The Initiation by Chris Babu is set in a ruined world. Manhattan is now New America, a walled-in society based on equality. A timid math geek, sixteen-year-old Drayden watches his life crumble when his beloved mother is exiled. The mystery of her banishment leads him to a sinister secret: New America is in trouble, and every one of its citizens is in jeopardy. With time running out, he enters the Initiation. It’s a test within the empty subway tunnels—a perilous journey of puzzles and deadly physical trials. Winners join the ruling Bureau and move to its safe haven, but failure means death. This leads to a tense, turn-paging read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

This book is action packed and perfect for anyone who loves dystopian series like the Hunger Games and Divergent series’. After his mother is exiled, the protagonist, Drayden, enters the Initiation, a grueling set of trials that require both intelligence and strength, and if successfully completed, will guarantee a better life for him and his family. Drayden is joined by his crush, his best friend, his worst enemy, and two of his other classmates, and the six must work together as their brains and brawn are tested. My favorite parts were the logic puzzles and riddles that Drayden worked out, often with the help of his crush Catrice. My least favorite parts were Drayden's constant self-doubt and some of the awkward dialogue, which likely could have been avoided if some of the characters were a little more fleshed out and a little less stereotypical. 

Though the plot is sound, and the world is well developed, the stereotypical teenager depicted was a bit silly considering the serious subject matter. It made it difficult to empathize with Drayden, especially as a teen, as he found himself involved in ridiculous arguments with peers and thought more about which girl he liked more rather than the life or death situation he was in. It also touches on the issue of inequality, which is relevant to the current social climate. Drayden is loveable, but often petty and vain, and quite honestly, a bit of a wimp. The true heart of the story is with the mother-son relationship between Drayden and his mother. From beginning to end, the bond they have is strong and observable, even though the mother isn’t in the story much after her exile. Overall, if you’re looking for a novel jam-packed with action and enjoy speculative fiction, this may be the book for you. It certainly keeps you guessing and the tension that’s built up through the different challenges makes it difficult to put the book down. 

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars because I love the idea of trying to flee somewhere by solving puzzles and riddles, kind of like an escape room. This book has impactful themes and morals such as teamwork is essential and to lean on your friends and family. The only thing I didn’t particularly like about this book is that Babu tends to use the character’s names too much when they aren’t needed. If we already know who a character is talking to, that character doesn’t need to say the person’s name. Other than that, I recommend this book for any teen who is trying to enjoy a dystopian thriller.

Check out the Initiation at NBPL!