Focus+Assignment

This story takes place on the north shore of Unlake Superior. The first link in the chain of problems that are being caused is how the Enclave wants the first three babies born every month for themselves, from every "sector." When Gaia's mother manages to get a note to her through the Enclave that asks her to destroy something, Gaia decides to go rescue her mother and father, or at least see them one last time. An important detail to add is that when Gaia's parents are taken away, she meets Captain Grey, a soldier who for some unexplainable reason she likes. Gaia is discovered by authorities inside the wall and put into a cell when she attempts and succeeds at saving a baby. In the cell she discovers where her mother is, but is frustrated because she can't go find her. Capt. Grey convinces her to tell the authorities inside the wall about the coding on the ribbon, or whatever she knows about it. Gaia decides to do as Capt. Grey advised and tells the authorities what she knows about the ribbon and code. They give her 3 days to figure out the code herself. Gaia figures it out, only to find that she is in love with Capt. Grey and doesn't want to give away the code, even though it's too late. Capt. Grey and Gaia escape from the Gaia's heavily guarded room with some difficulty. Since Gaia wants to rescue her mother, her only family member left alive, a plan is devised to go rescue her. When Gaia sees her mother, she is shocked, because she finds out her mother is pregnant, and almost due. While Gaia tries to flee with her mother in her disguise, her mother's water breaks. Unfortunately, after delivering her healthy little sister, Maya, her mother passes away due to blood loss. Capt. Grey; Leon, tries to come rescue her when she doesn't come back at the arranged time, but Gaia, Maya, and Capt Grey are caught by Leon's father, the Protectorate himself. Luckily, they escape and decide to go to the nursery where all the birth records are kept, so Gaia can check if her brothers are all right with their families inside the wall. Next, after they reach the nursery safely, have fed Maya there, and found the birth records, they go to Leon's friend's house. There Leon and Gaia plan their escape. They plan to attend Leon's sister's party, where everyone is celebrating at the moment. Afterwards, once they had gotten inside the party, they'd head to the archway and run for their freedom. Unfortunately, that isn't the way it goes. Though Leon, Maya, and Gaia manage to get inside, they can't make it to the archway in time. Because Leon improvises the plan, Gaia and Maya manage to get out of the Wall, but Leon is captured. Gaia takes Maya to her best friend's house. She knows that she won't be safe if she stays there, outside the wall, so Gaia decides to head to the Dead Forest with a pack of provisions and Maya. They head north, to a place which most people believe doesn't exist, yet a place where safety might exist for Gaia and her sister. The title, "Birthmarked," is a key element in the book. Gaia and her mother are both midwives, and they both birth-mark the babies that have come from their sector. When Gaia's parents are taken away by the Enclave, it's only because they want the records they somehow know Gaia's parents kept about the births. There is a large epidemic happening inside the wall, a place where only the healthy are allowed to live, and a few chose "lucky" people from outside the wall. Specifically, the first three babies born every month, as long as their healthy, in order to increase the population. Because of the epidemic, the authorities are unsure if it's the people outside the wall who caused it, or the people inside, which is where Gaia's parents come in. With their records, the authorities could find people that came from outside the wall, test their genes, and dispose of them if necessary, for the greater good of the rest of the population. *The climax is when Leon; Capt. Grey, sacrifices his freedom for Gaia and her sister's freedom and safety. *This story is third person. It is centered on one character's thoughts and actions.
 * #1—PLOT **** Write a short plot summary of your novel. This should be about 250 words. (1 page) Include information such as: What the title has to do with the book, where and when the story happens, who is telling the story, what the central conflict is in the story, what the climax is, how the climax is resolved – or if it isn’t, and whether or not you enjoyed the plot and your reasons. **
 * I enjoyed the plot because it was extremely well thought out and original.