Atlantia by Ally Condie

by:  Ally Condie
published by:  Dutton Childrens
publish date:  October 28, 2014

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

From that description, you'd think maybe this book was about mermaids right?  Well, you'd be wrong.  It's about actual human beings that live in an underwater city called Atlantia.  

There was a split sometime in the past and some people went below and some people stayed above to conserve the human race.  The people below believed they were superior because they were living in a clean environment rather than having to suffer at the pollution engulfed surface.  However, none of them really knew the truth because they aren't allowed to travel between to two worlds.   Unless you sacrifice yourself to the surface so that the below doesn't become too overcrowded, then you find out what the surface world is really like.  So obviously from the description Rio wants to go but Bay takes away her chance to do so and the rest of the book is Rio trying to figure out how to get to the surface and reunite with her sister.

I liked this book for the most part, because the setting was unique.  However, I didn't like the names.  Rio kept making me think of the movie Rio and dancing, signing birds.  Bay made me think of Bae and the smiley face icon with the hearts for eyes.  It was getting ridiculous.  

Would I recommend this book?  Yes, I would.  It had a lot of elements that made it similar to a lot of YA books, but it had just enough to set it apart and make it an interesting and memorable read.