The August Five

by Jenna Helland

In this debut novel, two worlds collide amid clashes of power, honor, and what it truly means to be brave.

Tommy Shore is the son of the most important man on Aeren—a high-ranking politician who wants nothing more than to take away all of the rights of the lower-class cottagers. Tamsin Henry is the daughter of a revolutionary man who has hopes of overthrowing the corrupt politicians, also called the Zunft, the group that holds all the power in this world.

The two sides clash when Tommy rescues Tamsin during the August Rising, a cottager attack organized by a group of rebels known as the August Five. He starts to question the motives of the Zunft and realizes that it will take all of his resolve to stand up to his father and fight for the rights of those who have none.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Teen

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2015

About the author

Jenna Helland is a writer and editor for Wizards of the Coast in Renton, Washington. Before moving to the Northwest, she was a journalist in Missouri, Virginia, and California. She has a history degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and a journalism degree from the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri. She enjoys playing Magic: The Gathering, reading books with pictures, and running.

Reviews

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Although listed as teens, this read much more like a middle grade book - complete with heavy handed sermonizing/moralizing and a very abrupt happy ending. For what we have is a fantasy with serious messages about white European colonization of the 18th and 19th century. It's about socio-economic enslavement (rather than racial) and clearly it is aimed at the British. As well, statements about hubris and the sins of the fathers as well as women's rights are added for kicks. But very lazy writing/world-building and two-dimensional characters really let down the messages contained within.

In a place where the native population is starving under the harsh rule of a century's old conquest, fifteen-year-old Tommy Shore's father is an estate holder and politician - and controls much of the large island on which Tommy lives. Tommy's twin brother Bern is very much his father - a bully and a sociopath. Meanwhile, downtrodden Tamsin Henry's father is leading a revolt across many cities (including the one near Tommy's estate) to bring justice to the poor (the cottagers). When a demonstration goes wrong and Tamsin's father is captured (one of the August 5 - the five who led the revolt but were caught and imprisoned), Tamsin is injured while abetting her father's destruction of key warehouses. Tommy finds her and saves her - and they will meet up again later in the big city as Tamsin fights for her father's release before he is executed. Tommy's father is putting plans into place to take over the moderate government with his stricter one - and ensure that the poor truly stay under his estate's control. It will put both 15 year olds at opposite ends of the struggle.

Although the blurb makes it sound like Tommy and Tamsin will meet up and fall in love despite the circumstances of their parents, the two really only see each other briefly and there is no romance. Tommy is an extremely passive do-gooder who is there to take offense to his father's/brother's greedy and selfish actions. Tamsin, meanwhile, goes off half-cocked through most of the book, acting fully on emotion rather than logic. Each character has a grounding influence - for Tamsin it is pacifist friend Gavin and for Tommy it is the nanny who raised him - a cottager herself who gave him a moral compass. Both Tommy and Tamsin pretty much operate in their own circles and each will learn hard truths about their parents.

Unsurprisingly (this is a novel written by a woman), the female characters are more complex, grounded, and decent, than the ambitious, misguided, and high handed male characters. In the whole book, we have only two 'nice' male characters (Tommy and Gavin) and a whole lot of aggressive men. They are coupled with a lot of sad, frustrated, 'trying to do the right thing' women (there are no 'bad' female characters - only male). That imbalance is coupled with a few statement pieces about women not being allowed to attend school and being fit only for being wives (which felt more like a reason to show off how good-hearted Tommy was than as a social injustice in need of reform). There was a lot of tell and not enough show throughout and the book needed more complexity to really spark.

The worldbuilding was frustrating. We're given the scenario that the Cottagers are downtrodden and suffering - but we don't see any of it. We're TOLD a lot but never actually see much of the problem. Nor do we get an idea of what the Estates sell or what the Cottagers or city folk actually do - other than a few tradesmen here and there who smuggle inflammatory newsletters. With the African slaves we had cotton and rum, with the Irish we had the farmers, and even with the American colonists, we had tea and other imports being taxed unfairly. But there's no basis for the world in The August 5 and so it all feels so nebulous, undeveloped, and unreal. The world needed so much more thought about the economics if statements were going to be continued to be made. E.g., in the very least, Tamsin should have been starving and poor and desperate - but she seems as content as Tommy.

I'll be honest - creating a fantasy with fantastical names and settings but then using Anglo-Saxon names feels disingenuous and lazy to me. There really is no reason to use names like Tommy and Bernard Shore, Michael Henry, etc. Authors don't have to dumb down books to make them more accessible to kids these days- adolescents and teens have more than enough brain power to handle non-Anglo-names. Heck, even changing the names a bit to be something like Tamas instead of Thomas and Bennard instead of Bernard would have been far more interesting than bland Tommy and Bern. It works in an alternate universe setting but this is straight fantasy.

The heart of the book is the realization by both Tamsin and Tommy that their fathers are not what they thought; rather, they are men blinded by ambition and hubris. But that message comes too late to really make the read more interesting. The story is very straightforward, lacking the nuance and complexity which would make readers think about the ideas being presented. In this case, there is a lot about The August 5 that could have been both more explored and less explored. Subtlety in message but more emphasis on character complexity would have gone a long way to making this a better read.

I didn't dislike the August 5 but I never got into it either. My 12 year old got bored quickly as well - Tommy wasn't interesting enough and Tamsin was, to quote my daughter, always "running around like chicken little." On the plus side, the topics covered do make good conversation starters (though on a VERY basic level) about British/Dutch/Spanish colonization/conquering of England/Ireland, the Americas, East Indies, and of course Africa. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Granger Feeback · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending made it seem like there should be a second, but there isn't a second book.

[Kimberly Vanderbloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took ne awhile to get through this book. I loved the concept of the book and writing was good. It was written a little younger than I anticipated. It got a little repetitive at times. I overall enjoyed and would definitely read something else from this author. I received this in a Goodreads First Read Giveaway.

[Luke Emeterio · Rating 4 out of 5]

The August Five really interested me. It’s a dystopian novel that goes beyond the usual and dives into things like identity, injustice, and rebelliance in a way that feels fresh and emotionally grounded. The story follows Cressa, a girl who learns she’s actually part of the ruling elite in a city where the rich live in luxury and everyone else is barely surviving. Her journey is intriguing because she’s constantly torn between where she came from and where she belongs now. I also found Margarethe, one of the Five Family leaders, fascinating. She’s not a very likeable character, but she’s layered and makes you think about how fear and power shape people. The book dives into social inequality, the search for personal identity, and what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself — even when the cost is high. Helland’s writing is fast-paced but thoughtful, with a cinematic feel that kept me turning pages late into the night. While some side characters could’ve used more depth, I was fully invested in Cressa’s story and left the book feeling both heartbroken and hopeful. If you’re into dystopias with heart and grit, this one’s worth picking up.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

We begin with two privileged brothers whose father is extremely cold, driven and ruthless. They're members of Zunft, the ruling class in a dystopian society. Tommy Shore is the quiet, thoughtful brother while Bern is similar to his father, enjoying the party life and devoid of compassion. When the Cottagers who are somewhere between servants and slaves, initiate an abortive rebellion, Tommy instinctively saves Tamsin, a Cottager he finds bloodied and unconscious in the woods. This is the beginning of his rethinking of everything he knows. As you follow Tommy and Tamsin's journey through dealing with deceit, even more draconian edicts and his growing awareness of his father's dishonesty and heavy handedness, you're likely to let your immediate surroundings fade as you become part of their struggle. This is a very dark and satisfying entry in the YA dystopian genre.

[Katherine Diavatis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[BONNIE · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this rebellion story, but overall was a slow read. It seemed more geared towards middle schoolers.

[Journey Grace Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but the writing felt juvenile and the ending was abrupt but other than that the plot was really good

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

**Goodreads First Reads**

I think this was billed as a young adult novel; however the writing came across as more of a middle grade style. Overall it was an okay book though I didnt really get interested in the story until near the end where it finished rather abruptly.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story about right triumphing over might. The government is controlled by the Zunft government who are the major landowners and business owners. The Cottagers are the ones who work the land and do all the work the upper class doesn't. They are essentially tenant farmers on the Zunft land. A revolution is brewing among the Cottagers who want equal rights. Tamsin Henry's father is a journalist and one of the leaders of the revolution. He gives Tamsin the task of setting a fire on their home island which is part of an orchestrated beginning to the revolution.

Tamsin gets hurt in the explosion and is found by Tommy Shore who is the son of the Zunft politician Colston Shore who wants to put down any hint of revolution by the Cottagers. Tommy was raised by Cottager Mrs. Trueblood and seldom saw his father who was busy in the city with his government duties. Tommy doesn't agree with his father's rigid policies toward the Cottagers but has no power. Tommy leaves Tamsin on the doorstep of another Cottager rather than turn her over to his father's soldiers.

Tommy and his twin Bern are sent by their father to the capital where they will be attending the Seminary - a school for the sons of the Zundt party. This year, because of more liberal policies of Chief Administrator Hywel, three girls are attending but are facing harassment not only from other students but from some of the professors. He is sheltered in the Seminary while things become more unsettled outside.

When Cottagers revolt, the revolution is quickly put down and among those arrested is Tamsin's father. Tommy's father uses the unrest to execute a coup of his own as his party takes over the government. Everyone is told the Chief Administrator Hywel has been kidnapped by Cottagers and Shore uses that as a reason to gather more power to himself and make conditions more difficult for the Cottagers.

Tommy and Tamsin meet again in the capital where Tamsin's first idea is to kidnap Tommy in exchange for her father. But, together, they learn some things and come up with another plan. I liked seeing how both Tamsin and Tommy changed during the course of this story. I also liked the way right triumphed.

I did think that the story was a little slow-paced and that the writing style sometimes got in the way of the story. Readers who want to see kids accomplish great things may enjoy this one though.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really looked forward to reading this book because it sounded like it would be full of action, smokey rebellion and two teens fighting to change their world. While all of those elements were indeed part of the story, the majority of the book focused on politics, and it was boring. The plot started off with a bang but then it got dredged down with political manuvering. A lot of the plot was spent reiterating the point that the current power structure was bad, something readers and even the characters recognized before the first two chapters were finished. Tommy, the protagonist from the upper level of society, didn't have to uncover any shocking secrets about his society or his father. There was no journey of growth or slowly blooming horror as more corruption emerged. He knew from the beginning that his dad was a pretty awful person, so why did the author spend all that time making Tommy see more examples of how corrupt his father and his cronies really were? On top of that, Tommy had very easily weighted internal conflicts. He had no desire to please his father or live up to expectations. I think that is the heart of the problem here. Tommy had nothing to lose besides things he didn't value, so when he was faced with a conflict between doing what his father expected and doing the noble thing, it was pretty clear which way he was going to go. Tamsin, the character from the lowest level of society, was also placed in a similar situation. Effort was made to make it clear that she didn't have anyone she wanted to impress except her own rebel father. No one knew who she was, so it wasn't like they were threatening to hurt anyone she cared about if she didn't toe the line. People she cared about were going to be hurt anyway, so what was there for her to lose? Because of the lack of real conflict in the conflicts, it is hard to feel any suspense or anxiety about what choices these two good guys would make. Overall, I think a lot of my high school readers will become bored by the politics and put this book down. I certainly felt that way less than a third of the way through. Language and situations are appropriate for middle school and beyond.

[Christian Hedger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really looked forward to reading this book because it sounded like it would be full of action, smokey rebellion and two teens fighting to change their world. While all of those elements were indeed part of the story, the majority of the book focused on politics, and it was boring. The plot started off with a bang but then it got dredged down with political maneuvering. A lot of the plot was spent reiterating the point that the current power structure was bad, something readers and even the characters recognized before the first two chapters were finished.

Tommy, the protagonist from the upper level of society, didn't have to uncover any shocking secrets about his society or his father. There was no journey of growth or slowly blooming horror as more corruption emerged. He knew from the beginning that his dad was a pretty awful person, so why did the author spend all that time making Tommy see more examples of how corrupt his father and his cronies really were? On top of that, Tommy had very easily weighted internal conflicts. He had no desire to please his father or live up to expectations. I think that is the heart of the problem here. Tommy had nothing to lose besides things he didn't value, so when he was faced with a conflict between doing what his father expected and doing the noble thing, it was pretty clear which way he was going to go.

Tamsin, the character from the lowest level of society, was also placed in a similar situation. An effort was made to make it clear that she didn't have anyone she wanted to impress except her own rebel father. No one knew who she was, so it wasn't like they were threatening to hurt anyone she cared about if she didn't toe the line. People she cared about were going to be hurt anyway, so what was there for her to lose?

Because of the lack of real conflict in the conflicts, it is hard to feel any suspense or anxiety about what choices these two good guys would make. Overall, I think a lot of my high school readers will become bored by the politics and put this book down. I certainly felt that way less than a third of the way through. Language and situations are appropriate for middle school and beyond.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two teens on opposite political sides find that they have more than they thought they had in common in this book that could represent the future. Fourteen-year-old Tommy Shore is the son of the leader of the Aeren Islands. His father, Colston, is a fierce taskmaster, and while Tommy has always known that his father was relentless, he comes to realize just how far he will go to reach his goals. Honor means nothing to the man, as Tommy learns to his disappointment. In the case of Tamsin Henry, whose father leads the rebels who want to change things, she also realizes that her father will stop at nothing, even endangering the lives of his loved ones, for his goals. She eventually masterminds a work stoppage campaign that brings hope to the citizenry who have been dealing with oppression for so long. Some of the scenes remind me of recent events such as the rallying around the French publication attacked by terrorists. There were plenty of dangling threads by the end.I'm not sure how believable the ending was, but I enjoyed reading the book.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Tommy Shore has lived a sheltered, privileged life with his every need attended to. His father is the chief administrator of Aeren and the most powerful man in the country. But when a rebel faction revolts, Tommy is unwittingly pulled into the fight and his eyes opened to the plight of the serving class. Tommy meets Tasmin, the daughter of the rebel leader. Through her, Tommy learns the truth about his father and their way of life.
The premise is promising, but fails to deliver. The action is sparse and is injected sporadically throughout the overbearing political descriptions. Stronger world-building and more fully developed characters would have helped this title. With its light handling of the issues revolving around social class injustices and the titles lack of complexity, this YA novel may have more appeal in the middle school setting.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A world rocked by revolt and corruption. This is the world Tommy Shore lives in. He is the son of an important Zunftman and lives a life of luxury. Tamsin Henry the daughter of the leader of a massive revolt also lives in this world. Once Tamsin and Tommy meet, Tommy discovers that he lives in an unfair unjust world.
For a debut novel for an author I thought it was decent. The story was very slow and the author could've put the main events in more broadly written chapters. It is a feminist novel because most of the men are perceived as cruel and full of hate. The story was good but the writing was not. Out of five I would rate it 3/5

[Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the idea of this book. It's about a group of rebels "The August Five" in a fantasy world fighting for better rights. I felt like it was more geared towards middle school kids and not YA, but that was okay. I wished the ending had been more realistic, but overall it was pretty good. Received copy through Goodreads giveaway.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I received this book in one of my subscriptions, The Bookish Box. I had never heard or seen this book until then. The premise seemed cool, it's not something I have read a lot of books like it. I enjoyed the rebellion aspect and that it showed that not all people are who they seem. But I did find the overall read slow.

[Billie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A preachy middle grade? young adult? novel that uses a fantasy setting to moralize about the gap between the 1% and the rest of us. Maybe if it had been a little bit longer, read a little bit older and had a more developed society/theme that was more than "rich bad, poor good".

[Shelley]

*Recvd via Publisher* Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

[Patty Welch cable · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too wordy. Boring. Storyline that I just didn't care about. Very anti-climatic.

[Orchid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been trying all week to get into this book, and I just cannot. Nothing about it is catching my attention, sad to say.

[stella jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

what.