Scan barcode
katykelly's review
5.0
Upsetting, powerful and relevant dystopic YA story.
I'm currently reading a new perspective on 1984 (Julia's story), and this felt very much in the same vein, with a younger audience in mind.
England, 30 years after 'The Outrage' has happened, a horrendous event that shocked the country into blaming those that took responsibility and changing society forevermore. Now everyone is closely monitored, those who are different aren't just mocked - Degenerates are taken away, modified (read: castrated), tortured, vilified. The only films and books are those that are sanctioned and produced by the state - propaganda pieces. Young people live in constant fear of inspections by the Protectorate.
So for Gabriel, who has known for many years that he is gay, in love with his best friend Eric (son of a Protectorate higher-up), life is constantly strained and frightening. But that doesn't stop him pushing back against the rules. Or watching banned films. Or wanting what he wants.
There's a lot more to the story than this, with some very effective characters, including Gabriel's family and friends, all of whom exemplify different aspects of how a dystopic, brutal regime would affect different groups within it.
The audio version of this moved quickly through the two time periods with Gabriel - before and after a particular event, catching the one up with the other so we see the background as we also see the after-effects of a fallout.
The world is just as frightening as that of Winston Smith's. And it's our world even more so, with reference to cultural reference points like Star Wars, it's all the more scary that it could so easily happen to us. And a new generation would barely know any different.
Hussey's afterwords puts his creation into the perspective of his own life growing up in the 1980-90s, at the time of Section 28. Imagining what our world could be if such laws were overturned gives us this sort of speculative fiction you're more than glad isn't what you see when you put the book down.
Exciting, upsetting stuff. With a barrel of points to make, and I hope the right audiences find this here.
For ages 13 and above.
"You know, when you live in a time of progress, it seems that progress is the only possible way. The idea that everything we'd gained, all of those hard-won rights, could be taken away from us, and that open minds could be closed again? But then the Outrage happened."
Welcome to England, where the Protectorate enforces the Public Good. Here, there are rules for everything - what to eat, what to wear, what to do, what to say, what to read, what to think, who to obey, who to hate, who to love. Your safety is assured, so long as you follow the rules.
Gabriel is a natural born rule-breaker. And his biggest crime of all? Being gay.
Gabriel knows his sexuality must be kept secret from all but his closest friends, not only to protect himself, but to protect his boyfriend. Because Eric isn't just the boy who has stolen Gabriel's heart. He's the son of the chief inspector at Degenerate Investigations - the man who poses the single biggest threat to Gabriel's life.
And the Protectorate are experts at exposing secrets.
I'm currently reading a new perspective on 1984 (Julia's story), and this felt very much in the same vein, with a younger audience in mind.
England, 30 years after 'The Outrage' has happened, a horrendous event that shocked the country into blaming those that took responsibility and changing society forevermore. Now everyone is closely monitored, those who are different aren't just mocked - Degenerates are taken away, modified (read: castrated), tortured, vilified. The only films and books are those that are sanctioned and produced by the state - propaganda pieces. Young people live in constant fear of inspections by the Protectorate.
So for Gabriel, who has known for many years that he is gay, in love with his best friend Eric (son of a Protectorate higher-up), life is constantly strained and frightening. But that doesn't stop him pushing back against the rules. Or watching banned films. Or wanting what he wants.
There's a lot more to the story than this, with some very effective characters, including Gabriel's family and friends, all of whom exemplify different aspects of how a dystopic, brutal regime would affect different groups within it.
The audio version of this moved quickly through the two time periods with Gabriel - before and after a particular event, catching the one up with the other so we see the background as we also see the after-effects of a fallout.
The world is just as frightening as that of Winston Smith's. And it's our world even more so, with reference to cultural reference points like Star Wars, it's all the more scary that it could so easily happen to us. And a new generation would barely know any different.
Hussey's afterwords puts his creation into the perspective of his own life growing up in the 1980-90s, at the time of Section 28. Imagining what our world could be if such laws were overturned gives us this sort of speculative fiction you're more than glad isn't what you see when you put the book down.
Exciting, upsetting stuff. With a barrel of points to make, and I hope the right audiences find this here.
For ages 13 and above.
"You know, when you live in a time of progress, it seems that progress is the only possible way. The idea that everything we'd gained, all of those hard-won rights, could be taken away from us, and that open minds could be closed again? But then the Outrage happened."
Welcome to England, where the Protectorate enforces the Public Good. Here, there are rules for everything - what to eat, what to wear, what to do, what to say, what to read, what to think, who to obey, who to hate, who to love. Your safety is assured, so long as you follow the rules.
Gabriel is a natural born rule-breaker. And his biggest crime of all? Being gay.
Gabriel knows his sexuality must be kept secret from all but his closest friends, not only to protect himself, but to protect his boyfriend. Because Eric isn't just the boy who has stolen Gabriel's heart. He's the son of the chief inspector at Degenerate Investigations - the man who poses the single biggest threat to Gabriel's life.
And the Protectorate are experts at exposing secrets.
mageofmadness's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
samogden7's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
lost a star for using pet names
tailsbeth's review against another edition
5.0
An eerily realistic dystopian story set in the UK, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The world building meant nothing felt over the top which can be an issue in dystopian sci-fi, especially in YA fiction. Highly recommend, very refreshing!
kittykyra's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Loving the somerset representation
georgia_jaycee's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
starkva's review
5.0
This book upset me, lifted me up, utterly broke me, and made me cry. It was beautiful, horrible, and very well-written. There was a secret that I felt like I saw coming for a long time, but in a way that felt like there was just enough given that you'd see it if you were looking for it, rather than being painfully predictable. While some plot points were to be expected, a lot of it kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for the best outcomes and dreading the worst.
garethmk's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
4.5