Masterminds

“No crime, no unemployment, no poverty, and no homelessness. The amazing part isn’t so much that we have none of those things, but that other towns do, and they’re okay with it. It must be awful.”

In this quote, Eli introduces the Utopia that is Serenity. Simultaneously, he reveals a stance typical of the community’s younger members. They’ve been indoctrinated to believe that the outside world is a terrible place. Serenity is designed to eliminate all the negative aspects of life. In some sense, cultivating a sinister view of the rest of the country is another way for Hammerstrom to ensure that his test subjects don’t stray out of town.

“When it comes to fun or comfort, we’ve got it all. We’ve got the stuff adults want too—a great school and great jobs. We’ve got the three Essential Qualities of Serenity citizens—honesty, harmony, and contentment.”

Elis again presents the basics of his community. He seems to be parroting a public relations blurb in this statement about the virtues of Serenity. However, the quote alludes to the level of indoctrination that the boy has experienced. No normal community abides by the three essential qualities he mentions.

“Malik is infuriating. But one of the things we learn in school is that anger is the emotion of a lesser person. So I just smile.”

Amber makes this statement about her least favorite person in the world: Malik. The novel sets the two teens up as polar opposites. However, future books in the trilogy show them united as a pair. In addition, this quote reveals Amber’s sanctimonious behavior early in the novel. She follows the rules without question, hoping to be a role model for less exemplary classmates like Malik.