Book Review: Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Thumped is the sequel to Bumped. If you haven't read Bumped, there will be spoilers in this review!

It's almost 9 months have passed, and a lot has happened to Melody and Harmony. Both are pregnant with twins, Harmony living in Goodside with Ram, and Melody coupled with Jondoe. With the "double double due date" coming up, the world is watching to see everything these famous "bumpers" do, eat and wear.

While to the outside world things look perfect, from the inside things are slowly cracking. Melody and Jondoe live together to keep up appearances, but he is truly in love with Harmony. Melody has feelings for her friend Zen, who has gotten breed-ier since growing over 4 inches. Of course all of this must be kept closely guarded so that their adoring public doesn't catch on.

It's Harmony who goes first, after breaking a major violation in Goodside, she escapes before the elders can punish her and take her babies. Melody has to deal with her own deceptions, and feelings for Zen while maintaining her very public image with Jondoe.

Taking place in a world where people loose their ability to have children between the ages of 18-21, and where teens are either married off young or "bumped" to either sell or give away the child (usually under a contract that gives them money for college among other things), the choices that Melody and Harmony have to make are outrageous. They both have to deal with being the person society wants them to be and not the person they are to maintain an image they don't want.

Thumped (and Bumped) are smart satires that look into the world of teen pregnancy, birth control and other social issues. Be prepared to think about this one. The different backgrounds and upbringings give Thumped a very well rounded point of view. Whether you watch 19 and Counting or 16 and Pregnant, you'll want to check out these books.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Gearing up for Bitterblue. Can't tell you how excited I am for this one!)

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