Not many people have heard about Want. It’s not a well-known dystopian novel like the Hunger Games nor is it based in the US, but don’t let that stop you. Compared to many other excellent dystopian novels, it definitely holds its own. What exactly makes this book great? Read our review below:
Spoiler-Free Summary
Want by Cindy Pon is a dystopian novel set in a near-future Taiwan. Surrounded by pollution, the main character Jason Zhou and his friends seek to infiltrate an elite company that is only adding to the environmental destruction. Choosing money over people countless times, this company has brought disaster to a city already suffering the effects of pollution.
Jason and his friends finally decide to make a move after a close friend is killed. Their plan is risky and dangerous, but necessary to make an impact in their city. However, after Jason meets the CEO’s daughter, the plans start to go up in smoke.
————————————————————————————————————
The society is split up into the ultra-rich and the poor, who make up the majority of the people. Want features the merging of Jason, a teenager on the streets, and Daiyu, the ultra-rich daughter of a huge CEO. Beyond that, it exemplifies the power businesses can have over the public and the sharp lines dividing the majority from the top 1%.
Spoiler-Free Review
Pros
1: Cindy Son does a fantastic job with the world-building of Want. As an American reader, it was extremely interesting to become immersed in a book that was set in an ethnic location. Even better were the connections between Taipei and modern-day society. The situation represented in Want is meant to be a near-future dystopia, with its drastic pollution and wealth divide being large issues in our modern world. Want manages to cast a focus on these problems and connects them beautifully, both to the plot and to the setting. However, despite the city’s clear issues, Pon still shows the beauty of Taipei and the hidden depth that it and its people have.
2: While I obviously won’t get into the details of the plot, I will emphasize that it is a great one. Many dystopian books tend to blend together after a while and Want is definitely a refresher. Rather than a brutal fight to the death, Want characterizes a realistic dystopian world in which corporations rule the day. In order to fight back, it takes patience, a plan, and allies; not just violence.
3: Ultimately, my favorite part of the book has to be the relationships. For me, the relationships and connections between characters are always what make a book amazing and Want certainly sets a high bar. From start to finish, character relationships are constantly changing and casting even more changes on the plot of the book.
Cons
1: While the book’s relationships are extremely interesting and in-depth, there come times when it can be overly “cheesy” (Jason and Daiyu). Nonetheless, this is a very small problem and one that is highly subjective. Overall, this book doesn’t have many cons to choose from!
Review Chart
| World-Building | 8.5 |
| Plot | 8.5 |
| Relationships | 9 |
| Action/Adventure | 8.5 |
| Characters | 8.75 |
| Overall: | 9 |
Bottom Line
If you didn’t get the message from the chart, read the book! Want is a fantastic novel and if you are a fan of dystopia or YA, you will love this book. Ultimately, it proves to be an entertaining yet emotional ride that will have you more than excited for book 2.
