Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.

Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.

Goodreads Summary

The plot behind this book is fantastic.  I could actually see this happening in the future (with overpopulation risks).  Part of the population works and is active during the night (smudges) and part is active and works during the day.  Sol is active during the night due to her failure to test into the sunlit part of the population.  There are strict rules on curfew and which doctors/teachers/etc are available to which parts of the population.  Sol's grandpa is dying and only wanted to see his great granddaughter (who lives in the light).  Sol is determined to make this happen despite her technical inability to go out during the light hours.  What follows can only be described as a great story. 

Sol is a brave character; she isn't much of a rule follower and doesn't heed what others think of her.  She goes out of her way to fulfill a dying man's wish.  She regards her brother and his wife as selfish for not sharing their daughter with him.  D'Arcy was a great character as well.  He supported Sol after some initial confusion and tries to help her in any way he can.  I think there will be a second to this book (and hope there will be).  This book is suitable for young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars


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