The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken is one part dystopian, one part X-Men, all backed by solid writing and a well-paced plot. It is a book not to be missed.

The Darkest Minds is not your typical dystopian novel. Yes, it has the almost-bankrupt America and desolate feeling of its citizens, but it also has a mysterious illness that only affects children and if it doesn’t kill them it makes them stronger. It is so much more than a dystopian novel.

The Darkest Minds follows Ruby, a young girl who contracts the IAANS virus on her tenth birthday. Unlike most of the children who get sick, Ruby survives and is placed in a camp to help rehabilitate her. Adults think the camps are good, safe places; what they don’t realize is that the government lies and the camps are much more like concentration camps where kids are held captive. The description of the camps and what happens in them is vivid and realistic. Ruby manages to escape the camp with the help of a “friend” only to realize her powers are more important than her well-being. Ruby is constantly on the run from those who initially helped her escape, from bounty hunters known as skiptracers, and from the guards seeking her and other escapees out.

With so many enemies how does one girl make it in a world where teenagers stand out because there aren’t any? Ruby manages to find help in another group of escapees and finds out the world has become a very different place. Together Ruby and the others seek out the “Slip Kid,” a supposed escapee who houses and protects those with special abilities. But in this world not everyone is who they seem, and Ruby has to decide who to trust and when to run.

The Darkest Minds is a well-crafted read that is impossible to put down. The story is well-paced with action sequences and quiet moments that allow you to explore with the characters. Ruby is a wonderful narrator. Through her eyes you learn about how the world has changed and what it means to have a psi power. The secondary characters add depth to the story and are all believable. Suzume, a 12-year-old who can control electricity, is sure to be a fan favorite.

In a sea of dystopian novels The Darkest Minds stands alone at the top. Alex Bracken has crafted a story that appeals to readers of all genres. It constantly makes you question your beliefs and what you think you know about the world. The Darkest Minds should be at the top of your to-read list.

The book releases on December 18. Hyperion is hosting its very first video author chat featuring Alexandra Bracken at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18 on Shindig.com.

Click here to register now (or visit http://shindig.com/event/alexandra-bracken)!

Be sure to check out the chat and see what the hype is all about!