booksandlemonsquash's review
4.0
When I was only a few chapters in I was already hooked! It seems a little slow in places but in a way that really draws you in, so not a bad thing at all!
I loved all the characters, and the dystopian setting. Dystopia is not always my favourite genre, but when it’s done well I love the way it is genuinely chilling and this is definitely that! Set in a very recognisable future Britain, it’s hard not to see how this could happen (however unlikely it would be!) and hard not to empathise with the characters. In fact my main let down with the book is actually not knowing more about how this all came to be (there are details shared about the catalytic events but not what led up to them) and specifically about what the debt thing the kids owe.
Character wise my favourite was obviously Jet! But I liked that swift looked out for Cass and similar with Martha and Davie. I also want to see more of Ollie hehe! They were all fab. Jake is a good main character - in places I was yelling at him to think harder about his parents, but he gets forgiven for being young and tough and brave :) and loyal to Jet! 🐶😍 though that dog was far too well trained!!
There are a lot of happy coincidences in what the kids luck into but also so many bad ones. The whole section in the underground, you could really feel the desperation. Sadly those coincidences did sometimes make it a little predictable.
I loved the bit in the department store. Surely that is every kids dream!
My only other main niggle about the book is the speech - the lack of quotation marks made it hard to follow when speech ended in places. Though having said that it wasn’t as bad or annoying as I assumed it would be.
Overall, a really good dystopian universe with interesting main characters. I highly recommend it!
I loved all the characters, and the dystopian setting. Dystopia is not always my favourite genre, but when it’s done well I love the way it is genuinely chilling and this is definitely that! Set in a very recognisable future Britain, it’s hard not to see how this could happen (however unlikely it would be!) and hard not to empathise with the characters. In fact my main let down with the book is actually not knowing more about how this all came to be (there are details shared about the catalytic events but not what led up to them) and specifically about what the debt thing the kids owe.
Character wise my favourite was obviously Jet! But I liked that swift looked out for Cass and similar with Martha and Davie. I also want to see more of Ollie hehe! They were all fab. Jake is a good main character - in places I was yelling at him to think harder about his parents, but he gets forgiven for being young and tough and brave :) and loyal to Jet! 🐶😍 though that dog was far too well trained!!
There are a lot of happy coincidences in what the kids luck into but also so many bad ones. The whole section in the underground, you could really feel the desperation. Sadly those coincidences did sometimes make it a little predictable.
I loved the bit in the department store. Surely that is every kids dream!
My only other main niggle about the book is the speech - the lack of quotation marks made it hard to follow when speech ended in places. Though having said that it wasn’t as bad or annoying as I assumed it would be.
Overall, a really good dystopian universe with interesting main characters. I highly recommend it!
humairabaiyant's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
mairi96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
its_charlielewis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
potterpav's review against another edition
i had to return this to the library and from the goodreads reviews , i wasn’t missing out on much💀
girasol_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katielibrarylady's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this middle grade novel. I have been craving a a good, fast paced, believable Dystopian novel for a while now, and this definitely satisfied me. It felt like a modern, children's martial law story. England's government has convinced its citizens that there is a virus that is rampant in the countryside, that the people must remain in the villages, towns, and cities. To go to the outskirts opens them up to getting a deadly virus that is spread by animals and possibly airborne. They implant chips into the people, starting with the children and eventually encompassing everyone. This chip allows them to track their citizens, ensure that people cannot take advantage of the government systems, like welfare and food banks, but it also allows a huge amount of control over the population and keeps them inside the borders. When children are left orphaned, they are put into Home Academies, which on the surface are deemed to be the savior of children, but in reality are child prisons, where they are abused everyday with no consequences to the abusers. Jake, the main character, finds himself in a Home Academy after his parents are in a tragic car accident that killed them both, but there's a question as to whether is was truly an accident. He must escape and get his dog, Jet, then get to Scotland, those were his parents instructions to him if they ever died. But there's a problem, England has built the New Wall and the people of England are banned from leaving the country. So he must find a way to cross the border and get to his grandparents before he's caught by the Hub Police and is sent back to a Home Academy where he'll spend his days in confinement as an escapee. Along the way he meets an endearing group of survivors on the same journey as him, he finds out not everyone is willing to help an Outwalker, and sometimes the least likely place to find help is right under your nose.
The love and dedication found in the characters of this novel is so heartwarming, you will find yourself rooting for each and every one of them. I think that people of any age can find a character to relate to and will love the journey this book takes you on. I laughed and cried, I smiled and scowled, the emotions of this book makes it so enjoyable and hard to put down.
The love and dedication found in the characters of this novel is so heartwarming, you will find yourself rooting for each and every one of them. I think that people of any age can find a character to relate to and will love the journey this book takes you on. I laughed and cried, I smiled and scowled, the emotions of this book makes it so enjoyable and hard to put down.
bumblefee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
claire60's review
4.0
Dystopian YA novel from the author of Tell it to the bees, set in an imagined future England, this totally believable and terrifying portrayal where people are microchipped so they can be controlled and are fodder to prop up capitalism. A bunch of children are trying to get to Scotland and safety, along the way they meet danger but also kind people who help them. The main character Jake and his dog Jet find themselves in a world they were not prepared for. The story moves at quiet a pace, is gripping and terrifying in equal measure, with an emotional ending that made me cry.