Glistening Haven - Jill  Cooper
I can't imagine living my life in a bubble. The residents of New Haven 56 do exactly that. They live a lifestyle straight out of Leave it to Beaver.These bubbles, or districts of New Haven, are made to keep the monsters away from the Human populace. The Glistenings are forced to wear bands to control them. If they step out of line they are reconditioned to behave properly. When I say properly, I mean the way the government thinks they should act.I hate the way the Glistenings are forced into their way of life. What happened to them was an accident. It's not their fault they are what they are. They don't want to intentionally be awful creatures. They just want to live their lives, and have a chance at happiness. I also empathize with the humans. They are scared. They want to feel safe, and these communities provide that for them. They are able to forget that as long as they are kept separate.I liked most of the characters. Jenna and Dirk are probably my favorite. Both of them have a lot of spunk and passion. They also have a past that will blow your mind. I didn't connect with Wendy very much. I understand the situation she was put in, but she kind of seems like a whiny brat to me. Jake tries to be there for her as much as possible. I have a love hate relationship with Susan. She's willing to do anything for the well-being of her children. Her downfall is that she doesn't put enough trust in her husband. She goes to everyone else for help instead of the one she should always be able to lean on. The great thing about all of the characters is that they all have depth. They have flaws that make them seem real without overdoing it.It took me a little bit to really get into this book, but I was glad I stuck with it. The speed of the storyline picked up, and I found myself itching to turn the page. Glistening Haven is a character driven story, and Cooper hits that spot on. And oh my, the ending. Super cliffhanger. I thought I was missing pages while reading. If you like a twist on dystopian life, and want a little mystery/thriller also, this book will pique your interest.