Review + giveaway: Bumped - Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty, published by Corgi on 4th August 2011 

Goodreads synopsis:
When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.  

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.
 
Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.
 
When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Review:
Dystopian novels are a big favourite of mine.  I love the fact that nobody knows what's going to happen in the future so there are endless possibilities available to authors to create a world of their choosing.  Although some of these possibilities may seem quite fantastical there is always a chance that these may actually happen.  'Bumped' provides a snapshot of a future society where anyone over the age of eighteen is infertile and where teens are therefore the most valuable commodity on the planet.  Some of these teens are paid huge sums of money to become surrogate mothers for needy couples.  This is a concept which is so scary because it's immensely believable.  It could actually happen one day.  It's such a bold story idea but it really works incredibly well. 

The first thing which struck me immediately about this novel is the language used.  Megan McCafferty has created a completely new set of slang terms which are littered throughout the characters' speech.  Terms such as neggy, fertilicious and pregging are used often throughout the book.  I did eventually adjust to this but I still found it a bit distracting at times because of the frequency in which these terms are used.  On the other hand, the language did help to create the sense of this being a unique society, set apart from the present day.

The book deals with wider themes and topical issues such as teenage pregnancy and underage sex.  Some of the things which happen to the characters are almost shocking but these are treated as the norm and as everyday occurrences.  Although I think that there are some important messages to be taken away from the novel, I also think that readers shouldn't get swamped by these and to remember that McCafferty is also writing the story for pure enjoyment.  It shouldn't be taken too seriously.

Overall, this was a unique and interesting read and I'm looking forward to finding out what's going to happen to all the characters next.  I think there are plenty more surprises still to come!

To celebrate the release of 'Bumped' and the fact that it's my one year blogoversary, I am personally giving away one copy of the book.  The giveaway is international as I wanted to give everyone a chance to enter but you must be a follower of my blog.  Just fill out the form below with the required details.  Good luck! 

Giveaway rules.

• There will be one winner.
• Open to International entrants.
• Please fill out the form completely - especially the required details.
• You must be a follower to enter.
• Deadline for entries will be on 31 August.
• Winner will be drawn by random.org
• Winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.