This book is certainly
well written. One would expect nothing less of Gillian Cross. It is also high
concept, dystopian and presents a disturbing near future. Unusually it is not
young adult though protagonist Matt does a lot of growing up. I’d describe it as
fluent reader though Matt is probably about fourteen. Well, youngsters like to
read up. It impressed me because above all it scared me.
The crash of the
five major banks causes food shortages, hoarding of food and raids at gunpoint on
the homes of those who hoard or who grow their own food. Matt and his family are
hoarders and grow their own food. Matt, his younger brother, Taco, and his stepfather,
Justin, escape to France where they are accommodated in a huge refugee camp. Life
is harsh there. Cross successfully uses fiction to explore the truth of that
situation.
There is a hopeful
ending though we still see no easy way out of a dire situation. The story makes
one pause and look at what is happening in our own world. It actually isn’t all
that different.
A must read for
everyone. Well-crafted characterisation, a fast pace and a good amount of tension
keep us reading.
