our nation's fight against sub-replacement population suffer from depression, cellulite, and bad hair days.
...
Get an early start so you aren't a sad girl with a dimpled butt and split ends.
The absurdity of their culture is laugh our loud funny, until you consider how sexualized our own culture is, where it might be headed, "legitimate rape", "notebooks full of women", Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Hooters, etc...
The characters in the book are also a draw because not only are Melody and Harmony growing and breaking free from their parent's worldviews, but so are the people closest to them. I really love Zen, Gabriel, and especially Ram.
All in all, the two books are tons of fun and have enough material to get some very good discussions going with teen girls for a long time!
I glance down at the for seriously wanked True or False quiz our teacher distributed to all of us sidelined preggers to pass the time while the rest of the class is at play,
1. Nine out of 10 girls who have NOT pregged by 18 regret their obsolescence....
Answer: TRUE! Girls who have NOT helped in our nation's fight against sub-replacement population suffer from depression, cellulite, and bad hair days.
...
Get an early start so you aren't a sad girl with a dimpled butt and split ends.
The absurdity of their culture is laugh our loud funny, until you consider how sexualized our own culture is, where it might be headed, "legitimate rape", "notebooks full of women", Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Hooters, etc...
The characters in the book are also a draw because not only are Melody and Harmony growing and breaking free from their parent's worldviews, but so are the people closest to them. I really love Zen, Gabriel, and especially Ram.
All in all, the two books are tons of fun and have enough material to get some very good discussions going with teen girls for a long time!
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