Review Synopsis and Summary of the Dystopian Novel Shatter Me
Tahereh Mafi’s 2001 dystopian thriller Shatter Me is the story of a teenager named Juliette who has a deadly touch, Shatter me is part one in a series of books that offers readers a journey to despair through the eyes of a teenager clinging to her sanity.

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Author: Tahereh Mafi
Genre: Romance / Young adult/ dystopian
Pages: 338
My Rating: 7.6 of 10
Purchase Link: Amazon
Synopsis and Summary of the Dystopian Novel Shatter Me
***Warning Spoilers Below This Point***
Juliette Ferrars has killed a young boy three years earlier and has now been locked up for 264 days in an asylum. Her touch is deadly, and she can draw vitality from other organic beings life force, leaving her uncomfortable in her own skin and teeters on the edge of insanity. In Juliettes loneliness, she keeps a notebook sharing her thoughts and conveying her feelings.
Adam Kent joins the fold as Juliette’s cellmate; they form somewhat of a bond with Juilette showing him the ropes of the asylum with some helpful hints and tips. Following some relationship and world-building, outside influence is introduced the all-powerful Reestablishment, effectively a one-world government scenario. Juliette peer Adam is a soldier of the regime, and his superior Warner offers a deal, she is able to leave the asylum in exchange for undertaking enhanced interrogation of prisoners of the Reestablishment regime.
Julliette if forced to undertake inhumane acts of several people, leaving her ethically compromised, Adam and Julliette develop an intimate relationship amid the challenges she faces, it also becomes apparent Jullite and touch Adam without the adverse side effects. Adam following some difficulties helps Julliette escape, however on the way out she brushes against Warner who is also unharmed by her touch.
Following the escape, the love story evolves, however, the Reestablishment who have undertaken torture on one of Adam’s kin learn his and Juliettes location. They try and formulate a plan; unfortunately, both Adam and Juliette end up captured. Following Juliette’s daring during the capture, they can escape again, some hope is provided as one of their peers is a member of Omega Point a secret organisation in rebellion against the incumbent regime.
Final Say on the Dystopian Novel Shatter Me
This story is well deserving of my 7.6 of 10 reviews as offers some great action, love and a series of enjoyable yet at times unexpected events. The author Tahereh Mafi was not afraid to test boundaries with this book, however by the end to me it’s quite apparent she is setting up for a series and given this was the debut novel could have been done better. For sure it’s a solid and enjoyable read and one I would spend time with, would I re-read this novel? No. Am I glad I read it? Yes.
Read the full book? Purchase Link: Amazon
List of all Dystopian Novels Ever by Ralph K Jones:
- 19th Century Dystopian Literature
- 1900 -1910 Dystopian Literature 20th Century
- 1910 – 1920 Dystopian Literature 20th Century
- 1920 -1930 Dystopian Literature 20th Century
- 1930 -1940 Dystopian Literature 20th Century
- 1940 -1950 Dystopian Literature 20th Century
- 1950 -1960 Dystopian Literature 20th Century
- 1960 – 1970 Dystopia Literature 20th Century
- 1970 – 1980 Dystopia Literature 20th Century
- 1980 – 1990 Dystopia Literature 20th Century
- 1990 -2000 Dystopian Literature 20th Century
- 2000 – 2010 Dystopia Literature 21st Century
- 2010 -2020 Dystopian Literature 21st Century