The glimpse by Claire Merle
Faber and Faber, 2012. ISBN 9780571280537.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. This is a compelling dystopian novel.
At first, this dystopia may seem miles away from our present world;
for in Merle's future, the world is divided into Pures and Crazies.
A simple DNA test determines an individual's likelihood of mental
illness, thus determining their 'Purity'. As one of the characters
suggests, this is a world based on scientific racism. However, as we
learn more about the events which led to this new world, this
dystopian future may seem all too possible. References to a Global
Depression and Petrol Wars will sound familiar whilst a world where
people can be tracked by their online presence, may seem all too
close for comfort.
And the protagonist, Ana, is caught right in the middle of the moral
dilemma created in a world where the Pures have it all and the
Crazies are at the mercy of the Psych Watch, who may swoop in at any
moment and cart Crazies off to a 'loony bin'. Whilst the Crazy world
might seem threatening to any right minded Pure, what if the DNA
test that lies at the heart of this new future was not all it
seemed?? For Ana this question is critical. Firstly, because it is
her father who designed the test. Secondly, because of the doubt
surrounding her Pure test results. And thirdly, because the young
Pure she was betrothed to has mysteriously vanished as he sought to
uncover the truth about the DNA test.
In her quest to rescue Jasper, Ana finds herself deep in the heart
of the Crazy world where she learns that many of her prejudices were
unfounded. On top of this, she just might be falling for a young man
who may be Jasper's only chance for freedom . . . or who may be
intent on destroying her world. Not only is Ana fighting for
Jasper's future she is also fighting for her own. And as the plot
twists and turns, this smart young woman, will find her courage and
determination is put to the test. Her adventures will have the
reader on the edge of their seats to the final page.
Deborah Marshall