A review by sophs_mood_reading_room
The Measure by Nikki Erlick

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

One morning the whole world changes. Everyone 22 years and older wakes to find a box at their front door holding a string. This string is the measure of their life. And so ensues a new way to segregate humans. Those with short strings and those with long. With this comes the propaganda of the reckless and dangerous short stringers who should be restricted from holding positions of power and denied jobs, loans and other privileges for those long stringers. 

We follow the stories of 8 (don’t test me on that number) characters and their decisions around their strings and what they mean. Of course as many multiple point of view novels as we wind our way though the first year of “having the strings” their lives all slowly and subtly intertwine. 

I enjoyed the social justice aspects of the novel and seeing again how easily the human race can be pitted against each other in fear of differences. I did find some of the book predictable and even in the most dramatic moments the book was too calm. I wanted more tension, more angst. 

Overall a really good story of human relationships fighting diversity. 
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