United Forces

The Underground Book Readers #2

by Terry Overton

The world was not ready for what happened. And in the mountains and valleys of Virginia, a group of young friends wondered what to do in this different world. Their parents and older siblings were taken away, or "disappeared," and have not been seen since that fateful day. Schools were destroyed, churches burned, and books banned. There was no fuel or electricity available for anyone. Cars and other vehicles no longer worked and were found abandoned beside the roads rusting and in disrepair. Only the World Force military had fuel and vehicles.

Follow their journey of hope and adventure in the second book of this The Underground Book United Forces. See what happens when the World Force tightens its grip on the teens and children of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Increased patrols and drones are seen nearly every day as the group visits their underground cavern to read forbidden books and study the Bible. Are other teens hiding in the woods who need help? Can the Underground Book Readers find others to join their own group? Will they at last determine the identity of a mysterious group seen on a nearby mountain? A spy mission is planned to uncover clues about people who escaped the rule of the World Force in search of a free territory. But will the spy mission find more questions than answers?

Join the Secret Society in Book 2 of The Underground Book United Forces.

Genres: Dystopia, Christian, Christian Fiction, Young Adult

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[Erin Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids are constantly checking the calendar for how many days until the next book in the series. This is such a great series, and I love the way it makes my kids get so involved. They all have multiple theories of what book three will entail, they were excited when parts of book two was true of theories they had at the end of book one, and surprised when a couple of their theories were way off. This is again, such a wholesome, engaging book, thank you Terry Overton for this series. 💝

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must recommend this book to everyone who has ever wondered what it might be like if the world is taken over by evil. The story is great for middle schoolers, young adults and adults. Be sure if you have not read the first book in this series to grab a copy of it. It would be helpful if they are read in order. From the book description you get an idea of what the story is about. The group of kids in the story have one goal and that is to be free from those who have taken over. Their ability to read a Bible, get food on their own or read books is forbidden. The lines are long to get the meager rations handed out each day.

As the story continues we find our group beginning to become more structured in their daily activities. They watch out for each other and are careful that no one knows about their secret place. I loved the discovery of something very important that will help them stay hidden. The group is now more determined to make a plan to escape where they are and find the place where they will be free.

I like how the author incorporates stories from the Bible which help them understand that God protects them and they can know that He is there with them. The church service they have is good as they find new songs to sing to praise God. There are also documents that they find which describes how it use to be when the Declaration of Independence was something people followed.

This story will introduce a few new characters that the group must decide if they can be trusted. I do worry that they may be adding too many people but their hearts can’t leave anyone behind. We begin to see the author expand the groups territory a little and find that maybe there are others who are out there looking for freedom like they are. I am really enjoying how authentic the story is and the details the author gives so we may be able to follow them on their quest.

I love how the faith element is in this story and lays a foundation for the group. They rely on God as they make decisions and never miss a chance to read the Bible and study it as a group. It is a good illustration for the young people to see how this group hungers for His Word. I will anxiously be waiting for the next addition in this series.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good continuation of a dystopian series for young readers set somewhere around 2031. While it is book two, there is enough back story that it can be read on its own. Overton explores a number of important issues in this novel. One is the important information contained in books that have been banned by invading forces. The young people learn from reading Thomas Paine that, if something is wrong and it is ignored, it gives a false sense of being right. Soon people assume it is okay. Wise words for adults as well as kids.

Each of these young people has expertise in a particular area and it is interesting to see them share responsibilities as they value the various abilities. Leena is an expert gardener, for example and Conroy has good experience in fishing and spying. They are also quick to take in those who are needy.

This group of young people is challenged to do what adults failed to accomplish. They need to outsmart the oppressive World Force with its advanced technology and superior power. We are left wondering what is in their future so I will be looking for the next in the series.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so sad to me to think that our world could end up like the world in The Underground Book Readers series. The dates in the book are even scary - the World Force taking over in 2024, a couple years after an illness took many people. But there is hope in the midst of it. The kids are not alone - they have each other and they suspect there may be others. Leena’s parents prepared her for living without them (by teaching her to garden and can as a preschooler for example) - even though she didn’t realize it. Leena’s parents left things for her to find that would help her live going forward without them
Terry Overton has written a novel that may just make middle schoolers think about the world we live in and what would happen to them if all the adults “disappeared.” She ends the book with enough hope to make me want to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next.
I think United Forces would be a good addition to a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for older elementary and middle school students. Parents may want to read it as well.
I received a complimentary copy of United Forces. This is my honest review.

[Jeannine Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Underground Book Readers Unite!

As a reader of Terry Overton's books in the past, I was intrigued when I stumbled upon "The Underground Book Readers: United Forces," a teen dystopian novel with an interesting book cover. Having never read a dystopian book targeted toward teenagers before, I was curious to see how the author's storytelling would translate to this genre. Plus, with grandchildren in the same age group as the intended audience, I wanted to check it out before sharing it with them. I am glad I did; it is a splendid book that I know they will love.

Who are The Underground Book Readers? Unveiling the Secrets of their Resistance!
Even though it's the second book in the series, I quickly caught on and was hooked from the start. The world in this story is anything but ordinary - it's a dystopian society where kids are left to fend for themselves. But, amidst all the chaos, there's a secret society called the Underground Book Readers who band together to fight for their freedom and live as normally as possible. How cool is that?

The best part? The plot is packed with excitement and surprises! Books, schools, and churches are banned, and parents are taken away, but these resourceful kids thrive. They're all about reading, learning, and having their own church. But things get really interesting when they realize they have to step up and take matters into their own hands to stay free. They start reading history-centric books and documents to learn how to spy and investigate how to form a new government. Talk about being proactive!

It's a captivating, thought-provoking, and action-packed read that will appeal to readers of all ages. The characters are relatable and the story is filled with heart and hope.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you're into dystopian fiction with a thrilling adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I guarantee you'll be rooting for these brave kids as they face challenges, uncover secrets, and navigate a dangerous world. I give this book 5 out of 5!

Note: I was fortunate to receive a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for an honest review. Rest assured, my thoughts were not influenced by this arrangement! I was under no obligation to write a positive review or receive any compensation. I am simply being transparent and complying with FTC regulations.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books by Terry Overton, and I have come to really enjoy all the books I have read. . The Underground Book Readers: United Forces is Book 2 in the The Underground Book Readers series. I was honored to have read Book 1 in this series and I have been anxiously waiting for this book.

The Underground Readers group has some new members. The group now consists of Leena, Kahn, Casey, Jairus, Asher, and Conroy.  They have formed a secret Society and have been meeting for many years Underground. The group really enjoys their time in their Underground Cave reading banned books and the Bible together. They have recently noticed an increase in Drones and Patrols around Blue Ridge Mountain. They are concerned that the World Force is trying to get the remaining children in that area. The Underground Book Readers are attempting to figure out who the new group in the area is and why they are in the area. The group is also working on an escape tunnel and they soon discover that Leena's house has more then a cellar. The group begins a Spy Mission to the other Mountain. Will the group figure out who and why the new group is around Blue Ridge Mountain? Will their findings about Leena's house lead to something great?

WOW, I never thought that I would enjoy this Youth dystopian genre so much!  I really LOVE that the group is determined to help others and this second book really focuses on how the group does so!  We learn how each of the members of the Underground Book Readers has something that they have much expertise in. One is a Gardener, one is a Fisher, one a Spy and those skills help others and the group. I LOVE how this book is very focused on God's Word and very Biblically sound. I am very excited to continue reading  this series! I HIGH:Y recommend this to everyone, Middle School on up to Adults!  WONDERFUL BOOK!

[Tiffany Hersh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second installment of The Underground Book Readers series, and it does not disappoint. I loved the storyline, and to see these kids relying on God and working together as a family to form a plan to either escape or overtake the World Force was fascinating. In the first book, the kids decide they want to try to dig a tunnel as an escape route in case the World Force find the house they're living in. In this book, we see them start work on the tunnel, and I was quickly sucked in as they work on the tunnel and seeing the progress they make and the things they discover. I also found myself wondering more and more about this mysterious group of people that they are spying on. Were they good guys? Were they more soldiers? Was it a work camp? I would say that 4th graders and up could easily read this by themselves. That being said, the whole premise of the parents and teens being taken away to work camps, and these children being on their own is something you'd want to be aware of for your more sensitive readers. My 5th grader is loving the series, and it's been a very thought provoking series for her and has sparked some interesting conversations. Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and would definitely recommend it, however read them in order, these would not stand alone well since you'd be missing plot points from the previous book! Terry Overton is quickly becoming a favorite author for my kids, and I can't wait to read more from this series.

**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Donna C · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I think you should know:
The Underground Book Readers: United Forces is the second book in a series by Terry Overton. It is Young Adult Christian Dystopian fiction that is appropriate for Middle grades and higher. It is set in a Dystopian version of Virginia around 2031. I would not recommend starting the series with this book, to fully understand readers need to read the first book in the series, The Secret Society.

What I think about this book as the Mom of a YA Reader:
This would be a very fun book to read with your preteen or teen. This book also talks about some of the important documents related to the founding of The United States of America. This would be a unique way to incorporate a study of the documents. I think that this would be a great book to read for a book club. My son’s first question after reading this book was “ How soon can we get the next book?”

What I think about this book:
Overton has done a brilliant job of creating a dystopian world that will be young adult friendly, while still being intriguing for adult readers. I enjoyed the characters and appreciate some of the twists that the author put into this book. I enjoyed this book even more than I did the first book in the series. I am excited to see where the author takes the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

United Forces by Terry Overton is a Middle grade, pre-teen, teen dystopian work. It continues the story of The Underground Book Readers. Continuing the stories of Leena, Kahn, Casey, Jairus, Asher, and Conroy and introducing new characters, this book kept my interest. The youth continue to work together to survive the occupation of the World Force in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Perhaps spending time in the Blue Ridge Mountains personally helped build my interest in this series. I found the author does an excellent job describing the settings of this story.

I love how Terry Overton builds the relationships between the characters. I also appreciate how they all work together to grow food in the garden and to find books. I love the secrets that come to light in this book. The author does an excellent job of building suspense and illustrating how life might look if an enemy force occupied a territory.

I have to say this second book lived up to my expectations from the first book, and I look forward to reading whatever other books may come in this series. I have so many questions I would like to see answered from this book.

So if you are looking for an engaging book for a young person in your life, check out this book for yourself. I definitely recommend it. I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

United Forces is part of a series for middle-grade readers that you’re going to love having in your house because they’ll love reading it! The Underground Book Readers is a series for middle-grade students. Add the whole series to your cart today! There are still more to come as well.

You are going to want to read this series in order. It won’t make sense if you don’t as they do build on each other. It’s a wonderful combination of sharing a love of reading through reading and giving middle-grade students a bit of a futuristic book as well.

This is a Christian series. The Bible is mentioned, stories from it are used, and it’s inspirational. I, as an adult, loved the book. My older children loved the book as well. For the children who aren’t reading yet, we did this as a read-aloud book.

I cannot imagine a world in which we couldn’t read. It’s obviously my favorite pastime. Without reading I would definitely not survive. But what if I’d never learned how to read?

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Connie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Underground Book Readers: United Forces is book two in the Underground Book Readers series that is written by Terry Overton. My 11 year old son and I were so excited to get to read and review this book. , Leena, Kahn, Casey, Jairus, Asher, and Conroy are back with some unexpected challenges this time around. The World Force tightens its grip on the remaining teens and children of the Blue Ridge Mountains area. Our group is still trying to make sure they can go to their underground hideout to read forbidden books and to study the Bible.

They soon find out that there is a new group on the mountain that they are not sure if they are safe. They want to find out who they are and what their purpose is. They quickly read old historical documents and learn to spy so that they can try and form a new government. I love how well our group worked together. In a world where there are no adults they were able to assist each other and work well as a combined unit.

My son and I really enjoyed this book. The book is well written - and the characters are engaging. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

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[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in The Underground Book Readers series, a dystopian series where all the adults have “disappeared” and kids are left under the control of the World Force. The kids have settled into their new home in this book and are into their routine of getting rations, going to the cave to read, and then gardening. They have some more challenges as the World Force seems to be increasing the presence of guards and drones in the area and they need to find out who the unknown people on the other mountain are. There’s lots of suspense along the way with the constant fear the World Force will discover them. I really like how resourceful the kids are and how they take the time to plan and think things through. It’s also really interesting how they are learning from various documents from US confederation, including the Declaration of Independence, to learn about setting up a free country. But my favourite part is that they love God and pray regularly and even hold their own church services even though all of those are forbidden. The Christian perspective really makes these books special. I can’t wait to continue reading the next book!

[ArynTheLibraryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think if you haven’t read book one, you really should go do that first. The story itself is self-contained, but a lot of groundwork was laid earlier, that will leave you puzzled if you jump in here.

Middle-grade dystopian is a unique genre, a bit eerie if you’re a mom, but still quite an adventure!

Leena is probably my favorite character. She’s got the experience and knowledge the team needs, and the confidence in that area, but is still a scared little girl who’s been on her own for years, and that shows in her behaviors, both the fear of losing her new friends and her empathy for others like herself.

There are a few minor story glitches, as far as timelines go, and some things are just accepted by the kids that really don’t feel likely, but the premise and the lessons in bonding and kindness, and being prepared are great, and it’s still such a fun story that I didn’t mind.

I received an advance copy of this book from #CelebrateLit and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Underground Book Readers: United Forces by Terry Overton is another great middle grade fiction of the series. I loved that it highlights the area I grew up in. So, I was really into reading it. It was fun to take this adventure with the characters. I am not usually a huge fan of this genre but I was fascinated with this story. I loved every single page of it.

I am giving The Underground Book Readers: United Forces five stars. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages of eight and thirteen and enjoy reading dystopian fiction. I can not wait to get my hands on the next installment from The Underground Book Readers to see where else Terry Overton takes her readers to next.

I received a paperback copy of The Underground Book Readers: United Forces from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this intriguing Underground Book Readers series, which introduces the setting and the children. This novel picks up where book one left off so they are best read in order, although they each can stand alone. In this one, a new girl is introduced to the group. I appreciate the way reading and the knowledge of history and of life is emphasized. The youth work together to care for each other and survive in this challenging world. They’re resourceful and hardworking, offering a good example to readers. Children should be captivated by the compelling plot, which is filled with danger and suspense. The book is short enough not to be intimidating but will make readers long for more. The characters are unique and seem quite realistic. The author did a good job making me feel like I was right there experiencing life with them. I look forward to the next one in this series. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Heather Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book ended with lots of suspense, leaving me wondering what would happen to the band of kids that had begun to trust one another in this new world. I was looking forward to the next book and was eager to read it! It did not disappoint as the adventure of the friends continued.

Life still has its ups and downs for the Underground Book Readers but they are solid in their unity through their books and learning about God together. Books of the teen dystopian genre are very popular and it is so refreshing to find one with a Christian focus. It is one that I look forward to recommending to others as well as looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

I would recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really make till the end and I wanted to read more. I really hope another book is coming.This book picks up where the first book ended. There is a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming. This is a great series for teens; but this 63 old grandmother enjoyed it also so I see it as a good series for all ages. It is a book about freedoms being taken away from us and I liked it that explains the The Declaration of Independence and other pieces of history as part of the story line.

I was given a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Marilyn Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great series. This book 2 was even better than book 1. I had a hard time putting this book down after I started reading it.
A group of teens are trying to stay off the radar of the World Force, a group that has taken over the world as we know it. There has been an increase in the soldiers patrolling and drones being seen daily. After meeting with someone from another group they have been informed there is free territory away from the mountains. Will they find this free territory and some family members that have disappeared? Will they find more clues on how to escape ?

[Sherry Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Phenomenal!

The Underground Book Readers United Forces is a phenomenal book! Right when I think a book can't get any better, it does. I was hooked at the very beginning and was totally engrossed thereafter. I felt the emotions of every character. This story was so well put together, educational and so much fun to read. I highly recommend this book for children and adults.

[Deanna Mosier · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd book…so good like the 1st!

It’s fun / interesting to read about the lives of youngsters age 10-17, as they try and stay away from the forces that took over an area of eastern USA. We learn about how they stay alive and so much more. It’s fiction, but seems so real! And they love to read and have church! Next book comes out soon (May 2023).

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait for this second book in this series, and Overton didn't let me down. This is book flawlessly follows the first as we join this underground book reading group. They are plotting an escape to a different part of what was once the United States. As our young folks try to survive, major topics are talked about and this story is harder to review because it's just packed with history and biblical history along with the story of these kids and the way the world they are in has become. Sneaking to just read and reading books that are banned in their current world, set groups or religions overriding everything else, what is freedom and what isn't freedom. This series is for all ages, and is some of the best reading! There's so much packed into this that it's harder to write this review, other than to tell you it lacks for nothing. It's amazing and book three will be here soon.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my digital copy of this book. This review is mine and a positive review is never required.