The Rule of One is about family, adventure, self-discovery, and the search for space to belong. [It] hooks readers with the idea of a one-child policy in the future United States and a tightly held secret.” —Los Angeles Times
“Ava and Mira’s world is an all-too-believable mix of advanced technology and environmental collapse. In their debut, Saunders and Saunders, themselves twins, lend an authentic voice to the girls’ first-person narration…Readers are in for a fast-paced ride, poised for a sequel, as the twins embrace their father’s call, in the words of Walt Whitman, to ‘resist much, obey little.’” —Kirkus Reviews
“Dystopia fans will enjoy this adventure set in an all-too-plausible future America.” —School Library Journal
“A suspenseful and timely dystopian thriller that should appeal to both adults and teens.” —Library Journal
“Utilizing a sf-fantasy setting and a survival-oriented plot, the Saunders sisters are careful to promote growth and differentiation between the twins…There are parallels to current news stories, such as immigration, environmental resources, and an autocratic political system. Try this with fans of James Dashner’s Maze Runner series, Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Double Identity, or such clone books as Rachel Vincent’s Brave New Girl.” —Booklist
“The apocryphal nature, strong female heroes, and similar concepts to the movie What Happened to Monday and to Margaret Haddix’s book series Shadow Children, are reflected in this plot-driven book. Readers of the genre will appreciate the page-turning action, the close calls, and the authors’ development of distinct personality differences between the twins.” —VOYA
“The Rule of One, penned by IRL twins Ashley and Leslie Saunders (with another book to come), will be your new favorite YA series.” —HelloGiggles
“The descriptions of everything are incredibly vivid and make you feel as if you are running for your life…This story was completely compelling.” —The Nerd Daily
“The Rule of One offers a loving look at the relationship between two sisters against the backdrop of a totalitarian government…The book tells a heartwarming story highlighting the relationship between twins that transcends time. If you like young adult novels, loving families, a story about sisterhood, a believable dystopia or just a trek through the near-future United States, then you’ll like The Rule of One by Ashley and Leslie Saunders.” —The Daily Texan
“Fans of the Divergent series by Veronica Roth as well as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins will be sure to love this book. The Rule of One, with its totalitarian government and futuristic setting combined with a great plot and cast of characters will satisfy any dystopian lover…” —Teenreads
“The Rule of One is a compelling, fast-paced dystopian story that challenges our sense of personal freedom and security. This fast-paced story will appeal to young adult readers of all ages.” —Kids’ Book Buzz
“Young adults will find plenty to ponder and discuss in this fast-paced story…” —Winnipeg Free Press
“Twin storytellers Ashley and Leslie Saunders are modern-day soothsayers who beautifully spin a suspenseful tale of the not so distant future. Pay attention—this could be what 1984 was to 1949.” —Richard Linklater, Academy Award–nominated screenwriter and director
“Ashley and Leslie Saunders have created a masterpiece in this dark futuristic tale of twin sisters who must share one identity in a society where control is the order of the day. Intense and descriptive, the twists and turns this story takes, as well as the obvious love the sisters share for one another, make for an unforgettable journey.” —Kathy Parks, author of The Lifeboat Clique and Notes From My Captivity
07/01/2018
Gr 7–10—A climate disaster has drastically altered the U.S. Many cities have been wiped out by severe floods, others by long droughts. Families are allowed only one child; to ensure compliance all children are microchipped at birth. Darren Goodwin, the head of the Texas Family Planning Division, refused to comply. Under his guidance, his twin daughters, Mira and Ava, have grown up living as one person. Only Ava is microchipped. A mishap with Mira during a visit from the governor arouses suspicion, and she and Ava are forced to run away to avoid arrest. The action heats up very quickly as the sisters struggle to make their way to safety. Life in this intensely classist future is satisfyingly framed, enhancing the narrative's believability. Characters are fleshed out well enough to support the story. VERDICT Dystopia fans will enjoy this adventure set in an all-too-plausible future America; a strong choice for YA collections.—Carla Riemer, Claremont Middle School, Oakland
2018-06-24
In a dystopian United States where families are permitted only one child, twin teens Ava and Mira break the law simply by existing.The red-haired, green-eyed sisters function as one person in their hometown of Dallas, fooling the country's high-tech identification system by alternating who goes aboveground each day. When the tyrannical governor's grandson discovers their secret, the girls are forced to flee. Following their father's cryptic instructions over the course of a week, the sisters cross the treacherous desert in search of safety—and discover the seeds of a rebellion along the way. A dystopic future well-trod in many ways but inventive in others, Ava and Mira's world is an all-too-believable mix of advanced technology and environmental collapse. Only one substantial character's ethnicity is identified—Lucia, a Mexican immigrant who briefly crosses the twins' path. In their debut, Saunders and Saunders, themselves twins, lend an authentic voice to the girls' first-person narration, which flows nearly indistinguishably between alternating chapters. As they leave their old life behind, Ava and Mira grapple with existing as two separate people for the first time. Both tense and liberating, this shift in their identities only increases the stakes as the girls figure out their roles in the rising rebellion. Readers are in for a fast-paced ride, poised for a sequel, as the twins embrace their father's call, in the words of Walt Whitman, to "resist much, obey little." (Science fiction. 13-18)
