New City

Grimsdon #2

by Deborah Abela

A new city offers a new life - but what kind of life will Isabella and her friends find? Isabella and her friends are nervous about what they’ll find in the New City. It’s inland and it’s dry – far from the flooded city they’ve just left. Will their lives here be as luxurious and carefree as Xavier says? In fact, bleak, uncertain times have brought darkness and danger to New City. The city has been divided in the citizens who have, and those who the ruling Major General says have come to steal from them – the refugees who have fled the rising waters, who are imprisoned in a camp on the edge of the city. The kids of Grimsdon once faced sea monsters and evil harbour lords, but now they face new threats. From freakish weather events that whip up with little warning to the fierce misinformation that swirls around the city to the theft of their freedom, now they face the prison-like restrictions and control of the New City. Unlike the refugees, they’re heralded as heroes. But what does the Major General really want from them?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

191 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Deb knew she wanted to be a writer when she was 7 years old. Her first story was about a man made out of cheese. It wasn’t very good. She’s had much more practice writing since then and strangely enough her first writing job was for a kids’ show on channel Ten called “Cheez TV”. After 7 years of writing scripts about everything from llamas to bungy jumping and how to go to the toilet in outer space, Deb wrote her first novel - Max Remy Superspy Part 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine.

It’s about a feisty girl called Max and her best friend Linden who travel the world as secret agents fighting bad guys. It’s an action packed series based on loads of adventures Deb had, just after she left school. She’s slept beside alligators, been harassed by monkeys (and who hasn’t) was almost
traded for a camel and was thrown in jail at gunpoint, twice.
Deb still claims her innocence to this day.

Together with sport icon Johnny Warren, Deb also created
the Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) series. It’s about a
young boy called Jasper and his best friend Lil, who love
their soccer and dream of being soccer legends, just like
Johnny. Deb lives in Sydney with her partner Todd, who
is almost as cute as Linden.

Reviews

[Ostelin Randa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was disappointing.

It was basically a short, non-violent version of The Mortal Instruments.

The Major General (Valentine) is using his power to keep people quiet. He is convinced that Isabella (Jace) is like himself and takes her and her friends into his own care and do not harm them. They defy him and everybody is happy (but in The Mortal Instruments more people die).

[Dianne Wolfer]

I’ve enjoyed revisiting the Grimsdon characters and now I’m looking forward to book 3 ...

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts where Grimsdon #1 left off. The children and Jeremiah are leaving the Palace in Grimsdon. They are to be welcomed in New City as survivors of the chaos. The children all hope that the adults in New City will not be like the bullies and thieves of Grimsdon.

When they get to the 'New City', they are allowed to stay together, but in the Garrison. Corporal Smith shows them around and takes them to Jeremiah's house to see if it's standing. Major General Grimes said he will renovate the house if needed. It is, and the work on the property starts.

Isabella is dubious about the adults. They meet Vinjay in the library and learn about the camp for the orphan children. They have been put in a compound outside the Garrison, where the conditions are terrible. The children are poorly fed and live in cold and drafty conditions. Isabella wants to do something about it, Griffin is worried that it'll be dangerous.

They each find a place to work and help. Fly trains a beautiful golden eagle. She has the same connection with the bird as she did with the sea monsters in Grimsdon. Griffin and Xavier tell the adults about the inventions they made to make the Palace more comfortable. Griffin and his greenhouse, which provided them with fresh fruit and vegetables. Griffin is asked to help send out the broadcasts of information to people in the Garrison. Xavier explained about his flying machine and submarine, so they could scavange things from other buildings. He was asked to help with the technology being developed.

Against the orders of the Major General and Corporal Smith, Isabella goes to the camp entrance. She meets and talks to Vinjay and the children inside the camp. When she leaves, the unpredictable weather traps her in a snowstorm.

Vinjay had told Isabella about how they could overcome their terrible conditions and win over the Major General's ill treatment of the orphans through using 'Ghandis' peaceful protests. Isabella was doubtful but willing to help. When the video of their true living conditions and the charm of Vinjay telling jokes was released. The General was watching on his monitor as the orphans were force-marched away from the camp. Their camp had been blown up, so they had nowhere to live.

What he watched was not what he expected. People in New City realised the injustice and came out of their homes as the children passed. They were taken into new warm homes. A fitting end to their tragic lives.

Even better, Isabella, Griffin, Xavier and the younger children went to live with Jeremiah in his renovated home. Fly was reunited with her parents.

I'm now about to start reading 'The Final Storm' the last book in this series.

[Sean Harding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty forgettable read from Abela is the sequel to equally forgettable Grimsdon.

[Susanne Gervay · Rating 5 out of 5]

New City captures the impact of climate change and invites young readers to think about what they can do. Inspiring, imaginative and empowers young people.

[Ava · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5
Let down after the first book - wish there was more of Xavier

[Katarina Palad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very interesting.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabella, Griffin, Xavier, Raffy, Bea, Fly and Jeremiah are evacuated from Grimsdon via government helicopter to New City. As they fly into the city, they notice row upon row of tightly packed houses. There are no gardens, few trees, and no one on the streets- no kids, no bikes, and no people shopping. When the helicopter lands in the compound’s courtyard, four soldiers with tranquilizer guns surround them. This scene doesn’t jive with what the children see on the video screens at the city library- scenes of flawless countryside, neat houses with happy families. General Grimes has instituted green energy programs, better flood barriers, and monitoring stations that detect changes in weather, but there is also constant surveillance- cameras on buildings and lamp posts, robotic spiders equipped with cameras crawling on walls all over New City. The party line? The cameras make sure that anything that will disturb the happiness of the citizens is seen and taken care of immediately. Then, Isabella meets Vijay and learns that the general made a camp for refugee children where they are overworked and underfed. The children slave long hours in the greenhouses to raise food for New City’s residents. If it wasn’t for a group of brave adults who smuggle in food, clothing, and books (and sometimes smuggle out children), the refugee children would have no hope. Isabella borrows an ornithopter (a personal flying machine) and flies to the camp to see the conditions first hand. On her way back, a sudden, violent snowstorm strikes. Isabella crash lands and almost dies of hypothermia, but one of the general’s rescue eagles finds her before it is too late. As Isabella tries to rescue the children from the camp, the general decides to destroy all evidence of his less-than-perfect refugee solution by blowing up the camp and marching the children to certain death. Isabella and her friends counter him with a non-violent protest that generates an overwhelming response from the citizens of New City.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[caitie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable and no where near as good as the first book. There wasn't enough Xavier and too much Griffon.
Isabella was my favourite character in the first book but in this book she was being really dumb and I found myself very disappointed in her.
Overall this book was a letdown.

[David Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about a girl and her friend that escaped a flood at her homeland to a city named "New City"

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - 4 stars. Worth a read.

[Tasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book actually has 304 pages rather than 204 pages anyways, this is just an adventurous and fun read!

[St Stephen's C C]

A new city offers a new life - but what kind of life will Isabella and her friends find? Isabella and her friends are nervous about what they'll find in the New City. It's inland and it's dry far from the flooded city they've just left. Will their lives here be as luxurious and carefree as Xavier says? In fact, bleak, uncertain times have brought darkness and danger to New City. The city has been divided in two- the citizens who have, and those who the ruling Major General says have come to steal from them the refugees who have fled the rising waters, who are imprisoned in a camp on the edge of the city. The kids of Grimsdon once faced sea monsters and evil harbour lords, but now they face new threats. From freakish weather events that whip up with little warning to the fierce misinformation that swirls around the city to the theft of their freedom, now they face the prison-like restrictions and control of the New City. Unlike the refugees, they're heralded as heroes. But what does the Major General really want from them?