Inside Out

Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children live in the lower levels and keep the pipes for ventilation and waste management clean for the "Uppers". The children are born and given to special nurseries to be raised in a type of "family" group. Trella is a scrub who is a little more adventurous than most of them and has gotten into trouble a few times for climbing up the pipes to see how the "Uppers" live. She has a few friends and among them is a man who grew up with her in the same "family". Trella is skeptical of her friend's belief in the "Gateway" and a "prophet" and that a better life awaits them "outside".

However, after a so-called prophet from the Upper levels is sent down by the Pop Cops to their level and her friend and others ask her to help hide him so he can continue his search for the Gateway, Trella as usual jumps in with both feet and is soon hiding the prophet, meeting a young man from the Uppers and getting into all kinds of close calls.

The point of the story - will they find the Gateway? Is it real? What is their purpose? Without giving away more, I will just say I guessed it and I was also very disappointed.

An interesting read.

Snyder surprisingly says she got the characters and story line from a dream! What an amazing dream. The world of the book is a very harsh one. The heroine though is quite a character, very strong-willed and very independent. She's a loner who is drawn into the struggle of the scrubs to find a way out of their daily toil in a world that is colorless, cheerless, and coordinated by routine. She has to learn to trust and interact with others as the book progresses and work others to help her downtrodden brethren in their boxed in world. My big gripe with the book is that too many things were simplified or not explained - some books go overboard on that and make you skip whole paragraphs - here I could have used more explanations or more descriptions. There are scenes of torture so this book might not be for the squeamish youngster but it is a good mystery (what is outside their box?) and has good morals to it. (people standing up for what is right, helping those weaker)

The main character in the story, a girl named Trella, is a member of the servant class in a world known only as 'Inside'. This world consists of many levels of stark, utilitarian space. The lower levels, severely overcrowded, are occupied by Trella's co-workers who are known as 'Scrubs' based on their jobs consisting of the cleaning and maintenance tasks needed by the systems that run 'Inside'.

The upper levels are occupied by the 'Upper Class', who are 'Inside's' commanders and also police the lower levels.

There are some real perplexing things in this story. Scrubs are encouraged to reproduce, even though the available space is horribly overcrowded. Yet, individuals are so little valued that they can be executed for the most trivial of offenses.

The Scrubs are driven to seek their freedom when Trella discovers that a supposed legend, the story of a Gateway that will free them from the restricted space of Inside, may actually be true.

This book is the story of how Trella finds out about Gateway and how the Scrubs claim their independence from the tyranny of the Uppers. Teens will enjoy it, I think.

My granddaughter Kayla's review:(she's fourteen)

Inside Out was a great book. It was filled with mystery, romance and of course, action. In Inside Out the world Trella lives in is divided into two parts: The 'lower' where the scrubs live and the 'upper' where the families live. The only thing connecting the two parts are pipes which Trella has been named 'queen' of. As Trella accidentally stumbles upon a room she thinks is deserted she meets an upper who wants to change how the lowers live. As the story unfolds Trella is finding herself the center of attention. Trella also finds things out about herself that were better left forgotten. She also finds herself making unusual friends that she never would have talked to before. This book kept me guessing til the very end and I can't wait for the next one to come out. I want to see if it also leaves me speechless!!!

I'd been putting off reading this book for awhile now, I'm not sure why, I just didn't feel the need to read it. Now after having read it I'm glad I put it off for awhile, I've been in need of a good dystopian and this was just the thing.

The plot of this book wasn't extremely unique, but the way Maria V Snyder wrote it made it very interesting. She was so descriptive that I could truly picture the Inside. It was fantastic. I absolutely loved the way Snyder wrote this book.

I loved all of the characters. Truly. And how often have I ever said that? Never. Trella is such a strong protagonist. She was smart, tough, caring, and so much more. Along with Trella I fell in love with Riley and Cogon. I feel like they were both so different, yet entirely the same. Both Riley and Cogon were my favorites beyond Trella. Along with the three all of the other characters fit the story so well and made it wonderful.

Overall I'm at a loss for words for this book. It was just really good. I will say that while this was a great book, it wasn't my absolute favorite.

I first started out reading Maria V. Snyder's Study series. I fell in love with the characters and the world she created then. When I happened across Outside In on NetGalley, I was intrigued and wanted to read this series. So I picked up Inside Out.

I've been enjoying some dystopian novels lately, and this did not disappoint. The characters in this book have been living in Inside for thousands of weeks. They have been separated into scrubs and the Uppers. The scrubs "maintain" the ship (cleaning, cooking, etc) and sleep in crammed quarters, while the Uppers live and relax in plush apartments... or so the scrubs are led to believe. Trella stumbles upon evidence of a Gateway to Outside, which in turn leads to a rebellion.

Trella in a very likable main character. She's strong, spunky, edgy and tough. She tries to stay off the radar of the Pop Cops (Population Control Police) but realizes that she can't when it comes to doing what is right, not only for herself but all the inhabitants of Inside.

Riley is an Upper that Trella meets through one of her excursions through the pipes, which are her job to clean. They form a tentative friendship at first, but soon come to rely on one another. Riley is a very sweet boy and a great love interest for Trella.

I loved the details about Inside, the workings and the day-to-day life of the inhabitants. I soaked it up and built a mental image of their world in my mind.

The overall world was completely different than what I had taken from Maria's Study series, but I highly enjoyed it. I wanted to know what happened between the scrubs and the Uppers and I could not put it down.

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder had always caught my glimpse in the book isles.
I did not immediately buy it. When there are so many books out there your list gets pretty long; adding a new series to the mix can be something you avoid. Instead I checked out her site and read and excerpt.
I was shocked! the store continually showed me this book in book suggestions. The cover always caught my eye in the stores. Why had I not already bought this?
Her writing skills are amazing. Clear, concise, easy to follow, and packed with informative bits.
Starting immediately it pulls you in. This story does not become tedious like many others in the genre do. Right away your questions begin and regardless of what you should be doing you continue to read on for the answers.
It does remind me of a couple other movies and books, but the story is uniquely captured and portrayed to make it one hundred percent original.
The character world is appealing along with the relationship's of the characters. The descriptive writing places you in a new world on an epic journey.

This is one of those unfortunate books whose cover art will undoubtedly result in many people leaving it on the bookshelf. At first glance, I expected it to be about a high school girl trying to fit in...or something like that. Not so. This is full-fledged dystopian fiction at its best.

Main character Trella is a "scrub" on the lower levels of "Inside." What is outside and how does one get there? They've been Inside for so many generations that nobody remembers. Rumor has it that there's a "Gateway" to the outside. Trella becomes a reluctant hero during her search for it and starts a rebellion against the ruling family of Inside.

Inside Out is a book with a great cast of characters and a gripping plot that makes the book hard to put down. I strongly recommend it to any fan of the dystopian genre.

Maria V. Snyder is one of those authors who could write ANYTHING and I would instantly read it. I've never had anything even neutral to say about her, and it's because she's so goldarn (you like that?) good at spinning a tale.

Snyder's forte is capturing the voice of a strong female protagonist that we can relate to (see her fantasy series - Poison Study and Glass) and building a world that is self-contained and makes absolute sense. In this novel, she manages to weave in the expository bits about the world into the narration so that it feels vital to know without clunking down the pacing.

I call this the original "Across the Universe" and it surpasses it by far. Not only am I a fan of the character's voice, I also love the authorial voice; something about Snyder's sensibility makes us root for her characters instead of feeling rubbed the wrong way, as many YA char's unfortunately do these days.

I always tear through her books, trying to hold myself back but finishing too quickly nonetheless. I just picked up the sequel to Inside Out and I can't wait to read it on my upcoming trip.

Ugh, Ive been putting off writing this review for a while. Why? Well, because I am not exactly sure what to say about it. I have read so many rave reviews about this book. I know that so many people absolutely love this series. At this point, it is safe to say that I don't love it.

I started this book one night, laying in bed with no distractions, ready to get started on a great book that I was ready to fall in love with. I read about 40 pages, and had to put it down. Not because i just couldn't go on, but because I got bored. I didn't know what to do with myself, I was completely distraught with the fact that I wasn't head over hills for this story! Why wasn't I into this book that so many had raved about? It tormented me for about 3 days before I picked it back up again, and started where I had left off.

Over the next 50 pages, I had to push through reading it. After about page 100, it started growing on me. Not at a dramatic rate, but hey, it was progress! I want to be able to tell you what I didn't like about it, or what bothered me about it, but I'm afraid I just can't do that because I honestly don't know! What I can tell you is that I didn't 'connect' with the main character like I would've liked. I didn't care for how the book began, how it introduced Trella. I apologize for not being able to provide you more explanation at this time.

Like I said, after the first 100 pages, it started getting better for me. I was able to immerse myself a little more into the story. The pace picked up a bit and I found myself actually anxious to find out what happened next. I liked the action and the premise started to interest me more. The mystery in this book is really great! I didn't figure out the big twist of 'Outside' until the moment it was revealed! I can honestly say that this book kept me guessing.

I want to say that it is not the authors writing style that turned me off, I thoroughly enjoyed the way she described characters and their surroundings. I didn't love the book, but I AM glad that I finished it because I did like it! I don't think it is one that I would re-read, but maybe a few years down the road I'll pick it up again to see if I feel differently about it. I will be reading Outside In, the second book in the series, as I have it for review. I am hoping that I find it more alluring

I encourage you to go check out other reviews before you let my opinion affect your decision on picking up this book. Everyone has different tastes in books, just because it isn't a favorite of mine doesn't mean it wont be a favorite of yours!

This was an enjoyable and suspenseful young adult novel. Fans of "The Hunger Games" will like the story of Trella and what she has to do to survive in her community. I really cared about Trella and what would happen to her. "Inside Out" has a good ending and does offer resolution of parts of the story.

However, there is supposed to be an upcoming sequel sometime in 2011, so some parts are left open-ended. This book was published by "Harlequin Teen" and it a good choice for middle school, high school, and adult readers. (Note: These aren't like the Harlequin romances of the 1970's! The Harlequin Teen books are modern and appealing for young adults, and like "Inside Out", aren't all in the romance genre.)

After reading Maria V. Snyder's amazing Touch of Power I was eager to read more of what she had written and so decided to start at the beginning. After a couple of weeks on the library waiting list, I managed to get my hands on her debut novel Inside Out. I had no idea what to expect - the world was completely different to Touch of Power, but I was pleasantly surprised. Snyder did a good job of introducing 'Inside' - a cube world with four levels where everything is divided into squares and society is also rigidly divided between the 'haves' (uppers) and 'have-nots' (lowers). The main character Trella travels through pipes and air ducts to begin an uprising like Inside has never seen before - all in the search for the Gateway to Outside.

Inside Out was a fast and easy read. The action and tension balanced each other perfectly and there was sufficient of a budding romance to keep me grinning while not being unrealistic or taking anything away from the core plot. Needless to say, I can't wait to finish the second book, Outside In!

Going into reading Inside Out, I was a little worried since I had tried to read her other series, Study, without much success. Thankfully, my fears were quickly pushed aside as I began reading.

Inside Out begins slowly as Snyder introduces Trella's world. This is a world full of life and issues that many of us have not encountered before, so I really enjoyed that Snyder took her time to ease the reader into this new world. Snyder's attention to detail also is shown in her characterization of Trella. She is not a happy-go-lucky type of person. Instead, she is complex: a ruff exterior to hide the soft inside. She is spunky, headstrong, and vulnerable at the right moments... the perfect character for a dystopian novel. Like Trella, the secondary characters are outstanding. They add tons of depth to Trella's character as well as make the novel more fun. Riley, Trella's love interest, was totally a swoon-worthy kind of guy, who definitely helped to soften Trella's hard edges... that and his adorable stuff animals. Seriously, if I could buy these little guys I would.

The premise of the novel has the distinct dystopian feel about it with slight hints of science fiction. In Trella's world, there are basically two types of people: the Uppers and the Scrubs. While the novel does not go into too much detail about the Uppers, the Scrubs' lives are throughly detailed. The reader understands everything from day to day life to how things are recycled. For Trella, her life is the pipes. She knows them backwards and forwards, and did not earn her nickname, Queen of the Pipes, for nothing. Everything changes for her one day when she becomes tangled up in a revolution... one that she wanted no part of.

Like the pipes that Trella calls home, Inside Out is full of twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Synder does a magnificent job of unveiling every little plot detail slowly and with the greatest care. There will definitely be some twists that you will not have seen coming. Especially, the finally twist. That was one that I never saw coming in a million years. While the novel feels complete, there are definitely some questions that need answers. Thankfully, Outside In will be released in 2011. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment. And I am crossing my fingers for some more of the adorableness that is Riley and his stuffed animals.

Readers should be aware: This novel contains minor usage of curse words. As well as minimal kissing and talk of sexual acts, which pertains to inner workings Terella's world. The novel also contains a far amount of violence.

Review by Jill Williamson

Trella is a scrub. She lives and works in the pipes on the lower levels keeping things clean for the uppers. But Trella stumbles onto some information that proves that things are not what they seem Inside. The more she finds out, the more questions she has.

This was a cool book. I liked Trella and the ways she coped with her life. I liked the sci fi storyworld of the book and how everything unfolded at the end. I even liked the little bit of romance. This is a great read for those who love weird books. Highly recommended.

This book was fascinating and full of futuristic ideas. The ending felt a bit abrupt and cut off, leaving me wanting the next book. Trella is an awesome character, and the author continues to write excellent stories. Four stars!

I loved being inside this book exploring the secret spaces and places with the main character, Trella. As Trella's awareness of her faults and strengths unfolded , I found myself considering my own life with the thought provoking situations in this book. Fast paced, creative, exciting and fun- it is clean and appropriate for ten and up. This particular adventure wraps up leaving the reader with a satisfying feeling of closure and victory of good over evil and personal growth. Yet, it dangles the promise of more adventures to come that will solve some of the lingering mystery and unanswered questions. I've already downloaded the sequel and am ready to jump in! .

I've read the author's first series, Poison Study, but even though this one is marked YA, the strength she showed in earlier book shines very well through here. Trella, much like Yelena in Poison Study, is an outsider but a strong character. She's both interesting to read about because of the strange world she lives in and also relatable to teens, who feel like outsiders at one point or another. Really hope there's a follow up.

I bought this cause it popped up as a recommendation, thinking I really wouldn't like it. I just needed some filler until Mockingjay and The Scorch Trials came out (great series-both); man was I pleasantly surprised. Now I have another sequel I am counting down for OUTSIDE IN.
I liked this so much that I recommended it to my 17-year old son (hey, he liked the Hunger Games and was actually proud to admit it). He hasn't read it yet because I loaned it to a friend, but if a guy can get over this as a "Harlequin Teen" novel, then he will really get to enjoy a good book.
This is not a sappy romance novel, and it doesn't have the lame, typical love triangle-and hopefully one won't pop up in the sequel.
Try this book, you'll at the very least find it a pleasant way to pass the time.

A riveting tale regardless of readers age. Reminiscent of early stories like Logan's Run, The Edict and other classics where society is dictated and people are herded and freedom is a myth. I like the spunk of Trella, I like her friends,I enjoyed pondering what really is "Outside".

The ending was not what I expected and it created more questions but it all made sense. You're still left with no answer as to why they were Inside in the first place but I assume (hope) the second book explains that.

Great dysopian read. I had not read any views, so I was taken by surprise by what Trella uncovered.
This was a unique twist on a dystopian novel, and it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page!

INSIDE OUT is one of my favorite books. The protagonist, Trella, is someone I think a lot of people are going to be able to relate to. She feels alone and separte from else, except her best friend Cog. She has some trust issues which play a large part in the plot of the book. Snyder does a great job (agian) creating a whole world. Her attention to detail is amazing and contributes to the feeling of actually being in Inside when you read the book. I love how while romace does play a part in the book, it doesn't overwhelm the plot and overshadow everything else like it does in many teen books.

This book has a really good story, which is continued to a good conclusion in Outside In. This story is not slow and could be set in reality. Granted some times the situations end in the best way, but not outside of possible reality. My only problem with this book is the love story. It is not heavy on it, which is just fine. While the love interest (I won't spoil who that is) has clear desires for her, Trella does not show much romantic interest in him. In the second book she does, but in this one it feels more like she is with him out of default. This said, I would still recommend anyone to read this book.

At first glance, while i love YA dyostopian stories, I had ZERO interest in "Inside Out". I thought it was nothing more than over-played, unoriginal fluff. But then i started seeing some positive talk about it on the internet and decided to give it a try. I am so glad that I did!

While using familiar plot and themes, Snyder managed to infuse old ideas with new zest in the form of her characters. From start to finish it was a book I could not put down because I just had to see what happened to them, what the outcome of their mission was. I thought about the story and it's twists and turns every moment that i wasn't reading the book, which is the true mark of a good book, in my opinion. While there were several places where i felt the intricacies of the storyline could have been explained better, and a few places where things just seemed TOO implausible, I still enjoyed the rest of the book so much that these minor issues could be easily overlooked.

The novel had a very satisfying ending while still leaving me desperately wanting more, which is another sign that this is a story worth reading and an author worth following. I will am waiting anxiously for the publication of the sequel, "Outside In" next year.