Scythe by Neal Shusterman

 What if you could be the Grim Reaper?

That's the reality in this awesome new book by Neal Shusterman. It's the future, death is a thing of the past. Nano technology means that even getting hit by a Mack Truck isn't the end.

Sure, you'll spend a few days in a recovery centre while you're pieced back together, but hey, the recovery centres have the best hot fudge sundaes in town.  There's no ageing, there's no disease, there's no crime.

On top of this, there's no government. Instead, the online "Cloud", now known as the Thunderhead, is an all knowing, all seeing leader of the world.

To keep the human population from spiralling out of control, select people are chosen to be Scythes, those who live a monk like existence and whose job it is to dole out death.

In a twist of fate, teens Citra and Rowan are chosen by Scythe Faraday to be his apprentices. Together, the teens learn that the world of the Scythes isn't as cut and dry as it seems. There is in-fighting, there is forbidden love, there is a band of rogue Scythes on the loose unleashing hell on people underserving of being "gleaned" as they call it.

Through their training, Citra and Rowan find out some really awful truths about their world, and once they're pitted against each other, all bets are off.

This is a really great book. I was completely sold on this brave new world and even though the Thunderhead made one appearance, I have a feeling it will be back for more in the second instalment. Both boys and girls alike will really get into this awesome new series.