A review by kleonard
The Future Second by Second by Meridel Newton

1.0

In late 2021 I reviewed a book called Oil and Dust, which was about people in a post-apocalyptic, egalitarian-ish community that is threatened by violent outsiders. This book is very much like it; it's a parable set in a post-apocalyptic, egalitarian-ish community that is threatened by violent outsiders. But where Oil and Dust had finely detailed characters, social systems, and culture, Newton's book does not. In fact, it doesn't have much; a parable about learning that socialism can work, it's got stock characters, dialogue, and a plot from a bad middle-school play. So while it might be ok for young readers--I'd say it's pitched at about a 4th grade reading level--it lacks the depth of ideas, characters, and plot for others.