Please keep in mind, there will be spoilers for the chapters we are currently discussing, but if you've read ahead, please do not share any details for those who are reading the book for the first time and those that are sticking to the schedule we’ve put forth. I know it will be hard to reign in your excitement (*wink wink*), but please try! Thank you!
CHAPTER 15 - CHAPTER 29:
Let me preface this discussion by saying that I think I’ve turned into a puddle of goo, as chapters 15-29 kept me in a never ending state of SWOON. Logan and Callie forever!! #IShipIt
Anyway, last week, we stopped reading just as Logan was helping Callie escape the claws of FuMA. Of course, their escape was successful—at least to an extent. Logan leaving civilization was never really a part of the plan, but considering Callie’s inability to swim, the growing connection between Logan and Callie, and Logan’s desire to see his brother who Callie previously believed had been taken away, it’s no surprise that he decides to flee with Callie. Callie weakly protests Logan accompanying her to Harmony, but he reminds Callie of the notion of free will.
Ultimately, these chapters are low on action, and instead, the focus is very much on the growing, slow-burn romance between Logan and Callie with a few revelations thrown in. First, Logan reveals why he stopped talking to Callie five years ago, and I’ll admit a part of me was like “Bro, seriously? Are you for real?” But mostly, I understood his reasoning. Grief, especially when it comes to the loss of a sibling, makes people do funny things. With past hurts out in the open, it’s easier for Callie and Logan to move forward in their relationship. This leads us to revelation number two: Logan explains to Callie who the Underground are and what Harmony is.
It’s not long before my heart goes into shock. What the heck? Logan’s brother is still alive, and he’s practically the mayor of Harmony! Mikey’s reception of Logan and Callie is slightly off-putting. On the one hand, he’s happy to see his brother and even teases Logan about Callie being the girl he couldn’t shut up about five years ago (SO CUTE). On the other hand, he’s angry that Logan has put the people of Harmony in jeopardy, and he blames Callie for that (even if it’s not her fault). This interaction has my head spinning.
Say hello to revelations four and five…It’s revealed that Logan and Mikey both have psychic abilities, which allow them to communicate, which in turn allows Logan to gather and deliver resources to Harmony. Hence, Mikey’s objection to Logan being there. Who can they rely on to deliver necessities now? It’s also revealed that Logan’s future memory includes Callie. **squeals in a non-pig-like fashion** This revelation is followed by a perfectly sweet first kiss, and I’m giddy over it.
Now, there are no secrets between these lovebirds, which brings us to revelation number six. Callie tells Logan about her and Jessa’s psychic abilities, and he determines that they have the same psychic connection as him and Mikey—they’re senders and receivers. Jessa is sending Callie memories, which allows Callie to determine how close in time they are to her future memory. This psychic ability leads me to come to the same conclusion as last week. Callie and Jessa’s bond is truly unbreakable. At least, I hope so. The vision Callie has of Chairwoman Dresden requesting to screen the children has me a wee bit nervous. Especially with the knowledge of what “The Key” may represent.
At one point, Jessa unknowingly sends Callie a memory, a memory in which she overhears Dresden's conversation with her teacher. Dresden wants to screen children for psychic abilities because a precognitive told them that the key to inventing future memory lies in a child with psychic abilities. So once Callie does some digging into the Harmony "archives," she presents a theory, which is that FuMA and TechRA (two entities that should exist separately) are working together because they haven't actually figured out how to send memories to their past selves yet. So FuMA has lied to them all these years when they said that they would instruct them how to send a memory to their past self when the time came. They won't instruct them because they can't. So in short, the Key is the person who figures out how to send memories back in time and the First Incident is the actual sending/receiving of the first future memory.
There is another slight revelation that has to do with Callie’s father. In the previous chapters, Callie had me convinced that her father was also Jessa’s father. But now it appears that this idea is only wishful thinking on her part. After all, her mother straight-up said that Jessa has a different father, so they’re half-sisters. This insight bums me out, so when Mikey drops the bomb that he’s forcing Logan back to Eden City, it didn’t take much to push emotions over the edge. I’m internally screaming, “NO! You can’t do that! Logan and Callie forever!!” Oh man, what a way to end this week’s reading! Cliffhangers are not my friends. *sighs*
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“You’ve never been just a girl to me, Calla Lily.” (page 123)
“My memory doesn’t take away my free will, Callie. I still get to make my own decisions. And right now, my decision is to go to Harmony. With you.” (page 128)
“How can you judge someone’s future actions without understanding the circumstances?” (page 139)
“Half of us are here to escape our futures, Callie. We can’t dwell on what might happen tomorrow, so we focus on the day-to-day. That’s all we have.” (page 173)
Note: I really love the repetition of “Open. What is open?” Pintip Dunn can take something that is literally so disgusting (IMO), and make is sound beautiful.
“Open. What is Open? The hole at the top of Mikey’s hut. The carcass of the deer, split open at the ribs. The hollowed-out center of the log we’re sitting on. Open, open, open.” (page 181)
He looks up, and my pulse leaps in recognition. On his face is an expression that is not quite faith. Faith itself is too scary, too unattainable. Optimism is reserved for the good people, the ones who go through their lives without harming anyone. But Zed’s expression is something approaching faith, something that might eventually become faith if circumstances allowed it. (page 203)
QUESTIONS:
These questions are only guidelines, feel free to pose your own and discuss other aspects of the chapters.
1. We already know that FuMA and TechRA force individuals to complete their future memory. (i.e. Beks) But Logan seems to firmly believe in free will and the fact that he can make his own choices. Do you believe that there is such a thing as free will in this world? Or is Logan just being naïve and will his words come back to bite him in the butt? (We sort of discussed this last week, but I’m curious to see if your thoughts have changed.)
2. How do you feel about Logan and Callie’s growing romance?
3. ZOMG. Mikey is alive! Were you shocked by this revelation? Explain. And what was your first impression of Mikey?
4. When you found out why Mikey was so upset over seeing Logan in Harmony, did your feelings toward Logan’s decision to accompany Callie change? If so, how?
5. Logan’s future memory features Callie. From my understanding, they’re together (as a couple) in the future. She is supporting Logan at a swim meet, and he experiences this overwhelming feeling of belonging, of being accepted. What I want to know is, how is Logan’s memory possible when Callie’s future memory clearly paints her as a criminal? If she’s a criminal, how is she out and about in society in Logan’s future? Does this mean that there is hope that Callie can fight her future memory?
6A. Angela, Mikey’s significant other, recognizes Callie’s mother’s name and associates her with the Underground, but Callie has no knowledge of her mother having anything to do with the Underground. What do you think? Is Callie’s mother keeping secrets from her?
6B. Callie seems certain that Jessa has a different father than her, but is it really so hard to believe Callie’s initial statement that her father came back at some point in time? If her mother is withholding information about the Underground, why shouldn’t we think that she’s lying to Callie about who Jessa’s father is? What do you think? Do Callie and Jessa share the same father?
7. How do you feel about the revelation that Jessa is a sender and Callie is a receiver? Aside from the fact that it allows Callie to keep track of time, how do you think this ability will help save Jessa? Or do you not think it will help at all?
8. After an unsuccessful attempt to request necessities from Logan and Mikey’s mother, Mikey decides he’s sending Logan back to Eden City. He doesn’t want to risk the health and survival of his people more than he already has. What do you think this means for Callie and Logan moving forward? What do you predict will happen next?
CHAPTER 15 - CHAPTER 29:
Let me preface this discussion by saying that I think I’ve turned into a puddle of goo, as chapters 15-29 kept me in a never ending state of SWOON. Logan and Callie forever!! #IShipIt
Anyway, last week, we stopped reading just as Logan was helping Callie escape the claws of FuMA. Of course, their escape was successful—at least to an extent. Logan leaving civilization was never really a part of the plan, but considering Callie’s inability to swim, the growing connection between Logan and Callie, and Logan’s desire to see his brother who Callie previously believed had been taken away, it’s no surprise that he decides to flee with Callie. Callie weakly protests Logan accompanying her to Harmony, but he reminds Callie of the notion of free will.
Ultimately, these chapters are low on action, and instead, the focus is very much on the growing, slow-burn romance between Logan and Callie with a few revelations thrown in. First, Logan reveals why he stopped talking to Callie five years ago, and I’ll admit a part of me was like “Bro, seriously? Are you for real?” But mostly, I understood his reasoning. Grief, especially when it comes to the loss of a sibling, makes people do funny things. With past hurts out in the open, it’s easier for Callie and Logan to move forward in their relationship. This leads us to revelation number two: Logan explains to Callie who the Underground are and what Harmony is.
It’s not long before my heart goes into shock. What the heck? Logan’s brother is still alive, and he’s practically the mayor of Harmony! Mikey’s reception of Logan and Callie is slightly off-putting. On the one hand, he’s happy to see his brother and even teases Logan about Callie being the girl he couldn’t shut up about five years ago (SO CUTE). On the other hand, he’s angry that Logan has put the people of Harmony in jeopardy, and he blames Callie for that (even if it’s not her fault). This interaction has my head spinning.
Say hello to revelations four and five…It’s revealed that Logan and Mikey both have psychic abilities, which allow them to communicate, which in turn allows Logan to gather and deliver resources to Harmony. Hence, Mikey’s objection to Logan being there. Who can they rely on to deliver necessities now? It’s also revealed that Logan’s future memory includes Callie. **squeals in a non-pig-like fashion** This revelation is followed by a perfectly sweet first kiss, and I’m giddy over it.
Now, there are no secrets between these lovebirds, which brings us to revelation number six. Callie tells Logan about her and Jessa’s psychic abilities, and he determines that they have the same psychic connection as him and Mikey—they’re senders and receivers. Jessa is sending Callie memories, which allows Callie to determine how close in time they are to her future memory. This psychic ability leads me to come to the same conclusion as last week. Callie and Jessa’s bond is truly unbreakable. At least, I hope so. The vision Callie has of Chairwoman Dresden requesting to screen the children has me a wee bit nervous. Especially with the knowledge of what “The Key” may represent.
At one point, Jessa unknowingly sends Callie a memory, a memory in which she overhears Dresden's conversation with her teacher. Dresden wants to screen children for psychic abilities because a precognitive told them that the key to inventing future memory lies in a child with psychic abilities. So once Callie does some digging into the Harmony "archives," she presents a theory, which is that FuMA and TechRA (two entities that should exist separately) are working together because they haven't actually figured out how to send memories to their past selves yet. So FuMA has lied to them all these years when they said that they would instruct them how to send a memory to their past self when the time came. They won't instruct them because they can't. So in short, the Key is the person who figures out how to send memories back in time and the First Incident is the actual sending/receiving of the first future memory.
There is another slight revelation that has to do with Callie’s father. In the previous chapters, Callie had me convinced that her father was also Jessa’s father. But now it appears that this idea is only wishful thinking on her part. After all, her mother straight-up said that Jessa has a different father, so they’re half-sisters. This insight bums me out, so when Mikey drops the bomb that he’s forcing Logan back to Eden City, it didn’t take much to push emotions over the edge. I’m internally screaming, “NO! You can’t do that! Logan and Callie forever!!” Oh man, what a way to end this week’s reading! Cliffhangers are not my friends. *sighs*
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“You’ve never been just a girl to me, Calla Lily.”
(page 123)
“My memory doesn’t take away my free will, Callie. I still get to make my own decisions. And right now, my decision is to go to Harmony. With you.”
(page 128)
“How can you judge someone’s future actions without understanding the circumstances?”
(page 139)
“Half of us are here to escape our futures, Callie. We can’t dwell on what might happen tomorrow, so we focus on the day-to-day. That’s all we have.”
(page 173)
Note: I really love the repetition of “Open. What is open?” Pintip Dunn can take something that is literally so disgusting (IMO), and make is sound beautiful.
“Open. What is Open? The hole at the top of Mikey’s hut. The carcass of the deer, split open at the ribs. The hollowed-out center of the log we’re sitting on. Open, open, open.”
(page 181)
He looks up, and my pulse leaps in recognition. On his face is an expression that is not quite faith. Faith itself is too scary, too unattainable. Optimism is reserved for the good people, the ones who go through their lives without harming anyone. But Zed’s expression is something approaching faith, something that might eventually become faith if circumstances allowed it.
(page 203)
QUESTIONS:
These questions are only guidelines, feel free to pose your own and discuss other aspects of the chapters.
1. We already know that FuMA and TechRA force individuals to complete their future memory. (i.e. Beks) But Logan seems to firmly believe in free will and the fact that he can make his own choices. Do you believe that there is such a thing as free will in this world? Or is Logan just being naïve and will his words come back to bite him in the butt? (We sort of discussed this last week, but I’m curious to see if your thoughts have changed.)
2. How do you feel about Logan and Callie’s growing romance?
3. ZOMG. Mikey is alive! Were you shocked by this revelation? Explain. And what was your first impression of Mikey?
4. When you found out why Mikey was so upset over seeing Logan in Harmony, did your feelings toward Logan’s decision to accompany Callie change? If so, how?
5. Logan’s future memory features Callie. From my understanding, they’re together (as a couple) in the future. She is supporting Logan at a swim meet, and he experiences this overwhelming feeling of belonging, of being accepted. What I want to know is, how is Logan’s memory possible when Callie’s future memory clearly paints her as a criminal? If she’s a criminal, how is she out and about in society in Logan’s future? Does this mean that there is hope that Callie can fight her future memory?
6A. Angela, Mikey’s significant other, recognizes Callie’s mother’s name and associates her with the Underground, but Callie has no knowledge of her mother having anything to do with the Underground. What do you think? Is Callie’s mother keeping secrets from her?
6B. Callie seems certain that Jessa has a different father than her, but is it really so hard to believe Callie’s initial statement that her father came back at some point in time? If her mother is withholding information about the Underground, why shouldn’t we think that she’s lying to Callie about who Jessa’s father is? What do you think? Do Callie and Jessa share the same father?
7. How do you feel about the revelation that Jessa is a sender and Callie is a receiver? Aside from the fact that it allows Callie to keep track of time, how do you think this ability will help save Jessa? Or do you not think it will help at all?
8. After an unsuccessful attempt to request necessities from Logan and Mikey’s mother, Mikey decides he’s sending Logan back to Eden City. He doesn’t want to risk the health and survival of his people more than he already has. What do you think this means for Callie and Logan moving forward? What do you predict will happen next?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!