The Only Boy by Jordan Locke

Title: The Only Boy

Author: Jordan Locke

Length: 268 pages

Publisher: Self-published (CreateSpace)

Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Source: Paperback (Won from a giveaway. Thanks again An Alleged Author!)

Read: March 2014

Mary is stuck in Section One, living with three hundred women in a crumbling hospital. She wonders what life was like two centuries ago, before the Cleansing wiped out all the men. But the rules—the Matriarch's senseless rules—prevent her from exploring the vacant city to find out. Taylor's got a dangerous secret: he's a boy. His compound's been destroyed, and he's been relocated to Section One. Living under the Matriarch means giving up possessions, eating canned food and avoiding all physical contact. Baggy clothes hide his flat chest and skinny legs, but if anyone discovers what lies beneath, he'll be exiled. Maybe even executed. Mary's never seen a boy—the Matriarch cut the pictures of men from the textbooks—and she doesn't suspect Taylor's secret. If she knew, she might understand the need to stop the girls from teasing him. If she knew, she might realize why she breaks the rules, just to be near him. Then again, she might be frightened to death of him. Taylor should go. The Matriarch is watching his every move. But running means leaving Mary—and braving the land beyond the compound's boundaries. 

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I really like the cover.

The Story:

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.
I found that it was very fast-paced.
And to me it felt a little rushed. But I think that was due to the fact that I wasn't really aware of how much time was actually passing by. So what I thought was one or two days later turned out to be weeks or a month later. So after figuring this out, it wasn't as rushed as I originally thought. I wish I would have been able to realize a bit more the time frame.
I found the concept of the story really interesting and intriguing.
There were a couple things that happened that did not surprise me at all, but there were a few twists that I didn't see coming.
I think liked the different points of view. I have read other books that have the dual points of view between the female and male character, but those were done by chapter. Where in this book they switch back and forth within the chapter.
I did feel like the revelation of Taylor's secret was early. I thought it would have taken a little longer for Mary to find out.

The Characters:

I found that the characters were likable, but they were also frustrating. At least for me. There were a number of things about Mary that frustrated me.
I did feel like there was a case of Insta-love in this book. And for some reason I had a hard time connecting with their relationship. It felt a little forced for me.
But overall, I was interested in what would happen to Mary and Taylor. And I was interested in Taylor's past.

My Rating: