The Darkest Minds is a science fiction novel written by Alexandra Bracken. It centers around a world where kids have special abilities, a world in which Ruby, the young female protagonist, must survive.
The book is a futuristic based, post-apocalyptic dystopian novel. The fabricated, depressing, dark world might be a warning and an example of what could happen in the world if something like a disease drastically changed it, and the effects that would have on the inhabitants. Alexandra is ripping of the outer layers of the people’s materialistic lives and showing what is important through the novel; family, friends, and loyalty.
At the same time, not only is the world seemingly working against the people in the book though the disease, but the society is also against the protagonist. There is also a clear war of power raging on between the government and the police who are trying to take control over the surviving children, and other civilians who deemed the whole situation as a chance to rise in power. Lives are being used as pieces in a chess game, which puts a spotlight on human actions and war. Horrible conditions should not lead to barbaric actions.
Self-love is also taught in the story. Ruby learns to love herself, and proves that she in fact isn’t a monster, even though the circumstances she is in might say differently. She also learns to love Liam, the main love interest in the story, after she accepts herself. The same concept may be applied to the reader and their life experiences, even though they aren’t as drastic as Ruby’s.
