"Six years. It's been six years since they first tested me. Six years since I last saw my parents. Six years since my life was normal."
In a society where everyone is expected to be the same and must face the consequences if they're different, the new society is a dangerous place to live...
After the brutal war, the government formed a new social system - a society in which everyone can be controlled, so that there is no chance of an uprising of any scale happening ever again.
In this society, when a child reaches the age of 10, they are taken away to have their memories and emotions wiped, as well as to become "perfect" for their role. A society in which the old are rendered useless and killed. This ensures no chance of rebellion and creates the ideal society, in which everyone is safe and is efficient.
Emilia Atherton is a 17-year old girl who happens to be different - unexplainably she does not conform to the government's control. Disobedients are killed and she is one of them. However, this policy is fair because as we all know...
CONTROL SAVES LIVES.