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Outside
From three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm, a chilling but heartfelt story of a girl being raised in a compound who doesn't understand how isolated and unusual her life is... until she must encounter the outside world. Whatever you do, don't leave home.Razzi has always been Don't go Outside. It isn't safe. There are people and creatures out there that will harm you. The walls of the Refuge will protect you from them.Razzi's friend Ollie was curious about Outside... and it led to his death. So Razzi is trying to be on her best behavior. She is the oldest kid left, the one the younger kids look up to. She has to follow the rules.But Outside has a way of getting in, and Razzi, guided by a dog she has a strangely close connection with, wonders what it’s like to run free beyond the walls.If she steps away from everything she's ever known... what will she find?
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2025
70 people are currently reading
4878 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer L. Holm
106 books1,734 followersJennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with nearly 10 million books in print. She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
October 15, 2025
This book has an interesting premise but suffers from poor pacing and certain too-unbelievable plot points. Razzie has grown up in a protected compound after a global war has taken out most of the population and turned most survivors (Poisoneds) into something akin to zombies. When a health check reveals that Razzie has a heart defect, she is given a transplanted greyhound heart. Afterward, she begins remembering certain of the greyhound's memories. It has also made her more curious about the Outside, and she becomes convinced that she needs to escape and find her greyhound’s kennel buddy, another dog.
The greyhound heart just did not work for me. While I could accept that in this world, technology has advanced so far that animal organs can be transplanted into humans, I had a harder time believing that it would easily be acquired and transplanted by a single off-the-grid surgeon into a patient who has undergone limited tests. On top of that, the dog memories were just ridiculous. A heart gave her those??
And then, once Razzie reaches the Outside, that part of the story is so rushed, and everything wraps up so quickly. That was the exciting part! I wanted more of that and less of the kids' boring routines and games and meals inside the compound, which seemed to go on and on.
The greyhound heart just did not work for me. While I could accept that in this world, technology has advanced so far that animal organs can be transplanted into humans, I had a harder time believing that it would easily be acquired and transplanted by a single off-the-grid surgeon into a patient who has undergone limited tests. On top of that, the dog memories were just ridiculous. A heart gave her those??
And then, once Razzie reaches the Outside, that part of the story is so rushed, and everything wraps up so quickly. That was the exciting part! I wanted more of that and less of the kids' boring routines and games and meals inside the compound, which seemed to go on and on.
May 30, 2025
Life lived apart from the outside for fear of the Poisoned.
A transplanted dog’s heart that changes the very nature of the recipient.
The shocking discovery that leads to the arrest of parents and removal of kids.
All of this made for a chaotic and unsettling dystopian-ish, realistic fiction, story that will likely not be on my school shelves. I’ve enjoyed other titles by Holm, this one just fell flat.
A transplanted dog’s heart that changes the very nature of the recipient.
The shocking discovery that leads to the arrest of parents and removal of kids.
All of this made for a chaotic and unsettling dystopian-ish, realistic fiction, story that will likely not be on my school shelves. I’ve enjoyed other titles by Holm, this one just fell flat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
Wonderful middle grade novel by prolific children’s book author, Jennifer Holm! But this one is not for readers of her long-lasting BabyMouse graphic novels and traditional format choices, rather those who have enjoyed her Turtle Paradise duology and Lion of Mars standalone novel. But this one defies categorization. At first I labeled it middle grade dystopian, but the ending eliminated that choice. There are shades of sci-fi and when you reach the conclusion, realistic fiction comes to mind. Intrigued? You should be. In only 226 pages, Holm grabs ahold of readers’ attention with the story of a post-apocalyptic time with 7 adults and a handful of survivors barricaded in an abandoned estate and now called “The Refuge.” Residents have lived there for most of 12 year old Razzi’s life and now have a well-oiled system of shared chores and a scheduled day with adults and children alike taking part in keeping the small community safe, fed, and healthy. But the death of one her friends and a transplant using the heart of a greyhound, Razzi has begun to feel differently. Not only is she wondering about the unshakeable draw of the Outside for her now deceased friend Ollie but she is taking on some of the abilities and traits of the strong, fast and curious Wind, the canine who gave her new life. Eventually, Razzi leaves the fortress she calls home and escapes into the Outside to discover something that will change her life, and the lives of those she calls family, forever.
Along with being a difficult book to categorize, OUTSIDE is also a hard book to review without giving away too much. But, noting Holm’s ability to develop a strong leading character and several equally strong supporting ones is easy. Razzi takes her role as “The First” seriously and leads the other children during their day and does her absolute best to keep them safe. Her father, although a supporting character, is a resilient and capable leader who loves his two children, wife and other residents and has developed a system to guard against the “Poisoned,” those who might breach their walls and cause them harm. And Bing and Merry stand out as Razzi’s younger, and high energy younger brother and a friend who drives her crazy at times, but is also equally invested in keeping their home protected.
With its instantly engaging introduction, the big twist and the low page count, Holm’s OUTSIDE is perfect for grades 3-6 and is highly recommended. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and significant violence, although the adults at The Refuge stay armed against The Poisoned and do defend themselves when two make it into a courtyard but without any blood or gore. Physical descriptions are few and cultural traditions not a part of the plot so race of those living in The Refuge is unclear, allowing readers to decide for themselves unless the cover brings them to define all as Caucasian.
Note on cover: Razzi’s stance certainly brings her strength of personality to mind and the idea of being secluded inside is clear. It is a cover that draws the eye. Too bad a child is excluded and the place where they are looking to the outside did not exist in the book. I would’ve preferred the cover artist use the view from the attic or courtyard the residents did have rather than a hole in a wall they didn’t.
Along with being a difficult book to categorize, OUTSIDE is also a hard book to review without giving away too much. But, noting Holm’s ability to develop a strong leading character and several equally strong supporting ones is easy. Razzi takes her role as “The First” seriously and leads the other children during their day and does her absolute best to keep them safe. Her father, although a supporting character, is a resilient and capable leader who loves his two children, wife and other residents and has developed a system to guard against the “Poisoned,” those who might breach their walls and cause them harm. And Bing and Merry stand out as Razzi’s younger, and high energy younger brother and a friend who drives her crazy at times, but is also equally invested in keeping their home protected.
With its instantly engaging introduction, the big twist and the low page count, Holm’s OUTSIDE is perfect for grades 3-6 and is highly recommended. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and significant violence, although the adults at The Refuge stay armed against The Poisoned and do defend themselves when two make it into a courtyard but without any blood or gore. Physical descriptions are few and cultural traditions not a part of the plot so race of those living in The Refuge is unclear, allowing readers to decide for themselves unless the cover brings them to define all as Caucasian.
Note on cover: Razzi’s stance certainly brings her strength of personality to mind and the idea of being secluded inside is clear. It is a cover that draws the eye. Too bad a child is excluded and the place where they are looking to the outside did not exist in the book. I would’ve preferred the cover artist use the view from the attic or courtyard the residents did have rather than a hole in a wall they didn’t.
January 22, 2026
*2.5
Razzi’s only memories are of living in a closed compound with her mother, father and younger brother, Bing, along with a handful of other children and adults. The world became unsafe after the Great Poisoning, where chemical weapons decimated the majority of life on Earth. Everyone in the “Refuge” must follow a strict regime to keep themselves safe. What remains of the world, crawls with dangerous zombies, The Poisoned, who were not quite eliminated in the attack. All efforts mush be taken to protect the surviving children from the life-ending contact with the outside world. This included keeping everyone from experiencing The Outside.
I am a big fan of Jennifer Holm. I love her historical fiction, which is always traced with a large dose of humor. I’m not a fan of dystopian books. If I’m remembering correctly Holm’s most recent books that have not been graphic novels are shelved in my Science Fiction section. This one will go there as well, however I feel it is lacking any sense of humor at all. I could have been grimmer, but felt light enough for middle-grade. I think I will find readers for it.
Now to the spoiler portion: This very much could have been a Margaret Peterson Haddix book, but it didn’t work as well for me as, for instance , Running Out of Time. While I’ve been writing this review I’ve been chatting with a friend about it. She pointed out that it works for the Dues ex Machina prompt we need this year. The final third of the book takes a drastic swerve, and very much fits the prompt. I found myself a little more engaged at that point, but the heaviness that should have accompanied it was diluted by keeping the book middle-grade. Concurrently, I’m reading an adult book, What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown, that plays with similar themes, but feels much more believable.
Razzi’s only memories are of living in a closed compound with her mother, father and younger brother, Bing, along with a handful of other children and adults. The world became unsafe after the Great Poisoning, where chemical weapons decimated the majority of life on Earth. Everyone in the “Refuge” must follow a strict regime to keep themselves safe. What remains of the world, crawls with dangerous zombies, The Poisoned, who were not quite eliminated in the attack. All efforts mush be taken to protect the surviving children from the life-ending contact with the outside world. This included keeping everyone from experiencing The Outside.
I am a big fan of Jennifer Holm. I love her historical fiction, which is always traced with a large dose of humor. I’m not a fan of dystopian books. If I’m remembering correctly Holm’s most recent books that have not been graphic novels are shelved in my Science Fiction section. This one will go there as well, however I feel it is lacking any sense of humor at all. I could have been grimmer, but felt light enough for middle-grade. I think I will find readers for it.
Now to the spoiler portion: This very much could have been a Margaret Peterson Haddix book, but it didn’t work as well for me as, for instance , Running Out of Time. While I’ve been writing this review I’ve been chatting with a friend about it. She pointed out that it works for the Dues ex Machina prompt we need this year. The final third of the book takes a drastic swerve, and very much fits the prompt. I found myself a little more engaged at that point, but the heaviness that should have accompanied it was diluted by keeping the book middle-grade. Concurrently, I’m reading an adult book, What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown, that plays with similar themes, but feels much more believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
S.A. Bodeen for Gen Alpha
October 16, 2025
A quick listen about a girl who grows up sheltered from the world. It gave me "Running out of Time" vibes. I really hope there is a follow up, so we know what happens to the kids.
October 18, 2025
what in the world
March 10, 2026
I read this book for a middle school book club, and overall I had mixed feelings about it.
The concept was interesting, and it’s a very quick read, which makes it accessible for younger audiences. The mystery surrounding the compound-type thingy and what lies outside it definitely keeps the reader curious, and it provides plenty of material for discussion.
However, I couldn’t help noticing how similar the plot felt to the movie The Village. The overall structure and twist are extremely alike, which made parts of the story feel predictable if you’re already familiar with that film. (It's essentially word-for-word the same plot...)
There were also a few elements that felt confusing or underexplained. One example is the storyline involving the main character receiving a greyhound heart transplant, which leads to her developing dog-like tendencies. (The number of furry jokes these kids are gonna make...) This concept was unusual and interesting, but it wasn’t explored much further, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Content-wise, the book includes some mentions of death and medical issues but remains appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Overall, this is a quick and intriguing read that younger audiences may enjoy, especially if they like mysterious settings and twist-driven stories. However, readers familiar with The Village may find the similarities hard to ignore.
The concept was interesting, and it’s a very quick read, which makes it accessible for younger audiences. The mystery surrounding the compound-type thingy and what lies outside it definitely keeps the reader curious, and it provides plenty of material for discussion.
However, I couldn’t help noticing how similar the plot felt to the movie The Village. The overall structure and twist are extremely alike, which made parts of the story feel predictable if you’re already familiar with that film. (It's essentially word-for-word the same plot...)
There were also a few elements that felt confusing or underexplained. One example is the storyline involving the main character receiving a greyhound heart transplant, which leads to her developing dog-like tendencies. (The number of furry jokes these kids are gonna make...) This concept was unusual and interesting, but it wasn’t explored much further, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Content-wise, the book includes some mentions of death and medical issues but remains appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Overall, this is a quick and intriguing read that younger audiences may enjoy, especially if they like mysterious settings and twist-driven stories. However, readers familiar with The Village may find the similarities hard to ignore.
October 27, 2025
A strange story about a girl raised in a "compound" without the world around her.
February 18, 2026
This is a middle grade book but it was powerful. The story is so much more than a world of survivors holed up in a refuge...its a lot like The Village movie but a kids version.A mystery for kids.
October 6, 2025
Sometimes a book hits that sweet spot between eerie and emotional—Outside almost gets there.
I really try to read middle grade through the lens of a younger reader, to feel the magic and mindset they would. Usually, that’s easy enough… until now. While Outside is solidly written and layered with themes that could genuinely spark thought in its readers, it never fully pulled me in.
The whole time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was reading an M. Night Shyamalan plot—something along the lines of The Village. That made the story feel overly predictable and not quite as original as I hoped. But here’s the thing: middle grade readers likely haven’t seen those movies, so what feels familiar to adults could still feel completely fresh and thrilling to them.
Some of the dialogue and character choices, though, didn’t land as authentic, which made it tough to stay immersed, even for a dystopian setup. From a content perspective, it definitely leans older—probably best suited for readers on the cusp of YA, given some of the heavier themes. Ironically, I’m not sure those 13–15-year-olds would find enough excitement here to keep them hooked.
Overall, Outside will work for a specific slice of the middle grade audience—those ready to think a little deeper, but not quite ready to cross over into YA.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Scholastic via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Since I primarily read ARCs, I focus on how I believe middle grade readers will respond. I sometimes round my rating up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, while doing my best not to let my own personal preferences weigh too heavily.
My Rating System for Middle Grade and Children’s Books
⭐️ 1 Star – Significant problems; I would not recommend it to the intended audience.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – A lot of trouble connecting with it; issues with prose or overall execution, though it may still hold some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – An okay read. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it, but it has value for young readers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – A really enjoyable book! I would recommend it for the appropriate age or reading level.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Outstanding! I would highly recommend it, especially for classrooms or school programs as a great wide-spread reading
I really try to read middle grade through the lens of a younger reader, to feel the magic and mindset they would. Usually, that’s easy enough… until now. While Outside is solidly written and layered with themes that could genuinely spark thought in its readers, it never fully pulled me in.
The whole time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was reading an M. Night Shyamalan plot—something along the lines of The Village. That made the story feel overly predictable and not quite as original as I hoped. But here’s the thing: middle grade readers likely haven’t seen those movies, so what feels familiar to adults could still feel completely fresh and thrilling to them.
Some of the dialogue and character choices, though, didn’t land as authentic, which made it tough to stay immersed, even for a dystopian setup. From a content perspective, it definitely leans older—probably best suited for readers on the cusp of YA, given some of the heavier themes. Ironically, I’m not sure those 13–15-year-olds would find enough excitement here to keep them hooked.
Overall, Outside will work for a specific slice of the middle grade audience—those ready to think a little deeper, but not quite ready to cross over into YA.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Scholastic via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Since I primarily read ARCs, I focus on how I believe middle grade readers will respond. I sometimes round my rating up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, while doing my best not to let my own personal preferences weigh too heavily.
My Rating System for Middle Grade and Children’s Books
⭐️ 1 Star – Significant problems; I would not recommend it to the intended audience.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – A lot of trouble connecting with it; issues with prose or overall execution, though it may still hold some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – An okay read. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it, but it has value for young readers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – A really enjoyable book! I would recommend it for the appropriate age or reading level.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Outstanding! I would highly recommend it, especially for classrooms or school programs as a great wide-spread reading
October 15, 2025
Razzi lives with her parents, brother, and several other families in a compound after the collapse of civilization. At first, I felt like this was going to be The Road for kids. Confusingly, they have electricity, plumbing, and plenty of food; but I tried not to think too hard.
In an utterly bizarre twist, Razzi gets a heart transplant in the compound. And the heart came from a dog. My suspension of disbelief was unraveling at this point. Yes, this is in the future, but “dog to human heart transplant in a post-apocalyptic compound” is where I have to keep poking holes.
THEN Razzi is mysteriously becoming one with the dog—sort of like ET and Elliott. Wait, what??! I know. I know. The dog’s spirit or something encourages her to leave the compound, and Razzi discovers her parents have been lying to her! The world didn’t end! They are just a bit extra-protective and didn’t like where things were headed, so they moved into this fortress.
Razzi ends up getting reunited with her grandparents, and her parents have visitation rights. So now I’m uncomfortably on THEIR side! The author didn’t make them obviously irrational, reckless, or dangerous enough to get their kids taken away; in fact, they seemed incongruently stable for the unconventional choice they made. I think this is a major flaw. It allows us to see how Razzi could be deceived, but it’s not clear that she’s a victim.
So what is this book about really? Random as ever, the author’s note was to explain that pig to human transplants have already been successful. Right…but now tell me why an apparently competent transplant surgeon is living with these paranoid weirdos willingly rationing toilet paper.
Is it about kids questioning their parents’ choices? Is it about over-protective parenting? Worth noting: there is no religious affiliation.
I should probably add that this is first-person point-of-view, and Razzi’s thoughts are neither sophisticated nor profound. Also sometimes she’s part dog. So don’t read this for the writing…but I will admit that I was curious to find out what was going to happen.
In an utterly bizarre twist, Razzi gets a heart transplant in the compound. And the heart came from a dog. My suspension of disbelief was unraveling at this point. Yes, this is in the future, but “dog to human heart transplant in a post-apocalyptic compound” is where I have to keep poking holes.
THEN Razzi is mysteriously becoming one with the dog—sort of like ET and Elliott. Wait, what??! I know. I know. The dog’s spirit or something encourages her to leave the compound, and Razzi discovers her parents have been lying to her! The world didn’t end! They are just a bit extra-protective and didn’t like where things were headed, so they moved into this fortress.
Razzi ends up getting reunited with her grandparents, and her parents have visitation rights. So now I’m uncomfortably on THEIR side! The author didn’t make them obviously irrational, reckless, or dangerous enough to get their kids taken away; in fact, they seemed incongruently stable for the unconventional choice they made. I think this is a major flaw. It allows us to see how Razzi could be deceived, but it’s not clear that she’s a victim.
So what is this book about really? Random as ever, the author’s note was to explain that pig to human transplants have already been successful. Right…but now tell me why an apparently competent transplant surgeon is living with these paranoid weirdos willingly rationing toilet paper.
Is it about kids questioning their parents’ choices? Is it about over-protective parenting? Worth noting: there is no religious affiliation.
I should probably add that this is first-person point-of-view, and Razzi’s thoughts are neither sophisticated nor profound. Also sometimes she’s part dog. So don’t read this for the writing…but I will admit that I was curious to find out what was going to happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2025
So this was very interesting. Not my typical book but I still enjoyed it. The main character was good, I liked her. She was always trying to be the responsible one and to take care of all the other kids. I didn’t like the other kids, especially her brother. That kid was a brat, like get her in trouble for something he did that she tried to stop type of brat. I also was kinda weirded out with the how heart thing, it seemed like she was slowly turning into a dog and I didn’t like that very much. I was not expecting the ending at all and honestly, I did like how it ended. It was sad and a bit dark at times. Would I choose to give this book to any random kid? Probably not. Especially not if they are animals lovers and are sensitive to animal death. But I still don’t think it’s a bad book. Just one of those 50/50 type ones.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book!
July 3, 2025
As dystopian stories go, I do think this one will captivate younger middle school readers. As an adult who has read many from this genre and clues to what was to come were abundant. The story itself was a bit odd and I had a difficult time getting on board with it. I did, however, enjoy reading it and will recommend it to my students.
January 10, 2026
Twelve-year-old Razzie, her little brother Bing, her parents, and three other families are some of the only survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. They all live in the reserve, a walled-in compound with a large estate, where they are trying to stay safe and survive. During WW3, an unnamed country dropped poison on the world, killing most humans and animals. Those that did survive become poisoned and now act like zombies.
As the first, or oldest child, Razzie is responsible for setting a good example and protecting the younger kids. But as she gets older, and after a tragic accident involving one of the other children, Razzie begins to wonder what is Outside.
A super heavy dystopian book. It reminds me a bit of The Giver, as the kids are so young and grappling with such deep issues and questions. Honestly, make the older kids teens and throw in a love triangle, and this could be a teen book. It wraps up a bit too quickly and easily and left me with lots of questions and wishing there had been more answers. This one will probably stay with me awhile.
Audiobook was good.
As the first, or oldest child, Razzie is responsible for setting a good example and protecting the younger kids. But as she gets older, and after a tragic accident involving one of the other children, Razzie begins to wonder what is Outside.
A super heavy dystopian book. It reminds me a bit of The Giver, as the kids are so young and grappling with such deep issues and questions. Honestly, make the older kids teens and throw in a love triangle, and this could be a teen book. It wraps up a bit too quickly and easily and left me with lots of questions and wishing there had been more answers. This one will probably stay with me awhile.
Audiobook was good.
January 28, 2026
“Outside” is a riveting mid-grade novel that is spellbinding because it exposes the fears of both adults and children about the future. “The world is a dangerous place.” On that fearsome premise, Razzi, 12, her parents, little brother and a few other families live in the Refuge, a former billionaire’s mansion. No one is allowed outside its tall walls to avoid the “Poisoned,” sick victims of a world war a decade ago, who would kill you on sight. The self-sufficient community survives on canned foods and they keep chickens for fresh eggs. Razzi has a weak heart, but their Surgeon is able to transplant a greyhound’s heart to save her life in this futuristic era. Now, Razzi loves to run, and has heightened senses of smell and hearing…which leads her to escape to the Outside forests, fields, and sky full of stars. You will be transported by Jennifer Holm’s prose and the powerful surprise ending. I was!
March 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for a free ebook ARC in exchange for a review.
This story had me intrigued from the very first page! I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of a seemingly dystopian world where Razzi and her friends and a group of parents live in a compound called The Refuge. After The Great Poisoning, the outside world hasn’t been the same. It is wild, unprotected, and people called The Poisoned, are dangerous. In the compound, they make up games, and learn survival skills, but Razzi becomes curious about Outside after the tragic death of her friend, Ollie.
Overall, this was a fun story and I think it will appeal to younger middle grade readers. It is fast paced and mysterious.
This story had me intrigued from the very first page! I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of a seemingly dystopian world where Razzi and her friends and a group of parents live in a compound called The Refuge. After The Great Poisoning, the outside world hasn’t been the same. It is wild, unprotected, and people called The Poisoned, are dangerous. In the compound, they make up games, and learn survival skills, but Razzi becomes curious about Outside after the tragic death of her friend, Ollie.
Overall, this was a fun story and I think it will appeal to younger middle grade readers. It is fast paced and mysterious.
December 14, 2025
This started out strong and I thought was going to enjoy it. After the greyhound transplant it went downhill for me. There was not enough background to understand the setting- it was a rushed telling at the end. A much better book with a similar theme and in fact a favorite book of mine, Running Out of Time does a much better job of plot pacing, character development, and theme development. The heart transplant was a distraction to the overall plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2026
Weird. The secondary plot point had no point in the end. I don’t love telling kid readers that their parents could lose their minds over a tragedy. A little bit of hope at the end, I guess, but not enough to redeem.
July 27, 2025
Was not expecting that at all. Wow. I may need to read more of Holm’s other novels.
September 3, 2025
This one is AWESOME! Fabulous ending, and I couldn’t stop reading. Excellent dystopian story with lots of twists and incredible perspective, too.
Middle grade readers… don’t miss it! :-)
Middle grade readers… don’t miss it! :-)
October 18, 2025
Outside will be an easy sell.
I couldn't put this book down and I think kids will really like this story.
I couldn't put this book down and I think kids will really like this story.
December 15, 2025
3.5 - A great middle grade dystopian-ish novel about a girl and her discovery of the world outside her underground commune. Would be a perfect read for 4-6th as it scratches the surface of a dystopian setting with some suspense but nothing too dark.
December 8, 2025
3.5. Interesting throughout. Like Zombieland or Unwind. And then a disturbing ending.
October 14, 2025
Another winner from Jennifer L. Holm!
Outside, the middle grade dystopian novel, sparked my interest, and the short chapters kept me quickly turning the pages. After receiving the heart of a greyhound in a transplant, Razzi notices that she can smell things better and can hear things that the other kids can't hear. She even starts having the greyhound's memories, and this part of the plot truly intrigued me. Middle grade readers will devour this dystopian novel from one of their favorite authors.
Outside, the middle grade dystopian novel, sparked my interest, and the short chapters kept me quickly turning the pages. After receiving the heart of a greyhound in a transplant, Razzi notices that she can smell things better and can hear things that the other kids can't hear. She even starts having the greyhound's memories, and this part of the plot truly intrigued me. Middle grade readers will devour this dystopian novel from one of their favorite authors.
November 26, 2025
Suitably weird. A small group of children are living in isolation in a mansion compound after The Great Poisoning. Examines safety vs freedom.
December 28, 2025
Great middle grade dystopian. Reminded me of Running out of Time by Margaret Haddix. Two thumbs up.
May 24, 2025
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!
This book follows a group of kids who live on a compound after the great poisoning. However, things are not as they seem.
I thought this book was interesting throughout. I liked following the different characters and relationships. The writing was good and I think kids will enjoy it.
However, I do feel like I’ve seen this trope a lot and this book was very similar to the movie “the village” and it just felt lackluster to me because of that. I knew what was going to happen since it is so similar to that movie.
Overall, not a bad book but I don’t feel like it was super original.
This book follows a group of kids who live on a compound after the great poisoning. However, things are not as they seem.
I thought this book was interesting throughout. I liked following the different characters and relationships. The writing was good and I think kids will enjoy it.
However, I do feel like I’ve seen this trope a lot and this book was very similar to the movie “the village” and it just felt lackluster to me because of that. I knew what was going to happen since it is so similar to that movie.
Overall, not a bad book but I don’t feel like it was super original.
January 9, 2026
I loved the book and the plot twist in the book!😁
August 17, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC.
I am sad to say this one book was a disappointment for me. Nothing really happened until the very end of the story. Most of it the story focused on life on the Refuge and how the adults wont let the kids go Outside because everyone was killed by war or disease and are now The Poisoned. With the genre being post-apocalyptic, I thought I would devour this book and love it. However…the book takes a HUGE twist that I didn’t see coming, and it was…intriguing, but most of the book was honestly such a drag. Although I am the only person who finds The Boxcar children boring and most people adore the classic tale. The Boxcar Children is even alluded to in the story, so I guess fans of Boxcar Children might find this book more entertaining than I did. The characters felt very flimsy, the dialogue felt forced, and the writing just felt very simple and dull. Sadly, it was not a hit for me but it may simply be NOT my cup of tea.
I am sad to say this one book was a disappointment for me. Nothing really happened until the very end of the story. Most of it the story focused on life on the Refuge and how the adults wont let the kids go Outside because everyone was killed by war or disease and are now The Poisoned. With the genre being post-apocalyptic, I thought I would devour this book and love it. However…the book takes a HUGE twist that I didn’t see coming, and it was…intriguing, but most of the book was honestly such a drag. Although I am the only person who finds The Boxcar children boring and most people adore the classic tale. The Boxcar Children is even alluded to in the story, so I guess fans of Boxcar Children might find this book more entertaining than I did. The characters felt very flimsy, the dialogue felt forced, and the writing just felt very simple and dull. Sadly, it was not a hit for me but it may simply be NOT my cup of tea.
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