MATERIAL GIRLS by Elaine Dimopoulos // This needs to be a TV show!

Review by Paola 

MATERIAL GIRLS
by Elaine Dimopoulos
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (May 5, 2015)
Language: English
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In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives?
Smart, provocative, and entertaining, this thrilling page-turner for teens questions the cult like mentality of fame and fashion. Are you in or are you out?

Material Girls takes place in a world where teenagers control the economy. Seventh graders have the opportunity of getting "Tapped" (work for a creative industry---fashion, video games, movie studios, etc) or they are branded as "Adequates" if they are not recruited by one of these industries. The Adequates end up staying in school and filling in the not-so-glamorous jobs. The story has two points of view: Marla Klein works in Torro-LeBlanc, one of the Big Five fashion houses, while Ivy Wilde is a teen pop star. One is in charge of approving new trends and the other has to use her status as a celebrity to sell the garments to the public. Basically, the concept of this book is fascinating. 

I love that this story is told in such a vivid way. I could picture it as a TV show (seriously, someone make this happen). I've been avoiding Dystopians but this rekindled my love for the genre. I was very addicted to every aspect of this book. The premise is very unique and Elaine Dimopoulos did a good job at building this (very terrifying) new world. I kept wishing that this book was part of a series because I wasn't ready to part with the world or the incredible characters. I was ready to commit to this book for life. 

And then the last third happened. 

After such an incredible buildup, after such a strong start...the ending just felt very meh in comparison. I think the pacing was a little off. All of the sudden, everything happened a little too fast so the ending felt rushed. I was approaching the end (about the last twenty pages) and I had no idea how the author was going to wrap everything up. I'm not entirely dissatisfied with the way the story ends. Everything fits but I wish the book was a lot longer to accommodate the amount of awesomeness that happens during the first 2/3 of the book. You know what? Maybe I'm just bitter because this is a standalone.

Paola

http://dontfoldthepage.blogspot.com/