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A review by anaiira
Exo by Fonda Lee
4.0
Fonda Lee is really just such a world class author. My criticisms about how unrealistic these particular situations involving a teenage boy aside, this book was gripping and interesting and the world building is, as always, top notch.
I thought this way of portraying a very thinly veiled allegory for the difficulties of being someone caught in the trap of post-colonialism. I thought the Rii threat to be not particularly necessary to explore this facet of needing to engage with the fact that colonial oppression is real and happening, that siding with colonialists can be a rationalizable act and that each person in a colonized society must choose the extent to which they resist, accept or otherwise respond to being subjugated. It's a complex exploration of trying to figure out whether accepting aid and technological advancement is worth being treated as a second class citizen.
I think these themes are complex and engaging enough, and are more interesting than the real plot to the story, which is kind of generic coming of age story of rebellion and choices and tepid romance.
I thought this way of portraying a very thinly veiled allegory for the difficulties of being someone caught in the trap of post-colonialism. I thought the Rii threat to be not particularly necessary to explore this facet of needing to engage with the fact that colonial oppression is real and happening, that siding with colonialists can be a rationalizable act and that each person in a colonized society must choose the extent to which they resist, accept or otherwise respond to being subjugated. It's a complex exploration of trying to figure out whether accepting aid and technological advancement is worth being treated as a second class citizen.
I think these themes are complex and engaging enough, and are more interesting than the real plot to the story, which is kind of generic coming of age story of rebellion and choices and tepid romance.