Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien Review

The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O’Brien introduces a futuristic look at reality shows and the conspiracies behind them.  In a sort of Big Brother meets America’s Got Talent, The Forge Show follows the most talented young artists in the country and the more viewers they attract, the more ads they get, money for college, etc.  That’s the basic breakdown of this school setting reality show, but Rosie Sinclair was in it for the education.  She knew staying in her poor town living in a boxcar offered her no future.  The Forge School became her miracle.  Until it became her nightmare.
Rosie’s journey is very well defined.  She goes from artistic hopeful to accepted member of a clique by doing what she does best, directing.  I think that’s a brilliant use of talent by O’Brien the way she structured that character.  After that she she’s an academic and a lover, still her personality doesn’t change.  She knows there are cameras and by that point she also knows something else is going on, but she sees no point in being other than she is.  This is a brilliant message to girls from all walks in all situations.
I also love that O’Brien used a protagonist like Rosie to tell this story and uncover the secrets beneath Forge, because she had everything to lose by letting the truth out and she did it anyway.