A review by katielibrarylady
Outwalkers by Fiona Shaw

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.