A review by ladyofthelake68
The Story of Owen by Emily Kate Johnston

3.0

I felt like there was something missing in this book. I was not convinced of the severity of the crisis or the reality that is the world that these characters live in. Perhaps it was because the battle scenes were over so quickly or perhaps it was because there were few real consequences for character's mistakes. I think that the story is an interesting one and is worth reading, but I also think that E.K. Johnston could have embellished the tail a bit more to make it more exciting for the reader. Besides the breadth of Owen's shoulders not a single character changed throughout the book. Their were a couple of interesting plot points that I think the author could have expanded on such as the character of Sadie and especially her revelation. I felt as though she was only added to give the author a higher word count. She never moves the plot line forward with any decisiveness and is just a flicker of light in an otherwise dim room.
There is one element that I did appreciate in the story, and that was how Johnston handled a lesbian couple. He included this couple for the sole purpose of making a point that it is okay to be different and people should be accepting of others. I would have liked to see the same love that the lesbians shared displayed more clearly in the few other couples that the book had, but perhaps it is good that they stood out as the most in-sync with each other. LGBT people are becoming more common, and even if you don't believe in their life choices, they still need to be treated as people.
Their are reasons not to read this book, but don't let the lesbian couple be that reason. They are probably the best characters in the book.