Review: Bumped, by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Published: April 26, 2011
ISBN: 9780061962745
Genre: YA dystopian
Pages: 336
Source: NetGalley
Series: Bumped #1

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. 

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job. 

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from. 

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

I read the last sentence of Bumped and continued reading into the Acknowledgements before I realized that that was actually the ending. What the hell? *looks around* *crickets* WHAT THE HELL?! Did it really just end that way?! Did I get a bunk galley copy that cutoff before the end was truly there?

No. It totally ended that way.

I loved the world McCafferty built. While I'd never want to imagine a world in which teenagers were the only ones able to have children, there seem to be enough teen pregnancies in today's society for the concept of Bumped to not be too far off. We're fascinated with it, even if we believe we aren't. We must be fascinated with it, because who else is watching Teen Mom? We claim to want to fix this problem, but in reality, we're encouraging it.

The dialogue and futuristic slang was fantastic. I'm a huge fan of the Jessica Darling series, and I had hoped McCafferty would bring that witty edge to Bumped as well. She definitely didn't disappoint.

Bumped is told from alternating perspectives which is something I absolutely love if done correctly. I do think McCafferty pulled it off, and I definitely felt the difference between the two girls, as well as their similarities. But I wish there had been more development for each of them, because at times I felt like the story was moving too quickly for us to get a real feel for each of them. We know their basic characteristics and beliefs, but not much beyond that.

I have so many unanswered questions, and I'm sure they'll be answered in the following installments, but it doesn't erase the frustration I'm left with at this point. What caused the virus? How does Jondoe really feel? Why do they have to actually have sex? Why is artificial insemination no longer a possibility? Where the hell are the parents who still actually care about their children in a way that isn't encouraging premature sex and pregnancies, or in stark contrast, forced marriages. Where's the middle ground?

Basically it all boils down to the fact that I want more. I enjoyed the writing because (duh) it's Megan McCafferty. I'm pretty much dying to know what happens next at this point, and I need to muster up some patience--pronto.

4 Stars