** spoiler alert ** 
 There was some good elements to this book - the author had obviously put some thought into the scenario she was creating and the setting itself was unique and well portrayed; things like the accent and language changes, the threat of inbreeding and the shift to a monoethnic society, the way she could equally convey the sheer magnitude of a ship that is big enough to house entire city blocks/acres of farmland and yet at the same time evoke a feeling of claustrophobia/being trapped in a metal box. If I was reviewing just the setting I'd probably give it a higher rating. 
 Where Across the Universe falls down for me is the characterizations and plot. Elder is a sort of technospace version of Lois Lowry's MC in The Giver - a character I didn't particularly care for in that book either. Amy is "different" so of course she has red hair and a feisty personality to match. Neither of them felt quite developed enough and I wonder if that was partly because of the fast POV changes from one chapter to the next. The murder mystery element also didn't feel quite "enough" as the culprit has big red flashing arrows pointing at him from very early on in the book and the big reveal re motives won't seem particularly shocking enough, if like me, you were more disconcerted by the brainwashing, drugging and manipulation of Earth's history. 
 Those gripes aside, this is a quick and enjoyable read and a bit different from the usual YA dystopian set up on a post-apocalyptic Earth (though this too employs the 'factions'/'districts' type division of society that seems so popular right now). 
 All in all, good but not brilliant. A solid 3 stars.