In a world where love is diagnosed as a disease (amor deleria nervosa), 17 year old Lena Holloway is still "uncured" and excitedly awaits to be rid of the illness. She spends the first days of her last childhood summer in Portland, Oregan with Hana Tate, her wealthy, beautiful, and rebellious best friend. Lena hates amor deliria nervosa, after it took her mother's life when Lena was only six years old. However, Lena soon meets Alex, a young lab technician who helps administer the cure, and is terrified... yet also intrigued, when she starts experiencing symptoms of the notorious illness. As the time before Lena’s cure draws to a close, Lena becomes closer with Alex, and learns that he is not who he says he is. She is forced to make a decision that will either kill her, or give her the freedom she never knew she needed. Delirium was an intriguing and thought provoking novel. I loved Oliver's world buildinge, and how she gave her characters a great amount of depth. There is no real villian in this novel, rather a slew of morally grey characters who beleive their actions are for the greater good. I did not enjoy the inconsistancy of the pace in this novel. I felt that there were sections that were way too rushed, and others that were explained and drawn out ad nauseum. The book was surprisingly realistic, which I thought was helped by the fact that it was given an actual city (Portland), and a set time frame that doesn't seem too far in the future. I think this book is definitely for kids around 12/13 and up. There are some mature themes and language used throughout.
Reviewed by Kaeleigh P., Grade 10
