Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Harper Voyager, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-00-738698-7.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. What if you knew exactly when you would die? Would you be able to travel the world as you planned or would you even be able to encounter something as simple as being able to experience true love? For 16 year old Rhine Ellery she has been born into a world where everyone knows exactly when they will die. In search of treatments for diseases, DNA engineering has resulted in a genetic flaw. Women die at the age of 20 and men at the age of 25.  
Rhine has feared the Gathers for most of her short life and now she has been taken by them. She is sold as a bride to a rich young man with the idea of having children of their own to try and save the dying human race. But Rhine is desperate to escape her new home and family especially her cruel father in law and get back to her brother before her time is up. With the help from a friendly servant will Rhine be able to see her brother one last time?
Wither is the first novel in Lauren DeStefano series The Chemical Garden Trilogy and her very first novel! This story is set in a not too distance future where there is no longer the concern for diseases but as a result people are dying at a young age. Wither would be a good novel to be read by yourself or with a group as there are issues within the plot that could start good group discussions. The easy flow of the story line lends itself to be hard to put down and you will find yourself craving for more.
Lauren Pfeiffer - 18 years old
Editor's note: Wither was judged one of ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2012