A Gleaming Shard of Glass by Sowon Kim1/30/2023 Review by Pei Fu “Through the theme of appearance vs reality, author Sowon Kim conveys that the majority’s belief that something is for “the greater good” does not mean something is truly correct” A Gleaming Shard of Glass is a YA dystopian novel set in the futuristic city Nepenthe, where everything is perfect. 12-year-old Grecia Rivera is one of the most talented students of her age in the Artistic Sector. Despite the gap in her life—the unexplained death of her father before her birth—she is content with her friends and wonderfully loving mother. But she has a secret: she hates the Regulation Days. She hates Nepenthe’s treatment toward those who are “talentless”. Yet no one seems to share her feelings. Through the theme of appearance vs reality, author Sowon Kim conveys that the majority’s belief that something is for “the greater good” does not mean something is truly correct. One aspect I found the most memorable about this book is the vivid worldbuilding. The captivating descriptions of scenery truly bring the setting to life. This is particularly impressive to me because descriptions can be tedious to read, but I was able to see Nepenthe spread out before my eyes. The unique design of the city’s appearance is fascinating and also highlights the contrast between Nepenthe and our own cities, enhancing the book’s dystopian genre. Furthermore, I was intrigued by the concept of artificialization vs nature. This is a problem also present in our real world and one that may be of growing urgency in the future.
Nepenthe demonstrates a dire scenario that can remind us that scientific and technological advancements might not always improve our world. Through science, the city has managed to modify itself to “perfection”, whether it is by robotizing animals, maintaining perfect weather, or using examinations on Regulation Day to select citizens by “talent”. The parallel Kim has created between the city’s artificialization of nature and its erasure of humanity is also thought-provoking. The story follows Grecia as she struggles to understand the meaning of true freedom while torn between her own beliefs and those implanted in her by Nepenthe. Her journey kickstarts when she unexpectedly fails her examination and becomes a “talentless creature”. Her peaceful world is taken from her, and out of desperation to escape her fate, she flees to the Outside—beyond Nepenthe’s laws, where she believes she will find freedom. Grecia’s journey effectively encapsulates the full impact Nepenthe can have on its citizens. Throughout the book, other POVs are also introduced to paint a more complete picture of the story, and the stories of Nepenthe’s citizens. However, due to their investment in the twisted beliefs taught to them, some characters become unlikeable at times, yet this only further exemplifies the atrocity of Nepenthe’s system and the frightfulness of its influence. The intertwinement of the different plot lines also allows the reader to gradually discover different secrets, adding to the intrigue. And it was really satisfying when certain dots were connected and I had an “ohhh” moment. Further, another part of the book that I enjoyed is Grecia and Viktor’s dynamic, even when their relationship was only half-formed. Viktor’s wish for silence paired with Grecia’s sociability makes their interactions one of the most entertaining scenes in the story, especially as both their character voices are really distinct (it can be seriously comical). Their friendship is also really heartwarming, as they are two entirely different people with different pasts, yet try to understand and help each other in times of hardship. With all that said, this book was really enjoyable to read. Although, there remain some aspects of the story that I wish could be different. Firstly, I feel like the plot could be polished further to be even more thrilling for the reader. For instance, I wish more of the previously introduced elements were brought back later on in the story, as they seem to have a lot of potential. The ending also felt a bit unfulfilling—although it could just be my personal preference, and in a way the ending does reinforce a message. In general, reading A Gleaming Shard of Glass was a truly memorable and interesting experience! The worldbuilding was definitely a standout point, and I also enjoyed how the different plot lines weaved together to build intrigue and lead to revelation. Grecia and Viktor’s friendship is also really entertaining and heartwarming. Additionally, the book sends an important message about appearance vs reality and staying true to one’s own values, as well as the debatable distinction between perfection and imperfection. I would give this book a rating of 3.5 out of 5, and recommend it to young readers who enjoy reading about dystopias and pursuing truth while confronted with the majority. Review by Devin "Grecia must decide what freedom means to her" Grecia Rivera is one of many citizens of Nepenthe, a dystopian city that promotes the talented and dehumanizes those who falter. When she fails an exam that determines her worth and status in Nepenthe, she runs to the Outside, where more horrors await. Torn between the comfortable life with the people she loved and the bitter taste of freedom she experienced when she rebelled against her home, Grecia must decide what freedom means to her and pursue it before she's in too much danger to turn back. The main character, Grecia, is portrayed as someone who is troubled by the philosophy of Nepenthe and its examination system, one that declares those of inferior talent to be "creatures" that don't deserve the life Nepenthe has to offer. Normally passive characters, especially passive main characters, tend to weaken a story, but this passiveness on Grecia's part works well in the story, as it highlights the constant and complex conflict she experiences over definitions of freedom and over her experiences as a citizen of Nepenthe, which seems to be integral to the story. There are many supporting characters-including a loving mother in Nepenthe, rebels from the Outside, and citizens on both sides of the spectrum when it comes to loyalty to the city's system-that serve as voices adding to Grecia's constant and at times paralyzing internal conflict. A major character, Viktor, comes to be a much-needed ally and offers another facet of the overarching problem with Nepenthe through his backstory and reserved personality. Overall, the supporting characters very well support the world and the story behind the story told on the pages. Defiance. Grecia and Viktor and others experience this emotion, and it's characterized as something they didn't choose to have, something that they were simply given rather than something they chose to cultivate, which honestly takes away from the weight of their conflict with Nepenthe. I feel like the story could be a lot stronger if their uneasiness with their home was something they could recognize and choose to voice or suppress rather than a sensation that's alien and doesn't even feel like a part of them. The story did not go where I expected it to go, that's for sure XD The story actually does a really good job of subverting the dystopian genre in that it reveals the complexities behind a life of comfort versus a life of freedom. There's a lot of suspense and mystery, and I think that's the main engine of the plot. Luckily the mystery is pretty consistent throughout the book, with reveals that only lead to the rise of more questions, which effectively keeps the pages turning and the reader engaged. The dystopian world is pretty typical: there's a city that's thriving amidst a broken world, and a system that unfairly discriminates against those that exercise their freedom of thought too much. My disbelief is not quite suspended with the blatant dehumanization of those that fail a biannual examination: they're called "creatures" and are allegedly sent to Alcatraz to live out their days in isolation and destitution, simply for not having enough talent in their selected "sector". I feel like there isn't a definitive reason why the people of Nepenthe actually feel that way about children that fail the exam, and that makes the whole dehumanization thing really jarring and confusing. If there was a strong reason why people of inferior talent are akin to animals-and especially why most of Nepenthe's citizens go along with it-then I think the world would be stronger and more believable. Otherwise, for what it is, it's very effective when it comes to fueling Grecia's internal conflict and serving as an adequate arena where the story can take place. There's clearly a deeper message behind this story, one that addresses the definition of freedom in a place where it seems like there are no options. Grecia's potent and constant internal conflict, as well as the bittersweet ending of the book, do a good job of exploring that topic, and a dystopian setting is ideal for this theme as well. The prose was very fun to read; it's easily the best part of the book as it makes the story all the more engaging and immersive. The continuous metaphors within the prose are very well done and it's clear that the author put a lot of thought into every word and every sentence. Review by Mercury M “ There are both positive and negative aspects, as with all novels, and I would not recommend it to someone looking for more mature themes, but it is certainly a book that will certainly make a younger audience think.” I’m sad to say that A Gleaming Shard of Glass was a disappointing read. What should have been a fast paced, action packed dystopian read ended up feeling like a bit of a disjointed mess, with each section of the book feeling much too separate from the one before. The plot itself sounded promising in the beginning, with the thought of a character going through the motions of questioning a classic dystopian government. What it ended up being however, was sadly a very choppy storyline which I hoped would climax eventually. The idea behind the confidence of a rebel, followed by the very realistic regret they may experience after a rash decision to go against everything they were raised to believe was very intriguing, but I was disappointed to find out that these themes aren’t explored in the depth that they call for. The result is a series of action-packed scenes with no breaks in between. This might initially sound appealing but it quickly becomes exhausting with no downtime. The writing doesn’t flow in a natural and realistic way, which goes against the expectations raised by the mature themes found in the novel. It is fast-paced in a way that doesn’t allow for the digestion of each scene individually or the development of settings and characters other than the main characters. The main characters themselves are certainly developed in depth, but most of this depth is told to the reader through backstory or blunt statements instead of being shown smoothly. The reader is spoon fed information about the characters, which can quickly become boring for a young adult audience, since they don’t have to do any of the work to figure out the characters or fall in love with them for themselves, the way the author no doubt did. Personally, I found Grecia mildly annoying, though I’m not sure if this was the author’s goal. At times it felt like her only personality trait was being extroverted, which often got tiring. However, when this wasn’t the case, her inner dilemma of whether the Nepenthe government was to be trusted were endlessly interesting. I found the same trend with Victor, whose main personality trait seemed to be being depressed about his brother. The setting of Nepenthe could have been so interesting and it could have added so much balance to the pacing and yet it was underdeveloped. I would have found it fascinating to know more about the inner workings of Nepenthe or even Home. On the other hand, I found the NGC very well-developed, which allowed the plot to become more interesting. Overall, while this book wasn’t for me, I can appreciate that it may be more appealing to a middle grade audience looking to enter the world of dystopian novels. There are both positive and negative aspects, as with all novels, and I would not recommend it to someone looking for more mature themes, but it is certainly a book that will certainly make a younger audience think. -Mercury M “A Gleaming Shard of Glass reveals the dark side of modern society and the true meaning of free will” Every six months on Regulation Day, children from the honorable city of Nepenthe take a required intelligence examination. Those who pass resume their lives as valuable students, but those who fail are imprisoned, no longer considered human. When fourteen-year-old Grecia Rivera fails the examination—despite being one of the best artists of her age—her life is turned upside down. To avoid her prison sentence, she must abandon everyone she loves and escape from Nepenthe. But Grecia soon discovers that the outside world is just as brutal as the city she left behind. Now trapped within a society of runaways, Grecia must risk her life for freedom once again. Filled with shocking secrets and heart-shattering betrayals, A Gleaming Shard of Glass reveals the dark side of modern society and the true meaning of free will. A Gleaming Shard of Glass by Sowon Kim is a highly satisfying read with intriguing dystopian elements sure to make the readers read until the end. The book follows a young girl , Grecia Rivera living in the futuristic city of Nepenthe. A picture perfect city with questionable morals. I found the plot amazingly executed , though I felt it moved a bit slowly in between and my interest started to decrease a bit. I do believe those scenes were necessary as they all contributed to the final ending and were especially important for character depth. The plot followed many plot twists and new revelations which made the book even more interesting, adding suspense and anticipation to the story. Thus, grasping the reader's attention and making them more invested in the plot. Even though most of the novel takes place in Nepenthe, the story moves from the city to the forest as well, portraying a stark difference between the city that Grecia left and the world she wanted to live in instead. It was really fascinating to read about the city of Nepenthe and the kind of city it was. A futuristic dystopian city with a perfectly organized structural way of living but with obviously questionable values and standards. It was also interesting to see how the character's perspective of the city changed after she ran away from the city, allowing the readers to view the main setting from a different light. Though the main character, Grecia Rivera has an interesting character dynamic, one thing I noticed while reading the book was that my opinions about her changed throughout the book. At first she seemed brave , searching for freedom , defying the norms , but as the story progresses her reasons to run away from Nepenthe started to seem selfish, kind of in the way that makes the readers question the true nature of the character and their intentions. Questions like did she really run away because of her thirst for freedom? If so, freedom for what? the cruel ways of her home city to bring change or just because she didn't like to be living under a set of rules? and how come she ran away to get freedom but after facing the harsh realities of life her opinions started to change about Nepenthe and she started thinking about the comfort of the life she had before more than the freedom she wanted? These types of questions allow the reader to critically view the reader from different angles and try to learn more about them until the end of the book. Despite all that, I still feel that she was a very interesting character , a character who was brave. A character who the readers would view as hope, hope that they can be like her, hold the same bravery and persistence like her. Someone who was cheerful, who cared for her friends and would give anything to help them out, thus creating a sense of sympathy in the readers towards her and making them root for her until the end. Although overall all aspects of the book were enjoyable, one of the most interesting aspects for me were the themes. Despite the book following the journey of a young girl it manages to portray the importance of speaking up for what matters. Accurately portraying the significance of hope and being the hope for a change in society, believing in what you believe is right and wrong and making your own path to search for a future you want to live in. The impact of the themes was enhanced by the fact that the main character belonged to a younger age group thus sending a sending a stronger message to the younger audience to believe in what they think is right and showing then the importance and power of voice and opinions and how it can break down considered norms that seemingly are right but feel wrong and unfair. Overall I enjoyed reading the book a lot and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good thought provoking and adventurous read. Although I think the book is more targeted towards younger teenagers I still definitely believe that it's a book that would turn out to be an enjoyable read for any age group. -Ayesha
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