Movers by Meaghan McIsaac

Movers #1

by Meaghan McIsaac

The world is dying, overcrowded and polluted. Storms rage over the immensely tall tower blocks, attracted to Movers.Movers are connected to people in the future, their Shadows. And moving your Shadow is highly illegal.Patrick knows all too well what happens if you break the his father has been in the Shelves ever since he moved his Shadow. And now Patrick and his family are in danger again.Following a catastrophic event at their school, Patrick must go on the run. Through filthy, teeming markets, forebrawler matches, a labyrinth of underground tunnels and beyond, he’ll need his wits and courage to escape the forces that want to take everything he loves.

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Paperback

First published February 2, 2016

About the author

Meaghan McIsaac is the author of several books for young readers, including The Bear House (shortlisted for the Forest of Reading Red Maple Award 2023) and Movers (a Shining Willow Finalist for the Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Awards). Meaghan completed a masters in Children’s Writing at the University of Winchester and now lives in Toronto, Ontario with her family.

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and enjoyable sci fi read. It’s a bit more middle grade than ya, which I wasn’t expecting, but it works.

The concept is really interesting and so I’m looking forward to reading the follow up, which I also picked up when I got this. Basically, there is a link between people in the “now” and people across the future, and the government isn’t happy about it. I really enjoyed that, as well as what happens throughout the book - despite Pat being the main character, it’s really about Gabby and Maggie, which works really well too.

I am only giving it three stars because it does feel a bit short and we don’t really get enough on the backstory for the now. We do get quite a bit for the future though, which I liked. I think the next book will be even better, just because this book sort of feels like a set up for it.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A futuristic, spectacular sci-fi novel ideal for middle grade/ young adults. This awesome read was like nothing I have encountered before, being totally original and different. With a spunky main protagonist and likeable characters, the story was engaging and interesting to read. I have given this book a three rating out of five, because I feel that more could have happened in the plot as it seemed to move quite slowly. However, this didn’t detract from my overall reading experience, as I enjoyed reading this novel. The characters were interesting, the concepts unique and certainly something that I could envisage as a science-fiction movie. I would definitely recommend this book to the younger reader who enjoys things similar to books like Ender’s game, Divergent or Star Wars and is ideal for both boys and girls.

[Kelsi H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please check out all of my reviews at http://ultraviolentlit.blogspot.ca!

This is a tough book for me to review, because it is not something I would usually read. It is a young adult sci-fi novel, but I think it actually reads more like middle grade. I felt like it was written for a lesser maturity level than something like The Hunger Games. With that in mind, I tried to read it from a younger perspective, but I still had trouble getting into the story.

The main character of the novel is Pat, a "mover" (he is connected to a "shadow" in the future, whom he can move around in time). I felt like the technology/world-building was overly complicated, while at the same time, major explanations were left out. I'm assuming these explanations will come later in the series, but I still needed more. Why do movers exist? That was the most elemental question that was never clearly answered, or even really alluded to, and that made the whole thing seem gimmicky. I do think there is some merit to reading this as a critique on modern-day immigration issues, but I'm not sure if the young readers of this book will grasp that.

That being said, I did like the characters of Pat and Gabby. Even though Pat and his friends bully Gabby in school, he gets to know her through their shared experiences as Movers, and he begins to see past her appearance to who she really is. So, the characterization in this novel was great, but I feel like there are a lot of issues with plot/world-building that may be resolved later in the series. For a younger audience, I think this is a great beginning to a new series.

I received this novel from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

[C.G. Moore]

Before I start this review, I should say, I tend to avoid sci-fi when I read. It's nothing against the genre but I find some of the books to be a bit lazy; they rely on elements of the genre without breaking any new ground. Time travel. Cloning. Outer space. Aliens. It's a non-exhaustive list but you get the point. Often, I find the novelty becomes the focus of the story when I want it to be a tool that accelerates the characterisation and the plot development.


Movers has converted me though; it's an exciting page-turner that juggles world-building with concept, characterisation with mystery, and compromises nothing. In the future, there are Movers; people who are connected to someone they can move to their time (i.e. a Shadow). It takes a bit of time to get your head around it but you get there eventually. McIssac doesn't spoon-feed you. She leaves a breadcrumb trail for you to follow and forces you to actively engage with her world and her characters. The concept of 'Movers' accelerates the character developments of Patrick and Gabriela. It becomes something much more than a novelty. The tension and discrimination between Movers and non-Movers too, is something worth noting. It echoes the racial inequalities of our past and the general fear and panic that sparked ensuing violence.


If you're looking for something a bit different for your next read, this might be the book for you. A captivating world, fresh characters and a time twist - this is perfect for male and female readers. A cross between dystopia and sci-fi, Movers has cinematic appeal that fans of Rick Yancey's The 5th Wave and Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games will adore.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Meaghan McIsaac's fictional novel "The Movers" compliments of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program and appreciated the opportunity. I provide my unbiased thoughts.

This young reader book is jammed pack with action and suspense. It is a futuristic look at time travel set in the year 2083.

The main character Patrick Mermick, is a "Mover", and faces much fear and confusion after his father was taken from their family when he was a young boy. He lives in a turbulent time, along with his Mother Izzy and sister Maggie. Patrick, along with others in his community, are "Movers" and under constant surveillance by the BMAC. This governing agency wants to eliminate and "shelve" all those who use their "Mover" powers to bring their "Shadows" from the future. Patrick befriends Gabby, a student in his class, who is the underdog and always bullied and taunted for her intelligence and strange behaviors. He soon realizes that Gabby's life is in danger and he wants to help her escape the threat of the BMAC. They soon become part of a shunned community of Movers who are fighting for their lives. There is war and hatred both here and glimpsing into the future, they are determined to survive.

This book is well written and holds an intriguing concept. Time travel is always an interesting and ever debated topic. It holds themes of family love and friendship, war and resiliency. The author has a fantastic imagination and it holds well in sharing a story that will keep you turning pages. 4/5 star rating. And as it shows it is Book 1, I look forward to the next part of the story.

[Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

So when I received this book I expected it to be Young Adult, but it is definitely a middle grade read, which wasn't overly disappointing. The book is set in the nearish future follows a 13 or 14 year old boy named Pat and he is a Mover, a group of people who have the ability to sense, talk to, and sometimes pull from the future into their time. Patrick is a Phase 1 which means that he can only sense his Shadow (future buddy). The distrust between Movers and people who are not (Nowbies) is absolutely brilliantly written and extremely believable/relatable because of our current world. The way that the character's were written was absolutely amazing, but the problem was that the general plot seemed quite predictable for me. The world building was super unique and Meaghan McIsaac's writing style just felt so unique and original throughout this entire novel and the addition of news articles within the novel was just absolutely amazing! Overall, if you're looking for a new middle grade series that is a nice mix of fantasy and sci-fi this is something I would recommend picking up!

[Carina Shephard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.75 stars

tl;dr version: Although it has some language issues, the creative premise and engaging characters make “Movers” a fast-paced read.

Things I Liked:

-The characters. Besides the MC, Gabby was my favorite character. She’s a loner, a brainiac, a Mover, and kind of chubby, which in her circumstances is about the worst combination to have, honestly. But despite the odds against her, she still pursues her goals and ultimately succeeds- well, kind of, and then everything gets worse. But anyway.

-Self-sacrifice. People left and right sacrifice their lives for others, which always makes for a terribly painful but also powerful story.

-Family. Although the MC’s Dad is Shelved (that’s not a spoiler, by the way, it happens at the beginning), he still has a lot of impact on the MC (I’m sorry, I can remember literally everyone else’s name except for the MC.) Also, the mom comes into the story a lot, which is rare in this type of book.

-Time travel!!! I mean, who doesn’t like time travel!? I liked the concept of Movers and Shadows; it was a bit of a different spin than I’ve seen before.

-The plot twist at the end! I saw it coming, but nevertheless it made me excited about the next book.

Things I Didn’t Like

-Like I mentioned before, the main content issue for me was the swearing- there was a lot more than I was expecting. There’s also some disturbing visuals of somebody being Shelved and a mention of a severed finger. Of course, I’m a wimp when it comes to that type of stuff, so take “disturbing” with a grain of salt.

-This is a tiny complaint, but I didn’t understand Ollie’s line at the end in the newspaper clipping. It seemed like it was supposed to be ironic, but I didn’t get it. oh well.

Hope this review helped!

[J.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 2080's there are two types of people: Nowbies are normal people, but Movers are different. They have a mental connection to a person in the future referred to as their Shadow. Some movers are even strong enough to pull their shadow back through time to live in the same time period as the mover.

Because of their unusual abilities Movers are frowned upon and blamed for overcrowding the present for the Nowbies.

Patrick doesn't realize just how dangerous being a mover can be until he's forced to go on the run with his little sister and mover classmate.

An interesting futuristic thriller that I really liked. I managed to grab this one at random from the library and I'm glad I did!
It ended up being a bit more younger teen than YA, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable.

Movers has a really interesting concept with people being connected to Shadows in the future. The explanation of how it all worked didn't 100% make sense to me but I think I'll continue on with this series.

[Just_me · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to good reads and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I actually read book 2 before book one and knew I was missing so much but thanks to entering a good reads giveaway I won this book 2 days after I finished book 2.
I wish I had read them the right way round this book is full of action and sets out the series. It sets out the whole concept on movers and shadows (a pair of people from different times who are connected by their mind, one had the power to move the other but this is highly illegal).
This book was easy to get into and quick to read. Although I've seen many reviews knocking the book I actually quite enjoyed it.

[Hailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay, despite the book having small pages and only 288 pages this book took me a while to read. I think this book has a very neat concept but I did struggle to understand some parts of the world. One factor that I think affected how I saw this book was the fact that I didn't truly understand there world. I do not think I will continue on with this world because it has not grabbed my attention to continue reading. Even though I did not like this book Meaghan is a amazing writer and she was able to create something I have never read before so kudos to her.

[Clare Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this book was really complicated and I struggled to understand the concept of what a Mover was. But once the story started to unfold I found it really exciting and definitely want to read the second book in the series.

[Tim Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this it shows real promise as originality in time travel stories is not easy, and this shows a fair bit. Nicely written, clearly the start of a series that may well be worth a look. Nice to see a dystopian series with a teenage hero who's first reaction to danger is often to hide!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was funny to see "shelve book" on here right after reading 'Movers.' If you've read the book you know why. I liked it. It's interesting and I'm excited to read book 2. I saw some people say this seems middle grade, but personally I don't get that. It seems like an early young adult to me.

[Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars
Not bad. Definitely a middle school read. If the book was longer, then it probably would have been more enjoyable.

[Radha TheLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel always confuses me. This was a good read regardless of my own limitations trying to wrap my brain around things I will never understand.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and a half. I didn't understand the concept.

[Tenzin K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont remembre a lot about this book but I remember that when I first read it it felt amazing like this huge adrenaline rush mainly towards the end of the book. The beginning was a bit boring in my opinion cause almost nothing was going on but id do almost anything to read this book again for the first time :) I definitely recommend it, I loved the writing style too!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Tundra for the advanced reader copy.

It is the future. It's like the present except it is markedly worse, because all those dry spells have meant that there is actually not really any food, and also all the other resources are running out. Earth can hardly sustain it's current population, and yet there are people who are connected to people in the future (where everything is worse still, in that way that only math can describe) and these future-people are being pulled into the present through a process called "moving." Are you confused yet? "Movers" is a dystopian science-fiction book that relies very heavily on time-travel, but without the paradox.*

I have to admit to being a bit conflicted over this book. There were a few things that massively threw me off, and the primary thing was the author's heavy usage of British English. This is something I am normally not at all fussed about (being mildly British myself), but the author is Canadian and the where-in-the-world of this dystopia is not specified, which leads most readers to assume it takes place in North America. Except the usage of "cos" for "because" makes you doubt your life choices.

Time-travel, also, boggles my mind. It is a staple of science fiction writing, but it is arguably physically impossible to accomplish. In this book, it is almost pseudo-magical in the way people in McIsaac's world are linked mentally to people in the future. This is never explained, not that you'd necessarily want the world laid bare to its bones, but everything else seems comfortably familiar except for the extremes to which resources have been stretched. It would've been nice to have some further illumination as to how these time and space connections were forged.

With that said, it is a pretty fun adventure story and the plot moves along at a pretty good clip. Despite my reservations, I didn't put the book aside and I kept enjoying what I read. If this is a series, perhaps some of my questions will be answered in book 2.

*Did I say there was no paradox?

Oh, I meant there is no paradox until -- weirdly, conveniently -- the end of the book. Just you wait.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Movers’ is an amazing novel about an Earth much different from our own. Unlike other novels set in the future, Meaghan puts a unique spin on the world less than 70 years ahead of us. I think anyone who likes books such as Divergent, The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner by Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins and James Dashner, respectively, will love this story. Out of ten, I’d give ‘Mover’ a nine and a half.

Instead of sticking to the usual Sci-Fi themes of space travel, aliens, teleportation, etc. McIsaac came up with an intriguing and individual idea that sets the stage for one heck of an exhilarating page-turner. There, on the dying planet we call Earth, is two types of people: Movers and non-Movers! The Movers have the ability to bring their 'shadow' - someone in the future who is connected to them - to their time. However, the government has declared Moving your shadow illegal, putting the Bureau of Movement Activity Control (BMAC) in charge of keeping the Movers in line and 'shelving' them if they Move their shadow.

The book's main character and from whom the story is told is Patrick (Pat) Mermick, a Phase 1 mover in the city of Avin. Perhaps because of the things happened to him because of his Mover identity, Pat tries to ignore who he is and act like a normal non-Mover. But he is soon dragged into the thick of things and he has to help his sister, Maggie, and a fellow Mover, Gabby. At the beginning of the story Pat isn't really portrayed as a powerful or very important character, but as the story progresses, he gets more fundamental as he becomes certain of who he is.

The ending to 'Movers' was as thrilling and fast-paced as the remainder of the novel and it paves the way for a fantastic sequel that I can not wait to read. Overall, 'Movers' is a gripping, spine-tingling, at times jaw-breaking book that also has a realistic side - highlighting the racism and discrimination in society today and in the future.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Know the pungits know the connection"

People with shadows...they a carrying it and they are called "Movers". The Police is aware of it and divided them in Phase 1, Phase2 and Phase 3.

Phase 1
You have a shadow. You can feel it. But you do not hear or see it.
If you communicate with your shadow (haram, kuluk) you get to
Phase 2
Your shadow could be anyone. It can help you look smart, stupid. Can make you aware of things...
If you start to communicate with it you could get in a dangerous situation...
Phase 3
The shadow wants to get in your time and space. And you would help.
Bmac Police (wear grey clothes like fashion 2023-2024) gives you an injection and you sleep forever - alive but just shelved in a bed, breathing.

Gooba - Gaby
A smart fat girl in Phase 2. All in her class know that she is so smart because her shadow speaks over her. They are making fun of her. Phase 2 Idiot.
But she even knows his name - Mr. Roth.
Killer from the future, knowing how you can travel from one time to another. Taking the place of someone else...

Pat - Patrick
is one of the boys which Gooba (bad name given to her) would like to know better, but he makes fun of her, too.
But one day the school calls his Mom to inform that his little sis Maggie is in Phase 2.
And he started to look at Gooba with other eyes...

Maggie
A smart little girl who speaks with someone during taking her bath....

The father of Patrick and Maggie is shelved/ got the injection from the state to sleep.

Timetravel causes at least an earthquake...that is why Bmac People (people in grey) divided them in phases.

Microchips and Taster time :) hidden under minors :)


It is an amazing book... do not forget WAN - We are now... :)

[Ettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat Mermick is a Mover(someone connected to another person in the future, with the ability of transporting that person into his own time). He is a reluctant one, denying that part of himself out of shame and of fear. But who wouldn't in a time period that actively hunts down, monitors, and punishes Movers who use there abilities?

This was a really interesting read. Pat is a strong character, very much someone who just wants to fit in, to the point of denying who he is. All in all a normal kid. Gabby is just as relatable, her genius masked by the pain of being bullied by classmates and her own discomfort with being a Mover. The plot itself presents a very realistic and believable dilemma. Even now people are angry with illegal immigrants to the point it's a platform of Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign. I can imagine that in a world where a cement wall do nothing keep them out, an agency like the BMAC would no doubt exist, along with the hateful protest groups.

Having said that I have to admit it was a bit slow to get going. There is a lot of time spent on world building, which is necessary but felt a bit drawn out. The best part of the novel is the exciting, fast paced, ending which builds up the rest of the series. It's not something I expected at all and I'm very interested in the next installment because of it.

[Caroline Woodward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific read. Can hardly wait for the next one as we are left teetering between future and now. As a trapped but open-minded Nowbie, I want more. Very good characters and excellent descriptions of the urban world and the bureaucrats who search out the Movers, a highly-suspect population who seem randomly affected-though there is a strong genetic component-by the ability to connect with a future self, a Shadow Self. For once, a mother and a father are depicted as fallible yet protective and smart adults not useless types incapable of thought, action or kindness, large lumpish beings easily out-scored on all fronts by nasty little nine year olds. Kudos to the author. Ditto for great plot twists which make this an unputdownable page-turner.
One teensy editorial snark: it's a language quirk which should have been picked up by the substantive or the copy editor or even the proofreader, which is the over-use of "gaping" or "mouth hanging open" to express astonishment, especially frequently used for the Gabby character though it was also applied to others. Time to expand the physical repertoire for extreme surprise or else one is left with the impression that people are constantly turning into slack-jawed, bug-eyed zombies and we've had more than enough of that crowd.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meaghan, way to go! I think the concept behind this story is very unique and very relevant to our world today. Patrick Mermick is a Mover, which means he is connected to one person (his Shadow) who lives in the future, and Patrick has the power to move him to the present. The future isn't so great - it's a world of dwindling resources and fear - so many Shadows want to travel to Patrick's time to enjoy a better life.

Sound familiar? Meaghan's created a world that reminds us of our own - think immigration laws, environmental problems, and the common human desire to live a happy life.

Meaghan's wrapped it in this neat sci-fi world with a story that ignites when Patrick's classmate is part of a big Move that brings someone with violent intentions to today's time - but there is a whole lot more to it than that.

Congrats, Meaghan!

[Edel Waugh Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dystopian story with science fiction and time travel where movers and shadows exist and where people are given didferent number levels depending on how dangerous they are . The main character is called Pat, his family are seen as a threat to the system they live in because of what they can do . They can move shadows . Shadows are people that once lived here and movers can transport them in time making this story awesome ! Danger is following Pat now after a particularly dangerous incident, and now he needs all the help he can get if he is to survive and help others . If you like Dr Who then you might really enjoy this !

I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading4kids .

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty engaging book I enjoyed reading. I did not know what to expect when I began reading, but it developed well as I kept going. The idea of people in the present being connected to somebody in the future and being able to move them through time was original and unexpected. I would recommend this book and would also be happy to read the next one in the series. How this book ended made me really curious about what's going to happen next. I can see how parts of the stories could be developed further.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced thrill ride in a dystopian future where those gifted with time-travel abilities are persecuted and criminalized. Our narrator, a mover who can move someone from the future into his own time, quickly discovers how hated his kind is when he saves his classmate from a mover-induced storm, which she seems to have caused, and they must go on the run from the authorities. Completely immersive.

Thank you to Random House who provided me with this advance reading copy.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

l received this book for free from Goodreads Firstreads

l would recommend this book for years 9 and 10 as the main protagonist Patrick is of that age.

l struggled to finish the book but l persevered as there was apparently an interesting twist at the end. This too was a disappointment. Maybe if l was still an English teacher l would have been able to discuss the book with my pupils and they could have inspired me.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a futuristic overcrowded world, Movers are individuals connected to shadow people of the future. They can transport their shadows to their own time, however it is highly illegal. Pat, a Mover, is shunned and feared. After his father is jailed for such a crime, he learns that his little sister is even more powerful than he thought. A rogue shadow puts them on the run and in danger. This unique and thrilling new dystopian series will appeal to science fiction lovers’ 12 and up.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read, quite a cool concept of moving people from the future, and I particularly liked Gabby's character. The plot itself wasn't exactly riveting, however I admittedly got sucked into the world that it didn't bother me much. I did like the fact that it was written from a guy's perspective, something quite rare in the YA genre.

[Fatuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited for people to start reading this book. I need fellow fan girls/boys almost as much as I need the sequel. If you love Patrick Ness, James Dashner or Suzanne Collins you should have read this yesterday.