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A review by sdsmith80
Ethic by Megan Stockton
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I chose this book for a reading challenge because from my late teens until my mid-20's I was homeless. I started in Iowa and hitchhiked to Los Angeles. So the themes and premise of this book really piqued my interest.
The plot revolves around a good, but timid man, who owns a facility for "streeters", in a not so distant future where textbooks have been rewritten to edit out the "bad" history (much like Florida and other states are currently trying to do), and homelessness has become illegal. If you are caught, you are sent to a facility to hopefully be "sponsored" (basically bought by a person to hopefully help you get on your feet, but instead is used for slave labor.) Keegan has taken over the facility after his estranged father's death, and we enter when he's meeting with a very high profile client for the first time.
Already there's an argument to be made over just how ethical the system is, before our main character realizes that this client has been acquiring streeters from the facility for many years, under the table, to be used in various illegal and abusive practices, even including children. Keegan struggles with that knowledge and decides to help the newest victim.
The story is very compelling and although I'm not a fan of the author's writing style, I was hooked from the beginning. It's a very strong warning to our present world with the direction we're going. As Keegan repeatedly states, if we don't recognize history, we will make it happen again.
Overall it really hit a specific fear I have for the way this world is going, especially for all vulnerable populations.
The plot revolves around a good, but timid man, who owns a facility for "streeters", in a not so distant future where textbooks have been rewritten to edit out the "bad" history (much like Florida and other states are currently trying to do), and homelessness has become illegal. If you are caught, you are sent to a facility to hopefully be "sponsored" (basically bought by a person to hopefully help you get on your feet, but instead is used for slave labor.) Keegan has taken over the facility after his estranged father's death, and we enter when he's meeting with a very high profile client for the first time.
Already there's an argument to be made over just how ethical the system is, before our main character realizes that this client has been acquiring streeters from the facility for many years, under the table, to be used in various illegal and abusive practices, even including children. Keegan struggles with that knowledge and decides to help the newest victim.
The story is very compelling and although I'm not a fan of the author's writing style, I was hooked from the beginning. It's a very strong warning to our present world with the direction we're going. As Keegan repeatedly states, if we don't recognize history, we will make it happen again.
Overall it really hit a specific fear I have for the way this world is going, especially for all vulnerable populations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Deadnaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Outing