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cpellegrino's review against another edition
4.0
I love a good dystopian read. Bridge 108 provides a very realistic view. This story follows the path of 12 year old Caleb, and his struggle to survive in the changing world after he is separated from his mother. This book left me satisfied, but still able to finish out stories lines in my own head. I even dreamt about it, which it me is always the sign of a good read. I hope to read more from Ms. Charnock!
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
armamix's review
emotional
medium-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
rosaza's review against another edition
2.0
From netgalley - quick review for the moment:
* was intrigued by the climate change angle so picked it up
* not YA - you don't get the close relationship with the narrator typical of YA, and the narrator is 12 for most of the book
* super depressing...moral of the story seems to be that
* depressing books are okay but I wasn't connected with the character. Sure, I felt fear for him at acutely scary moments, but nothing personal. There was also no momentum or goal (apart from survival and not being deported, I suppose ... but when the story takes place over five years it'd be nice to have some sort of time pressure). I tried to explain the book to my friends earlier and it was just like 'he was here, then he ran away and was here, then he was here, then he was here' - very meandering.
* the character is not very good, e.g. a woman he's working with dies of dehydration and he steals her necklace to sell. I get it but jesus could we please have a single morally light character?
* was intrigued by the climate change angle so picked it up
* not YA - you don't get the close relationship with the narrator typical of YA, and the narrator is 12 for most of the book
* super depressing...moral of the story seems to be that
Spoiler
everything and everyone sucks so you should just go back to slavery* depressing books are okay but I wasn't connected with the character. Sure, I felt fear for him at acutely scary moments, but nothing personal. There was also no momentum or goal (apart from survival and not being deported, I suppose ... but when the story takes place over five years it'd be nice to have some sort of time pressure). I tried to explain the book to my friends earlier and it was just like 'he was here, then he ran away and was here, then he was here, then he was here' - very meandering.
* the character is not very good, e.g. a woman he's working with dies of dehydration and he steals her necklace to sell. I get it but jesus could we please have a single morally light character?
letstalkaboutbooksbaybee's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Wunderkind PR for sending me a free copy of this book to review! All opinions are my own.
This book is set in a dystopian future, taking place in Europe after wildfires ravaged half of the continent and follows a teenage boy named Caleb as he bounces from place to place trying to survive. He is separated from both of his parents, fearing them both dead, and is picked up by traffickers to have him work as a slave for a woman named Ma Lexie. Eventually he escapes and turns himself into the government to work as an indentured servant, but he knows his future is not the one his mother dreamt of for him.
I quite liked this book and the premise. I think that something like this isn’t too far off of the future that awaits us if things go a certain way. My heart hurt for young Caleb and what he’s been put through. My only complaints are that this book just plops you into this world with little backstory and it was confusing to try and figure out the setting at first. This book is also very short, less than 200 pages, and I just wanted a bit more from it.
This book is set in a dystopian future, taking place in Europe after wildfires ravaged half of the continent and follows a teenage boy named Caleb as he bounces from place to place trying to survive. He is separated from both of his parents, fearing them both dead, and is picked up by traffickers to have him work as a slave for a woman named Ma Lexie. Eventually he escapes and turns himself into the government to work as an indentured servant, but he knows his future is not the one his mother dreamt of for him.
I quite liked this book and the premise. I think that something like this isn’t too far off of the future that awaits us if things go a certain way. My heart hurt for young Caleb and what he’s been put through. My only complaints are that this book just plops you into this world with little backstory and it was confusing to try and figure out the setting at first. This book is also very short, less than 200 pages, and I just wanted a bit more from it.
jfrederich's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
dr_matthew_lloyd's review
4.0
Twelve-year old Caleb left Spain with his mother during the wildfires, heading for Manchester, England, following his father. Caleb made it, alone, but was discovered along the way by Skylark, who insisted that he would be better off avoiding the legally sanctioned route that would lead him into indentured servitude. Instead, he works for Ma Lexie, part of a family working in clothing recycling who puts Caleb to work sewing restyled fashion in an enclave near Manchester. As much as he enjoys the work, questions plague Caleb: what happened to his mother and father? Would he be better off elsewhere? When the opportunity comes to escape with the girl on the next rooftop, Celeb is offered the opportunity to discover the different routes he might have taken.
Looking back through my notes and highlights on Bridge 108, I definitely lingered on the ways in which immigration is both essential to this future England, and yet is rigorously controlled as if it were a menace. It's not hugely different from the situation in many countries today: the economy requires workers, who may be protected by laws but who cannot gain legal status to be here; thus, we end up with undocumented workers in potentially unsafe conditions, with no one to protect them. The state, it is suggested, will not look out for them. For Caleb, every action is a gamble: stay in his current, undocumented position, or take his chances elsewhere? Charnock takes us through his choices, constrained as they are, and how he is manipulated and deceived along the way.
I focused less on the reasons why the world has been shaped in this way: climate change; the incremental creep of inhospitable conditions in southern Europe; the increase in wildfires. Caleb's story is but one in this world, falling apart in the heat; but it is a salient reminder that these aspects - immigration, refugees, climate change - are interrelated, and a governments failure to understand or work with one will exacerbate the other.
I came to this novel with a predisposition toward sympathy for immigrants, with enough outside knowledge to know that if you constrain something that is essential to the function of your society, it will go underground. As I discuss the themes of Bridge 108, it may come across as preachy, but that is me, not Charnock. She simply tells the story of a boy from Spain who made it to safety, and his experience of a system that we already see coming into place. It's not only a chilling look; there are moments of tenderness alongside the betrayals. But for me, it was definitely a science fiction novel that will be good for thinking about these themes.
Looking back through my notes and highlights on Bridge 108, I definitely lingered on the ways in which immigration is both essential to this future England, and yet is rigorously controlled as if it were a menace. It's not hugely different from the situation in many countries today: the economy requires workers, who may be protected by laws but who cannot gain legal status to be here; thus, we end up with undocumented workers in potentially unsafe conditions, with no one to protect them. The state, it is suggested, will not look out for them. For Caleb, every action is a gamble: stay in his current, undocumented position, or take his chances elsewhere? Charnock takes us through his choices, constrained as they are, and how he is manipulated and deceived along the way.
I focused less on the reasons why the world has been shaped in this way: climate change; the incremental creep of inhospitable conditions in southern Europe; the increase in wildfires. Caleb's story is but one in this world, falling apart in the heat; but it is a salient reminder that these aspects - immigration, refugees, climate change - are interrelated, and a governments failure to understand or work with one will exacerbate the other.
I came to this novel with a predisposition toward sympathy for immigrants, with enough outside knowledge to know that if you constrain something that is essential to the function of your society, it will go underground. As I discuss the themes of Bridge 108, it may come across as preachy, but that is me, not Charnock. She simply tells the story of a boy from Spain who made it to safety, and his experience of a system that we already see coming into place. It's not only a chilling look; there are moments of tenderness alongside the betrayals. But for me, it was definitely a science fiction novel that will be good for thinking about these themes.
mttmrtn's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So, I am a massive dystopian novel lover and always have been. I love the many different approaches that folks take, and they often are extremely timely for what is happening in the world.
This story takes place in England after what seems like a major climate crisis throughout Europe. It follows the main character, Caleb, and his journey from refugee to human trafficking to escapee, etc. and the many folks he meets along the way.
While it was a fairly quick read, I will be honest that I was a little underwhelmed throughout. Some elements never really landed and the overall story left me wanting a lot more. I felt like the characters never really developed and there was very little back story, so that it just felt like a very bare-bones outline of multiple perspectives of characters. Multiple times I felt like it was building up to something that could be really exciting, but each time I was let down.
In spite of this, it is definitely worth giving a try if you are someone who enjoys dystopian type lit.
So, I am a massive dystopian novel lover and always have been. I love the many different approaches that folks take, and they often are extremely timely for what is happening in the world.
This story takes place in England after what seems like a major climate crisis throughout Europe. It follows the main character, Caleb, and his journey from refugee to human trafficking to escapee, etc. and the many folks he meets along the way.
While it was a fairly quick read, I will be honest that I was a little underwhelmed throughout. Some elements never really landed and the overall story left me wanting a lot more. I felt like the characters never really developed and there was very little back story, so that it just felt like a very bare-bones outline of multiple perspectives of characters. Multiple times I felt like it was building up to something that could be really exciting, but each time I was let down.
In spite of this, it is definitely worth giving a try if you are someone who enjoys dystopian type lit.
cullen_mi's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. This was a pleasant surprise, as I've never heard of this author before and I picked it up on a whim from a NetGalley offer.
I would describe this as speculative fiction. It feels like it could take place anywhere from ten to fifty years in the future, as climate change accelerates northward European migration and countries such as France have to adjust and react. There are a few tech advances described although the story would probably stand up without them.
Each chapter is from the point of view of a different character, many of whom only get one chapter. This largely works very well although there are a couple of awkward moments (one that jumps out is a character explicitly stating his name and occupation; all the other writing feels like natural internal monologue).
The plot was engaging, the characters all worked, the ending was effective, and it was the perfect length. Really enjoyable.
I would describe this as speculative fiction. It feels like it could take place anywhere from ten to fifty years in the future, as climate change accelerates northward European migration and countries such as France have to adjust and react. There are a few tech advances described although the story would probably stand up without them.
Each chapter is from the point of view of a different character, many of whom only get one chapter. This largely works very well although there are a couple of awkward moments (one that jumps out is a character explicitly stating his name and occupation; all the other writing feels like natural internal monologue).
The plot was engaging, the characters all worked, the ending was effective, and it was the perfect length. Really enjoyable.
dreesreads's review
4.0
This novel takes place in a near-future (and very believable) dystopian England. Immigrants are pouring in from fire-and drought-ravaged Southern Europe. Legally and illegally, with many being trafficked. Charnock has an earlier book that also takes place in this world.
Charnock's world building is what I enjoyed most about the novel, and made me want to know more. England has changed from the world we know. On the legal side are simulants, implants, innoculations, indentured servitude, and right to stay. For citizens, where you live, your job, and whether you receive an implant all depends on how you do on various test. In this novel 12-year-old Caleb became separated from his mother in France, and was trafficked to England. This book follows him as he tries to make his way in England. He's a good worker and serious, but will that be enough?
This very much reads as YA to me--not just because of Caleb's age, but the book is also very clean (no cursing, sex is only alluded to, violence is limited and not graphic at all), and is a quick and easy read. I also think this would be fine for middle grade readers (if they are reading Hunger Games, this one is certainly fine).
I love dystiopias, and I wanted to know more about this world: the innoculations, implants, and simulants, but those may be addressed in the other book. It is also clear from the ending that there will be a third book, which I will be reading. I have the first on hold at the library.
————
Thanks to Net Galley and 47North for providing me with an e-galley of this book.
Charnock's world building is what I enjoyed most about the novel, and made me want to know more. England has changed from the world we know. On the legal side are simulants, implants, innoculations, indentured servitude, and right to stay. For citizens, where you live, your job, and whether you receive an implant all depends on how you do on various test. In this novel 12-year-old Caleb became separated from his mother in France, and was trafficked to England. This book follows him as he tries to make his way in England. He's a good worker and serious, but will that be enough?
This very much reads as YA to me--not just because of Caleb's age, but the book is also very clean (no cursing, sex is only alluded to, violence is limited and not graphic at all), and is a quick and easy read. I also think this would be fine for middle grade readers (if they are reading Hunger Games, this one is certainly fine).
I love dystiopias, and I wanted to know more about this world: the innoculations, implants, and simulants, but those may be addressed in the other book. It is also clear from the ending that there will be a third book, which I will be reading. I have the first on hold at the library.
————
Thanks to Net Galley and 47North for providing me with an e-galley of this book.
1siobhan's review against another edition
2.0
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
Even though the setting sounds interesting (climate refugees from Southern Europe), vineyards all over England/Wales, human trafficking & exploitation, but the execution was just weird. It lacked world building most of all and then a coherent story with meaningful characters. The story just didn't make sense for me and I was a bit mad after many characters were introduced and then a shift of time and a new place. Why? The ending also didn't make any sense. I also didn't really get the global scope of things (how are the refugees managed?) and also the story of our main protagonist didn't really convince. I don't know. Maybe it's me, but I was really disappointed because the short description sounded so good.
Skim-read most of it.
2 Stars
Even though the setting sounds interesting (climate refugees from Southern Europe), vineyards all over England/Wales, human trafficking & exploitation, but the execution was just weird. It lacked world building most of all and then a coherent story with meaningful characters. The story just didn't make sense for me and I was a bit mad after many characters were introduced and then a shift of time and a new place. Why? The ending also didn't make any sense. I also didn't really get the global scope of things (how are the refugees managed?) and also the story of our main protagonist didn't really convince. I don't know. Maybe it's me, but I was really disappointed because the short description sounded so good.
Skim-read most of it.
2 Stars