Pawn takes the theme of testing in a dystopian world and uses it to create a caste system with 7 levels. At the age of 17 each person is tested and given a number from 1 to 6 that is tattooed on the back of their neck branding them for life. Yes, I know I said 7 levels but get this - only the family controlling the government can be the highest level of a 7. They are also the family that created this system. Supposedly, every one is to get an equal opportunity at this testing, but we all know how likely that is. Is anything ever really fair in this world let alone a dystopian one? Heck no, I say. 
 The main character K itt y, just finished her testing and scored a 3, which is below the average 4. This means she is assigned a job as a manual laborer, in the sewers of a city across the country. She will have to leave her boyfriend that she loves, and the orphanage she grew up in. Oddly enough it sounds like her childhood wasn't bad. Which I found to be refreshing and unusual since often authors will give their YA characters overly tragic pasts to make them more interesting. Not so with Ki tt y . Her life is much like that of all other extra children born to 4s and below. They are taken from their parents and raised in group homes. 
 So, instead of working in the sewers, Kitty decides she'll go to work in a pleasure house. But things don't turn out as she plans when her first night there she is purchased by the Prime Minister and offered a chance she can't refuse. To become a 7. 
 There is a tiny bit more information that is revealed about how the country now works but I'm sad to say not really much more than that. The bulk of the book focuses on Kitty fitting into the twisted governing family, after her appearance is altered to match the Prime Minister's niece that died. Kitty is a survivor though and she will do whatever she thinks it will take to do so. Luckily she doesn't lose site of herself and her humanity while she's about it. She is definitely a strong character that the reader can get behind. 
 While I expected a lot of focus on society and world building, that is not what I got. Pawn was a character driven story and has more in common with an extreme family drama than it did a dystopian. I think that more is likely going to be explored in regards to the world building in the next book because I could definitely see the potential ground work that was laid. It's just too interesting for us not to be show more. So I am seriously hoping there will be. Just knowing that anyone who scores a 1 is sent 'Elsewhere' as well as people that have reached the age of 60 or have broken the law, makes you wonder how or why the people as a whole would stand for that. I'm curious to know how things ended up this way. 
 Pawn was a good start to a new series and one that I think dystopian fans will enjoy but they should be prepared for a mostly character driven, family drama.