Wither: The Chemical Garden, Book 1.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)

Wither: The Chemical Garden, Book 1 (unabr.). 9 cassettes or 9 CDs. 10:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2011. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4561-2056-6: $67.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4561-2057-3: $97.75.

Gr 9 Up--The first installment (S & S, 2011) of Lauren DeStefano's "The Chemical Garden Trilogy" will hook listeners and have them eagerly awaiting the next volume in what is sure to be a memorable series. However, this is by no means a perfect book. While the premise is arresting, dystopian fiction needs to grow from a believable foundation of science, history, and psychology. Multiple factors mar the believability of this world. While genetic engineering has attempted to make mankind immortal, a …