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The Fallout Family: Wasteland Woes
You have heard of a nuclear family, but a fallout family? In a world where humanity has been brought to its knees by apocalyptic disaster, survival is the only thing on James's mind. Determined to protect his sister Piper, James will stop at nothing to ensure her safety. But when a dangerous encounter leaves him injured and stranded, Piper must take the reins and embark on a treacherous journey to roam the ruins to find him. With the help of their trusty dog companion Miss Bella, Piper will discover her own strength and resourcefulness as they fight to be reunited. Will they make it in time or will the wasteland claim another victim? Join James, Piper and Miss Bella in their heart-pounding quest to survive in a world where only the strongest families survive.
50p from every sale will be going to the The Grand Appeal charity to support the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children's neurosciences (Bluebell) and neurorehabilitation (Sunflower) wards.
50p from every sale will be going to the The Grand Appeal charity to support the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children's neurosciences (Bluebell) and neurorehabilitation (Sunflower) wards.
- GenresDystopiaMiddle Grade
65 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2023
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 22, 2023
It is a very good book with adventure in it's plot and easy to read! The characters are cute and they risk everything in order to survive! Also we can see a different a point of view, which is how someone deals with a prosthetic leg! I recommend for reading slump and if you want to relax in your couch in the afternoon!❤❤
June 11, 2023
ARC review:
As someone who does not usually read this genre, I decided to keep an open mind whilst reading & I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed.
I really enjoyed this story, it reflected on the importance of family and loyalty. If you’re a fan of The Last of Us then I think you will enjoy this. I’m looking forward to the follow up stories on The Fallout Family.
Upon release, a portion of each book sale will be going to the Grand Appeal Charity to support Neurology and Neuro-rehabilitation wards at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
As someone who does not usually read this genre, I decided to keep an open mind whilst reading & I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed.
I really enjoyed this story, it reflected on the importance of family and loyalty. If you’re a fan of The Last of Us then I think you will enjoy this. I’m looking forward to the follow up stories on The Fallout Family.
Upon release, a portion of each book sale will be going to the Grand Appeal Charity to support Neurology and Neuro-rehabilitation wards at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
July 19, 2023
ARC received from the author.
Release date: 19th July 2023
A fun and very promising start to this new middle grade series!
Wasteland Woes follows a small found family of two young siblings and a dog who stumbles across them, in the dangerous post-apocalyptic Wasteland, roamed by mutants and raiders alike - perfect for anyone who enjoys the settings of The Last of Us, or the Fallout games!
The book is short and pacy but uses its pages well to establish the characters, some mystery around the setting and, I assume, the future plot of the series. I'm certainly intrigued to see where it goes, and to potentially find out more about the event which has made the world so uninhabitable!
The characters themselves are easily likeable, from Miss Bella, the cute and loyal dog who is our main POV, to the siblings Piper and James who have a sweet relationship. The book also includes some own voices disability rep, as James has a prosthetic leg and must navigate the challenges of living with one in the Wasteland.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys found family, post-apocalypse stories and I'm really excited to see more from this world as the series continues!
Release date: 19th July 2023
A fun and very promising start to this new middle grade series!
Wasteland Woes follows a small found family of two young siblings and a dog who stumbles across them, in the dangerous post-apocalyptic Wasteland, roamed by mutants and raiders alike - perfect for anyone who enjoys the settings of The Last of Us, or the Fallout games!
The book is short and pacy but uses its pages well to establish the characters, some mystery around the setting and, I assume, the future plot of the series. I'm certainly intrigued to see where it goes, and to potentially find out more about the event which has made the world so uninhabitable!
The characters themselves are easily likeable, from Miss Bella, the cute and loyal dog who is our main POV, to the siblings Piper and James who have a sweet relationship. The book also includes some own voices disability rep, as James has a prosthetic leg and must navigate the challenges of living with one in the Wasteland.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys found family, post-apocalypse stories and I'm really excited to see more from this world as the series continues!
July 15, 2023
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the author for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Although this book falls outside of my typical reading preferences, I was undeniably intrigued by the premise after reading the blurb.
Prepare yourself for an emotional ride like no other. It's like a whirlwind of emotions that'll have you grinning from ear to ear one moment and reaching for the tissues the next. Yep, I even teared up a bit, I won't lie.
Even though it's a short book, trust me, it packs a punch! You can breeze through it in just a few hours and still be left with a lasting impact. It skillfully delves into important themes like disability representation and the concept of a found family.
Seriously, this book is something special. It really struck a chord with me, and I think it's worth giving a shot.
Although this book falls outside of my typical reading preferences, I was undeniably intrigued by the premise after reading the blurb.
Prepare yourself for an emotional ride like no other. It's like a whirlwind of emotions that'll have you grinning from ear to ear one moment and reaching for the tissues the next. Yep, I even teared up a bit, I won't lie.
Even though it's a short book, trust me, it packs a punch! You can breeze through it in just a few hours and still be left with a lasting impact. It skillfully delves into important themes like disability representation and the concept of a found family.
Seriously, this book is something special. It really struck a chord with me, and I think it's worth giving a shot.
August 17, 2023
I read tis as an ARC reader. But despite that I’ll give my honest opinion. I thought it was a great book. The storyline was original and perfect for younger readers and older readers. It’s a short quick read, but there will be coming more books in this series. I also love the face that disabilities are shown in this book. Excited to read more!
I do prefer a longer book, that why for me it’s a 3⭐️ but it’s a very good read for younger readers!
The ending of the book was really abrupt tho… The most thrilling part was really short!
I do prefer a longer book, that why for me it’s a 3⭐️ but it’s a very good read for younger readers!
The ending of the book was really abrupt tho… The most thrilling part was really short!
July 19, 2023
This is a middle-grade read, which is not something that I typically reach for. I think that it would be fine for those children, but of course parents should read it ahead of time.
This is a cute little story set in a post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of Fallout with a found family, a cute dog, and disability rep (Own voices). It was delightful and a super quick read. And what's even better, a portion of the proceeds goes to the neurorehabilitation ward at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
Pick this one up for charity! It's disability pride month, after all!
This is a cute little story set in a post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of Fallout with a found family, a cute dog, and disability rep (Own voices). It was delightful and a super quick read. And what's even better, a portion of the proceeds goes to the neurorehabilitation ward at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
Pick this one up for charity! It's disability pride month, after all!
August 2, 2023
4.5 ⭐
I love a book with a good found family trope...but when you throw in a dog too? I'm melting.
This was such a wholesome read. Major The Last of Us vibe.
Two siblings trying to survive the harsh world alone after the events that destroyed almost everything.
A dog trying to find companions while she's also struggling to survive in a land filled with mutants and monsters.
Have I mentioned that we get the dog's pov too? Yeah, that's right and my heart was in pieces just 10 pages in, so thanks for that.
Also, there's a disability rep which I always love in books, especially if it's as nicely done as in this one.
If you're looking for a dystopian novel with a lot of heart, you should definitely pick this one up.
I'm curious to see what happens in the next book.
I got the ARC of this book by the author in exchange for a honest review.
I love a book with a good found family trope...but when you throw in a dog too? I'm melting.
This was such a wholesome read. Major The Last of Us vibe.
Two siblings trying to survive the harsh world alone after the events that destroyed almost everything.
A dog trying to find companions while she's also struggling to survive in a land filled with mutants and monsters.
Have I mentioned that we get the dog's pov too? Yeah, that's right and my heart was in pieces just 10 pages in, so thanks for that.
Also, there's a disability rep which I always love in books, especially if it's as nicely done as in this one.
If you're looking for a dystopian novel with a lot of heart, you should definitely pick this one up.
I'm curious to see what happens in the next book.
I got the ARC of this book by the author in exchange for a honest review.
July 15, 2023
i was gifted a digital copy of the book by the author to do an ARC review. this book is intended for the middle school age but is filled with adventure and family determination. the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. this book will be launching July 19th in both digital and paperback form.
July 2, 2023
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters. It focuses mostly on two young siblings and their dog, from all of their perspectives (but mostly the dog's). They all have such a pure love for each other that feels so present throughout the book. I loved all their personalities. I'm not usually a big fan of animals playing such a large role in books and especially reading from their POV, but I really enjoyed it here.
I also quite liked the adventure they went on. James goes scavenging while his little sister Piper stays home, but one day his prosthetic leg is taken from him and it throws everything into chaos. It was really nice to see a disabled protagonist in a dystopic story and it was handled really well. I really enjoyed seeing all the characters' creativity and problem solving as they went about tracking down his leg and exploring more of the world.
My biggest issue was some of the writing. It felt like this book needed another pass of edits. There were some tense switching issues between past and present, especially towards the beginning of the book that I found kind of distracting. There were also a number of awkward fragments. I like a good fragment when it works with the flow of the story, but most of these didn't. And there were lots of gerunds. Gerunds aren't bad, but there were so many it was a little overhwelming. All of these felt like they eased up throughout the book and the writing flowed more naturally as it went along.
This book is only 68 pages and I initially worried the length would be a problem, but it works so well if you enjoy novellas/short stories. It feels like the perfect length to tell the story.
I don't know if I'll continue reading the series because honestly it depends a lot on if I even notice when a new one is released (I'm terrible at keeping up with what's being published), but I feel like there's a good chance I will. There were a lot of questions about the world left up in the air and I'm feeling like I'd enjoy some more answers. The questions posed were interesting enough to pique my curiosity.
I'd definitely recommend picking this up. It was a sweet and fun middle grade that's well worth the hour spent reading.
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I also quite liked the adventure they went on. James goes scavenging while his little sister Piper stays home, but one day his prosthetic leg is taken from him and it throws everything into chaos. It was really nice to see a disabled protagonist in a dystopic story and it was handled really well. I really enjoyed seeing all the characters' creativity and problem solving as they went about tracking down his leg and exploring more of the world.
My biggest issue was some of the writing. It felt like this book needed another pass of edits. There were some tense switching issues between past and present, especially towards the beginning of the book that I found kind of distracting. There were also a number of awkward fragments. I like a good fragment when it works with the flow of the story, but most of these didn't. And there were lots of gerunds. Gerunds aren't bad, but there were so many it was a little overhwelming. All of these felt like they eased up throughout the book and the writing flowed more naturally as it went along.
This book is only 68 pages and I initially worried the length would be a problem, but it works so well if you enjoy novellas/short stories. It feels like the perfect length to tell the story.
I don't know if I'll continue reading the series because honestly it depends a lot on if I even notice when a new one is released (I'm terrible at keeping up with what's being published), but I feel like there's a good chance I will. There were a lot of questions about the world left up in the air and I'm feeling like I'd enjoy some more answers. The questions posed were interesting enough to pique my curiosity.
I'd definitely recommend picking this up. It was a sweet and fun middle grade that's well worth the hour spent reading.
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
July 31, 2023
I received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
I just cannot resist a post-apocalypse/Mad Max-ish book, especially when there is a POV of a dog!
Before I start I want to mention the charity that this book is supporting. The author asked me if I would be willing to mention it, and of course I would love to mention it, especially seeing what they all do! It is called The Grand Appeal and it’s a children’s hospital charity that does all sorts of amazing (check out their website and read all they do) things for children/babies/young adult with highly complex medical conditions, from research to family accommodations to more. Check out their website here and if you can be sure to donate! Also here is their Twitter.
Now on to the review!
😍 The dog, later named Bella! She was such a sweetie and I loved how dedicated she was to her human and later to her new family. How despite all the scary things she witnessed she kept going on, searching for warmth and a family. And when she found her family, oh boy, what a brave doggo! She did all sorts of amazing things and she is so smart! I already love books with dogs as protagonist/POV, but now that I got my own doggo (the cute Coco) it strikes a chord even more!
😍 That James had a prosthetic leg. We still don’t have a lot of books featuring characters with prosthetics and even less in a post-apocalypse setting. So I was delighted.
😍 Plus, James was just pure kick-assness (is that a word? It is now). I loved how much he did for his sister and how he tried to not just bring in food and first-needed supplies but also brought her books and other things. Tried to teach her French for example. I loved that he tried to keep her happy and give her a way to escape the hellhole that Earth has become.
😍 Piper! I already knew that this tiny girl would whoop some butts, but it took a bit before we saw that! I already loved her from the start and was rooting for her. I mean, she was so sweet towards the puppers, was the first to see that Bella would be a great addition to the family. Not just for protection, but also for love and comfort. I also loved how she held her own. It must have been scary, having your brother go outside while you are inside. Hoping that he comes back. Hoping that no one finds your shelter.
😍 It is just 64 pages, but it felt like one story, a completed one. This may sound weird, but recently I read a short children’s book, the first in the series, however it felt like I just popped into a series randomly and the book just ended unexpectedly, as if someone just grabbed a bigger book and cut it up. That was definitely not the case in this book and that makes me very happy!
😍 Ok, I wanted to punch the raiders, but I am happy that they were added. A post-apocalypse like this needs its baddies and boy were these guys bad. I get you want to protect your territory but DANG.
😍 The mutants. And not just the humans but also the animals! If you thought the world gone to ruins is bad, or raiders make your day worse, watch out for gigantic wasps (yes, heck no) to humans who, um, well like to nom nom nom on you. Sorta a zombie, but just more mutant. Lovely, right? It just made for a more scary setting and I love it.
😍 The little hints we get about what happened to Earth. I still have many questions left so I am hoping for a prequel featuring the before events. But for now I am happy with the hints.
😍 I had a laugh at how these kids grew up in the after and thus had no clue about some of the broken/ruined stores they came across. They knew clothing stores, but phone stores? Not something they know.
😍 With James gone missing (not a spoiler, see the blurb) things really kicked in gear and I just couldn’t stop reading!
There were two things that didn’t entirely work for me:
🤔The writing style at times just didn’t click with me, how should I call it, it felt a bit stilted. Some parts felt quite natural, but others too stiff/polite (sorry, trying to figure out the correct word in English).
🤔The whole crown deal. I wouldn’t mind it if the crown had been just that a crown, but to add a whole demon/magic element with the crown floating and being magical… it just didn’t fit with the whole mutant/post apocalypse/doomsday stuff for me. Maybe if there had been earlier parts featuring magic or that we could read that magic was a part of the world, but now it was just like, wait what? Maybe in the next books it is explained more, but for now it just felt weird.
All in all, I am very happy that I got to read this book and I hope that the author writes more! I definitely would like more~ I would recommend it if you like a book featuring a dog POV along with humans and love a good post apocalypse story!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just cannot resist a post-apocalypse/Mad Max-ish book, especially when there is a POV of a dog!
Before I start I want to mention the charity that this book is supporting. The author asked me if I would be willing to mention it, and of course I would love to mention it, especially seeing what they all do! It is called The Grand Appeal and it’s a children’s hospital charity that does all sorts of amazing (check out their website and read all they do) things for children/babies/young adult with highly complex medical conditions, from research to family accommodations to more. Check out their website here and if you can be sure to donate! Also here is their Twitter.
Now on to the review!
😍 The dog, later named Bella! She was such a sweetie and I loved how dedicated she was to her human and later to her new family. How despite all the scary things she witnessed she kept going on, searching for warmth and a family. And when she found her family, oh boy, what a brave doggo! She did all sorts of amazing things and she is so smart! I already love books with dogs as protagonist/POV, but now that I got my own doggo (the cute Coco) it strikes a chord even more!
😍 That James had a prosthetic leg. We still don’t have a lot of books featuring characters with prosthetics and even less in a post-apocalypse setting. So I was delighted.
😍 Plus, James was just pure kick-assness (is that a word? It is now). I loved how much he did for his sister and how he tried to not just bring in food and first-needed supplies but also brought her books and other things. Tried to teach her French for example. I loved that he tried to keep her happy and give her a way to escape the hellhole that Earth has become.
😍 Piper! I already knew that this tiny girl would whoop some butts, but it took a bit before we saw that! I already loved her from the start and was rooting for her. I mean, she was so sweet towards the puppers, was the first to see that Bella would be a great addition to the family. Not just for protection, but also for love and comfort. I also loved how she held her own. It must have been scary, having your brother go outside while you are inside. Hoping that he comes back. Hoping that no one finds your shelter.
😍 It is just 64 pages, but it felt like one story, a completed one. This may sound weird, but recently I read a short children’s book, the first in the series, however it felt like I just popped into a series randomly and the book just ended unexpectedly, as if someone just grabbed a bigger book and cut it up. That was definitely not the case in this book and that makes me very happy!
😍 Ok, I wanted to punch the raiders, but I am happy that they were added. A post-apocalypse like this needs its baddies and boy were these guys bad. I get you want to protect your territory but DANG.
😍 The mutants. And not just the humans but also the animals! If you thought the world gone to ruins is bad, or raiders make your day worse, watch out for gigantic wasps (yes, heck no) to humans who, um, well like to nom nom nom on you. Sorta a zombie, but just more mutant. Lovely, right? It just made for a more scary setting and I love it.
😍 The little hints we get about what happened to Earth. I still have many questions left so I am hoping for a prequel featuring the before events. But for now I am happy with the hints.
😍 I had a laugh at how these kids grew up in the after and thus had no clue about some of the broken/ruined stores they came across. They knew clothing stores, but phone stores? Not something they know.
😍 With James gone missing (not a spoiler, see the blurb) things really kicked in gear and I just couldn’t stop reading!
There were two things that didn’t entirely work for me:
🤔The writing style at times just didn’t click with me, how should I call it, it felt a bit stilted. Some parts felt quite natural, but others too stiff/polite (sorry, trying to figure out the correct word in English).
🤔The whole crown deal. I wouldn’t mind it if the crown had been just that a crown, but to add a whole demon/magic element with the crown floating and being magical… it just didn’t fit with the whole mutant/post apocalypse/doomsday stuff for me. Maybe if there had been earlier parts featuring magic or that we could read that magic was a part of the world, but now it was just like, wait what? Maybe in the next books it is explained more, but for now it just felt weird.
All in all, I am very happy that I got to read this book and I hope that the author writes more! I definitely would like more~ I would recommend it if you like a book featuring a dog POV along with humans and love a good post apocalypse story!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 4, 2023
I'm a big fan of mid grade, so when the author offered me a review copy of this one I was happy to accept!
I love sibling bond stories and adding the dog as a perspective character is a fun twist. The setting definitely feels dangerous and there are a decent amount of mysteries. However, I had two major struggles with it: the writing style and the length.
Obviously, the writing style was geared towards children, as this is mid-grade, but some of the decisions were strange. The simplistic sentence structure and over-explaining concepts (describing a raider with bloody armor and a knife, then stating directly that these things made the raider dangerous) implied that the book was on the younger side, closer to kidlit. But then there would be words like "resilience" and "prosthetic" that would make it for older kids. I can't figure out exactly what age range this is meant for.
As for the length, it's incredibly short for the story it's trying to tell. By the time Piper leaves to find her brother, there's only 20 pages left. I would have liked more time spent showing the world and the relationship between the siblings before setting up the big conflict, to add to the tension.
All in all, the ideas are there. The execution could just use a little clarity and space to breathe.
I love sibling bond stories and adding the dog as a perspective character is a fun twist. The setting definitely feels dangerous and there are a decent amount of mysteries. However, I had two major struggles with it: the writing style and the length.
Obviously, the writing style was geared towards children, as this is mid-grade, but some of the decisions were strange. The simplistic sentence structure and over-explaining concepts (describing a raider with bloody armor and a knife, then stating directly that these things made the raider dangerous) implied that the book was on the younger side, closer to kidlit. But then there would be words like "resilience" and "prosthetic" that would make it for older kids. I can't figure out exactly what age range this is meant for.
As for the length, it's incredibly short for the story it's trying to tell. By the time Piper leaves to find her brother, there's only 20 pages left. I would have liked more time spent showing the world and the relationship between the siblings before setting up the big conflict, to add to the tension.
All in all, the ideas are there. The execution could just use a little clarity and space to breathe.
July 19, 2023
*ARC given by author in exchange for honest review*
3.5⭐️ this was a sweet story that displayed the love a dog has for those who care for it, and the tender love, care, protection siblings feel for one another. Those feelings within relationships were felt deeply.
I’m terms of genre, I was a little confused and couldn’t really figure out when/where this was taking place. Two kids who live in the jungle, magic wielding people, people with wings, it was a little all over the place for me.
Nevertheless, I think the story it told and the family love it highlighted makes it a nice story for children. I also loved how the beginning was sort of Call of the Wild inspired.
3.5⭐️ this was a sweet story that displayed the love a dog has for those who care for it, and the tender love, care, protection siblings feel for one another. Those feelings within relationships were felt deeply.
I’m terms of genre, I was a little confused and couldn’t really figure out when/where this was taking place. Two kids who live in the jungle, magic wielding people, people with wings, it was a little all over the place for me.
Nevertheless, I think the story it told and the family love it highlighted makes it a nice story for children. I also loved how the beginning was sort of Call of the Wild inspired.
July 25, 2023
I adored this! It’s short and sweet, tugs on your heartstrings, and has you wishing for more by the end.
I love that we get the POV of all three characters, human and non. The siblings relationship is so sweet but Bella really adds to their little family.
I’m excited to see where the series goes!
*I received an ARC of this book (thank you Issac!) and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*
I love that we get the POV of all three characters, human and non. The siblings relationship is so sweet but Bella really adds to their little family.
I’m excited to see where the series goes!
*I received an ARC of this book (thank you Issac!) and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*
May 7, 2024
Was approached by the author to read and review this book and was hesitant as its really not my style of read.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a story set in a post-apocalyptic setting with a fluffier feel than all death and sadness.
This book is definitely suited for the younger readers between 8-14 years in age, with a very easy style of writing that is easy to read and a small volume of pages.
If you have a child that's a budding bookworm, then this is a read for them.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a story set in a post-apocalyptic setting with a fluffier feel than all death and sadness.
This book is definitely suited for the younger readers between 8-14 years in age, with a very easy style of writing that is easy to read and a small volume of pages.
If you have a child that's a budding bookworm, then this is a read for them.
August 6, 2023
I absolutely loved this story. It was amazing to see disability representation present within a middle grade story. The two main characters (a brother and sister) are both extremely loveable in their own ways and their companion/dog (Miss Bella) has a whole personality of her own. It's a great book in regards to disability representation as well as displaying an unconventional family. Overall, I am so grateful I was asked to read/review this book and for being given the opportunity to read it before its release date!
August 1, 2023
ARC REVIEW
It's a fantastic book that's simple to read and has adventure in it! The charming characters put their lives in danger to survive. Additionally, we can observe a distinct perspective on how someone uses a prosthetic limb! If you're in a reading slump or just want something simple to read, I suggest this! Since I don't typically read books in this category, I made the conscious decision to go into the book with an open mind, and I'm happy to report that I was not let down.
This tale, which focused on the value of loyalty and family, was really enjoyable to me. You would probably like this if you liked The Last of Us. The Fallout Family's subsequent tales are something I'm interested in reading.
When the book is published, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Grand Appeal Charity to help Bristol Royal Hospital for Children's neurology and neuro-rehabilitation units.
It's a fantastic book that's simple to read and has adventure in it! The charming characters put their lives in danger to survive. Additionally, we can observe a distinct perspective on how someone uses a prosthetic limb! If you're in a reading slump or just want something simple to read, I suggest this! Since I don't typically read books in this category, I made the conscious decision to go into the book with an open mind, and I'm happy to report that I was not let down.
This tale, which focused on the value of loyalty and family, was really enjoyable to me. You would probably like this if you liked The Last of Us. The Fallout Family's subsequent tales are something I'm interested in reading.
When the book is published, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Grand Appeal Charity to help Bristol Royal Hospital for Children's neurology and neuro-rehabilitation units.
July 28, 2023
The Fallout Family: Wasteland Woes is the first book by Issac Cooke-Khan. It’s story is set in a post-apocalyptic world and centres on two siblings and their dog companion and their fight for survival after something called ‘The Event”.
**SPOILER FREE**
The characters are extremely well written, and feel genuinely real in their behaviour and conversations with each other, and others in the world. The book begins with a very interesting perspective that is not often seen in stories set in this type of world, and i really enjoyed that first chapter, which hooked me and really set my expectations high for the rest of the book.
Issac does very well in setting the scene and really describing the world and it’s *now* inhabitants. The older sibling James is a lower limb prosthetic user. As a through knee amputee myself this was a surprise to discover. Disability representation is something that is only just beginning in modern literature. When we are represented, we are usually the ‘token disabled character’ or are written as a super strong/intelligent/talented character to overcompensate for our disability. In The Fallout Family; without spoiling anything James is written phenomenally. He feels like a true representation of a prosthetic user and honestly felt unbelievably real and authentic, as if this character WAS written by someone who was a prosthetics user. There are such little details such as the sound a prosthetic makes when being used and others (that i won’t mention due to spoilers) that just blew me away at the fact that they were not only thought about, but included in the story to really help you get a sense of setting and feeling. When things go wrong for the family, you really can’t help but envision them and their situation due to the incredible writing. This story will have you hooked from the get go, and you will not want to put it down.
I have to thank Issac for such amazing amputee representation that didn’t make the amputee seem useless, or didn’t over compensate by making him overpowered or amazing at everything. To say I put myself in James’ shoe(s) is an understate,met, but that is only a testament to the incredible writing by Issac. Thank you for representing us in such a positive and AUTHENTIC light. I cannot wait to find out what happens next.
One thing to note that may be considered a negative by some, is that the story is aimed at 9-13 year olds, and as such, is on the shorter side. As someone NOT in this age bracket, i throughly enjoyed it, but wished it was a little longer as i could not put it down. I do believe the next story will be longer, and if not, WHOLEHEARTEDLY request it is.
I feel like I could (and already have) recommend this book to anyone aged 8+ and know that they will throughly enjoy it. There is obviously an overarching darker theme of the post apocalyptic setting so parents discretion is advised, but nothing too graphic or garish is written in the book itself.
With every sale, a portion goes to the Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital.
For full disclosure I was provided with an ARC of the book, but was not asked to review or endorse the book in return.
5*’s
Cannot wait for the next book!
**SPOILER FREE**
The characters are extremely well written, and feel genuinely real in their behaviour and conversations with each other, and others in the world. The book begins with a very interesting perspective that is not often seen in stories set in this type of world, and i really enjoyed that first chapter, which hooked me and really set my expectations high for the rest of the book.
Issac does very well in setting the scene and really describing the world and it’s *now* inhabitants. The older sibling James is a lower limb prosthetic user. As a through knee amputee myself this was a surprise to discover. Disability representation is something that is only just beginning in modern literature. When we are represented, we are usually the ‘token disabled character’ or are written as a super strong/intelligent/talented character to overcompensate for our disability. In The Fallout Family; without spoiling anything James is written phenomenally. He feels like a true representation of a prosthetic user and honestly felt unbelievably real and authentic, as if this character WAS written by someone who was a prosthetics user. There are such little details such as the sound a prosthetic makes when being used and others (that i won’t mention due to spoilers) that just blew me away at the fact that they were not only thought about, but included in the story to really help you get a sense of setting and feeling. When things go wrong for the family, you really can’t help but envision them and their situation due to the incredible writing. This story will have you hooked from the get go, and you will not want to put it down.
I have to thank Issac for such amazing amputee representation that didn’t make the amputee seem useless, or didn’t over compensate by making him overpowered or amazing at everything. To say I put myself in James’ shoe(s) is an understate,met, but that is only a testament to the incredible writing by Issac. Thank you for representing us in such a positive and AUTHENTIC light. I cannot wait to find out what happens next.
One thing to note that may be considered a negative by some, is that the story is aimed at 9-13 year olds, and as such, is on the shorter side. As someone NOT in this age bracket, i throughly enjoyed it, but wished it was a little longer as i could not put it down. I do believe the next story will be longer, and if not, WHOLEHEARTEDLY request it is.
I feel like I could (and already have) recommend this book to anyone aged 8+ and know that they will throughly enjoy it. There is obviously an overarching darker theme of the post apocalyptic setting so parents discretion is advised, but nothing too graphic or garish is written in the book itself.
With every sale, a portion goes to the Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital.
For full disclosure I was provided with an ARC of the book, but was not asked to review or endorse the book in return.
5*’s
Cannot wait for the next book!
July 9, 2023
This is a dystopian book aimed at a middle school audience. I love dystopian books and jumped at the chance to read this when the author offered me a free digital copy for an honest review.
This is the first book in a new series. There has been an event (always referred to as the event) and it’s changed the world. There are mutants (human & animal), raiders, and people just trying to survive.
This story is focused on a dog (later named Miss Bella) and a brother & sister (James & Piper). You get the unique approach of being able to see the story through all three. It was a neat idea to give a story pov to the dog.
James has a prosthetic leg and it’s amazing to see a character with a disability. You don’t have a lot of books that has that representation. You don’t get a story about a boy depressed about his disability. You get a story about a family and the boy just happens to have a prosthetic leg. It’s just apart of him and his life. I think that is very important.
There are a few aspects to the story that need more explaining, but as this is the first book I’m sure more will be explained as the story continues.
This book is simplistic as it’s target audience is middle school aged children. As an adult i still loved this story.
The only downside to this book is how short it is. I would have loved a longer story with a little more deep dive into the characters. It felt a little rushed at times. I’m not as familiar with middle school age books and don’t know if this is normal (attention span isn’t great at that age if I remember correctly ha ha)
I look forward to any new books in this series. My curiosity has been peaked and I need to know what happens next.
I feel like this will be a great series for the entire family to read together.
This is the first book in a new series. There has been an event (always referred to as the event) and it’s changed the world. There are mutants (human & animal), raiders, and people just trying to survive.
This story is focused on a dog (later named Miss Bella) and a brother & sister (James & Piper). You get the unique approach of being able to see the story through all three. It was a neat idea to give a story pov to the dog.
James has a prosthetic leg and it’s amazing to see a character with a disability. You don’t have a lot of books that has that representation. You don’t get a story about a boy depressed about his disability. You get a story about a family and the boy just happens to have a prosthetic leg. It’s just apart of him and his life. I think that is very important.
There are a few aspects to the story that need more explaining, but as this is the first book I’m sure more will be explained as the story continues.
This book is simplistic as it’s target audience is middle school aged children. As an adult i still loved this story.
The only downside to this book is how short it is. I would have loved a longer story with a little more deep dive into the characters. It felt a little rushed at times. I’m not as familiar with middle school age books and don’t know if this is normal (attention span isn’t great at that age if I remember correctly ha ha)
I look forward to any new books in this series. My curiosity has been peaked and I need to know what happens next.
I feel like this will be a great series for the entire family to read together.
July 30, 2023
So, I just finished reading "The Fallout Family", Book 1 of the Wasteland Woes by Isaac Cooke-Khan, and I enjoyed it!
This is ‘sibling bond survival’ with a cute clever dog on tow, what’s not to like?
Isaac Cooke-Khan has created a vivid dystopian world that kind of reminds me of Mad Max, with some seriously engaging characters. The plot is just starting to take off, and honestly, as I was getting hooked, the book ended!
One thing that really intrigued me was how Piper and James learned their amazing survival skills. Seriously, how do you even put together a bug out bag in a world like that?! And how did they manage to find a safe spot in the midst of all that danger?
I'm dying to know more about these characters and their backgrounds. How did they even end up in this crazy world to begin with? And what's the story behind Miss Bella's first pack leader?
I was especially drawn to the scene where James faces off against the crown raider - talk about magical powers! And that bit with Miss Bella as she sniffs the special book? Where is that leading to? I'm definitely curious to see where that storyline goes.
So many questions: Will Miss Bella ever reunite with the rest of the pack! What lays ahead for James and Piper?
Having said that, It also needs more consideration on who is the audience for this story? What age group? It’s too simple for YA, so maybe aimed at a younger age group?
Overall, I really hope the author turns this novella into a full-length novel or even a trilogy. I can totally see the potential for an amazing fantasy series here - I mean, I'd definitely be first in line to read it!
Grateful for the author for the review copy! It’s a 3.5 from us #pudseyrecommends
This is ‘sibling bond survival’ with a cute clever dog on tow, what’s not to like?
Isaac Cooke-Khan has created a vivid dystopian world that kind of reminds me of Mad Max, with some seriously engaging characters. The plot is just starting to take off, and honestly, as I was getting hooked, the book ended!
One thing that really intrigued me was how Piper and James learned their amazing survival skills. Seriously, how do you even put together a bug out bag in a world like that?! And how did they manage to find a safe spot in the midst of all that danger?
I'm dying to know more about these characters and their backgrounds. How did they even end up in this crazy world to begin with? And what's the story behind Miss Bella's first pack leader?
I was especially drawn to the scene where James faces off against the crown raider - talk about magical powers! And that bit with Miss Bella as she sniffs the special book? Where is that leading to? I'm definitely curious to see where that storyline goes.
So many questions: Will Miss Bella ever reunite with the rest of the pack! What lays ahead for James and Piper?
Having said that, It also needs more consideration on who is the audience for this story? What age group? It’s too simple for YA, so maybe aimed at a younger age group?
Overall, I really hope the author turns this novella into a full-length novel or even a trilogy. I can totally see the potential for an amazing fantasy series here - I mean, I'd definitely be first in line to read it!
Grateful for the author for the review copy! It’s a 3.5 from us #pudseyrecommends
August 10, 2023
2.5⭐️ rounded to 3⭐️
Join Bella, Piper and James in their journey to survive an apocalypse.
Great debut and start of a new series that features disability rep.
I quite enjoyed this story. However, there were a lot of errors in this book that unfortunately meant I couldn’t rate this book higher. There’s quite a lot of missing punctuation and incorrect punctuation being used, one instance of capital letters needed, words missing so sentences don’t make sense or words needing to be taken out so the sentence makes sense. The writing felt choppy at times and doesn’t always flow from the previous paragraph, e.g. when Bella looks in the tent and finds Piper and James, it’s made to sound like just Piper is in the tent then it just randomly changes to James? Also, there are places where spaces are needed or incorrect tenses of words were used. There was one particular section where it repeats the same thing twice.
At one point, the wrong character was written as talking when in that particular scene, that particular character wasn’t even there. They were out hunting. I liked the multiple POVs and how they were interwoven throughout the chapter. It was interesting to learn about the characters more and I hope that character development continues as the series progresses. My favourite character has to be Bella. I loved the ending.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book to review!
As a side note, with every physical and digital copy sold of this book, the author is donating 50p to The Grand Appeal charity, to support the neuroscience and neurorehabilitation wards at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
⚠️ CWs: blood, physical assault, animal cruelty; mentions death, gun use ⚠️
Join Bella, Piper and James in their journey to survive an apocalypse.
Great debut and start of a new series that features disability rep.
I quite enjoyed this story. However, there were a lot of errors in this book that unfortunately meant I couldn’t rate this book higher. There’s quite a lot of missing punctuation and incorrect punctuation being used, one instance of capital letters needed, words missing so sentences don’t make sense or words needing to be taken out so the sentence makes sense. The writing felt choppy at times and doesn’t always flow from the previous paragraph, e.g. when Bella looks in the tent and finds Piper and James, it’s made to sound like just Piper is in the tent then it just randomly changes to James? Also, there are places where spaces are needed or incorrect tenses of words were used. There was one particular section where it repeats the same thing twice.
At one point, the wrong character was written as talking when in that particular scene, that particular character wasn’t even there. They were out hunting. I liked the multiple POVs and how they were interwoven throughout the chapter. It was interesting to learn about the characters more and I hope that character development continues as the series progresses. My favourite character has to be Bella. I loved the ending.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book to review!
As a side note, with every physical and digital copy sold of this book, the author is donating 50p to The Grand Appeal charity, to support the neuroscience and neurorehabilitation wards at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
⚠️ CWs: blood, physical assault, animal cruelty; mentions death, gun use ⚠️
June 24, 2023
3.5/5 ⭐️
This dystopian middle grade definitely hit the vibes of The Last of Us and reminded me little of Dune’s world’s aesthetic, but mixed in with the classic middle grade themes of trials and family. I loved the world in this story, the strangeness of it with everything being abandoned and with mutant creatures and humans. I especially loved that one of the characters had a prosthetic leg and showed how it did not hold him back in this scary, dangerous world. That he would do anything to keep his younger sister safe.
I think I would have loved the story more if it maybe had a clear narrator. Since it is a middle grade story, I think it should’ve been the younger sister and her journey to prove herself useful to her brother with the help of their newly acquired dog. Because the story did a lot of head hopping between characters, including the dog, the main lesson/plot of the story was a little hard to decipher. At times the writing was also a little clunky. Like the sentences are separate and didn’t flow together.
I think this was a great debut for this author. The themes and message and giving a valuable perspective of a character with a disability is extremely valuable. I would definitely recommend this story, but if I was beta reading this, I would have probably given those two notes to improve the story. But overall, it was very entertaining and one I think many would enjoy and appreciate.
Thank you to author for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
This dystopian middle grade definitely hit the vibes of The Last of Us and reminded me little of Dune’s world’s aesthetic, but mixed in with the classic middle grade themes of trials and family. I loved the world in this story, the strangeness of it with everything being abandoned and with mutant creatures and humans. I especially loved that one of the characters had a prosthetic leg and showed how it did not hold him back in this scary, dangerous world. That he would do anything to keep his younger sister safe.
I think I would have loved the story more if it maybe had a clear narrator. Since it is a middle grade story, I think it should’ve been the younger sister and her journey to prove herself useful to her brother with the help of their newly acquired dog. Because the story did a lot of head hopping between characters, including the dog, the main lesson/plot of the story was a little hard to decipher. At times the writing was also a little clunky. Like the sentences are separate and didn’t flow together.
I think this was a great debut for this author. The themes and message and giving a valuable perspective of a character with a disability is extremely valuable. I would definitely recommend this story, but if I was beta reading this, I would have probably given those two notes to improve the story. But overall, it was very entertaining and one I think many would enjoy and appreciate.
Thank you to author for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
July 12, 2023
4.5 rounded up.
I had the pleasure of receiving this book as an E-ARC to read and review. I actually used this book as a buddy read with my son, who is 9 and we both really enjoyed this book. I am going to let him type up his review below mine.
This book follows 2 children- Piper (6) and James (15) and the dog- Miss Bella. Miss Bella, the dog is navigating through the wasteland looking for a new pack leader. She comes upon Piper and James who are trying to stay alive in this post apocalyptical world setting, The Wasteland. James has a prosthetic leg and I really loved seeing that representation in the book. James is injured after venturing into the Wasteland with Miss Bella. Miss Bella alerts Piper and Piper and Miss Bella go off to help find James.
what I loved- I really liked the dynamics with James and Piper. Piper, despite being in such a horrific world she is sweet, kind hearted but also so strong and that is due to James really helping raise her, keep her safe but he always wants her to be a kid and he shoulders a lot of the responsibility for their survival and this time Piper takes the teaching from her brother and uses it to help him.
What I wanted more of- I wanted to know more of the back story to why the Wasteland happened, what happened to James and Piper's parents and even his leg with amputation. I also want to know more about the magic with the raider.
I definitely would continue to read more from this world and by this author.
My son's review: Rating: 4.7; Personally I thought the book was really good towards the end but at the very end they kind of cut it short. Also I thought that we needed to know a bit more about their backstory, how the wasteland started, what happened to James and Piper's parents, and how James lost his leg. I really like that they are some of the last people left trying to survive the deadly world. The beginning caught my attention because it had plenty of action. I enjoyed the book a lot.
I had the pleasure of receiving this book as an E-ARC to read and review. I actually used this book as a buddy read with my son, who is 9 and we both really enjoyed this book. I am going to let him type up his review below mine.
This book follows 2 children- Piper (6) and James (15) and the dog- Miss Bella. Miss Bella, the dog is navigating through the wasteland looking for a new pack leader. She comes upon Piper and James who are trying to stay alive in this post apocalyptical world setting, The Wasteland. James has a prosthetic leg and I really loved seeing that representation in the book. James is injured after venturing into the Wasteland with Miss Bella. Miss Bella alerts Piper and Piper and Miss Bella go off to help find James.
what I loved- I really liked the dynamics with James and Piper. Piper, despite being in such a horrific world she is sweet, kind hearted but also so strong and that is due to James really helping raise her, keep her safe but he always wants her to be a kid and he shoulders a lot of the responsibility for their survival and this time Piper takes the teaching from her brother and uses it to help him.
What I wanted more of- I wanted to know more of the back story to why the Wasteland happened, what happened to James and Piper's parents and even his leg with amputation. I also want to know more about the magic with the raider.
I definitely would continue to read more from this world and by this author.
My son's review: Rating: 4.7; Personally I thought the book was really good towards the end but at the very end they kind of cut it short. Also I thought that we needed to know a bit more about their backstory, how the wasteland started, what happened to James and Piper's parents, and how James lost his leg. I really like that they are some of the last people left trying to survive the deadly world. The beginning caught my attention because it had plenty of action. I enjoyed the book a lot.
July 20, 2023
First off, I would like to thank the author for gifting me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very quick read for me, taking me two hours to finish. I don't usually read middle grade, usually because I don't particularly love the writing style. I went into this book knowing the writing wouldn't be like what I usually read. Scenes felt slightly chucky at times, but overall, I really enjoyed the plotline this novel followed.
This novel tells an important story of family and loyalty, and I enjoyed seeing the relationship between the two siblings and Miss Bella, the dog. There is definitely a lesson to be learned. Plus, I also appreciated the disability representation in book, and how the person described to have a disability isn't seen as weak and helpless. They are instead shown as independent, strong, and incredibly smart.
The post-apocalyptic worldview was quite intriguing to me. It was incredibly interesting to learn about all the new changes that have occurred, and the way humans have developed in this setting.
One critique I have is quickly paced a few parts of the book were. I feel like a few scenes could've expanded a few more pages in order to give the reader the context they need. Still, I did understand the majority of the plot that I needed to.
I would recommend this book to younger readers and anyone who enjoys found family, loveable sibling relationships, and post-apocalyptic world views. You will not want to miss out.
This was a very quick read for me, taking me two hours to finish. I don't usually read middle grade, usually because I don't particularly love the writing style. I went into this book knowing the writing wouldn't be like what I usually read. Scenes felt slightly chucky at times, but overall, I really enjoyed the plotline this novel followed.
This novel tells an important story of family and loyalty, and I enjoyed seeing the relationship between the two siblings and Miss Bella, the dog. There is definitely a lesson to be learned. Plus, I also appreciated the disability representation in book, and how the person described to have a disability isn't seen as weak and helpless. They are instead shown as independent, strong, and incredibly smart.
The post-apocalyptic worldview was quite intriguing to me. It was incredibly interesting to learn about all the new changes that have occurred, and the way humans have developed in this setting.
One critique I have is quickly paced a few parts of the book were. I feel like a few scenes could've expanded a few more pages in order to give the reader the context they need. Still, I did understand the majority of the plot that I needed to.
I would recommend this book to younger readers and anyone who enjoys found family, loveable sibling relationships, and post-apocalyptic world views. You will not want to miss out.
August 17, 2023
The Fallout Family is a very short story about a brother and sister team attempting to navigate a new world devastated by a nuclear event. Together with their newly “adopted” dog Bella, Piper and James must fight to survive the harsh realities of the vast wasteland.
I found The Fallout Family entertaining. The story was easy to follow and the pacing well played. However, I did find parts of the narrative a bit confusing since there wasn’t any backstory about the magical crown. So that left a lot of questions as to how it came to be, and the purpose as well as use for it.
There are a number of sentences that didn’t quite make sense. And I really think that a good editor could really make a difference in the delivery and execution of the story.
As for the book being suitable for middle grade readers, it just maybe too over the top for that reading level. My opinion is due in part to the graphic violence that takes place. But maybe I’m just too old fashioned when it comes to reading and tolerance levels.
In any event, the book is an okay read as it stands. But it has potential to become better. Two stars.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
I found The Fallout Family entertaining. The story was easy to follow and the pacing well played. However, I did find parts of the narrative a bit confusing since there wasn’t any backstory about the magical crown. So that left a lot of questions as to how it came to be, and the purpose as well as use for it.
There are a number of sentences that didn’t quite make sense. And I really think that a good editor could really make a difference in the delivery and execution of the story.
As for the book being suitable for middle grade readers, it just maybe too over the top for that reading level. My opinion is due in part to the graphic violence that takes place. But maybe I’m just too old fashioned when it comes to reading and tolerance levels.
In any event, the book is an okay read as it stands. But it has potential to become better. Two stars.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 9, 2023
The Fallout Family: Wasteland Woes by Isaac Cooke-Khan is a short post-apocalyptic middle grade book.
James and Piper are a brother and sister duo trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. When Miss Bella, a dog, finds her way to them, their fallout family grows. I love the importance of Miss Bella in the story and the emphasis on chosen family and canine companionship.
It’s no coincidence that this book is releasing in July during Disability Pride Month. The author included intentional disability representation as James is an amputee with a prosthetic leg, and his disability is an important element in the story.
I found this book really engaging and picked up on a lot of plot points that will connect in future books in the series. I look forward to reading more when future books are released to see how the story continues to come together.
With its short length and fast pace, I feel like this book will be great for reluctant readers (dog lovers in particular!), especially as more books in the series are released and the plot develops further.
Thanks to the author for sending me a copy to review ahead of the book’s release! All opinions are my own.
James and Piper are a brother and sister duo trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. When Miss Bella, a dog, finds her way to them, their fallout family grows. I love the importance of Miss Bella in the story and the emphasis on chosen family and canine companionship.
It’s no coincidence that this book is releasing in July during Disability Pride Month. The author included intentional disability representation as James is an amputee with a prosthetic leg, and his disability is an important element in the story.
I found this book really engaging and picked up on a lot of plot points that will connect in future books in the series. I look forward to reading more when future books are released to see how the story continues to come together.
With its short length and fast pace, I feel like this book will be great for reluctant readers (dog lovers in particular!), especially as more books in the series are released and the plot develops further.
Thanks to the author for sending me a copy to review ahead of the book’s release! All opinions are my own.
July 12, 2023
Thank you to the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This middle grade dystopian book is a great start for young readers to get into this genre. I have always enjoyed dystopian books so I was really excited to read about James, Piper and Miss Bellas adventures.
This book is the first in a series and tells the tales of two siblings and a dog who are trying to survive the wasteland after ‘the event’.
We learn that the brother, James, has a prosthetic leg but this does not hold him back, despite the dangers he faces in the wasteland. It is really important to represent disabilities in literature and I think James’s character shows how his disability is just apart of his life, but will not stop him, which I feel is very important.
The only thing I would say with this book is it is very short, so it was harder to connect to the characters as we don’t know too much about them and the events surrounding them felt slightly rushed.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers and look forward to the rest of the series. 3.5⭐️
This middle grade dystopian book is a great start for young readers to get into this genre. I have always enjoyed dystopian books so I was really excited to read about James, Piper and Miss Bellas adventures.
This book is the first in a series and tells the tales of two siblings and a dog who are trying to survive the wasteland after ‘the event’.
We learn that the brother, James, has a prosthetic leg but this does not hold him back, despite the dangers he faces in the wasteland. It is really important to represent disabilities in literature and I think James’s character shows how his disability is just apart of his life, but will not stop him, which I feel is very important.
The only thing I would say with this book is it is very short, so it was harder to connect to the characters as we don’t know too much about them and the events surrounding them felt slightly rushed.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers and look forward to the rest of the series. 3.5⭐️
July 13, 2023
This was such a lovely and adventurous little book! The story follows siblings, Piper and James, and the stray dog, Miss Bella, that becomes a part of their pack.
The world is in chaos and humans are turning against each other at a rapid rate. James is determined to scavenge all that he can and provide a safe and enjoyable life for his little sister, Piper. When Miss Bella discovers them after her own long and painful journey, he is reluctant to have another mouth to feed. However, upon seeing how smart and resourceful she is, he decides to bring her along in his scavenging adventures.
This is a very sweet and enjoyable read, especially for younger readers. I can imagine myself as a kid really loving this story and the adventures that the three got up to. I liked that it was more focused on their relationships together as opposed to the dystopian world - we really got to see how much they loved and cared for each other.
It was fantastic to see some disability recognition also with James having a prosthetic leg and seeing how this effected him.
Overall, a great wee read and one that I would definitely give to younger readers I know!
The world is in chaos and humans are turning against each other at a rapid rate. James is determined to scavenge all that he can and provide a safe and enjoyable life for his little sister, Piper. When Miss Bella discovers them after her own long and painful journey, he is reluctant to have another mouth to feed. However, upon seeing how smart and resourceful she is, he decides to bring her along in his scavenging adventures.
This is a very sweet and enjoyable read, especially for younger readers. I can imagine myself as a kid really loving this story and the adventures that the three got up to. I liked that it was more focused on their relationships together as opposed to the dystopian world - we really got to see how much they loved and cared for each other.
It was fantastic to see some disability recognition also with James having a prosthetic leg and seeing how this effected him.
Overall, a great wee read and one that I would definitely give to younger readers I know!
July 16, 2023
This book had a lot of potential and I loved that it was a dystopian. It was a short read and middle grade so perfect for maybe 8 years up. I loved the bond that formed between Bella the dog and siblings, James, a teen with a below knee prosthetic leg, and Piper, who was around 6 years old. The journey they went on was scary at times and had my heart in my mouth. Much thanks and appreciation to the author for representing amputees in this book. As a below knee amputee myself, I can imagine the pain James must have been in during a certain part of the story.
The reason I have given this book 3 stars is becasue it felt disjointed at times. There were times when I was confused as to what was going on and had to go back and re-read to be sure I hadn't missed anything. Some things just needed a little more elaboration. One example being about James and his prosthetic leg. There were points that weren't clear as to whether the author was talking about James' stump or his real leg. All in all, it was a lovely read. It just needs a few tweaks.
*thank you to the author for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
The reason I have given this book 3 stars is becasue it felt disjointed at times. There were times when I was confused as to what was going on and had to go back and re-read to be sure I hadn't missed anything. Some things just needed a little more elaboration. One example being about James and his prosthetic leg. There were points that weren't clear as to whether the author was talking about James' stump or his real leg. All in all, it was a lovely read. It just needs a few tweaks.
*thank you to the author for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2023
Thanks to Isaac Cooke-Khan for providing me this ARC to review.
This is a really nice debut novel. It explores a gritty, dystopian world using themes that feel relevant to it’s middle grade audience- loneliness, intimidation and the often complex dynamic of sibling relationships. There’s a couple of unexpectedly powerful scenes and some really fun world building with the mutant animals. However I did clock a couple of grammatical errors while reading, and thought a few scenes would have been more effective with better pacing. My other comment would be the perspective, which felt a little off for me. The author writes in third person as a kind of omniscient narrator throughout the story, however I found myself thinking throughout the book that it would have benefited from a more grounded perspective, for example being written in first person from the dogs perspective. Despite this, the book is still a great dystopia for MG readers and I look forward to seeing what James, Piper and Miss Bella will get up to next!
This is a really nice debut novel. It explores a gritty, dystopian world using themes that feel relevant to it’s middle grade audience- loneliness, intimidation and the often complex dynamic of sibling relationships. There’s a couple of unexpectedly powerful scenes and some really fun world building with the mutant animals. However I did clock a couple of grammatical errors while reading, and thought a few scenes would have been more effective with better pacing. My other comment would be the perspective, which felt a little off for me. The author writes in third person as a kind of omniscient narrator throughout the story, however I found myself thinking throughout the book that it would have benefited from a more grounded perspective, for example being written in first person from the dogs perspective. Despite this, the book is still a great dystopia for MG readers and I look forward to seeing what James, Piper and Miss Bella will get up to next!
July 17, 2023
Okay, so first things first this is a book aimed at middle grade kids (for those not American - ages 8-12). So different to what I usually read but in a way not so much; Disasters? Yep. Family? Yep. Mystery? Yep. Overall, very much my vibe.
As it stood though this was a shorter book on my end of the spectrum with very fast pacing but I can see it being the perfect length for those younger readers as well as fast enough to keep them attentive.
There's a fair lot of questions I now have unanswered from this book after reading but as it stands it is book 1 so nice to know everything will be addressed.
The wasps described though, absolutely terrifying to imagine. Same on the bats, more things of nightmares to think about and imagine in my spare time.
But overall, nice and quick, captiving with a flair of mystery and drama thrown in.
Favourite Quote - With only herself for company,
she wondered if she would ever find a place to call home again.
Favourite Character - Miss Bella
As it stood though this was a shorter book on my end of the spectrum with very fast pacing but I can see it being the perfect length for those younger readers as well as fast enough to keep them attentive.
There's a fair lot of questions I now have unanswered from this book after reading but as it stands it is book 1 so nice to know everything will be addressed.
The wasps described though, absolutely terrifying to imagine. Same on the bats, more things of nightmares to think about and imagine in my spare time.
But overall, nice and quick, captiving with a flair of mystery and drama thrown in.
Favourite Quote - With only herself for company,
she wondered if she would ever find a place to call home again.
Favourite Character - Miss Bella
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