Starters

By: Lissa Price

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party - her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it.

Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first - the very young and very old. With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life... until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan....

©2012 Lissa Price (P)2012 Listening Library

Critic Reviews

“A smart, swift, inventive, altogether gripping story.” (Dean Koontz)

“Fans of The Hunger Games will love it.” (Kami Garcia, co-author of the best-selling BEAUTIFUL CREATURES/Caster series)

“STARTERS is a compelling, pulse-pounding, exciting sci-fi adventure with a strong female lead. Don’t miss it!” (New York Times best-selling author Melissa Marr)

"The only thing better than a terrific concept is one that is as well executed as Starters. Readers who have been waiting for a worthy successor to Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games will find it here. Dystopian sci-fi at its best, Starters is terrific series kickoff with a didn't-see-that-coming conclusion that will leave readers on the edges of their seats." (Los Angeles Times)

A good listen but doesn't make sense

What did you like best about Starters? What did you like least?

The story was an interesting concept and overall it was a good listen. However the plot doesn't really work for me. For starters, she keeps ignoring her brother who is starving and sick to go out with this rich kid. Then all the grandparents are in their 100s. How is that biologically possible? I know this is supposed to be a different society. Perhaps the author should have developed that more to improve the plot. That way we could have seen why they hate kids so much.

Sci Fi

Would you consider the audio edition of Starters to be better than the print version?

A good story with a good twist.

What did you like best about this story?

New ideas.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not the ending but close.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Who are you, really? No one know who anyone is anymore.

Any additional comments?

like.

Edge of your seat...even in the end.

So good!! The narrator did a fantastic job. I was always wondering what was going to happen next. Can't wait to hear/read Enders.

Loved it. The uncertainness is stunning.

Loved it. That feeling of being into real deep waters, to throw yourself into the unknown and never know what is to come is really often present. Just when you think its all safe, the story takes another turn. Its a page turner.

Zing! This book is 'ztupid!'

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

We bought this book to listen to on a road trip with our two young teen kids. We were really interested in the story line and couldn't wait to get started! However, the longer we listened, the more laughable the story became. Even the youngest in the car at 13, kept finding holes in the story. Eventually we only continued to listen to the story because we were just making fun of it. An entire motif seemed to be the author's habit of putting the letter Z in front of everything in an attempt to make if futuristic somehow. The only people who might enjoy this book are people who are young enough to not see the holes in the plot, but still old enough to tolerate the death and starvation of teenagers. I'm not sure that demographic exists. Also, the main character is very easily swayed from caring about her friend and ill younger brother, to being wrapped up in these rich old people's lives. The same old people who creepily "rent" teenagers' bodies and then make out with real teenagers, which is really disturbing in itself. The main character is also very preoccupied with how hot all of these rich teens are in her new world. There were parts of the book where my teen son literally said out loud, "why is she so worried about this date she has and not worried at all anymore about her sick, starving brother?"

What could Lissa Price have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The plot needed to be better developed, with more connections, less holes, more consistency. It didn't seem that the author knew where the story was going at any point.

What aspect of Rebecca Lowman’s performance would you have changed?

The performance was great.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

We were all disappointed in the book. We continued to listen throughout our road trip purely just to make fun of the more ridiculous parts, and in small part because we had invested so much time already and wanted to see it through. It was a waste of time.

LOVED IT!

This book had so much content in it and it was so fun to listen to! The ending has me so anxious and ready to ream more!

I was hesitant but it's amazing with a twist

it was an absolutely amazing story. It was completely captivating and one of the best reads I've had in awhile.
the story was amazing, when I read the I kept the book I thought that it sounded like it may not be for me but I gave it a chance anyway because I love this genre and I was captivated with in the first chapter.

it's really really good and there is a huge twist at the end that no one sees coming so be ready for it. it's the first book in a while that has literally made me want more. I read my normal series and of course I followed those but this is the first book I've tried in a while that has literally made me wonder what's happening next in the next book.
if you're on the fence about this book definitely give it a try.

Unique idea for a book

What did you love best about Starters?

The narration by Rebecca Lowman really made the book

What did you like best about this story?

I thought the idea for the story was unique. I agree with other reviewers who said there were some holes in it. Why would the older survivors hate the young "starters" so much? If people lived to be 200, why were all the "middles" who died in the 18 to 40 or 50ish range? It needed a little more development. I still liked the book enough to get book 2, though. It was enjoyable to listen to. I like the dystopian type books, and this one had enough action to keep me interested. I also liked that you could listen to this book with your teenage kids and not have to worry about cursing and sex scenes.

What does Rebecca Lowman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She has a real talent for narration...She has such a soothing voice. She does different voices well, too.

Another chilling addition to YA Dystopias

I suppose dystopia is a bit of a misnomer, no one in this world think's it's ideal, but they cope as they can and do their best to ignore the uncomfortable truths of their tragic society. Callie, the desperate protagonist, will do whatever it takes to provide for her young, sick brother, Tyler. And let me tell you, she does. Now, if you don't get chills at the end of the book, you need to go back and listen to it again (I plan to anyways, because what's revealed at the end makes you question everything!). Rebecca Lowman does a truly great performance, very well paced and I just love how she makes every character so distinct. I recommend it to any fan of Divergent or Uglies, this book is a start of a very good (two book) series.

Mind - blowing

It has been a long time since I have read the book but still the story is in my mind.
Waiting impatiently for the second installment.