Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

Those marked with a code will determine the future.
One marked by a scar will unravel the past. 

It's the 25th century and Gaia Stone's world consists of those who live inside the wall and those who live outside. For those who live in the Enclave, life seems good. It's residents have just about everything they could want. The people who live in Wharfton by the former shores of Unlake Superior make do with rations from the Enclave and scrape together what they can. The world has become a dry, desolate place where oil is non-existent.

Recently turning sixteen, Gaia Stone has just completed her first unassisted delivery and is now officially a midwife. After cleaning up and quickly marking the newborn with four dots in brown ink on the ankle, Gaia must now do the hardest part of her job. The first three babies born to each midwife every month must be advanced to the Enclave, where it will be well cared for and the mother compensated. Gaia's two older brothers were advanced at one year of age but she was not because of a burn scar on her left cheek. On her way home, Gaia is warned by her mother's assistant that soldiers from the Enclave have taken her parents and that one has stayed behind for her. When asked why, Old Meg informs Gaia that the Enclave believe that her mother can track the advanced babies back to their parents. Old Meg is on her way to the Dead Forest and wants Gaia to come with her. Gaia refuses thinking the Dead Forest is a myth and Meg hands her a package. She tells Gaia it was her mother's and to guard it with her life. If she decides to follow her later, ask for Danni Orion, Gaia's supposedly dead grandmother.

When Gaia arrives home, she finds Sgt. Grey waiting for her. He starts asking her questions about where she was earlier this evening. Sgt. Grey ends by asking her if either of her parents kept records. Gaia then remembers the parcel Old Meg just gave her. She keeps quiet and is given her mother's job as midwife of Western Sector Three of Wharfton. Sgt. Grey has instructed Gaia to come to the gate and request to see Mabrother Iris if she finds any records. Gaia goes on about her midwifery business and delivers three babies a month to the Enclave. When Gaia hears rumors of the baby quota being raised to five a month and receives a message from her mother to destroy the parcel and go to her grandmother, she starts to question whether the Enclave is right, especially when she receives word that her parents are to be executed. Gaia realizes that she needs to see her parents one last time and return the parcel to her mother. But will Gaia's illegal entry into the Enclave be her downfall or the Enclave's?

This book is recommended to those readers who enjoyed Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. A sequel is planned.
Visit Caragh O'Brien's website.