Reviews

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.

coljnr's review against another edition

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Slow and laborious

bumblefee's review

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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 against another edition

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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.

fennmidwinter's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

viv_reads_books_duh's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed a good majority of this book. I liked the adventure, the start was my favourite. it slowed down a lot in the middle and i struggled to continue it. i did skip 2 chapters that seemed unnecessary and were. the one major thing i didnt like was that everything was easy, no food this person gives you food, no way out this person gives you a ride etc. Martha's death was quite emotional she was my favourite character after she died i found myself disconnecting with the story. the end was quite lacklustre for me. it seemed like they made it to scotland and the miltary people just fixed everything. Jet was a good dog

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