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Dept. of Reproductive Management
In the future, the American government establishes the Dept. of Reproductive Management to evaluate and approve a citizen’s right to have children. Any family created without a government permit is declared illegal and is mercilessly hunted, arrested, and often, killed. Their illegal children are sent to reeducation centers where department-approved classes can ensure their distorted views are not passed on.
For 16-year-old Maggie Ward, growing up in one of these centers is all she’s ever known. But after learning her brother is secretly being trained as a Remo – government agent that violently breaks up illegal families – she concocts a plan to escape.
With the help of a tech-savvy illegal, they locate the Resistance and finally learn their parents’ identities. The truth is more disturbing than they could have imagined. Dark government conspiracies, unstable Resistance members, and a dangerous cross-country journey collide as Maggie races to keep the secrets of her past from destroying her future.
For 16-year-old Maggie Ward, growing up in one of these centers is all she’s ever known. But after learning her brother is secretly being trained as a Remo – government agent that violently breaks up illegal families – she concocts a plan to escape.
With the help of a tech-savvy illegal, they locate the Resistance and finally learn their parents’ identities. The truth is more disturbing than they could have imagined. Dark government conspiracies, unstable Resistance members, and a dangerous cross-country journey collide as Maggie races to keep the secrets of her past from destroying her future.
327 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2014
2 people are currently reading
854 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 10, 2022
I could not put this book down once I started the book. This book is packed with so much. This book takes place in a time that people could not have kids unless the government gives them the ok to. Everyone has IDs put in their arms. A group of kids born to parents that did not have the ok to have kids living in a group home escape, and this book follows them finding out about themselves. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, but this review is 100% my opinion.
March 3, 2020
3.7 stars overall rounded up to 4
This book had an interesting concept much akin to the Handmaid’s tale, where the government controls who is allowed in the population to have children.
I really enjoyed the story. It was full of quite a bit of exciting moments placed throughout the storyline. It had great characters and storyline, they just needed to be fleshed out a bit more. A bit more world building would have been beneficial as well.
***I was lucky enough to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you so much to Goodreads, the publisher, and the author for this opportunity***
This book had an interesting concept much akin to the Handmaid’s tale, where the government controls who is allowed in the population to have children.
I really enjoyed the story. It was full of quite a bit of exciting moments placed throughout the storyline. It had great characters and storyline, they just needed to be fleshed out a bit more. A bit more world building would have been beneficial as well.
***I was lucky enough to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you so much to Goodreads, the publisher, and the author for this opportunity***
November 10, 2019
Dept. of Reproductive Management
By Kelly A. Wilson
3.7/5 🦄
So I rounded up in my stars count because it more accurately reflects how I feel about this book. I’ll start by saying that I feel the age group is 11-15 year olds. The story follows young teen Maggie, who has always lived in a re-education center for the children of illegals—that is, the children of those not legally allowed to have children according to the government. The laws governing this were put in place to ensure all children were properly taken care of and population management. When Maggie’s brother is going to be sent from their center to be forced into brutal training because of her misbehavior, they decide to escape and intend to seek out their parents.
The story is very fast paced, which makes it a quick read, but also contributes to a sense of confusion about what is happening and why. Because of the pacing, there is a heavy dose of telling instead of showing. This book could have used a bit more fleshing out because for me it felt like every scene was so fast and then proceeded onto the next one that the timing never felt realistic and the story needed a bit more development. It also suffers from teenage instalove that was handled exactly as you expect. You will know immediately who the love interest is—although this is by no means a romance. Overall this book had a lot of action and a full dose of governmental conspiracy for the usual ya fan, who loved Divergent and the Hunger Games, but perhaps needing a bit more polish. The story continues however and it may be that the next book delivers in the areas where this one felt rushed. I enjoyed it and recommend it especially to young women interested ya lit featuring politics and revolution.
I received a copy of this book from the author for my review (thank you!).
By Kelly A. Wilson
3.7/5 🦄
So I rounded up in my stars count because it more accurately reflects how I feel about this book. I’ll start by saying that I feel the age group is 11-15 year olds. The story follows young teen Maggie, who has always lived in a re-education center for the children of illegals—that is, the children of those not legally allowed to have children according to the government. The laws governing this were put in place to ensure all children were properly taken care of and population management. When Maggie’s brother is going to be sent from their center to be forced into brutal training because of her misbehavior, they decide to escape and intend to seek out their parents.
The story is very fast paced, which makes it a quick read, but also contributes to a sense of confusion about what is happening and why. Because of the pacing, there is a heavy dose of telling instead of showing. This book could have used a bit more fleshing out because for me it felt like every scene was so fast and then proceeded onto the next one that the timing never felt realistic and the story needed a bit more development. It also suffers from teenage instalove that was handled exactly as you expect. You will know immediately who the love interest is—although this is by no means a romance. Overall this book had a lot of action and a full dose of governmental conspiracy for the usual ya fan, who loved Divergent and the Hunger Games, but perhaps needing a bit more polish. The story continues however and it may be that the next book delivers in the areas where this one felt rushed. I enjoyed it and recommend it especially to young women interested ya lit featuring politics and revolution.
I received a copy of this book from the author for my review (thank you!).
April 24, 2020
This book kept you waiting to find out what happens next. Lots of action. It ends with no conclusion, so I guess there will be more at some point.
Publisher's Summary
In the future, the American government establishes the Dept. of Reproductive Management to evaluate and approve a citizen’s right to have children. Any family created without a government permit is declared illegal and is mercilessly hunted, arrested, and often, killed. Their illegal children are sent to reeducation centers where department-approved classes can ensure their distorted views are not passed on.
For 16-year-old Maggie Ward, growing up in one of these centers is all she’s ever known. But after learning her brother is secretly being trained as a Remo - government agent that violently breaks up illegal families - she concocts a plan to escape.
With the help of a tech-savvy illegal, they locate the Resistance and finally learn their parents’ identities. The truth is more disturbing than they could have imagined. Dark government conspiracies, unstable Resistance members, and a dangerous cross-country journey collide as Maggie races to keep the secrets of her past from destroying her future.
Publisher's Summary
In the future, the American government establishes the Dept. of Reproductive Management to evaluate and approve a citizen’s right to have children. Any family created without a government permit is declared illegal and is mercilessly hunted, arrested, and often, killed. Their illegal children are sent to reeducation centers where department-approved classes can ensure their distorted views are not passed on.
For 16-year-old Maggie Ward, growing up in one of these centers is all she’s ever known. But after learning her brother is secretly being trained as a Remo - government agent that violently breaks up illegal families - she concocts a plan to escape.
With the help of a tech-savvy illegal, they locate the Resistance and finally learn their parents’ identities. The truth is more disturbing than they could have imagined. Dark government conspiracies, unstable Resistance members, and a dangerous cross-country journey collide as Maggie races to keep the secrets of her past from destroying her future.
October 9, 2019
I though this was a really interesting and exciting read about a dystopian future where the government decides whether a couple can be allowed to have children. The story follows the action packed story of a young teen as she escapes from a detention center to travel across the country to discover the truth of her birth. Accompanied by her brother and two friends, she finds the situation much more complicated and dangerous with a revolutionary underground, its members and the department of reproductive management all intertwined and creating uncertainty about who she can trust. The action is non-stop and engrossing. Maggie is a awesome heroine and the characters that surround her are great as well. My only problem was that the story ended so abruptly that everything was just left hanging and I don’t have book 2 to learn what happens next.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
August 23, 2019
Dept. of Reproductive Management is a YA dystopian novel about a future United States where parents need to be evaluated and granted approval before having children. This story follows Maggie and Ryker, siblings that were born illegally and taken from their parents as infants and placed in a re-education center, hidden from the rest of the world. As they begin to question what they’ve been taught about their parents, they escape the center in a quest to find their parents. Their adventure was such a ride and kept my interest throughout the story. While I wish the book provided more background about the laws and what led to the formation of the Dept. of Reproductive Management, I did enjoy this story. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and left me with a lot of questions, but it did make me excited for the second book in the series. Quick and interesting read!
August 20, 2019
I received a free kindle copy of Dept. of Reproductive Management through GoodReads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.
I would give this book 4 stars for a young adult dystopian novel. This isn't my normal read anymore as I have moved out of the young adult book world, but it was still good and I am interested in eventually reading the second book. If you are not into how young adult books sound (I feel they read differently than adult books), I would not recommend this. If you don't care and enjoy a good cat and mouse chase and dystopian novels, give it a whirl!
I will say that this book does end on a cliff hanger and it is part of a series, so be prepared to either never get an ending or to read multiple books.
I would give this book 4 stars for a young adult dystopian novel. This isn't my normal read anymore as I have moved out of the young adult book world, but it was still good and I am interested in eventually reading the second book. If you are not into how young adult books sound (I feel they read differently than adult books), I would not recommend this. If you don't care and enjoy a good cat and mouse chase and dystopian novels, give it a whirl!
I will say that this book does end on a cliff hanger and it is part of a series, so be prepared to either never get an ending or to read multiple books.
September 22, 2019
This was a GoodReads giveaway win of an electronic Kindle edition.
This was a Young Adult book. I am not the target audience. And it is reflected in the overall delivery of the material. Perhaps it is the feeling that the author is writing down to lower level, instead of writing to adults, but with focus on the heroes who happen to be young adults. I tend to shy away from YA books for that reason. I am also a bit wary of subtitled book 1s. I expect them to end in a cliffhanger, but I have to hope the story is engaging enough to hook me into the rest of the series.
This book does end in a cliffhanger. Not surprising.
This was still a GoodReads, just for the right audience.
This was a Young Adult book. I am not the target audience. And it is reflected in the overall delivery of the material. Perhaps it is the feeling that the author is writing down to lower level, instead of writing to adults, but with focus on the heroes who happen to be young adults. I tend to shy away from YA books for that reason. I am also a bit wary of subtitled book 1s. I expect them to end in a cliffhanger, but I have to hope the story is engaging enough to hook me into the rest of the series.
This book does end in a cliffhanger. Not surprising.
This was still a GoodReads, just for the right audience.
September 17, 2019
This novel is a step into the future where reproductive rights are earned--not freely given. Anyone who dares to procreate without government sanction risks having his/her family hunted, killed, or sent to "re-education" camps. As with most cases, where there is an oppressive Government, there is a Resistance. And the Resistance in this story works to end the Department of Reproductive Management. I received this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.
October 7, 2019
Bland, lacks character development
1.5
I won a Kindle edition of this book through Goodreads.
The idea for the storyline us decent, but never fully developed. More of a Chase and adventure with stagnant characters who lack personality and dialogue. It almost reads like a screenplay. Odd explanations and over sights. I want to like more than I do.
1.5
I won a Kindle edition of this book through Goodreads.
The idea for the storyline us decent, but never fully developed. More of a Chase and adventure with stagnant characters who lack personality and dialogue. It almost reads like a screenplay. Odd explanations and over sights. I want to like more than I do.
August 19, 2019
Omg
I loved this book I just want to read the second one so bad. I’m not one for reviews in detail all I can say is read!!!
I loved this book I just want to read the second one so bad. I’m not one for reviews in detail all I can say is read!!!
September 10, 2019
Hands down it's a good read. The pace keeps up through the book with non stop action all the way to the end. Definitely want to read the next in the series.
September 25, 2016
Book review for Dept. Of Reproductive Management by Kelly A. Wilson
*** out of *****
After finding this book under the Goodreads book giveaway I wanted to get my hands on it. Just the synopsis alone gripped me and made me want to enter the world where the government gets to tell us who can’t or can have children. They even go to the lengths of auctioning off the illegal babies (babies born from people who were not giving the okay to conceive.) This book was an interesting read and it really made me think about the future. Will this happen to us one day?
This book starts with the characters of Maggie and Ryker, who are brother and sister and are residing at the Jessup Re-education center (a place where illegal children stay to get trained to change their views of the DRM.) Maggie loves her brother and when she finds out that he is getting trained to become a Remo, a person who hunts down illegal’s, she comes up with an escape plan and she intends to bring her with him. They escape with friends in tow and find themselves in the company of a friendly hacker capable of acquiring their files that include information regarding their parents. Here is when the fun part starts.
As the results come in we find out who Maggie’s real mother is and that she is a very important lady in the governments aspect. So the gang adds a new mission: Find Maggies mother and bring down the DRM. As the search continues they find themselves in the company of the Resistance, a big group of people dedicated to bring down the DRM no matter what the cost is, giving them shelter and assistance. Obstacles get in their way: car crashes, Remos, friends and sibling relationships.
This book had a serious tone to it and it saddens me that I found it humorous as I kept reading because of the many typos and grammar errors. One example was found on page 284 “She turned towards the cabinet and grabbed the toot brush.” As you can imagine, that would be hard not to laugh at. The more I kept reading the more I was looking for typos because there were just so many of them.
The ending was fiery and explosive. Maggies Mother met her match and I wish I knew what happened next. Was the DRM brought down? What happened to their friends? There are still questions to be answered. But overall it was a fascinating adventure and terrible world ruled by the government.
*** out of *****
After finding this book under the Goodreads book giveaway I wanted to get my hands on it. Just the synopsis alone gripped me and made me want to enter the world where the government gets to tell us who can’t or can have children. They even go to the lengths of auctioning off the illegal babies (babies born from people who were not giving the okay to conceive.) This book was an interesting read and it really made me think about the future. Will this happen to us one day?
This book starts with the characters of Maggie and Ryker, who are brother and sister and are residing at the Jessup Re-education center (a place where illegal children stay to get trained to change their views of the DRM.) Maggie loves her brother and when she finds out that he is getting trained to become a Remo, a person who hunts down illegal’s, she comes up with an escape plan and she intends to bring her with him. They escape with friends in tow and find themselves in the company of a friendly hacker capable of acquiring their files that include information regarding their parents. Here is when the fun part starts.
As the results come in we find out who Maggie’s real mother is and that she is a very important lady in the governments aspect. So the gang adds a new mission: Find Maggies mother and bring down the DRM. As the search continues they find themselves in the company of the Resistance, a big group of people dedicated to bring down the DRM no matter what the cost is, giving them shelter and assistance. Obstacles get in their way: car crashes, Remos, friends and sibling relationships.
This book had a serious tone to it and it saddens me that I found it humorous as I kept reading because of the many typos and grammar errors. One example was found on page 284 “She turned towards the cabinet and grabbed the toot brush.” As you can imagine, that would be hard not to laugh at. The more I kept reading the more I was looking for typos because there were just so many of them.
The ending was fiery and explosive. Maggies Mother met her match and I wish I knew what happened next. Was the DRM brought down? What happened to their friends? There are still questions to be answered. But overall it was a fascinating adventure and terrible world ruled by the government.
Read
April 14, 2016This was a really good story with a very interesting premise. I enjoyed the characters and their individual issues they had to face and deal with. Often times, I will read the first book of a series and be satisfied. I don't usually go on to read the whole series because I can pretty much figure out for myself what's going to happen. That is NOT the case on this book and/or series. The ending was just cliff-hangar enough to leave me wanting more, yet enough of the questions were answered that I didn't feel cheated. I definitely will anticipate the next book and will be buying it the day it comes out. I highly recommend this for all ages, especially young adults.
September 23, 2016
I got this book through the goodreads first-reads giveaway.
I was very pleasantly surprised at how, regardless of it being a YA novel, it could grab my attention from the get go. Simple and well written (despite the typos and errors I am sure were fixed for the final publication), it kept me going until I finished very quickly. The premise is a dystonian future where births are government controlled and "illegals" are put in re-education centres. Not too far from a possible reality, but certainly with a good message that the power of any government lies with the people.
It may be written for YA, but enjoyable by all. A quick, enjoyable and recommended read.
I was very pleasantly surprised at how, regardless of it being a YA novel, it could grab my attention from the get go. Simple and well written (despite the typos and errors I am sure were fixed for the final publication), it kept me going until I finished very quickly. The premise is a dystonian future where births are government controlled and "illegals" are put in re-education centres. Not too far from a possible reality, but certainly with a good message that the power of any government lies with the people.
It may be written for YA, but enjoyable by all. A quick, enjoyable and recommended read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews