The Forgetting

This one was really, really good. No, really. ;) Okay, you're not a fan of the "reallys." How about "This book was stupendously, fantastically good" instead. Better? Good. Moving on.

The style of writing, atmosphere, and overall feel of the book reminded me a lot of Matched by Ally Condie, but slightly darker. I can't really put my finger on what it was, but I kept thinking about how similar it felt while I was reading it. And since the Matched trilogy is my favorite dystopian trilogy (Shocker! I know. Not a fan of The Hunger Games), it made me like The Forgetting even more.

The characters were well-developed, and fit together like pieces in a puzzle. Nadia especially was a unique heroine--she stood out from the crowd of cookie-cutter YA heroines, and made herself heard. I really liked her style of character. It was refreshing. Gray, on the other hand, was a little bit cliche in his "I'm a player but I love only you" style of character, but I liked him anyway. (It seems that everyone can't help but like Gray.) Liliya--vindictive, nasty Liliya-was sympathetic, even though she made herself disliked from the beginning. And Genivee was an adorable little cinnamon roll.

The plot was engrossing. I was continually mystified as it progressed, and was only able to say"Aha! So that's explains it," at the very end. Sharon Cameron did an excellent job in layering her plot, and I'm sure you all will enjoy it. Note: I had problems with her other book, Rook, because of the intense romance and...ahem...the stuff it led to. She did a lot better in this book, but there was still a good bit of romantic stuff. See the content guide below for details.

The world-building in this one was excellent as well. It developed along with the story, and surprised me a lot. I'm not going to say anymore because of spoilers--you'll just have to read it for yourself. *evil grin*

One issue I had: Eshan. He wasn't well-developed anyway, so I was slightly annoyed at how much emphasis was placed on him, even though he didn't contribute much other than being a plot device to get the main characters together. Also, I didn't like the fact that the author made him (minor spoiler) gay. Completely unnecessary. I guess the author was just trying to throw in "diversity" to broaden her fan base.

Overall: I immensely enjoyed this read. It was complex, and developed layer upon layer, so you felt like you were there, discovering and learning along with the characters.

Rating: 5 stars.

Recommended: 14 and up.

Content guide (may contain minor spoilers):

Language 0/10 (none that I noticed)
Sexual Content 5/10 (kissing and embracing, semi-detailed. characters almost lose control and go 'all the way,' but it doesn't get beyond kissing and embracing on a bed. some mentions of unwanted/unexpected pregnancies. mention of 'dalliances.' overall, not as bad as Cameron's other book, Rook.)
Violence 7/10 (there is a lot of violence in this one. torture, beatings, attacks, blood, wounds, burns by acid, etc. not overly gory, but not good for sensitive readers either.)

For more reviews, see Gabriellenblog.wordpress.com, or fullofbooks.com.

This was a YA dystopian with a really interesting concept.
Basically, the city of Canaan is reset every 12 years when every person forgets all of their memories and must start over. The society has created a way to archive people's memories by teaching everyone to write down all their truths into a book that will explain everything important about themselves (their jobs, relationships, family etc.)

Nadia, our teenage protagonist, is the only person who hasn't forgotten. Plus, to makes things even more stressful, the next "Forgetting" is coming in a few weeks.
Obviously, there is a lot of room here for your tradition dystopian elements since the Forgetting is basically a tyrannical government's dream come true. It leaves the general public completely vulnerable and reliant on others, making way for corruption to easily slip through. As the story progresses, a bunch of sci-fi tropes are introduced as well.

I liked Nadia as a main character. Even if she could be a little Mary Sue at times, I thought she was realistic, especially as a very introverted figure that I'm sure many readers such as myself could relate to. The romance wasn't too great, in my opinion, but it was sweet and not too in-your-face mushy gushy. My favorite relationship dynamic was that between Nadia and the members of her family, especially her two sisters.

I liked the first half a lot, but I felt like by the end the story was dragging on in a direction I wasn't very into. However, I'm still giving it a high ranking because I overall enjoyed it and loved the concept. It reminded me of a mix between Allegiant and a YA version of The Invasion of the Tearling.

This book may be titled The Forgetting but it was a really memorable read for me. Sharon Cameron writes the most delightful, refreshing and underrated stories, and I cannot recommend this book enough for people looking for an adventure that’ll broaden their outlook and is full of twists and turns. Nadia is an amazing character who is curious, loyal, thoughtful, and reflective – she’s always listening and observing. What she finds out about Canaan, the place she lives in, will change the world forever.

“Your books are your memories, who you are.”

At first we see Nadia hanging on the wall that surrounds the city of Canaan, which supposedly protects everyone from the dangers outside. She could be heavily punished for this stunt, and she hopes not to draw the attention of the councilmen who are conversing underneath her near the wall. When she finally starts heading home (to safety), this boy named Gray stops her… and demands her to take him outside the wall as well, or else he’ll tell the Council about what she did. Nadia reluctantly agrees, and thus ends our first encounter with the main characters. The city of Canaan is governed by the Council, who look over the people. There is no currency, and people are usually known for their trade; Nadia’s full name is technically Nadia the Dyer’s Daughter, as her mother as the Dyer. Is it a fantasy? A science fiction? That’s really open to interpretation in the beginning of the story, but readers will find out that there’s more to it.

A very important aspect of The Forgetting are the books that everyone wears around them. They record their memories and the truths of their lives in the books. Why? Because every 12 years, The Forgetting happens. It affects the body somehow and makes everyone forget their memories. Thus, people use their books as an anchor to remember who their family is, what their occupation is, etc. Only, what happens when someone starts messing with these books? Nadia has never forgotten her past, even though she’s already lived through one Forgetting. And she knows that the books of her family had been tampered with.

“I’ve been taught to write truth in my book since I was old enough to hold a pen. Our books are our sole identity after the Forgetting, the string that connects us to who we were before. The one thing we should never, ever be separated from. Don’t forget.”

Throughout her life, she seeks out answers to what exactly is the Forgetting and why whatever happened to her happened. That’s also what galvanizes her to climb beyond the walls – as well as finding all these different foods that she can take home to her family. There are also people called the Lost, who have no memories nor books and live as if they are lost. All these elements all help her figure out the bigger picture, which becomes uncovered as the next Forgetting draws near.

“What if the Forgetting doesn’t drain our memories away forever, like Rose pulling the plug in the basin, but only locks them up, like a book in a bathhouse cupboard? Could we unlock what’s inside our heads?”

The whole world was set up so effectively, and the revelations near the end are like an epiphany for the readers. It is very satisfying, and the whole message of the story really resonated with me. Cameron not only explores the hegemonic control that dictates people with invisible strings, but also the logic behind those people that are willing to be controlled like that. As Nadia and Gray get closer to discovering the secrets of Canaan, they also discover things about themselves that they would not have considered if it weren’t for this adventure.

The romance that develops is at a steady pace but ultimately so very lovely and satisfying. Nadia’s a pretty reticent character – she’s a girl of few words. While Gray is more outgoing and friendly – he’s the kind of guy that everyone likes and forgives. They make a pretty contrasting couple, but in the end they bring out the best of each other. Gray also has some secrets that readers will slowly uncover along with Nadia, but in the end they’re both people looking beyond the walls of their cities to somewhere unknown and waiting to be explored. They may seem like opposites, but they also have similar traits, such as their curiosity and open-mindedness. That’s part of what helps them discover the secrets in Canaan.

“He has chosen me. I have chosen him. I never thought I would choose. I never thought I would be chosen. And when he forgets me, if he forgets me, I just have to make sure he chooses me again.”

The Forgetting is definitely not a forgettable book, and the tantalizing plot and strong characters will definitely see to that. Nadia is a quiet girl, but the gears in her mind are constantly turning as she seeks to save her family and the ones she love around her. Gray is a bit of a mystery, but we get to know him more and see why he acts the way he does. The other side characters are all very well-written and provide added depth to the story, making it extremely three-dimensional. Finally, I can just imagine the setting in my mind – as well as the places beyond the wall that closes in on the people of Canaan. The question is: will they ever have the strength to push back beyond what they don’t know – or have forgotten? Science fiction and fantasy fans alike will enjoy this one, as Cameron strings readers along with a quick-paced story full of discoveries that not only change the characters, but the world around them.

The town of Canaan is surrounded by walls which no one is permitted to pass for their own safety. Though no one can quite explain why. And the reason is that every twelve years everyone loses their memories. To help remember their names and relationships and jobs, everyone has a book they record memories in. Everyone believes their books. Everyone stays inside the walls. Everyone except Nadia. Because Nadia has memories from before the last Forgetting. She knows secrets about certain people and the lies their books hold. And then she and Gray stumble across a strange light when they climb over the wall and a locked door. As the Forgetting draws ever closer, it's a race to see if they can find out how to stop the Forgetting, where Canaan came from, and prevent some horrible atrocities they discover others are planning right before everyone forgets what they've done.

As others have mentioned in their reviews, this is a rather slow read at the start. In fact, I'm really not sure why Cameron's editors didn't tell her to summarize the first 200 pages and start with Gray and Nadia finding the laser light. I guess it does help you really understand how shocking that discovery is and get a good taste for all the various personal intrigues going on in Canaan before you learn some of the unknown, more devious intrigues. If you're bored and have met all the characters skip ahead to p. 188, that's when things start to get really interesting. Once I hit that page, I zoomed through the second half of the book in about a day whereas the first half took me weeks because I kept putting it down to read something else. I can't say too much about that part without spoiling things, but if you like towns with deep, dark secrets, some big dystopian issues, and science fiction, you should enjoy that last half.

Notes on content: Just a very few mild swears as I remember. No sex scenes. There's some heavy kissing, and things get close but the characters stop before it goes farther than just kissing. Someone has been torturing people and does some of that on page. Attempted mass murder with fire that gets thwarted. One person is brutally stabbed. A past war is mentioned including some deaths/murders.

What if you forgot everything every 12 years? You no longer remembered anything - your family, your children, your job...even your own name. The only way you would ever have a hope of becoming who you used to be was to keep a journal, writing down everything you did, everyone you knew, everything that made you who you were. Now - what if that happened to everyone around you, and you were the only one who could never forget? That is the story of Nadia, and of Canaan, the town she lives in. Until one day, Nadia learns the truth - about the Forgetting, about the town, and about their very existence.

The Forgetting was an interesting idea - what would it be like to forget everything every 12 years? For some, it might prove to be a benefit - a great time to switch partners, or to try a new job. For others, those whose journals no longer exist? It would be a curse, left to try and pick up the pieces of a life when you can't even imagine what the pieces might be. Cameron does a good job of showing both the pros and the cons, while conveying overall a subtle horror over losing your very identity - not once, but over and over again.

The setting is very similar to what one thinks an old town would have been like, without the electricity, or the internet, or any of the modern stuff. And yet - there are just enough little things that are off about this little slice of life to give a clue that all may not be as it first appears.

Nadia is the character from which we see the events of the book unfold. She is the one who does *not* forget, and it has scarred her. She knows that this isn't right, but she doesn't understand the cause and effect. She has an old soul, damaged from what she witnessed during the last Forgetting, and so she purposely holds herself apart. She's also strong, smart, and honorable - and she will need it all.

Overall, I found that I enjoyed The Forgetting more than I may have anticipated. It's a fairly quick read, and I would liken it to a beach read - something that will hold the reader's interest and keep them reading, but something that stands alone and provides an ending.

Wow! What an adventure! The setting is so intriguing that I was hooked right from the start. The characters live in a small walled-in-city that has three moons, and wildly unusual and curious seasons. Also, the characters "forget" their lives every 12 years. They keep books so that will not be "lost" after a "forgetting time." If you are lost, you have no book of memories, no family to cleave to, and your life is somewhat bleak. Right before the forgetting time, some people take advantage to commit crimes they know will never be remembered. Then, we have Nadia who somehow remembers...everything: the chaos, the brutality, the lawlessness, and then the vacant people desperately trying to rebuild their lives. At first she is living a lonely life with a very fragile mother who has been through several "forgetting times", and two sisters. One of her sisters suspects that Nadia is not even her real sister. Nadia relieves her loneliness and frustration by climbing over the wall, which is against the "rules," to explore the frightening and dangerous outside world. Then her wall-climbing activities are found out by Gray, a boy who wants her to take him outside the wall. Nadia and Gray start a wild, and of course romantic, adventure as they find out some dark truths about their society and how the forgetting times create some powerful opportunities for a malevolent individual. The next forgetting time is about to happen and Nadia knows that everyone will forget her again, even Gray.

How could society function if every twelve years each person forget everything? Farmers forget how to plant, Doctors forget how to heal, and people forget their own families. Those bonds and love forged over the years are erased in a moment. You don't even know who you are. But what if you were the only one that remembered? You saw how people behaved in the days proceeding the Forgetting, knowing that their sins would never be punished. You watched families abandoned for new opportunities. That is exactly what happens to Nadia as a child, but she never tells anyone.

In Canaan, people are taught that they must write everything down in their books. These books are always on their person until they are filled and placed in the Archives. When they forget, these books will be the roadmap of their lives to help them keep going. Truth must be written, that is taught from childhood. For without our memories, what are we?

The Forgetting is a fascinating novel set in a world not quite like our own. Our heroine, Nadia must learn to live with her memories and that changes her. Realizing that no matter how much she loves anyone, in twelve years time they will forget her, hurts. She closes herself off until she meets the Glassblower's son, Grey. He is able to bring life to her, break down her walls as much as she tried to keep herself apart. Together, they discover the truth about Canaan and the Forgetting.

The story is not formulaic so reveals are unexpected and welcome. Over the course of the novel, we learn the history of Canaan, its purpose and what causes the Forgetting. We also see characters develop and change, as well as gain knowledge about some of the original settlers.

Highly recommended read for young adult/teen readers who enjoy science fiction or dystopian style novels.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Intriguing story full of romance, adventure, and suspense. I really enjoyed this book and would highly suggest you give it a try if you like YA dystopian novels!

Opening Sentence: I am going to be flogged, and I don’t know why I’m so suprised about it.

The Review:

Every twelve years all the people that reside in the city of Canaan loose all of their previous memories! The only way for them to know who they are is to keep written records of their lives. Every citizen keeps a daily journal so that when the forgetting occurs they can remember who they were. It is the law to only write the truth but not everyone is as honest as they should be and seventeen year old Nadia knows it. She has lived through one forgetting but unlike everyone else in Canaan Nadia didn’t forget.

The forgetting has always been a mystery to Nadia and she wants to know what causes it to occur. As she dangerously ventured outside of the walls of the city with Gray, the mysterious yet charming glassblower’s son, she soon learns secrets about Canaan and it’s people. If they can’t stop the forgetting from happening everyone will once again loose their memories, including Gray!

Nadia was such an interesting heroine! She actually reminded me a lot of Katniss because she comes across as very cold and calculated! She doesn’t trust others easily and she is very uptight! But she has some very endearing qualities as well! She has a big heart and she is very clever. She’s also brave and spontaneous at times! It took me a little bit to get use to her but once I did I loved her. She was such a dynamic character that you can’t help but respect and adore.

Gray had me at hello! I seriously don’t know if I have fallen for a book boy faster. He is hot, charming, flirtatious, and just a good guy. Even Nadia describes him as someone everyone likes and honestly I think all readers will agree with her. He is smart, driven, kind, and funny. But he has just enough imperfections that make him feel realistic! His relationship with Nadia is freaking adorable! I LOVED them together so much! In so many ways they balance each other out and it was so much fun to watch them slowly fall in love. If you can’t tell Gray is easily one of my new favorite book boys!!!

The Forgetting was such a fun, unique read full of romance, mystery, and action. I was instantly drawn into the world that Cameron created and I never got bored! The pacing was spot on, the plot was full of twists, the characters were amazing, and the romance was perfection. There really isn’t a single negative thing I can say about this story. If you are looking for a unique young adult story, this is just for you!

Notable Scene:

“Have a good resting, Nadia the Dyer’s daughter?”

I snatch up my tethered pack, my last hairpin lost to the grasses. That voice was not my mother’s. It was deep and very male, coming from the shaded shadows beyond the arches, beneath the covered corner of Jin’s garden. I step back, glancing once at the place I’ve hidden the pole. I’ll never get the ladder back in time. The roof is too high to jump from and the voice is between me and the stairs to the street. Correction: Today is the day I’m caught. I feel sweat on my neck, and not from the sun.

FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of The Forgetting. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Nadia the Dyer’s Daughter, the main character of THE FORGETTING by Sharon Cameron, has an inquisitive mind, or so she has been told. It is Nadia’s curiosity that leads her to explore outside the walls of Cannan, the city she has lived in all her life. Life outside of the walls is supposed to be dangerous, filled with beasts and poisons. But Nadia knows that the real dangers lay within the wall, especially as the Forgetting, when the memories of every citizen of Cannan are erased, draws near. No one else knows the terror of the Forgetting like Nadia does because Nadia has never Forgotten. Now, with time quickly running out, Nadia works hard to ensure a way to keep her family together after the Forgetting by writing down the truth in their books, which are their only memories after the event.

But something strange is happening in Cannan. Books are being taken, food is running low and the Council members are not acting as they should. On top of it all, Nadia is forced to form an uneasy alliance with Gray the Glassblower’s Son, whose carefree smile and dark eyelashes affect Nadia in ways she could not have predicted. Soon, Nadia is fighting to keep the lives of those she loves from being taken away from her. Even more disheartening is the fact that even if they all survive, Nadia may be forgotten by everyone she loves.

Sharon Cameron does a great job of making everything come full circle in THE FORGETTING. She also includes wonderful character development and an interesting, although sometimes confusing plot to keep readers’ eyes glued to the page. Nadia is a quiet, but not shy, teenage girl. From the first page it is evident that Nadia is daring. What she struggles to put into words, she portrays with her actions. Throughout the story, readers get to watch Nadia slowly becomes more confident with who she is. Gray, the other main character, is equally complex. Deemed a “zopa” by Nadia, the two do not get along in the beginning of the novel. However, it soon becomes apparent that Gray is more than the player he seems.

The plot centers on the Forgetting. The Forgetting occurs every 12 years, when the memories of all the citizens in Cannan are erased, leaving confusion and terror in its wake. The only recollections the citizens of Cannan have of their past lives is written in their books. Your book is your past, your present, and your future. If a citizen is found without their book after the Forgetting, they are deemed Lost. THE FORGETTING is confusing primarily because of the Forgetting, but once the plot gets moving it becomes easier to understand the novel. Overall, THE FORGETTING, although confusing, has a unique plot with complex characters.

Reviewed by Kate F.,

I had heard such great things about The Forgetting that I knew immediately that I wanted to read it. The concept reminded me (in a small way anyway) of one of my favorite Lifetime movies that starred Keri Russell, pre-Felicity days, called The Lottery. It by no means has the same concept, but I couldn’t stop thinking about that movie and how they are kind of like half sisters. Anyway, I was really excited for the book and I can report that it mostly lived up to my expectations. I say mostly because I did have one part that just pulled me out of the story because it isn’t my thing. But other than that it was a solid read with a mystery and creep factor and hardcore swoons.

It’s really hard to explain what the book is about and what took me out of the story without giving away some of the mystery. What I can tell you is that every 12 years something happens in Canaan and everyone forgets. Well everyone except the main character Nadia. Through Nadia’s eyes you get to see what it is like for someone that remembers when everyone else doesn’t. You see her struggle with this and try to close herself off and you really can’t blame her. She knows once again she will have to live through no one remember anything so it is easier if she doesn’t feel. That is until she lets Gray in. And oh how I love Gray. Slowly Gray chips away at the lock on Nadia’s feelings and soon the two of them find themselves somewhere they never expected, unraveling a secret no one has ever thought to question…what actually causes the forgetting?

What really made this book for me was the relationship between Nadia and everyone around her. She knew everything about everyone while they only knew her for 12 years, but they never knew the real her. They only knew the one she let them know. Even her sisters didn’t know who she really was and what she knew. The only person she let in was Gray and I just loved that. He was perfect for her and exactly what she needed. I loved seeing them blossom and grow as they uncovered the secrets of Canaan. It was swoony and beautiful and got me teary eyed at one point. Honestly the book is worth the read just for this alone.

All in all, The Forgetting is worth the hype. It was entertaining and a great twist of lies and stories and hidden background information. I did struggle with some of the plot, but that is just a personal thing for me. I really do recommend checking this one out. I don’t think you will be sorry.

I'm becoming more and more grateful for stand alone reads, so I'll mention the fact that this is one. I got a story from beginning to end, and don't have to wait a year for the next installment. (Yay!) I really enjoyed the story, overall, and quickly made my way through the pages.

I recently attempted reading Rook, also by this author, but very quickly put it aside due to the violence. This one appeared to be a tad more upbeat, so I decided to give it a try, even if I was a bit hesitant about it. While there is violence, it wasn't near what I feared. It does have an overall dark feel to it, though.

I really liked the main character! She reminded me so much of myself, minus her bravery, which I don't possess. She doesn't talk much. I know that will most likely be a turnoff to many people, but I truly wish I had books with leading ladies like her when I was younger, during a time I was more uncomfortable with my lack of words. She also doesn't do so well with the touch of others, though her special guy and those she grows to love and feel comfortable around are exceptions, at least in part. I connected with her!

My only negative is the fact that there were some parts of the story that I found a bit unbelievable. Every 12 years, the people forget everything. Apparently, they hold onto the things they've learned, though, like reading and what their job is. They write everything in a book to help them know who they are when they "wake up". My mind just had a hard time accepting that they forget everything, but they still remember how to read, and automatically start reading their books.

Still, I found this to be an entertaining read, and I greatly enjoyed it. There was even a twist to the story that I didn't see coming. It might add a corny factor for some, but I kind of liked that it came out of nowhere and added a more unique feature to the book. The romance wasn't too corny, either. I don't even remember rolling my eyes, so that deserves some credit!

Content:

There's no profanity.

There is some kissing/romance parts, but it's very mild. The main characters almost "sleep together", but decide they don't want babies. This part doesn't go into great detail.

There is some violence. There's a couple of parts that's pretty gruesome, especially one, but really it's not too overly detailed, other than telling us it's happening. (I'm a wimp with violence, and I was fine with it.)

There's one character that is homosexual, but this is very briefly mentioned, and doesn't go into detail. (Honestly, it seems to be thrown in there just for the sake of including a tiny bit of diversity.)

For a YA book, I'd say the content is very mild, overall.

This story starts with an interesting premise--everyone in Canaan forgets everything they know every twelve years. To deal with their memories being wiped clean, the residents within Canaan's walls carry notebooks everywhere documenting the truth of their lives. But with no one to contradict them, truths and memories can be manipulated--something Nadia knows all too well as the only person in Canaan who has never forgotten. Nadia's memories are a dangerous secret. Her search for the true origins of the Forgetting and maybe even a way to fix it could be deadly. I wanted to like this book more than I did. I went into it expected fantasy and instead got sci-fi which created a bit of a disconnect, especially with the big twist midway through. Nadia is a capable narrator but she and the rest of Canaan didn't leave much of an impression. Readers who have already devoured the usual dystopian suspects are likely to be the biggest fans of this title and its companion novel The Knowing.

Every twelve years Nadia's town of Canaan goes through the Forgetting. Everyone in town forgets everything, their names, who their loved ones are and who they hate. Everyone but Nadia. Nadia remembers everything and she doesn't know why. They all keep a record of who they are, carrying around books like we carry drivers licenses or ID's. Nadia lives in a town that is barricaded against the outside world, but she frequently sneaks over the wall to explore. One day she gets caught by a boy named Gray who blackmails her into taking him over the wall with her. As they explore the outside world they make a discovery that makes them realize that they are a small part of a bigger picture and that someone may be using the Forgetting for their own nefarious reasons.

This was truly one of the most original stories I have read this year and the fact that it is Sharon Cameron's debut novel is pretty incredible. Nadia is one of the great female young adult heroine's, in the same vein as Tris from Divergent. Her taciturn personality slowly changes as her friendship to Gray solidifies and she becomes more confident. When they realize what they are up against, she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the good of the people in her town. I can't imagine being the only person to remember, seeing your own father wed and start a family with another woman. It would be pretty traumatic and I'm sure I wouldn't have been as stoic.

The romance between Nadia and Gray, grew with their friendship and having the next Forgetting hanging over their heads added a tension that grew as each fact was revealed. The Forgetting is my Unforgettable pick for 2016!

In some ways, I felt this novel was misleading. It's kind of billed as a fantasy book, and it isn't. Also, a lot of the big reveals seemed to come out of nowhere to me. Sure, thinking back, there were tiny hints, but not enough to put stuff together. That being said, the writing itself was phenomenal. The world-building was spot-on. The characters were intriguing, and the plot kept me completely engaged until the very last page. Sharon Cameron is quickly becoming one of the stars of YA literature.

Nadia was a great leading character. She's damaged and has experienced trauma, and unlike the rest of the village, she remembered it. She's still strong, though, and she used her pain to do something about terrible situations. That's not her intent at first, I don't think, but she grew throughout the novel, and by the end, she was definitely one of the strongest heroines in YA lit. Gray was also a fantastic leading man. He was just good-hearted. He treated Nadia, and everyone else with respect. He wasn't a jerk, and he cared about people's well-being. He's what leading males should be, in my opinion. Each of the supporting characters was also unique, and I enjoyed Genivee the most. I wish we had gotten to see a bit more of her.

This novel is completely different from any other book written by Cameron. I loved all of her other work, but this one is unique and I think she found her niche with it. I felt like some of the big reveals could have been a little more obvious, but maybe I'm just bitter because I didn't figure it out before it was revealed. Even the bad guy took me a tiny bit by surprise. The writing was simply beautiful, and the idea of memories making up the person is a poignant topic. I would love to do a psychoanalytic reading and discussion of this book here, but I don't want to give anything away. The pacing was perfect, and I couldn't put the book down. The first page grabbed me, and I was hooked. The ending was wonderful and tied things together nicely. I was actually satisfied with this ending. Very few endings are satisfying anymore, so that was a nice change within itself. This was just a very well-written novel, all the way around.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something different. There are a lot of twists, turns, and surprises. The characters are very real, and the concept is thought-provoking. You can't go wrong with this one.

Having loved Rook by this author, I was looking forward to reading The Forgetting, especially after it garnered great reviews from close blogging friends. I’m glad that I listened to them and read The Forgetting, because it’s one of my favorite YA reads of the year. It not only had a refreshingly original storyline, but it also had a cast that I loved from the start.

I’ve read two books by Sharon Cameron now, and it’s obvious that she’s a pro at her characterizations. I love how vastly different, yet subtly similar her heroine, Nadia, is from her heroine in Rook, Sophia. Nadia is a very quiet heroine throughout most of The Forgetting. Despite her quietness, she possessed an astounding amount of strength to her that made her very easy to root for. She’s a brilliant heroine in every way, but mostly I loved her determination, her resilience and her desire for wanting happiness for her loved ones. Everything she does, it’s for the sake of protecting her family. I don’t see how anyone could dislike her or not want to root for her success throughout The Forgetting.

Her love interest and ally, Gray was just as loveable. There was a very charming and endearing quality to him and the boy sure could make a girl swoon with just a few words. I love how he grew protective of Nadia and wanted more than just friendship with her, but he never impeded her goals. He allowed her to take the lead and that to me is a great romance in YA. This was seriously one of my favorite ships of the year. Together, Nadia and Gray were really sweet, but there was also an honesty to their relationship that made me root for their happiness.

The world building and plot in The Forgetting was also all-kinds of epic. I went into the book without reading the summary, so I was expecting much of anything, but Sharon Cameron’s play on memories, science fiction and dystopia easily impressed me. It’s a fascinating world, where people lose all their memories every 12 years and people write their memories down in books so they can find their families. It’s a complex world and the intricacies of the ethics of writing the memories, or even having the ability to change the memories, was fascinating. I loved that the book had the ability to surprise me with its turn of events. And the villains? I was never 100% sure if they were evil or good or even what their motivations were.

There were lots of great themes in this book, but I particularly enjoyed the relationships. Besides the romance, Nadia shared very complicated relationships with her sisters, one who seemed to hate her guts, and the other who loved her beyond reason. It was interesting being those different shades to a sibling relationship. Then there was the topic of Nadia’s mother’s mental health issues as well as her father’s abandonment of his family. I love it when a book can make me feel and think at the same time.

The Forgetting was an unforgettable (pun intended!) read. I enjoyed every minute of this highly creative and engaging story and going on this journey with this terrific cast. Part of me loves that this is a standalone, but the other part is sad because I would have loved to spend more time with them.

Nadia and her family live in a communist-like community. The government gives every family their rations, and different households provide different skills from their trade for the people. The difference is that every 12 years, the entire community loses their memories. Each person carries a book attached to them, so that they can write down their personal truths to read after a forgetting. This ability to wake up without anyone remembering the past seems to be a power too great for many to resist. Nadia learns at a young age that for some reason, she doesn't forget like everyone else. With that peculiar trait, she unfortunately knows and remembers a lot of the choices people made before the last forgetting. She begins to wonder if maybe there is something she can do the help the plight of her people.

There are many wonderful characters to get to know in this novel. One of the things I loved about this book is all of the gray areas where a person's character is involved. For most of the book, there isn't a clear line between “cruel” or “good” characters. Because we hear the story from Nadia's perspective, the reader knows some past histories and decisions from characters that those characters don't even know themselves.

The council, the neighbors, and even Nadia's own family all contain characters that start out seeming like strictly cruel or good characters, but most of those lines become a lot murkier as new information is learned out them throughout the story. I love to talk about my feelings toward certain characters, but I feel like my opinion changed a lot over the course of the book, and discovering that information myself over the course of the book was one of the most enjoyable parts! I don't want to take that away from someone else. I will, however, talk about my feelings toward the two main characters at least. ;)

Nadia is the underdog hero of the story, but she's certainly no Katniss. She ventures outside of the wall of her city, but more out of a need to escape her town and her family than a need to scavenge. She has the ability to do something that no one else can, but she doesn't start with a martyr gesture to try and save others. She doesn't tell a soul. She keeps to herself and does her best to keep anyone from finding out. She loves her family, but she still has her own personal needs to look after. She felt real to me. She made decisions and choices that I felt a normal teenager in her situation might make. She may not have been completely self-sacrificing or a glowing of example of perfection, but that didn't make her any less of an admirable and loveable character.

Gray is very similar. The reader gets to know him as Nadia does, so I found myself surprised later as some of his misconceptions turned out to be not the whole truth. He quickly become a loyal character I trusted next to Nadia's side. I don't think I could have asked for a better male co-part for her.

As a whole, I loved how thought provoking this book was for me. It got me thinking about the flaws of their societal system and where they might have gone wrong. It got me wondering about the ways that the society did seem to work, and why maybe it worked out okay in a smaller community like setting than it would in real life on a larger scale. It also got me thinking about the implications of forgetting and the choices it allows. Do the benefits of being able to forget elements of the past outweigh the consequences of those who take that power too far and abuse it? Could there ever be a degree or a situation in which forgetting might be a good thing? The whole book had me pondering new things I hadn't thought about, and I loved thinking about them myself as I discovered how things were panning out in the dystopian world.

While the story path kept me entranced the whole way through the book and the conclusion felt like it came to a satisfying close, I felt that many of those questions left me a little let down by the ending. I wanted to know more about how exactly things were going to work now, and how they would be different from the previous system.

I was also a little disturbed by the lack of any consequences. By the end, I felt like all of the questionable characters were given “good reason” for their choices or forgiven any past transgressions. The book even made a point about the town “starting fresh”, but this seemed a bit too “group hug!” and not enough justice. I left the end with a message that felt like: “All people are mostly good, and it's okay to make mistakes. Now it's all better, and we're all going to be happy forever!” It was almost the complete opposite state of emotion than all the rest of the book. It didn't take away any of my enjoyment of the book, but it did leave me with a solid “hmm” at the end.

There were so many things I loved about this book, and I've mentioned many of them above, and there was really only one other thing besides the ending that left me a little perturbed. There is a rather cliché scene in the middle that left me rolling my eyes. It turns out Boy was keeping a secret from Girl, and it changes everything. All those mushy feelings have to fly out the window to be replaced by hurt and betrayal. And now you must never speak to him again. Luckily, the author seems to realize that this type of scene is way overdone, and gets through it very quickly. I found myself very relieved at its brevity.

Rating

Overall, this book earns a 4.5 out of 5. It was an incredible, thought provoking book, even with a few flaws. It also earned a higher place on my shelves by being a standalone dystopian novel instead of trilogy. Sometimes a girl just doesn't want to wait 2+ years to get the end of story. ;) I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian novels!

The Forgetting is a mind bending dystopian that makes you think twice about your actions. In short, I loved it. Let me say it again, LOVED IT. Every 12 years, the Forgetting happens. Days of chaos ensue as people relearn who they are through the books they have written in all their lives. The people rediscover their pasts or choose new futures through their books. I thought this was a unique concept to the dystopian genre. When I first started reading, I thought it was a fantasy. However, Cameron weaves a story that brings the dystopian elements to light is such a subtle way that you don’t see the destruction coming!
The characters were fantastic, each played a part that made the story grow and progress. I laughed, cried, and squealed with delight throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the writing immensely. There are so many one-liners that I regret not tabbing this one. They felt so natural, like it would be something I would say myself! The words conveyed Nadia’s (our MC) emotions perfectly. Especially with a character like Gray. He is so swoon worthy. I adored their relationship and thought it brought hope and lightness to a rather dark story line. If you were wondering if there was romance, there is. It is not over powering, it is the perfect touch of feels to warm your heart. It makes me happy just thinking about it!
While I maybe a bit biased because dystopian is my favorite genre, I cannot recommend The Forgetting enough. I am so glad Lisa from Uppercase decided to share the story with her subscribers. I didn’t see a lot of buzz about it online before it released. I am so glad it made its way into my hands! The Forgetting gets a stellar 5 out of 5 stars!

Warning: May contain some spoilers.

The premise of this book made me think of a cross between The Giver and M. Night Shyamalan movies which tempted me to pick it up. Not to mention the pretty purple cover and how everyone on booktube seemed to be talking about it.

Nadia lives in the city of Canaan, a city behind walls and the story basically takes off from here. Every twelve years, the city suffers from an event known as the 'Forgetting' where all of the citizens of Canaan have amnesia and cannot recall who they were previously. So, they write in books that are strapped on their person at all times and they are told to write the truth but Nadia knows that not everyone writes the truth. If the truth is not written, it can be forgotten and Nadia knows because she never forgets. She questions her life in Canaan and seems to be the only person who does which is odd since there are others like her. Her curiosity often drives her over the walls of Canaan but the author doesn't go into detail about what she actually does when she goes over the wall until she's forced to bring someone else along and they start discovering clues about their existence in Canaan.

The first half of the book is slow in both story and character development. It feels like Nadia is just fumbling around in the book the whole time and she just happens to get lucky with what she stumbles across. Though there are many twists and turns that I did not see coming, the story feels like it's missing depth and lots of holes to be filled. This book had the recipe to be amazing but it fell flat. The second half of the book was better with a little more action but I could not immerse myself in this world. Plenty of intrigue but no depth in story line or dialogue. The end of the book was left to interpretation and I had so many questions. I gave this book three out of five stars for surprising me at many points.

Short summary from the inside book cover:

What isn't written, isn't remembered. Even your crimes.

Nadia lives in the city of Canaan, where life is safe and structured, hemmed in by white stone walls and no memory of what came before. But every twelve years the city descends into the bloody chaos of the Forgetting, a day of no remorse, when each person's memories – of parents, children, love, life, and self – are lost. Unless they have been written.

In Canaan, your book is your truth and your identity, and Nadia knows exactly who hasn't written the truth. Because Nadia is the only person in Canaan who has never forgotten.

What I thought:
Very well written YA Dystopian/Science Fiction novel. It was a unique story, and while it moved at a slower pace, the build up and pay off were wonderful. I thought the world building was interesting. Up to the plot twist, I had no idea that was the direction it was heading. The romance is sweet and more innocent than some YA novels I have read lately. I am fairly certain it's a stand alone, as there is no cliff hanger. If you enjoy the Dystopian, I think you will enjoy this.

Sharon Cameron's "The Forgetting" is about Nadia and an interesting world where every 12 years there is a day of complete anarchy and then it is forgotten. Literally, the memories are wiped away but it is memories that include what came before that day so people have their books to remind them of what they were. Nadia is special in this odd walled city of Canaan in that she doesn't forget. The suspense is when Nadia begins to look more closely into her city and outside. It becomes a race against time as the date of forgetting looms closer.

I haven't read Cameron before so I went into this with fresh eyes and I was very impressed. The writing is clear; the pacing is great; the characterizations are eye-catching; and the world building was very good. I really liked that she both uses and plays with the dystopian story expectations in a way that kept me thinking that I knew where it was going but then it didn't.

A very good read and I hope to read more from this author. I will definitely check more out from her.

What a captivating book. This was one I literally read cover to cover, even though I probably should have done other things. Nadia is a girl who remembers in a city where everyone forgets everything personal on a 12 year cycle. People carry their own book with them everywhere they go and write down their experiences so they can read who they are after the forgetting. No one knows that Nadia is different and the author does a great job of capturing how Nadia's memories make her different without reducing her to a caricature. Everything Nadia does is aimed at protecting and keeping her family together as well as making sure they have the real truth to read after the forgetting, because after the last forgetting, their books were altered. As the days count down to the next forgetting, Nadia finds out who and why of her community and her history. I really enjoyed this story and will definitely look for other works by this author. It's fast paced with relatable characters and a heck of an ending.

Every twelve years, everyone in the city of Canaan forgets everything. Except Nadia. A purge like event takes place prior to this mass forgetting, people committing crimes, leaving spouses, sometimes murder, with no memory of it just after except what has been written books each citizen keeps tied to their body so that they may read the truth of their life to remember. As their books are filled up they are kept in an archive where people can read their own, personal books at any time but nobody else's. There is a first book, but who wrote that? Who knew that the event happened every twelve years to write and maintain books in the first place?Nadia suspects there is someone else like her that remembers, and that the tall wall surrounding their city to keep them safe is really meant to keep them locked inside. I couldn't put this book down and it took turns in ways I never expected, absolutely loved it, I read a lot and this is definitely my favorite book of the year!!!! A must read!

My uncle recommended this book to me and it sounded fascinating. Shortly after he recommended it I received it in a subscription box. This beautiful cover has been sitting on my shelf since. A couple days ago I decided that it was time to dive in. I was blown away. I felt the storyline was so unique that it was refreshing. I loved the character development. Every main character had many layers which is amazing. There are characters that you love to hate and love to love. My favorite character is Nadia. It was her point of view but heart quickly connected to her and never let go. I will be thanking my uncle and recommending this to all of my ya loving friends. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel which comes out soon.

Got this book in my September Uppercase box. I don't know that it is one I would have picked out by reading the jacket. At first this book starts out like a new world type book but as you get farther into the book, you learn more and more details about what is really going on.

In this new world, everyone forgets every 12 years. So, in order to remember who they are, they carry books with them in which they record their truth. Nadia is different. She doesn't forget. She isn't sure why but she can remember everything.

The further into the book I got, the more I wanted to not put it down. This book may have started out slowly, but once it got going I couldn't stop.

Overall this book gets four stars (four and a half if goodreads would let me!) Amazing story, complete ending, compelling characters. Loved it.

I wanted to read The Forgetting quickly because I wanted to know what happened next. I forced myself to read it slowly because I wanted to have some think time. What if you forgot your family, everyone you love, and even who you are? What if everyone where you lived forgot every 12 years? Would you reinvent yourself, create a new life, get a new family? This is where Nadia lives. This is her life. Nadia and her sisters take care of their mother and plan. The Forgetting is coming and everyone needs to write in their books to remember what and who is important to them.

I enjoyed living in this chaotic word for a while and can't wait to go back. The Knowing comes out in October 2017.

Sharon Cameron’s thoughtful tale, THE FORGETTING, is filled with hidden clues, hints of truth and a searching need for more; more honesty, more dependability, and more individual value.

This thought provoking story highlights a hunger for caring family ties. Elusive yearnings generate intense hunger for the kind of relationships we all want; though some are never fortunate enough to experience.

An aching wish for love and personal value permeates Sharon Cameron’s multilayered tale with pain of rejection, cruelty of betrayal, and joy of belonging.

This story reminds me that we-too are not from the world in which we find ourselves, we-too have messages that point us to the truth, and we-too must not forget.

I highly recommend THE FORGETTING to anyone searching for “the higher road” and willing to make the attainable effort.

The Forgetting is an awesome book, I could hardly put it down! I'm usually wary of YA dystopians, but this one was like a breath of fresh air. There were a few dystopian tropes and cliches and the plot twist wasn't that surprising to me, but those things didn't bother me too much. I still thought it was really cool.

It had kind of a Hunger Games vibe, but the plot felt more similar to The Giver. The story is gripping, it drew me in and ended up being a fast read. I'm not really a fan of present tense writing, but it fits this story and Sharon Cameron does it very well. The characters were likable and interesting, and I even thought the romance was cute which is rare for me.

Overall, I liked this book a lot and it's definitely up there with my favorite 2016 books.

Well, sadly, this may be a dystopian novel that I may be "forgetting"... Oh, I just couldn't resist!!! In all seriousness, I felt as though this was a mix of several dystopian novels I've already read. There was a little bit of the revolution from Divergent, with a mix of The Giver's control of individual thoughts, and even a bit of the Hunger Games' governed factions. So when I say that I may forget this novel, it is mostly because I will instead recall the others that it reminds me of.

I would like to start with a disclosure, of sorts. I want to tell you that I adore this author. I want to tell you that she is hilarious, and smart, and so much fun to talk to (or twitter watch movies with). I want to tell you that I received an ARC of this book for review from the Scholastic booth at BEA 16, and I want to tell you that absolutely none of these things had absolutely anything whatsoever to do with the fact that I freaking loved this book.

I have been a huge, huge, huge fan of Sharon Cameron's since I was first introduced to her Dark Unwinding duology a few years ago by a friend. I love Sharon's books for a myriad of reasons: I love the historical touches and the research that goes into them, I love the characters (be they big or small, important or trivial), I love the dialogue (the WIT, the SNARK, the HUMOR, the HEART), I love the plot, I love the pacing (trust me, your heart is going to be going a bit faster by the end whether you think it or not). I also love that each of her books features a strong female character that is not always perfect, but always cares and always wants the best (even if they don't know how to go about making that happen).

The Forgetting was no exception when it comes to Sharon's books, and I am so excited to have read it. To be totally honest, it took me forever to start reading (even as I had friends and co-workers that had already read it and loved it) because I was so nervous - what if I didn't like it as much? What if it didn't resonate with me the way her previous books had? What if the fourth book just wasn't as good? (Present day Lindsey is shaking her head derisively at the foolishness of past day Lindsey, don't worry.) ANYWAYS - totally not the case.

The Forgetting hooks you from about 15 pages in, and it seriously does not let go. There are so many twists and turns, and so many instances where you think you're ready to put the book down for a few to talk to other humans in the real world and stuff, but there's something nagging you about a conversation you just read or something one of the characters did and you just have to keep going because YOU MUST KNOW.

I loved Nadia as an MC, even if there were times it was hard to get to know her or relate to her. I loved Gray as the love interest that gets Nadia to open her heart, just a little, to see if he is worth trusting and if it's worth putting her heart out there for. (&&y'all? I SHIP IT.) I loved Nadia's relationship with her siblings, and with her mother (as difficult as that relationship could be). I was totally invested in each of these characters (except for two or three of her peers that I just didn't really care for their motivations or wants/needs so whatevs, but in the grand scheme of things that is like 3 characters I'm not interested in out of like 30 so no big deal).

Once stuff started coming together and I thought I maybe sorta potentially knew where things were headed, I was so psyched to see if I was right and if this was going to be written in a way to make it all believable and interesting (again, foolish Lindsey). Guess what? Totally written perfectly, and by the end I just wanted to read the last 50 pages all over again so I could make sure I didn't miss anything! (Which I did, and no I didn't miss anything, so yay for that, although to be quite honest I would still recommend re-reading the last 50 pages when you finish because they're just that good.)

Mainly what I'm trying to get at here, in a word or two, is READ THE BOOK.

This book is excellent. It takes place in a walled in community where every twelve years, ever person's memory is completely wiped out. To maintain a social structure, every person is required to write in a book everything that is happening in their life so that they can "remember" after the forgetting. This leaves lots and lots of room for manipulation of the "memories" as it merely takes changing a book or, even worse, destroying a book, to completely wipe out a person's true past.

The story is an novel concept, and very well written. There is one girl who can remember (the main character), and she alone has the ability to figure out the truth about her society.

The concept is interesting. The writing was good enough, but there are a few eye-rolling moments, and convenient scenes that take you out of the story. The characters aren’t that interesting, the relationship between the two protagonists is rushed. Besides the premise, there is nothing memorable, charming or interesting about it. It has a generic, commercial sort of appeal that someone who hasn’t already read a hundred similar books could appreciate.

Book #127 Read in 2016
The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron

Every twelve years "the forgetting" happens in Nadia's town and all of the people forget what has happened in the past 12 years, relying on what they have written down in their books to fill in the gaps. Except Nadia. For some reason, Nadia never forgets. Why? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games will enjoy this action-packed read, with interesting characters and romance to keep readers hooked. I received a copy of this book from the store Vine in exchange for a honest review. Honestly, I highly recommend it.

The Forgetting is a very well crafted and hard to put down novel. I got it out from my local library but I think it is well worth buying. The story keeps you guessing, with a great plot that has a few surprising twists and turns. The main character is likable and the conclusion is satisfying. I was impressed with the world building, which has some reasonably novel elements, although there are echoes of other dystopian works (e.g. the Hunger games). I was reminded of Asimov's classic novella Nightfall but this isn't a rehash of old concepts. As the book progressed it became obvious how much thought had gone into crafting a believable and self-consistent world. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and as soon as I finished it, went in search of more books by Sharon Cameron.

The forgetting is a creative and impressive immersion into a world of adventure and revolution. The Forgetting is an incredibly woven, unexpected, and addictive story. Sharon Cameron crafted an intriguing world, that (while reminiscent of Divergent by Veronica Roth and Matched by Ally Condie) is as unique as it is fascinating. The book is chockfull of amazing characters (both of the lovable and loathable variety) that are certain to keep readers invested in the story.

On my goodness. . . This book really grabs you. The author gives you just the right amount of information to keep you turning the pages. Nadia is very likable and a very fun and interesting person to work through this book with. The age group for this book is 12 – 17. It’s certainly the type of book for this age which they will NOT find boring. I think adults will like it as well. I even love the cover!!

Beautiful writing of an idea that thankfully has not been beaten to death.

I listened to the audiobook, and like the Hunger Games, it makes the book even better.
I won't spoil a thing, but it has all the sci fi/fantasy/love/elements there that makes you want to keep listening.
Take a chance on it, just not at bed time or you will never get to bed you won't want to put it down.

Cameron writes a beautiful story!

This book was magical, not only in the story itself but in the way it evokes thought about memory in general. I will be thinking about this for a long time, about whether remembering trauma or not is better, about who can and should protect our stories to tell them to future generations.

This book will stay with me forever, I think.

All smirks aside, because there was a ton of smirking, I ended up loving this one. Nadia does begin the book in an annoying fashion, but by the end her character has completely grown. The world was pretty interesting with wondering why these people forget everything every twelve years. The villain was a real piece of work. Loved it!

This is Libby's daughter- Age 14:

I absolutely loved this book! I have never written any reviews before, but after reading this book, I felt as though I needed to because it left such an impact on me. I love books that have very developed and curious main characters, and Nadia had these qualities and so much more! The story line is very thought out, and normally I can determine the endings of books, but this book left me completely stunned. I highly recommend this book, and I cannot wait to read the sequel!

This book was a great read. Characters are well developed and grow throughout the story, the plot is engaging, and the story maintains a good flow of information and emotions. I needed a good book and this was a quick and enjoyable time!

I received this book free from Miss Print’s Arc Adoption, thank you so much (and this doesn’t change my opinions at all!)

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron was one of my most anticipated books of the year. When I got the book I was so excited to actually start reading it. The pretty cover really drew my attention, the summary really REALLY made me want to read it. Every 12 years they FORGET everything? Yes, please, sign me up.

What I Liked
Near the end of the book, The Forgetting really picks up pace and action. Everything is thrown into chaos.

What I Didn’t Like
-From the very beginning, The Forgetting was really hard to get into. It just throws you in the middle of a story without really explaining anyone or anything. This made it really hard for me to just focus on what was happening because I didn’t understand completely what was going on. From there it didn’t get much better, in my opinion. The whole book felt like constant info dumping and it told you more than it showed you. There didn’t seem to be many descriptions, I think that maybe the world building was week. The Forgetting seemed to rely on lots of conversations and catching the reader up on what’s happening in Nadia’s world.
-The whole Forgetting thing kind of confused me, but I think I tend to look into things a bit too deep. They Forget EVERYTHING right? So does that mean they forget everything they learned in school? Because, from what I remember, some of them had memories from their past which didn’t make sense to me. Then I was confused by their jobs too. The seemed to want jobs that helped their town grow and thrive, why do they need a glassblower? Why do they need a fuel maker? There were no cars that I know of, I mean maybe they needed it for fire or something? Who knows?
-Another problem I had was with the main character. Okay this MIGHT be a bit spoilery? SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Nadia goes over the wall and acts like it’s her biggest secret. Well..every single character seems to KNOW she climbs over the wall. It’s not really a secret if EVERYONE in the town knows she does it. End Spoilers. YAY!
-Oh my gosh, THE PLOT TWIST. I wanted to throw the book and be done with it because IT DID NOT FIT THE BOOK AT ALL. I really REALLY wanted to be done with it, to never know how it ended because I hated it that much. Really, it’s so stupid (in my opinion, some people might really enjoy it!) Also I feel like it was never really explained or finished, if that makes sense. Plus, there were a few more things that didn’t make sense at all and they weren’t explained fully either.
-The villain. Do I need to say more? I felt like the villain didn’t really play a part for the majority of the book (maybe I’m wrong?) I didn’t find him/her threatening at all. I didn’t think her/his story was very interesting.

Overall
I really didn’t like The Forgetting, perhaps my hopes were too high? Quite a few things were left unexplained or partially explained. The story told more than showed and I didn’t like the plot twist. Still, I’d give it a try because you might end up loving it!

This story was really something special. I loved the twists and turns in the end. I won't give anything away, but it isn't what I expected at all. I highly recommend this book for anyone that loved the Hunger Games or enjoys dystopian adventure books. The book grabbed me from the beginning and wouldn't let go until I finished.

Excellent book. The story line flows very well in this book, leaving room for mystery without losing the reading. The suspense and intrigue build well and the characters are well developed. I lost a lot of sleep finishing this one up!

Sharon Cameron does a fantastic job of creating a world and giving it life. Science and fantasy are beautifully blended together in The Forgetting to form a wonderfully intriguing world of mystery and suspense. Loved!