Book Review (5).

All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1)

by Gabrielle Zevin 

Publication: September 6 2011

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan

Pages: 352

Genre: Dystopian

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Sixteen year-old Anya becomes the head of a mafia family after her parents are both murdered by rival gangs. Although Anya is embrolied in the criminal world, she is determined to keep her brother and sister out of the mafia family, but her father's relatives aren't so keen to let them go. When Anya's violent ex-boyfriend is poisoned with contaminated chocolate – chocolate that is produced illegally by Anya's mafia family – she is arrested for attempted murder and sent to the notorious jail on Manhattan Island.

Eventually she is freed by the new D.A. in town, who believs she has been framed. But this D.A. is the father of Win, a boy at school to whom Anya feels irresistibly drawn, and her freedom comes with conditions. Win's father wants to be mayor, and he can't risk having his ambition jeopardised by rumours spreading that his son is seeing a member of a notorious crime family. Anya knows she risks the safety of her family by seeing Win again, but the feeling between them may be too strong to resist...

My Thoughts.

I absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait for the next book in the series.

The year is 2082, chocolate and caffeine are illegal and you need vouchers for simple things like ice-cream and candles, and water is rationed, books are no longer available as  paper is illegal without a permit, poultry is rationed, fruit is scarce and cleaning products have to be purchased with a voucher.

Phones are used sparingly because they are heavily taxed and you have to use stamps to send an e-mail.

We are introduced to 16 year old Anya  the daughter of a mob boss, who lives with her Grandma who is bedridden and dying, her older brother Leo (who has brain damage after being in a car accident with their Mum who was shot while driving after a hit went wrong) he now has the mental capacity of an 8 year old, and her younger sister Natty.

Anya who is pretty much the head of the house (both their parents have been murdered) makes most of the decisions and who is more worried about everybody else, is accused of poisoning her ex-boyfriend with chocolate that her family makes overseas,

In amongst all this is Win, the son of the upcoming new D.A who doesn't approve of their relationship, he gives Anya an ultimatum break up with his son or he'll make trouble for her family.

All the characters are fleshed out, the story is fast paced and it has the kind of forbidden love that I love to read about.

So hurry up 2012 I need the next book! 5/5

A huge thanks to Charlotte Ree @ Pan Macmillan Australia.