I can see how this book would’ve caused a stir when it came out. According to the internet, this is the first juvenile dystopian novel. The setting and premise is now seems old news to us though. 
The book was thought provoking and interesting but I have a couple of issues with it, that although do not “ruin” the book for me, I felt like if they had been fixed at editing it would’ve made this book that much more solid. 

1. I was more than halfway through the book when I thought, “is something going to happen at some point?” In essence, nothing really did except for the last like couple of chapters. It felt like a set up for another book which of course it is, but this book has so much accolades for a set up book.
2. No color? I cannot fathom. It doesn’t make sense how that would work.
3. You’re telling me the red hair gene makes it? Aren’t redheads about to become extinct in regular life?
4. If there is no sun, how does…. Life work? Like explain everything. City of Ember had no sun but we knew how that worked. Same with Gregor the Overlander. This book just causally says there isn’t a sun but then doesn’t say anything else.

If I super suspend my disbelief, the questions to come out of this book are weighty and important.