Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Author: Sarah Crosson
Title: Breathe
Publication: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Rating: 3.5 out 5
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Synopsis
Inhale. Exhale. 
Breathe. 
Breathe. 
Breathe . . .
The world is dead. 
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina

has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn

should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea

wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Thoughts:Alina is exotic and she appeals to Quinn's male senses. He sees her as a challenge, fun and exciting. He just wasn't expecting all the adventure that being around Alina brings. Quinn is the privileged premium that has to want for nothing, not even extra air to do physical activities. True, he is generous and kind to Bea and he seems to have a good heart but he is very naive about the world around him. He also seems absolutely dense to the fact that his best friend Bea loves him. At one point in the story, he is so hyped about meeting Alina, and he goes on to Bea about how green her eyes are that it's rare that you see that color. Well guess what color Bea's eyes are...green. The boy is oblivious. Now, Bea is an auxiliary. Her family struggles to have just enough to maintain the oxygen they need to survive and Bea has highs hopes that she will get into Breathe, so she can help her family more.  She hopes that someday, Quinn will actually look at her and realize she is the girl for him. She would have to be my favorite character, I like her integrity. Alina, Quinn and Bea are all thrown together by unexpected circumstances that will change their lives forever.

Unusual concept, though one thing came to mind...the Lorax. Yes, Dr.Seuss, mostly because of the whole oxygen issue. People can't run without getting in trouble for using excess oxygen that is unless they are premiums. No dancing, no romantic encounters without having the necessary air, which is costly to those that can't afford it. Now, the plot flows fairly well throughout the three part perspectives of the main characters. I liked getting the viewpoints from each of them without the scene being repetitive, and I thought the author did a great job with the continuity of the story. The characters are different and unique, each coming from a various backgrounds. My favorite part of the story is when all the characters had the moment where they changed each other and became more aware of what's really happening in their world. They grew into more than they were before they journeyed in the Outlands together. 

 I have many questions that I hope will be answered in the next book. I'm trying to understand how this world got to this point. Who is Abel and what is his purpose in the story? I would like to know more about the Drifters and the Resistance. I'm just really curious the direction the author is going to take with this one. Overall, interesting beginning and look forward to the next book.