Shades of Grey (Shades of Grey 1)
Red Side Story (Shades of Grey 2)
By: Jasper Fforde
My Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS
Best for: 16 and up

No, no, no! Not THAT Shades of Grey!

Relax! No relations. I mean relation…

Never mind.

Shades of Grey and Red Side Story are the smartest books I’ve read in a long time. The story is part dystopian fantasy, part social satire, a lot eccentric, completely unique, and funny all over.

In this future, you only see one color. If you see blue, you see blue things as blue, but everything else is colorless. If you see red, you only see red. Get it? Good.

Your place in society is determined by your color and how strongly your perception of color. As long as you follow the rules, work for the betterment of society, and see the right color, you can expect a life of satisfaction as a cog in the wheel.

Not interested in being a cog? I did mention this is a dystopian future, right? Trust me, you want to be a cog.

But…what happens when you discover there’s more? What happens when you find your world isn’t as black and white as you’ve been told? What happens when you learn…

…it’s more a shade of grey?

This story is A Brave New World, but with technicolor wit. It’s 1984, but with Mr. Bean in charge.

If you can read a story with a slow burn mystery without pulling you hair out screaming “WHAT ON EARTH IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT SPOONS!!!,” you’ll probably enjoy Shades of Grey and Red Side Story. They really are pretty great.

The book 1 story arc wraps up nicely, but ends with a lot unanswered. Be sure you have book 2 queued up and ready to go.

There are handful colorful 4-letter words in this book, and sex is talked about in a silly and innocent way throughout the books. I would feel comfortable letting my 16 year old read it.

The Shades of Grey series was a ton of fun. I highly recommend!

Happy Reading!