A young adult novel by J. Albert Mann, The Degenerates ties in female strength with historical fiction. This novel is worth a read for both adults and mature young adults.

It is written with the intent of being a young adult novel which can be seen in less variation in vocabulary and sentence structure but still contains graphic details of blood, babies, and more that some may not be able to or want to handle. It is a novel that recognises young adults today always have their eyes wide and ears open when learning and that history should not be sugar coated to appease or ease others.

The Degenerates is a solid read because it ties history of women's institutions in the early 1900s with the four fictional and unlikely friends within. If you are searching for a story with a short time-span within that tackles misunderstanding of humans, institutions, and also has a thought-provoking ending (have I convinced you yet?), then this is the novel for you.

The plot may be your biggest frustration with this novel and is why you may consider not reading it. It is set over the time-span of roughly a year and tells the story from four points of view. It is a steady-paced novel that at times may make you crave more insight into what is going on. Overall, it is a decent plot which you will enjoy but may not be enveloped by.

The four characters are London, Rose, Maxine, and Alice. London is the new arriver and is a wild girl. Maxine is Rose's older sister. Rose is Maxine's young sister. Alice has a club foot. They've been dropped off or taken to the institution and classified as either an idiot, imbecile, or moron sealing their fate inside the institution forever. They have only been classified as such because society's solution to socially unacceptable behaviour was to shove them in an institution and hide them away.

Although you do not learn much of the girl's background and or truly delve into the personalities of these four young teens, the characters make the story. You will enjoy reading about them because they make the story real. The author based the novel off real women, the characters are stories you easily could have learnt about in history but instead have been told in a fictional and powerful way.

The ending of The Degenerates grows on you. Initially it is not what you would expect from a young adult novel like this but the ending causes you to think and think and think. Finishing The Degenerates leaves you with questions and makes this an ideal read for school or book club.

The Degenerates is a young adult novel that did not make me feel much. I either am too cynical to absorb any message behind this novel or I am too old for it. I am leaning towards the latter because I still tear up when reading the Mockingjay and is why I think The Degenerates was not for me.

This is a novel about friendship, ignorance, and perseverance. I have recently read three novels about the early 1900s and women's institutions and it is evident any "abnormal" behaviour was immediate cause for institutionalisation. The Degenerates is about one of those institutions that housed young women who strayed from society's expectations and I wanted more from it. It lacked the strength I think it needed to be young adult novel that adults can still enjoy but is a novel that young adults absolutely would love.

This is a novel I know I would have immensely appreciated in middle school because it has delightful elements creating a powerful story but because the writing to me felt geared towards a young age group and because of that it lacked oomph and I wanted oomph. As a kid, I would have pounced on it.

I think this is a solid novel for young adults and adults looking for an easy read. It does contain graphic mentions of blood, babies, and behaviours that may make a few veer away but overall is a solid read. One I recommend to anyone looking for a book to discuss that is quick to read.