January 23, 2013

The Darkest Minds Blog Tour - Interview with Ruby (MC) (Giveaway)



Ruby, the main character of Alexandra Bracken’s THE DARKEST MINDS, stops by Good Choice Reading today to answer a few questions….

Ruby, what was running through your mind when you arrived at Thurmond?

A lot of it is a fog, you know? I didn't really understand where we were going or why, and the soldiers that were with us refused to tell us anything. I think, you know, the intensity of my fear kept a lot of fragmented thoughts from coming together and realizing that all of this was related to the kids dying. Mostly, I was thinking about Grams coming to get me, about how tired and hungry I was, and trying to keep my head down to avoid being punished. I wish I could say I was brave, or that I was trying to figure out how to run away once the bus brought us into camp, but it just wouldn't be true.

Ruby, after you got to Thurmond you told a lie about your classification almost immediately. Do you regret this decision? Why or why not?

No. Sometimes I regret lying to my friends about it later, but it kept me alive and out of the PSFs and camp controllers' focus. The lie was almost impossible to keep up at times, and I came close to breaking down over it any number of times, but... all I had to do was see the way the PSFs treated the Oranges, how, to them, they were less than human, and I would force myself to dig deep and push on. After they took the Oranges out of the camps and "disappeared" them, I knew I'd have to keep the lie up my whole life.

What advice do you have for a kid who knows he or she is about to be sent to a camp? What would you say to a parent who is about to lose their child to the system?

To the kids, I'd say: keep your head down, stay out of trouble, and don't rise to a PSF trying to bait you to act out. To the parents about to lose their kid, I'd say: fight harder. Find a way.

Let’s play a word association game. When you hear “Liam,” “Zu” and “Chubs” what word comes to mind for each person? What word do you think they would use to describe you?

Liam: sunlight

Zu: pink

Chubs: books

I'm not sure what the others would say about me--except maybe Chubs. Is there one word that sums up "hopeless pain in my ass"?

With everything you are dealing with, where do you find the strength to get through each day?

If you had asked me this a few months ago, I would have said I don't have strength, not the kind any of you would admire. Like I said before, I wouldn't change my decision to lie about my abilities, but shrinking back in fear at every shadow and letting my friend Sam stand up and fight my battles for me still makes me so ashamed I feel it in me like a constant ache. I was only motivated by wanting to live, and only then because I was terrified of the alternative. I don't know that there's much strength in that. Definitely not a lot of courage, at least.

But now... I'm finding more and more courage every day, and it's been a surprise, even to me. My life has so totally changed now that I have a responsibility to others. They've given me a purpose, and I'm finally starting to feel like... okay, maybe this sounds stupid, but I feel like I might be able to work towards growing into someone I'd admire. Knowing that they're not afraid of me makes me feel less afraid of myself. I would do anything and everything to help them and protect them--without any hesitation, no matter how dangerous.

Ruby, if you came face-to-face with your parents, what would you say to them? What would you say to Grams?

You know, I used to fantasize about this a lot. A lot. I'd imagine how sorry they'd be, how they'd try to make it up to me once they learned what they put me through. But once I realized the role I'd played in all this, it seemed like the bulk of the blame was with me. I'm not saying that I would try apologizing and asking for their forgiveness, I'm not even sure I'd be able to say anything to them or Grams at all. It's been six years. As much as I love them, they're almost strangers to me now.

What would people be the most surprised to learn about you?

When I was nine, my dad--a police officer--took me into the station with him one afternoon to pick someone up. While I was there, a really nice woman came up and introduced herself. I asked her if she was a police officer and she explained she was an FBI agent and what the difference was. For whatever reason (probably because I was nine and had no idea what was the job was actually like), I got really excited about the idea of going to a special academy and working all around the U.S. I decided right then and there that was what I wanted to be when I grew up. Somehow, though, I don't think the government will be hiring me anytime soon...

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When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.



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Find Alexandra Bracken...







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We have a copy of The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken to giveaway. 

Open to US & Canada only.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
Contest ends 7 days from today.
 Must leave a comment below. Be sure to include a way for us to contact you. 


Good luck! 



 
 

35 comments:

  1. Wow. Thanks for the giveaway. This books sounds awesome. I am so curious as to her powers. What did she do?

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  2. Yeah Ruby definitely has it tough. Thanks for the giveaway and this book sounds amazing.

    email: queendsheena@hotmail.com

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  3. This sounds so good. I would love to know what kind of powers she has that would make her parents call the police and basically give her away.

    findjessyhere at gmail dot com

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  4. I've been itching to get my hands on this read. It sounds SO bloody good. The reviews have just been stellar!! This book sounds most excellent :)

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've read great reviews for this book! Can't wait to read it!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Leanne
    leannessf at gmail dot com

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  6. thanks for the giveaway

    kmichellec87(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. Would love a copy of Darkest Minds!! Great giveaway!!
    Curlingupwithagoodbook@gmail.com

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  8. I'd love to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway. :)

    animefreak902(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  9. I really want to read this book. it sounds very good. Thanks for the giveaway. Tore923@aol.com

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  10. I keep seeing such amazing reviews for this book! I would be so excited to win it. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Best wishes,
    Marlena
    charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. I too have seen grrst reviews n this book....would be awesome to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!!!!
    iluvmik16@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't wait to read this!! Thanks for the giveaway!!!
    lcoolidge8(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. Thanks for the great giveaway!
    twigerina[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  14. Thanks for the character interview, now you've got us all hooked. I'd really like to win a copy, thanks for the chance. carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx

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  15. I have seen so many good reviews on this one and I seriously don't know why I have not yet picked it up!! Thank you so much for the chance to win it!!

    t.mahaffy25 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  16. Sounds like a nice experience when you were 9.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  17. The Darkest Minds sounds like a wonderful book and the more I hear about it, the more interested I am in reading it.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! This book is getting such great buzz I would love a chance to read it!

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow! I'm intriqued! This sounds like one awesome book. Thanks for the chance to win it.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  20. Thanks for the chance to win!
    I can't wait to read this one!!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

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  21. I have been itching for this book for the longest time now and with this interview with Ruby, YES PUHLEEEEASE. I *need* this book so so much. I already love Ruby from this interview alone. She sounds like one strong and tough character and I have a feeling she's going to be kick-butt too!!

    Thanks so much!

    xjessirae(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. This book sounds amazing- I can't wait to read it!

    aircdrewood(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. Book is in my tbr, but to win it would be awesome!
    lsbookcrazy(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I loved Brightly Woven and I can't wait to read The Darkest Minds! Thanks!

    laughs4life14(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  25. I've been looking forward to this book! I loved Brightly Woven and been waiting for another book from Alexandra. ;)

    -Len of Musings of a Reader Happy
    maidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. This book sounds so intriguing, despite the cover, which I dislike. I really enjoyed the interview, the part about becoming an FBI agent was sad.

    ajiehuang1997 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  27. I read Brightly Woven and liked it alot. I don't know why I never looked at the synopsis for this one. But now that I have, I got it on my tbr list. Thanks

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  28. I am really excited to read The Darkest Minds, but haven't gotten the chance yet.

    Thank you for this giveaway!

    ajiehuang1997 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for the giveaway!! I keep seeing this book, and would love for the chance to read it!!!

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  30. Would love to win this!!! Been wanting to read it!!!

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  31. The book sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    tiffaney12@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. This books sounds really awesome. It has been on my TBR list since I first seen it. Thanks for the giveaway.

    pefrw at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have been hearing about this one.

    videoclimber(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I've heard really great things about this book! The idea seems really intriguing and the stunning cover is a definite perk!
    thanks for the great giveaway! :)

    email: fatma.h@live.com

    ReplyDelete

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