What do you think?
Rate this book
Contributor #1
Contributor
When the Great Famine threatened the existence of mankind, the Creators saved humanity. Humanity has been their loyal subject ever since.
This history has been ingrained in seventeen-year-old Dara Morrow since her first day of Creator-sponsored school. Grateful for the life-giving necessities her Creator provides, Dara is thrilled to be one of three students chosen for an elite, year-long apprenticeship program. Now is her chance to prove herself a devoted Contributor.
But Dara’s competition is ruthless and will stop at nothing to win the competition. Worse yet, her exacting master has little patience for her.
Then Dara’s mother is seriously injured, and Dara realizes the price of being a Contributor: once you’ve outlived your usefulness, you’re discarded. Can Dara learn to manipulate the system to save not only herself, but everyone she loves?
This history has been ingrained in seventeen-year-old Dara Morrow since her first day of Creator-sponsored school. Grateful for the life-giving necessities her Creator provides, Dara is thrilled to be one of three students chosen for an elite, year-long apprenticeship program. Now is her chance to prove herself a devoted Contributor.
But Dara’s competition is ruthless and will stop at nothing to win the competition. Worse yet, her exacting master has little patience for her.
Then Dara’s mother is seriously injured, and Dara realizes the price of being a Contributor: once you’ve outlived your usefulness, you’re discarded. Can Dara learn to manipulate the system to save not only herself, but everyone she loves?
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
168 people are currently reading
1026 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Ciacchella
38 books160 followersNicole has never met a genre she doesn't like. She dabbles in everything from science fiction to contemporary rom-coms to fantasy fiction.
Nicole has previously published under the pen names Elizabeth Darcy and Anne Wentworth, but is no longer using those names.
Nicole has had a lifelong passion for the written word. As a child, one of her most treasured Christmas gifts was an electric typewriter, which enabled her to crank out her stories even more quickly than she could with a pen. Naturally, the personal computer is one of her favorite inventions. When she isn't writing, Nicole can usually be found curled up in a chair, whiling away the hours with a good book.
One of Nicole's other great passions is travel, and she has visited Europe, as well as traveling to many of the fifty states. Her favorite trips include visits to Paris, Maui, and various parts of Belgium. She feels fortunate that she is married to a native Belgian, as it gives her plenty of reasons to visit Europe as often as possible. Also, it gives her an excuse to eat Belgian waffles regularly.
Born and raised in Michigan, Nicole lives there still with her husband and two beautiful children. She thinks Michigan is the greatest state in the country, and Michigan State University is the greatest university in the world.
Nicole has previously published under the pen names Elizabeth Darcy and Anne Wentworth, but is no longer using those names.
Nicole has had a lifelong passion for the written word. As a child, one of her most treasured Christmas gifts was an electric typewriter, which enabled her to crank out her stories even more quickly than she could with a pen. Naturally, the personal computer is one of her favorite inventions. When she isn't writing, Nicole can usually be found curled up in a chair, whiling away the hours with a good book.
One of Nicole's other great passions is travel, and she has visited Europe, as well as traveling to many of the fifty states. Her favorite trips include visits to Paris, Maui, and various parts of Belgium. She feels fortunate that she is married to a native Belgian, as it gives her plenty of reasons to visit Europe as often as possible. Also, it gives her an excuse to eat Belgian waffles regularly.
Born and raised in Michigan, Nicole lives there still with her husband and two beautiful children. She thinks Michigan is the greatest state in the country, and Michigan State University is the greatest university in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
February 28, 2023
A book, and series, like Contributor by Nicole Ciacchella, really strike home for me. I love books that deal with things that ‘could’ happen. I mean, think about it…what would you do to survive? And what would those who could save humanity do to make sure the right people were chosen?
What happens to a person when they are no longer ‘useful’ to the system that operates on limited resources? Are people disposable?
In Contributor by Nicole Ciacchella, we see what happens to those deemed disposable by the Creators. I was filled with anger and disgust, yet there are always those characters that will rise to the occasion and shine brightly.
Dara Morrow, a seventeen year old girl has been given everything. Her eyes are opened when she realizes not only must she must earn it, but when her mother becomes ill, what happens when a Contributor is no longer able to contribute.
Nicole Ciacchella has the creep factor going in full force when we meet the Head of Engineering, Andersen. Dara is competing to become his assistant. I love when an author can surprise me, and I was surprised when help came from an unexpected source.
The characters range from the worst of the worst to the best of the best. The danger is subtle, but I knew it was always there. I do wonder if a novel like this could be insight to what our future could be? I love ecological stories that highlight current events in real life, which has become truly frightening. Famine? Storms? Are books like this a warning? Something to think about with this thought provoking series.
What happens to a person when they are no longer ‘useful’ to the system that operates on limited resources? Are people disposable?
In Contributor by Nicole Ciacchella, we see what happens to those deemed disposable by the Creators. I was filled with anger and disgust, yet there are always those characters that will rise to the occasion and shine brightly.
Dara Morrow, a seventeen year old girl has been given everything. Her eyes are opened when she realizes not only must she must earn it, but when her mother becomes ill, what happens when a Contributor is no longer able to contribute.
Nicole Ciacchella has the creep factor going in full force when we meet the Head of Engineering, Andersen. Dara is competing to become his assistant. I love when an author can surprise me, and I was surprised when help came from an unexpected source.
The characters range from the worst of the worst to the best of the best. The danger is subtle, but I knew it was always there. I do wonder if a novel like this could be insight to what our future could be? I love ecological stories that highlight current events in real life, which has become truly frightening. Famine? Storms? Are books like this a warning? Something to think about with this thought provoking series.
November 12, 2014
Actual rating - 2.25
I got bored of this quite early on unfortunately.
Dara wasn't a bad character, but i didn't love her.
The pacing in this was a bit slow for me, and i felt quite bored. The story did pick up at points, but it just couldn't keep my interest.
Overall, Not a read i enjoyed.
I got bored of this quite early on unfortunately.
Dara wasn't a bad character, but i didn't love her.
The pacing in this was a bit slow for me, and i felt quite bored. The story did pick up at points, but it just couldn't keep my interest.
Overall, Not a read i enjoyed.
October 26, 2014
Is this YA dystopia? Well, it certainly meets all the requirements to be a dystopian novel :
* A society which has undergone a terrible crisis.
* Complete corporate control.
* No freedom whatsoever.
* Constant surveillance by superiors and peers.
* Your life is valuable as long as you can contribute with endless hours of work. When you are unable to do so, you are no longer needed.
* Fear of the outside world.
However , Nicole Ciacchella has done a fine job describing a futuristic society which resembles today's business world, and it's really frightening.I had a really hard time reading this book , I enjoyed it and disliked it at the same time. I usually read to have a good time but it made me think of a toxic workplace .
Dara, the main character, reminds me of a young girl on her first day at work, unaware of backstabbing colleagues and office politics. Her supervisor behaves just like a control freak narcissistic psychopath who enjoys making people suffer.
The good thing is that there is a group of people who is against this unfair situation and wants to change things. If only a similar group existed nowadays (and I don't mean a biased trade union) and peacefully made our everyday life easier.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
* A society which has undergone a terrible crisis.
* Complete corporate control.
* No freedom whatsoever.
* Constant surveillance by superiors and peers.
* Your life is valuable as long as you can contribute with endless hours of work. When you are unable to do so, you are no longer needed.
* Fear of the outside world.
However , Nicole Ciacchella has done a fine job describing a futuristic society which resembles today's business world, and it's really frightening.I had a really hard time reading this book , I enjoyed it and disliked it at the same time. I usually read to have a good time but it made me think of a toxic workplace .
Dara, the main character, reminds me of a young girl on her first day at work, unaware of backstabbing colleagues and office politics. Her supervisor behaves just like a control freak narcissistic psychopath who enjoys making people suffer.
The good thing is that there is a group of people who is against this unfair situation and wants to change things. If only a similar group existed nowadays (and I don't mean a biased trade union) and peacefully made our everyday life easier.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
September 23, 2018
DNF at 15%.
This is my first 1-star rating. Also, the first book I purposefully marked as not finished. Usually, if a book doesn't grab me, I just leave it be, assuming it's not my cup of tea, but it may appeal to others. This one, however, had the one premise I always enjoy - a contest set in a dystopian future - so I just couldn't stomach the disappointment.
Up to the point I read (almost 1/5 of the book), the plot was virtually non-existent. Three candidates fight for a prestigious position - I got that as early as the blurb, thank you, but what do they actually DO? Each is assigned a supervisor, and works on "problems", "projects" and "designs" in the field of engineering ... and that's it. No details whatsoever. There's tension between them, they make mistakes, they steal each other's ideas - but we never learn what those mistakes or ideas actually are. How the heck are we supposed to relate to their predicament?!
Meanwhile, the MC's boyfriend is an instant success in his field (only mentioned once, so I forgot what it was), and keeps gushing about his work in the same broad, general terms the MC keeps complaining about hers. We never learn what EXACTLY it is they do and claim to be the best at. Come on, haven't you heard that the devil is in the details?!
Not to mention, the dialogue is so stilted and overexplanatory it always makes me yawn. It keeps going in circles, the characters repeating each other to death - to compensate for the lack of action, I presume. Well, that's not how you keep your reader interested.
And finally, the world-building is also non-existent. All that I learned is that they (students and Contributors) live under a dome, each gigantic corporation (Job Creator) having one of its own. So?!
Honestly, those first 7 chapters felt more like a (failed) exercise in writing that like the promising beginning of a dystopian trilogy. Too bad.
This is my first 1-star rating. Also, the first book I purposefully marked as not finished. Usually, if a book doesn't grab me, I just leave it be, assuming it's not my cup of tea, but it may appeal to others. This one, however, had the one premise I always enjoy - a contest set in a dystopian future - so I just couldn't stomach the disappointment.
Up to the point I read (almost 1/5 of the book), the plot was virtually non-existent. Three candidates fight for a prestigious position - I got that as early as the blurb, thank you, but what do they actually DO? Each is assigned a supervisor, and works on "problems", "projects" and "designs" in the field of engineering ... and that's it. No details whatsoever. There's tension between them, they make mistakes, they steal each other's ideas - but we never learn what those mistakes or ideas actually are. How the heck are we supposed to relate to their predicament?!
Meanwhile, the MC's boyfriend is an instant success in his field (only mentioned once, so I forgot what it was), and keeps gushing about his work in the same broad, general terms the MC keeps complaining about hers. We never learn what EXACTLY it is they do and claim to be the best at. Come on, haven't you heard that the devil is in the details?!
Not to mention, the dialogue is so stilted and overexplanatory it always makes me yawn. It keeps going in circles, the characters repeating each other to death - to compensate for the lack of action, I presume. Well, that's not how you keep your reader interested.
And finally, the world-building is also non-existent. All that I learned is that they (students and Contributors) live under a dome, each gigantic corporation (Job Creator) having one of its own. So?!
Honestly, those first 7 chapters felt more like a (failed) exercise in writing that like the promising beginning of a dystopian trilogy. Too bad.
March 19, 2013
This book snuck up on me. I started reading it thinking This could be good and Hey, this is pretty interesting, and somewhere along the line it turned into What do you MEAN I have to put the book down I’m NOT DONE.
I wasn’t sure what to make of the narration at first. The narrative voice felt... cold, almost. I thought at first that this was just a matter of writing style. But as I was reading, I got a very clear sense of the world the book was set in, right from the beginning, and I realized that it was because of the narration. The voice of the book reflects the atmosphere of the world. It’s not coldness, not exactly, but I’m not sure I can put my finger on what it is - only that the patterns of the narration reflect how the characters talk, and how they think, and what the world around them feels like. It’s very elegantly done.
The characters, too, are reflections of their world. A lot of books have the problem where the characters feel like transplants from the author’s culture, with modern sensibilities hiding under a thin veneer of worldbuilding; not so with this book. These characters belong to their world through and through. And there’s depth here. I was all set to hate one character, only to have them become one of my favorites by the end. Even with the characters I did dislike all the way through, I couldn’t bring myself to hate them, because I could understand them. I could see how they were products of the world they had grown up in, the only environment they knew. Dara isn’t immune from this, either; even though we as readers can see the problems with her world, her unquestioning loyalty to it makes perfect sense. (In part because, again, it’s reflected in the narration. It isn’t presented as, “This world is bad but this character doesn’t know it.” It’s presented as, “This is just the way the world is.” Subtlety. I’m a fan of subtlety.)
The world itself is both unique and plausible. I haven’t seen this kind of thing done in a dystopia before, and after reading this I’m wondering why I haven’t. The implications of the dystopian/post-apocalyptic world, especially the sociological aspects, are well thought out. And the Creators are a satisfying villain to root against – no one likes a soulless corporation, and we all know what they look like.
And can I just say it’s nice to read a dystopia that doesn’t focus on somebody’s love life? The dystopian genre seems to have gone the way of urban fantasy in that a lot of its books have a world and a plot that are just window dressing for the love story, which I tend to find disappointing because that’s not why I read dystopias (or urban fantasies, for that matter). This book breaks that mold.
Okay, I definitely didn’t mean to write a novel here. But I really liked this book, and think it’s seriously underrated. I would recommend it to anyone who likes dystopias, prefers it when they don’t focus on romance, and is looking for something different.
I wasn’t sure what to make of the narration at first. The narrative voice felt... cold, almost. I thought at first that this was just a matter of writing style. But as I was reading, I got a very clear sense of the world the book was set in, right from the beginning, and I realized that it was because of the narration. The voice of the book reflects the atmosphere of the world. It’s not coldness, not exactly, but I’m not sure I can put my finger on what it is - only that the patterns of the narration reflect how the characters talk, and how they think, and what the world around them feels like. It’s very elegantly done.
The characters, too, are reflections of their world. A lot of books have the problem where the characters feel like transplants from the author’s culture, with modern sensibilities hiding under a thin veneer of worldbuilding; not so with this book. These characters belong to their world through and through. And there’s depth here. I was all set to hate one character, only to have them become one of my favorites by the end. Even with the characters I did dislike all the way through, I couldn’t bring myself to hate them, because I could understand them. I could see how they were products of the world they had grown up in, the only environment they knew. Dara isn’t immune from this, either; even though we as readers can see the problems with her world, her unquestioning loyalty to it makes perfect sense. (In part because, again, it’s reflected in the narration. It isn’t presented as, “This world is bad but this character doesn’t know it.” It’s presented as, “This is just the way the world is.” Subtlety. I’m a fan of subtlety.)
The world itself is both unique and plausible. I haven’t seen this kind of thing done in a dystopia before, and after reading this I’m wondering why I haven’t. The implications of the dystopian/post-apocalyptic world, especially the sociological aspects, are well thought out. And the Creators are a satisfying villain to root against – no one likes a soulless corporation, and we all know what they look like.
And can I just say it’s nice to read a dystopia that doesn’t focus on somebody’s love life? The dystopian genre seems to have gone the way of urban fantasy in that a lot of its books have a world and a plot that are just window dressing for the love story, which I tend to find disappointing because that’s not why I read dystopias (or urban fantasies, for that matter). This book breaks that mold.
Okay, I definitely didn’t mean to write a novel here. But I really liked this book, and think it’s seriously underrated. I would recommend it to anyone who likes dystopias, prefers it when they don’t focus on romance, and is looking for something different.
June 17, 2013
Contributor, by Nicole Ciacchella, is a well-thought, post-apostolic story. In some ways, I am reminded of George Orwell's 1984 with "Big Brother" being the "Creators" in this not extremely far-fetched story. It does show how minds can subtly be controlled with the power of suggestion, repetition, education (or censorship) and even reward.
In this story a young lady named Dara matures a great deal over a period of just a few months as she competes for a cherished position as Assistant to Head of Engineering. Dara is a trusting soul who has faith in mankind until competing for this job began. Soon she finds herself mistrusting and questioning nearly all she is in contact with. Her world inside the "dome" begins to turn upside-down with the realization that the very company who provides everything necessary for the survival of all within can so easily toss you away as if all of your contribution meant nothing.
Personally,I enjoy stories such as these as I find them thought provoking and good reminders of our not so distant past history and how dangerous this type of mindset can be. Contributor is a good thought provoking read which I recommend.
Renee Robinson, Author of Shadows of The Heart
http://naesnest.wix.com/phoenixwriter
In this story a young lady named Dara matures a great deal over a period of just a few months as she competes for a cherished position as Assistant to Head of Engineering. Dara is a trusting soul who has faith in mankind until competing for this job began. Soon she finds herself mistrusting and questioning nearly all she is in contact with. Her world inside the "dome" begins to turn upside-down with the realization that the very company who provides everything necessary for the survival of all within can so easily toss you away as if all of your contribution meant nothing.
Personally,I enjoy stories such as these as I find them thought provoking and good reminders of our not so distant past history and how dangerous this type of mindset can be. Contributor is a good thought provoking read which I recommend.
Renee Robinson, Author of Shadows of The Heart
http://naesnest.wix.com/phoenixwriter
November 11, 2014
(Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk)
This wasn’t a bad book, but I did lose interest.
Dara was an okay character, but she maybe believed in the system a little too much before points were raised to cause her to question it. She did obviously care about her friends and family though, and her love for her mother was admirable.
The storyline in this was alright, but I did find the pace a little too slow. As the story went on I just wanted things to move a bit quicker. We did get the odd bit of action, but otherwise everything just moved too slowly for me.
There was a bit of romance, but it didn’t really interest me.
The ending was okay, although things were left in a bit of an odd position for Dara.
6 out of 10
This wasn’t a bad book, but I did lose interest.
Dara was an okay character, but she maybe believed in the system a little too much before points were raised to cause her to question it. She did obviously care about her friends and family though, and her love for her mother was admirable.
The storyline in this was alright, but I did find the pace a little too slow. As the story went on I just wanted things to move a bit quicker. We did get the odd bit of action, but otherwise everything just moved too slowly for me.
There was a bit of romance, but it didn’t really interest me.
The ending was okay, although things were left in a bit of an odd position for Dara.
6 out of 10
Read
February 10, 2014Book 2 is out! Infiltrator is available on Amazon. Book 3 will follow in the first half of this year. I don't have an exact release date yet, but it'll be out by June, so stay tuned for more updates.
Want to be among the first to hear when I release a new book, along with receiving notification of giveaways and promotions? Sign up for my mailing list: Nicole C's Book Babbles!
Want to be among the first to hear when I release a new book, along with receiving notification of giveaways and promotions? Sign up for my mailing list: Nicole C's Book Babbles!
February 16, 2014
Title: Contributor
Author: Nicole Ciacchella
Publisher/Year: Sweenix Rising Books 1/2/14
Length: 233 Pages
Series: Contributor #1
Overview
Book 1 of the young adult/new adult post-apocalyptic and dystopian Contributor trilogy.
When the Great Famine threatened the existence of mankind, the Creators saved humanity. Humanity has been their loyal subject ever since.
This history has been ingrained in seventeen-year-old Dara Morrow since her first day of Creator-sponsored school. Grateful for the life-giving necessities her Creator provides, Dara is thrilled to be one of three students chosen for an elite, year-long apprenticeship program. Now is her chance to prove herself a devoted Contributor.
But Dara’s competition is ruthless and will stop at nothing to win the competition. Worse yet, her exacting master has little patience for her.
Then Dara’s mother is seriously injured, and Dara realizes the price of being a Contributor: once you’ve outlived your usefulness, you’re discarded. Can Dara learn to manipulate the system to save not only herself, but everyone she loves?
My Thoughts
I had this in my list to read on NetGalley for a few weeks, and I don't know what took me so long to read it. I've been in the market for a new Dystopian series, and this one was just what i needed. I should say though that i was a bit nervous when i started it since the first seen was very reminiscent of the Matched Series - in the sense that we meet our female lead Dara just as she's taking an evaluation that will determine what her job and role in life will be.
Anyhow, this story begins the journey for us with Dara who's just finishing school and will be assigned to her role as a Contributor in society. To back up a second, what we do know about what's going on is limited, but this is it: The environment outside in the world is unstable and dangerous so domes have been built to house humanity. within the domes is a caste system of Ballasts and Cores, with the Ballasts being Contributors - those who are able to provide some value in society that's needed. Jobs that are technological, medical, or of those higher levels. Cores or the service folks, blue collar workers if you need a comparison. Dara is the top of her class and finds herself excelling in her evaluation and landing an apprenticeship for the head of Engineering, which is a blessing and something horrible all rolled together. She's assigned to Letizia who is a top engineer to be lead through her apprenticeship which turns out to be a competition of sorts between Dara and 2 other classmates to be the Head's assistant. Of course, we know that this means that they will do whatever is necessary to show that they are the best and are most deserving of the assistant role.
Along with meeting Dara, we meet her boyfriend Jonathan who is also at the top of his class, but in Logistics. So they are a great match since they are both very skilled and don't have to compete with one another. Jon has a great heart and will do just about anything for Dara.
Where this story takes us in on a journey of growth and learning about the things that you're never taught in school. of course, it's expected that there are things that Dara has been sheltered from - the understanding of what's really going on and what the 'government of sorts'...the Job Creators want everyone to know - so that they fall in line.
Through a series of unfortunate events, Dara begins to see that there's more than what she knows. She and Letizia are on a transport coming back from another dome and they crash. this is the first thing that opens her eyes as she's forced to see what's going on outside the domes and she meets some friends of Letizia's who are able to help her in that experience.
Dara also has to deal with the serious injury to her mother, she's forced to choose between work and family at first in order to continue on in her studies, and then once that's decided, she and her father are forced into a stressful situation in the care for her mom.
Where this story leaves us off is a turning point, we see successes for some of the cast, but we also see that things are changing and it'll be interesting to see what those will be, who will be important, and what it means for survival. Dara has decided to stand up against what she's learned so far, and is taking on a role of leadership in a sense - she's willing to compromise all that she knows that keeps her safe in order to make a change. Who's going to be harmed in the path we don't know yet, but we can hope that her family and friends will be safe. I wonder what role Jon will play in this as well.
I'm also curious if the Roots will come in handy. In addition to the Ballasts and Cores that we talked about, there are the Roots that are the folks that have been cast out of the domes that are living outside in the elements. A few folks that we've read about have been referenced to be out there, so i'm curious if we'll come across them again.
The one thing that really frustrates me though is that we don't get the back story on what happened to force everyone into domes. we know that the environment and atmosphere outside isn't stable enough for sustainable living. But we don't know what happened to make it like that. we know that there were books talking out it that the free thinkers have, but again we don't know what those books say. Even if it's not a huge importance, i'm curious. It also put context to things that i enjoy. In any event, i can't wait to see where the story continues.
Author: Nicole Ciacchella
Publisher/Year: Sweenix Rising Books 1/2/14
Length: 233 Pages
Series: Contributor #1
Overview
Book 1 of the young adult/new adult post-apocalyptic and dystopian Contributor trilogy.
When the Great Famine threatened the existence of mankind, the Creators saved humanity. Humanity has been their loyal subject ever since.
This history has been ingrained in seventeen-year-old Dara Morrow since her first day of Creator-sponsored school. Grateful for the life-giving necessities her Creator provides, Dara is thrilled to be one of three students chosen for an elite, year-long apprenticeship program. Now is her chance to prove herself a devoted Contributor.
But Dara’s competition is ruthless and will stop at nothing to win the competition. Worse yet, her exacting master has little patience for her.
Then Dara’s mother is seriously injured, and Dara realizes the price of being a Contributor: once you’ve outlived your usefulness, you’re discarded. Can Dara learn to manipulate the system to save not only herself, but everyone she loves?
My Thoughts
I had this in my list to read on NetGalley for a few weeks, and I don't know what took me so long to read it. I've been in the market for a new Dystopian series, and this one was just what i needed. I should say though that i was a bit nervous when i started it since the first seen was very reminiscent of the Matched Series - in the sense that we meet our female lead Dara just as she's taking an evaluation that will determine what her job and role in life will be.
Anyhow, this story begins the journey for us with Dara who's just finishing school and will be assigned to her role as a Contributor in society. To back up a second, what we do know about what's going on is limited, but this is it: The environment outside in the world is unstable and dangerous so domes have been built to house humanity. within the domes is a caste system of Ballasts and Cores, with the Ballasts being Contributors - those who are able to provide some value in society that's needed. Jobs that are technological, medical, or of those higher levels. Cores or the service folks, blue collar workers if you need a comparison. Dara is the top of her class and finds herself excelling in her evaluation and landing an apprenticeship for the head of Engineering, which is a blessing and something horrible all rolled together. She's assigned to Letizia who is a top engineer to be lead through her apprenticeship which turns out to be a competition of sorts between Dara and 2 other classmates to be the Head's assistant. Of course, we know that this means that they will do whatever is necessary to show that they are the best and are most deserving of the assistant role.
Along with meeting Dara, we meet her boyfriend Jonathan who is also at the top of his class, but in Logistics. So they are a great match since they are both very skilled and don't have to compete with one another. Jon has a great heart and will do just about anything for Dara.
Where this story takes us in on a journey of growth and learning about the things that you're never taught in school. of course, it's expected that there are things that Dara has been sheltered from - the understanding of what's really going on and what the 'government of sorts'...the Job Creators want everyone to know - so that they fall in line.
Through a series of unfortunate events, Dara begins to see that there's more than what she knows. She and Letizia are on a transport coming back from another dome and they crash. this is the first thing that opens her eyes as she's forced to see what's going on outside the domes and she meets some friends of Letizia's who are able to help her in that experience.
Dara also has to deal with the serious injury to her mother, she's forced to choose between work and family at first in order to continue on in her studies, and then once that's decided, she and her father are forced into a stressful situation in the care for her mom.
Where this story leaves us off is a turning point, we see successes for some of the cast, but we also see that things are changing and it'll be interesting to see what those will be, who will be important, and what it means for survival. Dara has decided to stand up against what she's learned so far, and is taking on a role of leadership in a sense - she's willing to compromise all that she knows that keeps her safe in order to make a change. Who's going to be harmed in the path we don't know yet, but we can hope that her family and friends will be safe. I wonder what role Jon will play in this as well.
I'm also curious if the Roots will come in handy. In addition to the Ballasts and Cores that we talked about, there are the Roots that are the folks that have been cast out of the domes that are living outside in the elements. A few folks that we've read about have been referenced to be out there, so i'm curious if we'll come across them again.
The one thing that really frustrates me though is that we don't get the back story on what happened to force everyone into domes. we know that the environment and atmosphere outside isn't stable enough for sustainable living. But we don't know what happened to make it like that. we know that there were books talking out it that the free thinkers have, but again we don't know what those books say. Even if it's not a huge importance, i'm curious. It also put context to things that i enjoy. In any event, i can't wait to see where the story continues.
March 14, 2014
I feel bad for not liking Contributors. I think the author had some good ideas, but the problem is that this isn’t a dystopia and Dara has no reason to go against the government. She kind of does, I guess, but it felt more like the only reason why she went against Magnum was because she was finding her apprenticeship hard and that her mom was sick.
Considering she grew up as a straight A student, suffering her first set of hardships made her go from sad to GET VENGEANCE NOW! The transition didn’t make much sense and made me feel like she was a very entitled and spoiled. She thought the apprenticeship was hard and didn’t like the competition, so she starts to dislike the system. Her mom gets into an accident and doesn’t get better so she starts to hate the system. This is normal behaviour, kind of…but I think, but if you grew up in a ‘dystopian’ world where you’re constantly told that the government is the best and that you shouldn’t think differently, you wouldn’t see a change like this happen so quickly. They might doubt the world, but it would take awhile for them to fully understand why it is so bad. I think Ciacchella did try to show that, but it didn’t work here.
Then again, this dystopian seems more like a communist society in domes. Apparently something happened and it killed most of the plants in the world, so now societies live in domes. The government, Job Creators, saved everyone (I’m not sure how) and now everyone does jobs that is best suited for them. If you cross them, you’re exiled into the Wasteland. If you are suspicious with your activity, then they encourage others to spy and rat you out. However, for the most part everyone follows what they’re supposed to do and live a life of blandness. I wish I could mention more about this world, but we never really see much of the world in Contributor. We don’t really see anything other than Dara and her experiment, which isn’t really explained much since I still don’t know what exactly she does, and her life at home.
There is a bit of romance which I feel fell short. Jonathon is the perfect understanding boyfriend to Dara and Dara seems mostly indifferent to him. We never really get a sense of who Jonathan is outside of Dara. What his home life is or what he does is a complete mystery. All we know is that he’s loyal to Magnum and Dara doesn’t like that. I think at one point she complains that he chooses his way of life and the government over her. This annoyed me, because at this point he really has no reason to distrust the government. Neither does Dara really. Her motivation to go against the system still doesn’t make sense to me. I know I already talked about this, but I’m still trying to figure out why she hates Anderson, the Head Engineer and her boss, and the government.
However, I think the biggest problem in this novel is the writing. It’s written in third person and I feel like this didn’t work here. I never felt connected to any of the characters, they all felt cold to me and more importantly they never popped. It almost felt like I was watching pieces move, but never people. Sure the characters would do and say things, but I never felt like any of it was true to them. This might be why I didn’t understand Dara’s transition to loving the Job Creators to hating them and why nothing in this novel really worked for me. There’s also a lot of showing and not telling in this novel, which hurt it as well.
It’s a shame too, because I do like the cover and like the idea of this story. I’ll probably read the next book in the series to see what happens. Infiltrator seems to talk more about the world, so I kind of want to see how this place is a dystopia, because so far I don’t really see or understand it.
Overall: I think this book could have been better, loads better. All it needed was better writing and more world building so that it truly felt like a dystopia, which is how it’s marketed as, and not just a regular communist society. I wanted to know why things are the way they are and we never got that. Plus, the characters are all one note and never stray far from the role they are given. Even though this book is meant to be about Dara’s journey and growth, it never feels like it because her convictions stem from entitlement and not from the realization that her world is a lie. Her hatred is superficial and to then risk your entire life for that just seems odd to me.
Random Note: Considering how everyone lives in Domes, I wonder why the Job Creators haven’t set up security cameras in people’s homes to make sure no one is falling out of line. That would make them extra scary, because they’re constantly watching and make sure people watch as well.
Contributor was provided by netgalley.
Considering she grew up as a straight A student, suffering her first set of hardships made her go from sad to GET VENGEANCE NOW! The transition didn’t make much sense and made me feel like she was a very entitled and spoiled. She thought the apprenticeship was hard and didn’t like the competition, so she starts to dislike the system. Her mom gets into an accident and doesn’t get better so she starts to hate the system. This is normal behaviour, kind of…but I think, but if you grew up in a ‘dystopian’ world where you’re constantly told that the government is the best and that you shouldn’t think differently, you wouldn’t see a change like this happen so quickly. They might doubt the world, but it would take awhile for them to fully understand why it is so bad. I think Ciacchella did try to show that, but it didn’t work here.
Then again, this dystopian seems more like a communist society in domes. Apparently something happened and it killed most of the plants in the world, so now societies live in domes. The government, Job Creators, saved everyone (I’m not sure how) and now everyone does jobs that is best suited for them. If you cross them, you’re exiled into the Wasteland. If you are suspicious with your activity, then they encourage others to spy and rat you out. However, for the most part everyone follows what they’re supposed to do and live a life of blandness. I wish I could mention more about this world, but we never really see much of the world in Contributor. We don’t really see anything other than Dara and her experiment, which isn’t really explained much since I still don’t know what exactly she does, and her life at home.
There is a bit of romance which I feel fell short. Jonathon is the perfect understanding boyfriend to Dara and Dara seems mostly indifferent to him. We never really get a sense of who Jonathan is outside of Dara. What his home life is or what he does is a complete mystery. All we know is that he’s loyal to Magnum and Dara doesn’t like that. I think at one point she complains that he chooses his way of life and the government over her. This annoyed me, because at this point he really has no reason to distrust the government. Neither does Dara really. Her motivation to go against the system still doesn’t make sense to me. I know I already talked about this, but I’m still trying to figure out why she hates Anderson, the Head Engineer and her boss, and the government.
However, I think the biggest problem in this novel is the writing. It’s written in third person and I feel like this didn’t work here. I never felt connected to any of the characters, they all felt cold to me and more importantly they never popped. It almost felt like I was watching pieces move, but never people. Sure the characters would do and say things, but I never felt like any of it was true to them. This might be why I didn’t understand Dara’s transition to loving the Job Creators to hating them and why nothing in this novel really worked for me. There’s also a lot of showing and not telling in this novel, which hurt it as well.
It’s a shame too, because I do like the cover and like the idea of this story. I’ll probably read the next book in the series to see what happens. Infiltrator seems to talk more about the world, so I kind of want to see how this place is a dystopia, because so far I don’t really see or understand it.
Overall: I think this book could have been better, loads better. All it needed was better writing and more world building so that it truly felt like a dystopia, which is how it’s marketed as, and not just a regular communist society. I wanted to know why things are the way they are and we never got that. Plus, the characters are all one note and never stray far from the role they are given. Even though this book is meant to be about Dara’s journey and growth, it never feels like it because her convictions stem from entitlement and not from the realization that her world is a lie. Her hatred is superficial and to then risk your entire life for that just seems odd to me.
Random Note: Considering how everyone lives in Domes, I wonder why the Job Creators haven’t set up security cameras in people’s homes to make sure no one is falling out of line. That would make them extra scary, because they’re constantly watching and make sure people watch as well.
Contributor was provided by netgalley.
August 12, 2013
An intense read from beginning ‘til the very end; cannot think of a better way to bypass the remaining summer days, than to read a good YA Dystopia filled with non-stop action and awe-inspiring romances.
In Dara Morrow’s post-apocalyptic world, success is when you have become a devoted Contributor to the Job Creators and being look down upon, is to unsuccessfully do so. Dara is seventeen-years-old, and is a selected few of many to train as a yearlong apprenticeship. Now she must prove herself once again by entering the competition – where the chosen one will be assistance to the Head of Engineering, Andersen. Not only Dara, but every apprentice is looking forward to this, it has been imbedded in their minds since they were young, that this is their road and direction in life … their futures. But when matter takes a different turn and this high-life – filled with secrets – is not as Dara once thought it was. She does not know whom to trust. Those whom seem like enemies end up being allies, while ones whom you have thought a friend, are stabbing you in the back. Dara’s world is about to get hectic, and as a Dystopian lover, I am going to be selfish and say, it is thrilling.
When you read about Dara, you’ll feel confused – one moment she’s a nervous wreck, the next she’s BAM in your face. I liked that she is capable of sticking up for herself, especially with a jerk like Ryan – another trainee -- barking around. Ugh, he was sooo annoying (just goes to show what a phenomenal writer Nicole Ciacchella is)! But I’m straying from the point. Dara as most Dystopian protagonist, will be the one to try and stop whatever evil is about to unleash, but in her case, rather than to have that typical male protagonist to be the wind beneath her wings, she has to take a different direction on her own, with strangers whom she wants to trust but is not one-hundred percent she can. It a scary decision and I have respect for her; she feels what is right, and she is going with it.
Dara and Jonathan’s relationship was adorable. But with every step they take towards achieving their life-long goals, their relationship is challenged. I thought what they had was beautiful, yet at the same time, it didn’t seem like they belong together. It felt as if Dara had to constantly tame herself, in order to be the perfect person for Jonathan, although it is no secret he cares for her. Once again, complicated.
Letizia, a Senior Engineer, became one of my favorite characters. What would Dara become without her? Letizia was hard on Dara and from how Dara described her, I would have thought her an android; never once showing a hint of emotion in her face or actions. But all of it was to give Dara what is best for her, to get Dara to harden up. I mentioned how Dara was able to stick up for herself, yes, but she also let things get to her and in the occupation she trying to pursue there is no time for weakness. Although Letizia is a minor character, she plays a big part in the whole book; I can’t wait to read about her role growing in book two.
Javier, another apprentice, in the beginning seemed like a nice guy, his character just shows how greed can lead to your own destruction. Admittingly, he is a character that is fun to read about. His actions and behavior really reels you in, and although he is a minor addition to Contributor, his character is well remembered.
Telling you about the rebels is like slipping you in on a secret, therefore I will not be giving it to you in details. (Har, Har, you’ll have to read it for yourself and it is not something you want to miss). Just know that whenever there is a world that was created to be perfection, there is always a group of rebellions whom want nothing to do with, or to bring it down. But the question is ... are these peopling really the bad guys?
Keep an eye out for Nicole Ciacchella works; you will regret missing the chance to read a good book.
Recommend.
In Dara Morrow’s post-apocalyptic world, success is when you have become a devoted Contributor to the Job Creators and being look down upon, is to unsuccessfully do so. Dara is seventeen-years-old, and is a selected few of many to train as a yearlong apprenticeship. Now she must prove herself once again by entering the competition – where the chosen one will be assistance to the Head of Engineering, Andersen. Not only Dara, but every apprentice is looking forward to this, it has been imbedded in their minds since they were young, that this is their road and direction in life … their futures. But when matter takes a different turn and this high-life – filled with secrets – is not as Dara once thought it was. She does not know whom to trust. Those whom seem like enemies end up being allies, while ones whom you have thought a friend, are stabbing you in the back. Dara’s world is about to get hectic, and as a Dystopian lover, I am going to be selfish and say, it is thrilling.
When you read about Dara, you’ll feel confused – one moment she’s a nervous wreck, the next she’s BAM in your face. I liked that she is capable of sticking up for herself, especially with a jerk like Ryan – another trainee -- barking around. Ugh, he was sooo annoying (just goes to show what a phenomenal writer Nicole Ciacchella is)! But I’m straying from the point. Dara as most Dystopian protagonist, will be the one to try and stop whatever evil is about to unleash, but in her case, rather than to have that typical male protagonist to be the wind beneath her wings, she has to take a different direction on her own, with strangers whom she wants to trust but is not one-hundred percent she can. It a scary decision and I have respect for her; she feels what is right, and she is going with it.
Dara and Jonathan’s relationship was adorable. But with every step they take towards achieving their life-long goals, their relationship is challenged. I thought what they had was beautiful, yet at the same time, it didn’t seem like they belong together. It felt as if Dara had to constantly tame herself, in order to be the perfect person for Jonathan, although it is no secret he cares for her. Once again, complicated.
Letizia, a Senior Engineer, became one of my favorite characters. What would Dara become without her? Letizia was hard on Dara and from how Dara described her, I would have thought her an android; never once showing a hint of emotion in her face or actions. But all of it was to give Dara what is best for her, to get Dara to harden up. I mentioned how Dara was able to stick up for herself, yes, but she also let things get to her and in the occupation she trying to pursue there is no time for weakness. Although Letizia is a minor character, she plays a big part in the whole book; I can’t wait to read about her role growing in book two.
Javier, another apprentice, in the beginning seemed like a nice guy, his character just shows how greed can lead to your own destruction. Admittingly, he is a character that is fun to read about. His actions and behavior really reels you in, and although he is a minor addition to Contributor, his character is well remembered.
Telling you about the rebels is like slipping you in on a secret, therefore I will not be giving it to you in details. (Har, Har, you’ll have to read it for yourself and it is not something you want to miss). Just know that whenever there is a world that was created to be perfection, there is always a group of rebellions whom want nothing to do with, or to bring it down. But the question is ... are these peopling really the bad guys?
Keep an eye out for Nicole Ciacchella works; you will regret missing the chance to read a good book.
Recommend.
December 21, 2013
I would probably rate this 3.5 if I could.
Contributor takes the reader into the life of Dara Marrow. As a seventeen year old, Dara is now being evaluated as an engineer and by performing well; she is selected to join a specialized apprentice program with two others to compete for the position of Assistant to the Head of Engineering. This is ultimately what Dara has been working her whole life for and being chosen is exactly what she was hoping for. Dara is assigned to work with Contributor D’Angelo (Letizia) and immediately dives into her training. Along the way, Dara’s competition for the assistant role become pretty cutthroat and after her mother has an accident and can no longer contribute, Dara begins to question everything she was ever taught.
One of things I wish we would have had a deeper dive into is the whole background of the dome and the class system. I thought the class segments were interesting and the explanation of how they aligned to society but what was confusing to me was how it all came to be. I wanted to know more about the different Creators and how things ultimately got to the situation where people were only valued if they were contributing to the success of the Creator.
Dara is definitely smart and as her relationship with Contributor D’Angelo changes, she begins to learn more about the Creator and even more about the things outside the dome. I thought Ciacchella did a great job developing her as well as the relationship between Dara and Contributor D’Angelo. By experiencing the shift in Dara’s beliefs, I was able to see just how much of a gap there was between her and Jonathan and although he was there for her when she needed him to be, she was smart to recognize that neither of them were going to be able to change their opinion, no matter how much they cared for each other.
I do wish we would have gotten more background around Mal. While he was just a peripheral character initially, he truly became someone that would ultimately hold Dara’s life in his hands. I’m still not sure what his background is and hope book two goes into more detail about who he really is. Additionally, I would have liked a bit more detail around how Letizia came to be involved with Raj, Mal, and Tasha. It felt a bit glossed over and other than saying they had different beliefs than those in the dome, I didn’t completely understand how they came to know each other.
Overall I thought this was a great introduction to Dara’s world. Even with the items I mentioned above, I thought that Ciacchella did a good job developing the main characters. The story was continually moving and had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. This was a solid book one and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in book two and how much more Dara’s world will change.
Thank you to Netgalley & Sweenix Rising Books for the review copy.
Contributor takes the reader into the life of Dara Marrow. As a seventeen year old, Dara is now being evaluated as an engineer and by performing well; she is selected to join a specialized apprentice program with two others to compete for the position of Assistant to the Head of Engineering. This is ultimately what Dara has been working her whole life for and being chosen is exactly what she was hoping for. Dara is assigned to work with Contributor D’Angelo (Letizia) and immediately dives into her training. Along the way, Dara’s competition for the assistant role become pretty cutthroat and after her mother has an accident and can no longer contribute, Dara begins to question everything she was ever taught.
One of things I wish we would have had a deeper dive into is the whole background of the dome and the class system. I thought the class segments were interesting and the explanation of how they aligned to society but what was confusing to me was how it all came to be. I wanted to know more about the different Creators and how things ultimately got to the situation where people were only valued if they were contributing to the success of the Creator.
Dara is definitely smart and as her relationship with Contributor D’Angelo changes, she begins to learn more about the Creator and even more about the things outside the dome. I thought Ciacchella did a great job developing her as well as the relationship between Dara and Contributor D’Angelo. By experiencing the shift in Dara’s beliefs, I was able to see just how much of a gap there was between her and Jonathan and although he was there for her when she needed him to be, she was smart to recognize that neither of them were going to be able to change their opinion, no matter how much they cared for each other.
I do wish we would have gotten more background around Mal. While he was just a peripheral character initially, he truly became someone that would ultimately hold Dara’s life in his hands. I’m still not sure what his background is and hope book two goes into more detail about who he really is. Additionally, I would have liked a bit more detail around how Letizia came to be involved with Raj, Mal, and Tasha. It felt a bit glossed over and other than saying they had different beliefs than those in the dome, I didn’t completely understand how they came to know each other.
Overall I thought this was a great introduction to Dara’s world. Even with the items I mentioned above, I thought that Ciacchella did a good job developing the main characters. The story was continually moving and had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. This was a solid book one and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in book two and how much more Dara’s world will change.
Thank you to Netgalley & Sweenix Rising Books for the review copy.
June 20, 2013
Ok woah, this book was intense. In a world where everyone is marked by how much they can contribute to the Job Creators/Society, Dara is an up-and-coming student, vying for the prestigious position of Apprentice to the Head of Engineering. But her perfect life starts to fall apart when the ruthlessness of the competition starts to eat at her, and her family undergoes a trial that challenges her beliefs.
Can I say that Dara really reminds me of me? Not the "has a boyfriend part", but in the beginning, when she believes that hard work will be the key to success, wow, that was something that I used to believe. I'm not the smartest person (certainly not the smartest person in my family), but like Dara, I used to think that as long as I worked hard, I would get the good grades, the scholarships, the secured future.
But that future is never secure. As Dara finds out, a system based solely on how much you contribute will neglect the importance of friends and family. And Contributor is a book that follows Dara as she finds out who are her friends, and how much her family actually means to her. It is, I think, very much an exploratory sort of book - it is only at the end of the book that Dara makes a decision based on what she has learnt.
And because of that, I really admire her. I won't give away any spoilers, but let's just say that while this book does promise a book two, the cliffhanger is not very terrible. I like the ending because of the possibilities, and Dara's decision (while not very surprisingly), is admirable.
In short, this is a book that I think deals with an issue very close to all our hearts. Capitalism is very much a dog-eat-dog world, and Meritocracy, while great, does tend to be a little too hard-hearted. This book is one that can make the reader ask "am I focusing on success at the expense of the more important things in life?"
Disclaimer: I got this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
Can I say that Dara really reminds me of me? Not the "has a boyfriend part", but in the beginning, when she believes that hard work will be the key to success, wow, that was something that I used to believe. I'm not the smartest person (certainly not the smartest person in my family), but like Dara, I used to think that as long as I worked hard, I would get the good grades, the scholarships, the secured future.
But that future is never secure. As Dara finds out, a system based solely on how much you contribute will neglect the importance of friends and family. And Contributor is a book that follows Dara as she finds out who are her friends, and how much her family actually means to her. It is, I think, very much an exploratory sort of book - it is only at the end of the book that Dara makes a decision based on what she has learnt.
And because of that, I really admire her. I won't give away any spoilers, but let's just say that while this book does promise a book two, the cliffhanger is not very terrible. I like the ending because of the possibilities, and Dara's decision (while not very surprisingly), is admirable.
In short, this is a book that I think deals with an issue very close to all our hearts. Capitalism is very much a dog-eat-dog world, and Meritocracy, while great, does tend to be a little too hard-hearted. This book is one that can make the reader ask "am I focusing on success at the expense of the more important things in life?"
Disclaimer: I got this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
July 6, 2013
*I won a copy in a LibraryThing giveaway. My review is my honest opinion.
4.5
Dara Morrow is a 17-yr-old living in the Magnum Dome. After finishing school she is in competition with three other engineering students for the position of Assistant to Head of Engineering Andersen. Living in a dome means everyone must contribute and Dara is anxious to prove herself. When her mother is injured and she herself is the target of malice she begins to question her life in the dome and those who run it. Questioning the Creators is a very dangerous thing, so what is Dara going to do? She’s smart but does she have what it takes to survive in this cutthroat environment?
The beginning of this story was a tad confusing until I figured out who was who and what was what. After that it was a race to the end to see how Dara handled all that was being thrown her way. Well-written with excellent characters I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire book.
The idea of living in a dome in order to survive the wasteland that is Earth was bleak to say the least. Looking outside my window I can’t imagine not being able to go outside under the blue skies, feel the sun on my face and breathing all that nature has to offer. Well, except skunks or the random dead animal. Those I could do without, but you get the idea. However, Dara grew up in a dome and didn’t know any other way to live until her eyes were opened. What has been seen cannot be unseen, what has been learned cannot be unlearned and I am anxious to see how Dara manages the new direction in her life in the next book.
If you liked The Hunger Games or Matched I think you might like Contributor.
4.5
Dara Morrow is a 17-yr-old living in the Magnum Dome. After finishing school she is in competition with three other engineering students for the position of Assistant to Head of Engineering Andersen. Living in a dome means everyone must contribute and Dara is anxious to prove herself. When her mother is injured and she herself is the target of malice she begins to question her life in the dome and those who run it. Questioning the Creators is a very dangerous thing, so what is Dara going to do? She’s smart but does she have what it takes to survive in this cutthroat environment?
The beginning of this story was a tad confusing until I figured out who was who and what was what. After that it was a race to the end to see how Dara handled all that was being thrown her way. Well-written with excellent characters I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire book.
The idea of living in a dome in order to survive the wasteland that is Earth was bleak to say the least. Looking outside my window I can’t imagine not being able to go outside under the blue skies, feel the sun on my face and breathing all that nature has to offer. Well, except skunks or the random dead animal. Those I could do without, but you get the idea. However, Dara grew up in a dome and didn’t know any other way to live until her eyes were opened. What has been seen cannot be unseen, what has been learned cannot be unlearned and I am anxious to see how Dara manages the new direction in her life in the next book.
If you liked The Hunger Games or Matched I think you might like Contributor.
May 24, 2013
I received a reviewer's copy through Netgalley.
This book is brilliantly constructed. I was immediately taken by how much it sucked me in. Ciacchella intimately trusts her reader, and she doesn't waste any words on explaining things, or infodumping. The world is handled as if we are as familiar with it as Dara is, and we truly see through her eyes. Enough context is given that what might be foreign concepts readily become clear, even though this is an entirely new world, with tons of phrases.
There is so much new in this book, that it would almost be expected to have lots of infodumps and infosprinkles for us to understand, but there isn't and the book is so strong because of it.
It really set the tone of "this is how things are, and you should just accept it" because that is exactly what Dara had to face.
I can't say enough times how impressed I am. Because it was so skillfully woven, there was almost no distance between Dara and me. I always knew what she wanted, what her goals were, what her fears were, and why.
Every aspect of the world is carefully crafted and intricately designed, but it is up to Dara (and us) to figure out how things really are.
I read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
This book is brilliantly constructed. I was immediately taken by how much it sucked me in. Ciacchella intimately trusts her reader, and she doesn't waste any words on explaining things, or infodumping. The world is handled as if we are as familiar with it as Dara is, and we truly see through her eyes. Enough context is given that what might be foreign concepts readily become clear, even though this is an entirely new world, with tons of phrases.
There is so much new in this book, that it would almost be expected to have lots of infodumps and infosprinkles for us to understand, but there isn't and the book is so strong because of it.
It really set the tone of "this is how things are, and you should just accept it" because that is exactly what Dara had to face.
I can't say enough times how impressed I am. Because it was so skillfully woven, there was almost no distance between Dara and me. I always knew what she wanted, what her goals were, what her fears were, and why.
Every aspect of the world is carefully crafted and intricately designed, but it is up to Dara (and us) to figure out how things really are.
I read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
April 24, 2013
I absolutely LOVED this book. Like really, really LOVED it. Like others have said, you think it's starting off "slow" but it's really just giving you an insight into the world. I am absolutely obsessed with dystopian novels, and this one of the very best. I really, really felt like I knew the world, and that I knew how cold the people in the world was. There wasn't a silly "Oh this is the one, absolutely perfect, doesn't fit in this world" characters. All the characters you can tell they came from this world and changed their thinking, unlike a lot of dystopian novels where the main characters seem like they are from our world instead of the world they are in.
Seriously if you love dystopian novels, well even if you don't, read this! You will LOVE it, I promise. It's WAY better than a lot of the well known dystopian novels, it's so good!!
Seriously if you love dystopian novels, well even if you don't, read this! You will LOVE it, I promise. It's WAY better than a lot of the well known dystopian novels, it's so good!!
February 9, 2014
Contributor is a solid and engaging YA/Dystopian novel. Right from the start you pick up where Dara is entering into an apprenticeship program. What I really enjoyed about this story was that the plot is conceivable. People are dedicated completely to the Creators because they are taught to from the start, disposed of if they don't, and kept from free thinking. The social and psychological aspects of living in a world such as this was clearly thought out by the author and pulled off brilliantly.
Copy receives through Net galley. For a more in depth review of this book and more go to http://th3bookworm.wordpress.com
Copy receives through Net galley. For a more in depth review of this book and more go to http://th3bookworm.wordpress.com
September 30, 2015
An interesting take on the dystopian future genre, I found myself intrigued by this book, but not to the point that I couldn't put it down. It was a slow read, but worth the time. I will definitely continue on to the next book in the series.
The book is very character driven. The characters are strong and well-rounded, but, with the exception of Dara, you never really know where they stand or whether they can be trusted. That's probably one of the things that kept me going; I really wanted to know what everybody was up to and what motivated them.
The book is very character driven. The characters are strong and well-rounded, but, with the exception of Dara, you never really know where they stand or whether they can be trusted. That's probably one of the things that kept me going; I really wanted to know what everybody was up to and what motivated them.
September 9, 2016
The author takes you into what I would consider an apostolic world where outside the main stream was a world of devastation considered a prison in itself. The main character here is brought up to believe one thing and one thing only that what was considered their lives was right and Job Creators were the means to all things. To think freely was basically illegal and was a death sentence to anyone crossing even a minor line. This was a great read and it would recommend it to all YA readers.
January 27, 2014
I loved this book.
I realise that, unlike most books, this may just be due to me liking the book, rather than due to the character and plot.
However, as I usually get tired of dystopian novels very easily this was shocking as I simply enjoyed the book!
I realise that, unlike most books, this may just be due to me liking the book, rather than due to the character and plot.
However, as I usually get tired of dystopian novels very easily this was shocking as I simply enjoyed the book!
March 29, 2015
I absolutely adored this book. Never once did I feel like I was being left out of the loop in the mysterious world that is, is around or outside the domes. Can't wait to read the next books! Dara is very easy to relate to and Letizia is a phenomenally strong supporting character.
July 31, 2018
Could not finish
Maybe a younger crowd would enjoy this, but I was bored to death. Way too much minute to minute description...not enough story.
Maybe a younger crowd would enjoy this, but I was bored to death. Way too much minute to minute description...not enough story.
June 15, 2018
I bought the The Contributor for free on my Kindle, and it was about what I was expecting. This sci-fi story is about a girl named Dara who is an aspiring Contributor- an engineer forced to work for the all powerful state, Magnum. Dara’s relationships, skills, and faith in Magnum are challenged throughout the book. It follows the formulaic hero’s quest in 2000’s dystopian narrative. Girl has faith in state and loves family. This same girl finds herself working as a key player in the state. Powerful people take interest in this girl. This girl discovers the world is not what it seems, and the girl finds an insurgent group with which to fight against the state.If this is what you are looking for in a story, read on, but even if I were a sci-fi enthusiast, there are two glaring flaws I have with this book. It lacks character development and any description about Dara’s work as an engineer.
While Dara is the main focus of the book, I can only note three feelings she goes through during the story: tired, nervous, and sad. Dara did not come across as heartbroken or caring throughout the whole novel. She was just an instrument for the plot, and other characters were accessories to the plot as well. The only character I cared for was Letizia, Dara’s mentor and role model. But the mentor of the story should not overshadow the protagonist.
See full review here: https://bluntb00kreviews.wordpress.co...
While Dara is the main focus of the book, I can only note three feelings she goes through during the story: tired, nervous, and sad. Dara did not come across as heartbroken or caring throughout the whole novel. She was just an instrument for the plot, and other characters were accessories to the plot as well. The only character I cared for was Letizia, Dara’s mentor and role model. But the mentor of the story should not overshadow the protagonist.
See full review here: https://bluntb00kreviews.wordpress.co...
September 1, 2022
"When the Great Famine threatened the existence of mankind, the Creators saved humanity. Humanity has been their loyal subject ever since."
Dara Morrow lives in a dystopian society where you are only as good as your contribution to society, and when you can't contribute anymore, you are pretty much discarded. The citizens of this society are taught basically from birth that the Creators are all powerful and always right, and you don't under any circumstances question their edicts. Dara is in a three way competition to determine who will be the assistant to the head of engineering, which is her dream job, but when things turn particularly cutthroat, she starts to question things. Then her mother is hurt in an accident, and the stress of managing everything makes her question even more what she's been taught all her life.
I liked Dara because she really believed in the Creators and only started questioning what she had been taught when her life was thrown into turmoil and everything started falling apart. It was then that she realized everyone was expendable, and that they were merely tools that the Creators used, rather than valued members of society. The pace of the book built slowly but increased throughout the book, so you could feel the tension build.
For the most part, this was a very engaging and quick read, and I enjoyed it very much.
4/5 stars.
Dara Morrow lives in a dystopian society where you are only as good as your contribution to society, and when you can't contribute anymore, you are pretty much discarded. The citizens of this society are taught basically from birth that the Creators are all powerful and always right, and you don't under any circumstances question their edicts. Dara is in a three way competition to determine who will be the assistant to the head of engineering, which is her dream job, but when things turn particularly cutthroat, she starts to question things. Then her mother is hurt in an accident, and the stress of managing everything makes her question even more what she's been taught all her life.
I liked Dara because she really believed in the Creators and only started questioning what she had been taught when her life was thrown into turmoil and everything started falling apart. It was then that she realized everyone was expendable, and that they were merely tools that the Creators used, rather than valued members of society. The pace of the book built slowly but increased throughout the book, so you could feel the tension build.
For the most part, this was a very engaging and quick read, and I enjoyed it very much.
4/5 stars.
March 31, 2020
😊
After surviving a Great Famine which almost wipes out all human's, the creators save humanity at the cost of humans. When contributors are no longer contributing they are discarded and forgotten about. That is until Dara Morrow is thrown into such a scenario. Gifted really on a very young age Abe becomes the assistant to creator Anderson who is head of engineering. Her mother on the other hand is ill and is on the verge of becoming discarded. Dara learns some home truths along the way in trying to save her mother's life from an institution and then being forced to move on with life like her mother never existed.
A good read. Keeps the pages turning for sure. Typical YA dystopian. Written well. Back story is consistent and gels well with what's happening at present time.
After surviving a Great Famine which almost wipes out all human's, the creators save humanity at the cost of humans. When contributors are no longer contributing they are discarded and forgotten about. That is until Dara Morrow is thrown into such a scenario. Gifted really on a very young age Abe becomes the assistant to creator Anderson who is head of engineering. Her mother on the other hand is ill and is on the verge of becoming discarded. Dara learns some home truths along the way in trying to save her mother's life from an institution and then being forced to move on with life like her mother never existed.
A good read. Keeps the pages turning for sure. Typical YA dystopian. Written well. Back story is consistent and gels well with what's happening at present time.
May 2, 2019
Overall I enjoyed the premise of a dystopian world where people are supported in life only as long as they are contributors to the corporation. But I felt that the story lines needed “fleshing out”. The main character is competing for a position in engineering by working on projects that are never described in even the broadest of technical or mechanical terms, which significantly decreases any ability to create an image of the world in our imaginations. The descriptions of the dome, the area outside the dome, the people, the corporate office...everything, are sparse . It is basically a long dialogue between characters. I will not read book two.
June 8, 2018
Decent story. Needed more development on the dystopian world and why it was like it was. The Free Thinkers were really interesting but hardly touched on. Dara was way to young and emotional. Her journey through the story wasn’t developed enough. I don’t see how anyone could live through the pressure she was under and her emotional ups and downs were enough to break the most hardened person. I just don’t see how she was able to handle it all. I don’t think she ate or slept the whole book!
December 17, 2019
a very interesting and thought provocating read. Dara a young and talented student is rewarded by being selected with 2 other students to train under the head of Engineering. competition is keen and cut throat and she needs to get stronger. However; things take a strange turn when an accident turns her into a different person with a different outlook in her life. well worth reading.
August 19, 2021
Interesting and engaging beginning to a much larger story
I really enjoyed this book. The story was well written and the main characters were endearing. The book is part of a larger story, and I look forward to reading more, but it didn’t end on a cliffhanger like some multi-book stories do.
I really enjoyed this book. The story was well written and the main characters were endearing. The book is part of a larger story, and I look forward to reading more, but it didn’t end on a cliffhanger like some multi-book stories do.
August 20, 2018
Ending came sooner than expected but it is part of a trilogy. Overall really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the others. Reading the prequel may have helped to give some context for this book as it did seems to jump in without a huge explaination of what is happening and why.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews