What do you think?
The Lockdown Artist
Federal Educational Site #231 isn’t just Ben Walker’s school. It is also his home.
All Ben wants is to graduate and get out. That is, until a routine Code Red draws him close to a mysterious girl named Jazz Lewis.
She is the Lockdown Artist.
Long ago, public schools merged with juvenile detention. Classes meet behind locked doors and under armed guard, monitored by an AI known only as the Algorithm. Every move is captured by cameras and microphones, even as the Algorithm controls what they are permitted to learn.
Ben is focused on the scholarship that could take him away from 231. Bit by bit, however, Jazz brings him into a plan to expose the school. What is the Algorithm? And why do decency and fairness evaporate under its unblinking eye? Soon enough, Ben is desperate to understand what Jazz seems to know.
She is the star of the junior class. She is also a state prisoner.
The Lockdown Artist is a young adult dystopian thriller for fans of the suspense of The Hunger Games, the mystery of The Maze Runner, and the romance of Divergent.
All Ben wants is to graduate and get out. That is, until a routine Code Red draws him close to a mysterious girl named Jazz Lewis.
She is the Lockdown Artist.
Long ago, public schools merged with juvenile detention. Classes meet behind locked doors and under armed guard, monitored by an AI known only as the Algorithm. Every move is captured by cameras and microphones, even as the Algorithm controls what they are permitted to learn.
Ben is focused on the scholarship that could take him away from 231. Bit by bit, however, Jazz brings him into a plan to expose the school. What is the Algorithm? And why do decency and fairness evaporate under its unblinking eye? Soon enough, Ben is desperate to understand what Jazz seems to know.
She is the star of the junior class. She is also a state prisoner.
The Lockdown Artist is a young adult dystopian thriller for fans of the suspense of The Hunger Games, the mystery of The Maze Runner, and the romance of Divergent.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 29, 2026
The Lockdown Artist is a YA dystopian thriller that is far closer to our youth’s reality than is comfortable.
We follow a group of teens from Federal Education Site #231; a place that serves as both a public school and a juvenile detention center. Among these teens are Jazz and Ben — two of the brightest in their class. Ben is content to keep his head down, get a scholarship and ditch 231… until Jazz opens his eyes to the greater injustices of this broken system.
This book is startlingly reflective of both the American public school system and the prison industry. I tried to read this through the eyes of a contemporary teen and that really made the experience all the more frightening. The author is a teacher and it’s clear he comes from a place of deep understanding on the fractures in our educational systems.
The themes run deep but retain digestibility for a younger audience. Among some of the heavy topics this story explores are: surveillance, prejudice, propaganda and privilege. Again, this is a topical dystopian with sharp commentary on our current systems and how they feed prejudice and inequity.
I found myself losing engagement slightly with some of the repetitive teen lingo and predictable outcomes but all told, this is a captivating and impactful stories with a teen cast I really came to care for.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.
We follow a group of teens from Federal Education Site #231; a place that serves as both a public school and a juvenile detention center. Among these teens are Jazz and Ben — two of the brightest in their class. Ben is content to keep his head down, get a scholarship and ditch 231… until Jazz opens his eyes to the greater injustices of this broken system.
This book is startlingly reflective of both the American public school system and the prison industry. I tried to read this through the eyes of a contemporary teen and that really made the experience all the more frightening. The author is a teacher and it’s clear he comes from a place of deep understanding on the fractures in our educational systems.
The themes run deep but retain digestibility for a younger audience. Among some of the heavy topics this story explores are: surveillance, prejudice, propaganda and privilege. Again, this is a topical dystopian with sharp commentary on our current systems and how they feed prejudice and inequity.
I found myself losing engagement slightly with some of the repetitive teen lingo and predictable outcomes but all told, this is a captivating and impactful stories with a teen cast I really came to care for.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.
February 2, 2026
One of the best things I can say about a novel is that I lost sleep over it - not because of the content, but because when it was bed time, I wanted to read one more chapter. This is absolutely the kind of experience I had with The Lockdown Artist by Jay Wamsted.
I have followed Jay on Twitter (currently X) for quite some time and know him to be a fun and engaging school teacher. When I saw that he had written a novel, I wanted to support him, and I knew that the book would be fun. What I didn't know was what a gripping story it would be - think 1984 in a high school for a general framework, but it is more than that. There are shades of Frankenstein and Hunger Games (and sadly some hints of Project 2025 - although that might have been my addition as I was reading it just after the deaths in Minneapolis).
What I most appreciate about Jay's writing is how much he respects his young adult audience - something actually quite rare in YA literature. So many YA authors feel like they have to over-explain to avoid confusion, but what that really does is avoid excitement. Young readers like to have things revealed after they have thought about them for a while, hence the success of the Harry Potter franchise, where some payoffs came two to three books later.
In The Lockdown Artist, you arrive along with a new student, Liam, in the middle of the school year. Rather than spoon feed you an explanation of the school, Jay knows that the reader is capable of figuring things out as the story unfolds and doesn't bore them with a ton of exposition at the beginning. You find out parts of the mystery as the characters do, so there are surprises around every corner (almost literally). There were moments where I sat up straighter and said, "No. Oh, what are they going to do now?" out loud while I was reading.
Characters can be tricky in YA lit as well because they are often written by adults who either write their teen characters as adults in young bodies or write them as clichéd tropes of pop culture references. Jay's teaching experience means he knows adolescents, and he writes these teenagers as complex, three dimensional characters (salty language and all) rather than stereotypes. I appreciate that, and I think young adult readers will too.
The book didn't end quite the way I envisioned or perhaps even hoped, but it does end in an interesting and thought provoking way. I highly recommend this book to high school, college, and adult readers who enjoy a little dystopian fiction in their lives.
I have followed Jay on Twitter (currently X) for quite some time and know him to be a fun and engaging school teacher. When I saw that he had written a novel, I wanted to support him, and I knew that the book would be fun. What I didn't know was what a gripping story it would be - think 1984 in a high school for a general framework, but it is more than that. There are shades of Frankenstein and Hunger Games (and sadly some hints of Project 2025 - although that might have been my addition as I was reading it just after the deaths in Minneapolis).
What I most appreciate about Jay's writing is how much he respects his young adult audience - something actually quite rare in YA literature. So many YA authors feel like they have to over-explain to avoid confusion, but what that really does is avoid excitement. Young readers like to have things revealed after they have thought about them for a while, hence the success of the Harry Potter franchise, where some payoffs came two to three books later.
In The Lockdown Artist, you arrive along with a new student, Liam, in the middle of the school year. Rather than spoon feed you an explanation of the school, Jay knows that the reader is capable of figuring things out as the story unfolds and doesn't bore them with a ton of exposition at the beginning. You find out parts of the mystery as the characters do, so there are surprises around every corner (almost literally). There were moments where I sat up straighter and said, "No. Oh, what are they going to do now?" out loud while I was reading.
Characters can be tricky in YA lit as well because they are often written by adults who either write their teen characters as adults in young bodies or write them as clichéd tropes of pop culture references. Jay's teaching experience means he knows adolescents, and he writes these teenagers as complex, three dimensional characters (salty language and all) rather than stereotypes. I appreciate that, and I think young adult readers will too.
The book didn't end quite the way I envisioned or perhaps even hoped, but it does end in an interesting and thought provoking way. I highly recommend this book to high school, college, and adult readers who enjoy a little dystopian fiction in their lives.
February 4, 2026
for all who love dystopian novels…
This book is so good. These teens are living in their own brave new world but it looks a heck of a lot like 2026! The changes that have been made are going on right now and the consequences are there.
Your teens will love this group of teens. This book is also a great way to bring up true issues like education and racism and true enemies etc. Not to mention how current political situations might affect them in the future.
The author doesn’t baby you through this new world with new societal divisions. You get thrown in to figure it out as you go. It’s part of the enjoyment.
I’m assuming this is the first of a series, and I do so hope it is.
Warning: don’t start this book when you have some place to go! Bc you’ll want to finish it that day.
Bravo.
This book is so good. These teens are living in their own brave new world but it looks a heck of a lot like 2026! The changes that have been made are going on right now and the consequences are there.
Your teens will love this group of teens. This book is also a great way to bring up true issues like education and racism and true enemies etc. Not to mention how current political situations might affect them in the future.
The author doesn’t baby you through this new world with new societal divisions. You get thrown in to figure it out as you go. It’s part of the enjoyment.
I’m assuming this is the first of a series, and I do so hope it is.
Warning: don’t start this book when you have some place to go! Bc you’ll want to finish it that day.
Bravo.
June 5, 2026
I went into this book thinking it was going to be a fun YA dystopian read, and what it ended up being was so much more important.
This story takes place in a school. But the school is more so a prison. The children do not get to go home and EVERY LITTLE THING they do is monitored. They do not have freedom of speech, they do not have freedom of expression, and if they step out of line they face harsh and cruel consequences.
But the children are fighting back. In the clever ways that they can. And they’re determined to dismantle the system.
I personally think this book should be mandatory reading in schools. This book makes you think about the cracks in our education system, as well as our prison system. It tackles the important topic of excessive force and violence used by people in authority—and how horrifying and evil it is. And it makes you face the reality of what our world could become if mass surveillance and AI algorithms dominate.
I loved that in this book, there were no real enemies among the students. For the most part, everyone banded together to fight back in the ways they could against the corrupt authority. Even if someone wasn’t a part of “the plan,” there was an unspoken agreement that no one was going to rat a fellow peer out. Even if they weren’t close friends, there was a level of camaraderie among the students which I think is a really positive message and example that pre teens and teens need.
My only complaint about this book is I wish there’d been more backstory as to what led the world to become this way where such a strict schooling institution was put into place, as well as a bit more backstory as to why the main characters were put there. I found I didn’t feel super emotionally attached to the characters until almost the end of the book, so a bit of backstory would’ve helped form an emotional attachment to them earlier on.
But other than that, I thought this book was great, and I personally think this could end up becoming a very important book, sitting among the other great classics in dystopian political fiction.
This story takes place in a school. But the school is more so a prison. The children do not get to go home and EVERY LITTLE THING they do is monitored. They do not have freedom of speech, they do not have freedom of expression, and if they step out of line they face harsh and cruel consequences.
But the children are fighting back. In the clever ways that they can. And they’re determined to dismantle the system.
I personally think this book should be mandatory reading in schools. This book makes you think about the cracks in our education system, as well as our prison system. It tackles the important topic of excessive force and violence used by people in authority—and how horrifying and evil it is. And it makes you face the reality of what our world could become if mass surveillance and AI algorithms dominate.
I loved that in this book, there were no real enemies among the students. For the most part, everyone banded together to fight back in the ways they could against the corrupt authority. Even if someone wasn’t a part of “the plan,” there was an unspoken agreement that no one was going to rat a fellow peer out. Even if they weren’t close friends, there was a level of camaraderie among the students which I think is a really positive message and example that pre teens and teens need.
My only complaint about this book is I wish there’d been more backstory as to what led the world to become this way where such a strict schooling institution was put into place, as well as a bit more backstory as to why the main characters were put there. I found I didn’t feel super emotionally attached to the characters until almost the end of the book, so a bit of backstory would’ve helped form an emotional attachment to them earlier on.
But other than that, I thought this book was great, and I personally think this could end up becoming a very important book, sitting among the other great classics in dystopian political fiction.
September 8, 2026
If you love YA dystopian novels, then this book is for you. When I first heard about the concept of this book I was immediately interested in reading it. Public schools merged with juvenile detention centres? Count me in. This may be a place of learning but it’s definitely run like a prison. Everything is recorded and observed by the AI. Classrooms are locked while in session. Guards patrol the premises. Break any of the rules? The punishments are harsh.
I really liked the main characters in this story Ben Walker and Jazz Lewis. These two characters ended up at this educational site for different reasons but they work together to try expose the darker truths of what’s really going on at Federal Educational Site #231. This is not easy to do when everything is monitored 24/7. I loved that the students found unique ways to communicate with one another without getting caught.
There are so many topics touched upon in this book that would make for interesting conversations. Public education, the prison system, racism, the use of AI, government control just to name a few. Even though this story is set in the near future, it feels frighteningly close to reality.
The story ended in a way that took me by surprise. It’s clear we aren’t done with Educational Site #231 and I’m excited to see where the story goes from here.
I really liked the main characters in this story Ben Walker and Jazz Lewis. These two characters ended up at this educational site for different reasons but they work together to try expose the darker truths of what’s really going on at Federal Educational Site #231. This is not easy to do when everything is monitored 24/7. I loved that the students found unique ways to communicate with one another without getting caught.
There are so many topics touched upon in this book that would make for interesting conversations. Public education, the prison system, racism, the use of AI, government control just to name a few. Even though this story is set in the near future, it feels frighteningly close to reality.
The story ended in a way that took me by surprise. It’s clear we aren’t done with Educational Site #231 and I’m excited to see where the story goes from here.
July 20, 2026
Besides Sunrise on the Reaping, I have been away from dystopian books for quite some time. This is a YA dystopian written by a teacher with his students in mind which I think is super cool.
Where do kids go to school if their parents can’t pay the dues? Why the national school system which is now combined with the juvenile detention centers. Everything is monitored and history is rewritten by the government. Amid this, our MC starts peeling back the curtain and how differently minority groups are treated (read: mistreated). Soon he gets pulled in (well, he pretty much jumped in) to an underground movement.
There were some unique bits of world building and a lot of the dystopian tropes that you read it for. The MC was a great POV to follow, observant even if he didn’t have all the context to interpret what was going on.
Some of the themes were heavy handed, but I think it worked for the most part.
Last thing I’ll mention is the character speech patterns. Initially I didn’t think it sounded like very realistic but then I remembered these are teens and how the ones at my church talk… so I’m going to say pretty accurate 😂
All in all, a nice re-entry into the genre and maybe I’ll keep my eye out for another dystopia sometime soon.
Thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Where do kids go to school if their parents can’t pay the dues? Why the national school system which is now combined with the juvenile detention centers. Everything is monitored and history is rewritten by the government. Amid this, our MC starts peeling back the curtain and how differently minority groups are treated (read: mistreated). Soon he gets pulled in (well, he pretty much jumped in) to an underground movement.
There were some unique bits of world building and a lot of the dystopian tropes that you read it for. The MC was a great POV to follow, observant even if he didn’t have all the context to interpret what was going on.
Some of the themes were heavy handed, but I think it worked for the most part.
Last thing I’ll mention is the character speech patterns. Initially I didn’t think it sounded like very realistic but then I remembered these are teens and how the ones at my church talk… so I’m going to say pretty accurate 😂
All in all, a nice re-entry into the genre and maybe I’ll keep my eye out for another dystopia sometime soon.
Thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2026
Secrets, hunted and spies...that's what you'll get in this thriller.
In a dark setting, this twisted book follows one young man who is taken from his school....it appears someone has asked him out of class, and rather than meeting him...he was taken, from men in masks, and removed from his current location. He was brought to an unknown location, where everyone was being watched. There were casualties, drills and noone knew there whereabouts or safety.
If you're looking for a dystopian thriller, this is the book for you. This book will keep you guessing all the way until the very end.
Make sure you show some love to this new author. He's a teacher and loves to connect with fans. Thank you for my signed book !
In a dark setting, this twisted book follows one young man who is taken from his school....it appears someone has asked him out of class, and rather than meeting him...he was taken, from men in masks, and removed from his current location. He was brought to an unknown location, where everyone was being watched. There were casualties, drills and noone knew there whereabouts or safety.
If you're looking for a dystopian thriller, this is the book for you. This book will keep you guessing all the way until the very end.
Make sure you show some love to this new author. He's a teacher and loves to connect with fans. Thank you for my signed book !
March 28, 2026
“Rookie, I’ve been here for six years now, and the Testing has changed not even one little bit.” He squinted at a smudge on his flash card, frowned and balled it up, started another. “It’s the same thing every couple of months—they somehow make school extra miserable and even more boring than usual. We all sit around and work our asses off and complain, and eventually it’s over and we get a couple of months off until the next round.”
As someone who has worked in a prison and currently in a public school, this was definitely an interesting read.
First off, the good. The dystopian story where, for some reason, schools and prison are merged into “Federal Sites” is really cool. While many kids always feel like they are in a prison for 8 hours a day, these kids actually are, and they don’t go home. I found myself fully invested in the world these kids were in and how they struggled against the rules.
While I really enjoyed the story, Start to finish, there were some things that bothered me. First, I really wanted to like the characters, but there is very little backstory for any of them. There is not a lot of character development among any of the main characters. Instead, they kind of all seem like set pieces to the school and the story. I wish we knew more about where they came from and why they were there! I also felt like there were parts of the story that went against how we were expected to view the characters. There was a point where a secret note is passed, and the characters go through a big elaborate scheme to do it secretly, but then the letter turns out to contain enough information to bring the entire plot down if they were to get caught. It made me think maybe they weren’t as smart as they claimed to be. (Maybe that was the point?)
I also really really wanted to know what happened in the world that led to this. There are subtle hints at world building, but not enough!
Overall I thought it was a cool story with an interesting idea, and I hope there is more character and world development in the next one!
As someone who has worked in a prison and currently in a public school, this was definitely an interesting read.
First off, the good. The dystopian story where, for some reason, schools and prison are merged into “Federal Sites” is really cool. While many kids always feel like they are in a prison for 8 hours a day, these kids actually are, and they don’t go home. I found myself fully invested in the world these kids were in and how they struggled against the rules.
While I really enjoyed the story, Start to finish, there were some things that bothered me. First, I really wanted to like the characters, but there is very little backstory for any of them. There is not a lot of character development among any of the main characters. Instead, they kind of all seem like set pieces to the school and the story. I wish we knew more about where they came from and why they were there! I also felt like there were parts of the story that went against how we were expected to view the characters. There was a point where a secret note is passed, and the characters go through a big elaborate scheme to do it secretly, but then the letter turns out to contain enough information to bring the entire plot down if they were to get caught. It made me think maybe they weren’t as smart as they claimed to be. (Maybe that was the point?)
I also really really wanted to know what happened in the world that led to this. There are subtle hints at world building, but not enough!
Overall I thought it was a cool story with an interesting idea, and I hope there is more character and world development in the next one!
June 16, 2026
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of his novel. Here are my thoughts!
Ben is a student at Federal Education Site 231, a public school mixed with juvenile detention, and all he wants is to finish school and move on with his life. The school is run by guards and an AI called Algorithm, which monitors and controls students’ every move. Soon a student, Jazz, begins to question the authority presented to her and Ben begins to listen to her and recognize that his school isn’t at all what he thought.
I think this novel is a great YA Sci-Fi. Sometimes Sci-fi can be a little overwhelming in scope, trying to take in a whole new complex world. I love that we follow a new student into this story so that we are learning the rules, and what can be said and not said with the student. I was confused and in the dark when it was appropriate, and as the story moved on more light was shed showing the corruption inside.
Thematically, this novel hits on a lot of relevant subjects that might be hard for some people to read, including racism, government control and violence, and censorship. It was bundled into an excellent package that I think would be great for people of all ages to read. The characters all felt unique and not at all stereotypical. If anything, I would love more details on this world including how exactly the world got to be in this place. Or is it only North America, or has it expanded to other continents?
I’m excited to see what Jay will write next. It’s clear that he knows what teenagers want to read, as this had the perfect pacing and a ton of dialogue to keep any reader interested and engaged!
Ben is a student at Federal Education Site 231, a public school mixed with juvenile detention, and all he wants is to finish school and move on with his life. The school is run by guards and an AI called Algorithm, which monitors and controls students’ every move. Soon a student, Jazz, begins to question the authority presented to her and Ben begins to listen to her and recognize that his school isn’t at all what he thought.
I think this novel is a great YA Sci-Fi. Sometimes Sci-fi can be a little overwhelming in scope, trying to take in a whole new complex world. I love that we follow a new student into this story so that we are learning the rules, and what can be said and not said with the student. I was confused and in the dark when it was appropriate, and as the story moved on more light was shed showing the corruption inside.
Thematically, this novel hits on a lot of relevant subjects that might be hard for some people to read, including racism, government control and violence, and censorship. It was bundled into an excellent package that I think would be great for people of all ages to read. The characters all felt unique and not at all stereotypical. If anything, I would love more details on this world including how exactly the world got to be in this place. Or is it only North America, or has it expanded to other continents?
I’m excited to see what Jay will write next. It’s clear that he knows what teenagers want to read, as this had the perfect pacing and a ton of dialogue to keep any reader interested and engaged!
June 1, 2026
The beginning was 2-3 stars, but I’d easily give that second half 5. I saw the author recently share that someone called this “contagious” and I’d agree! I had a tough time getting into it (my bad timing? Probably! But I also think the first half could’ve used a bit more world-building and a little less lengthy narrative. It was a slow start!) The second half of the book though? I read in one sitting because I couldn’t stop. Around Page 150 and after Ben’s visit to the infirmary I, too, was all in. I liked the inclusion of the classics + themes the kids studied in Mason’s class. I liked the suspense and “spy” vibes. I, of course, liked the parallels and commentary on life as a teen/student/criminal/BIPOC/teacher in 2026. I was on the edge of my seat with suspicion about Liam and the Admin bribes. I adored sweet Ben and his new cognizance of his privilege. The end was awesome. You have to get past somehow feeling both a little lost (from a lack of relevant exposition/character development) and a little overwhelmed (by repetitive rising action) at the same time in the beginning and then, honestly? It’s a super solid Y.A. dystopia with great commentary! I eagerly await Book Two.
May 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Lockdown Artist was one of those books that completely pulled me in with its atmosphere and tension. The concept felt fresh, unsettling, and oddly addictive in that “just one more chapter” kind of way that absolutely kills your sleep.
Jay did a great job creating characters that felt layered and believable, especially in high-pressure moments where emotions and survival instincts collided. This was especially unique because the characters are students. I find today that people have trouble accurately portraying youths.
The pacing stayed strong throughout most of the story, and I was genuinely invested in finding out how everything would unfold.
There were a few moments where I wanted a little bit ‘ore plot points wrapped a bit too quickly after all the buildup. But overall, this was still a really engaging read with a unique premise and plenty of suspense to keep you hooked.
If you like tense dystopian vibes, and stories that make you side-eye humanity a little bit, this one is definitely worth picking
The Lockdown Artist was one of those books that completely pulled me in with its atmosphere and tension. The concept felt fresh, unsettling, and oddly addictive in that “just one more chapter” kind of way that absolutely kills your sleep.
Jay did a great job creating characters that felt layered and believable, especially in high-pressure moments where emotions and survival instincts collided. This was especially unique because the characters are students. I find today that people have trouble accurately portraying youths.
The pacing stayed strong throughout most of the story, and I was genuinely invested in finding out how everything would unfold.
There were a few moments where I wanted a little bit ‘ore plot points wrapped a bit too quickly after all the buildup. But overall, this was still a really engaging read with a unique premise and plenty of suspense to keep you hooked.
If you like tense dystopian vibes, and stories that make you side-eye humanity a little bit, this one is definitely worth picking
April 20, 2026
A near future YA dystopian novel set in Federal Education Site 231 where public school has merged with juvenile detention center. Classes are held behind locked doors and students are only taught what the administration wants them to know. But something more is going on at the heart of it all.
I really enjoyed this one! The book jumps right into this dystopian world and you learn about how things operate as the story goes on. I enjoyed reading the story from Ben’s perspective, I thought he was a really engaging MC, and I absolutely loved Jazz’s character!
I also really enjoyed the school setting for this one, I always love books with an academic setting!
If you enjoy a YA dystopian novel I highly recommend this one!
I really enjoyed this one! The book jumps right into this dystopian world and you learn about how things operate as the story goes on. I enjoyed reading the story from Ben’s perspective, I thought he was a really engaging MC, and I absolutely loved Jazz’s character!
I also really enjoyed the school setting for this one, I always love books with an academic setting!
If you enjoy a YA dystopian novel I highly recommend this one!
March 30, 2026
It's been a while since I've read YA dystopian fiction and this book makes me want to get back into the genre!! In this novel the prison system and the public school systems have been merged together. We join the story approximately 20 years after a dictator has taken over America and propaganda, nationalism, and racism are more rampant than ever. Dystopian novels are known for being political by nature but this one comes out swinging! Thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely recommend to a friend!
January 15, 2026
The Lockdown Artist is an exciting and timely novel that will keep you guessing and wanting more at every turn. Wamsted has written one of the most unique and compelling books I've read in years, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The character development and vivid narrative bring the story to life in a way that fully immerses the reader throughout, and the themes explored are powerful and thought-provoking. A must-read for sure!
June 13, 2026
I didn’t know what to expect; I just decided to try a book by a funny teacher I follow on Instagram. But I really liked it. I generally enjoy YA dystopian fic. Wamsted delivered with good pacing; that sense where it’s just enough like contemporary life that you believe this story could happen; and not too much gore to boot. The characters are a little flat, but maybe he’ll work on development in a sequel.
January 20, 2026
Our entire family read this book in about a week lots of lively discussions over the dinner table. We’re a geeky bunch that enjoys sci-fi, dystopian and alternative history books and movies. Not going into details no spoilers given🙂
February 1, 2026
Cannot recommend highly enough! This book had me hooked in the first few paragraphs, and it never let up. I am not usually a fiction reader due to boredom from predictability, but this one kept me guessing til the end. One of my teens is reading next.
June 13, 2026
For a dystopian novel, I enjoyed the world of The Lockdown Artist. I was drawn to all of the characters, and I seriously was rooting for all of them.
As an educator, it is truly astounding to see the perspective of students. This was such a great read
As an educator, it is truly astounding to see the perspective of students. This was such a great read
February 16, 2026
Great dystopian YA novel that kept me on the edge of my seat!!! Loved this book
June 4, 2026
Green Trees
A free chapter to read and I didn't want to stop. The story flowed with me wanting to know what would happen next until the end. Jay Wamstead weaves a good tale.
A free chapter to read and I didn't want to stop. The story flowed with me wanting to know what would happen next until the end. Jay Wamstead weaves a good tale.
March 28, 2026
Well written and a quick paced story that keeps you wondering what will happen next. Definitely recommend.
April 3, 2026
A unique and thrilling YA dystopian novel. Perfect for junior high students and high schoolers that enjoy books like Hunger Games and Maze Runner.
I really appreciated the author’s inclusion and respectful treatment of the girls in this book. The was a strong female lead and I loved that this book did not include romance.
I also noticed the balanced Brown and Black representation and thought the theme of systemic racism was handled thoughtfully and delivered in an accessible way for kids and teens.
There are many great jumping off points in this book that can spark critical conversations with the teens in your life.
I really appreciated the author’s inclusion and respectful treatment of the girls in this book. The was a strong female lead and I loved that this book did not include romance.
I also noticed the balanced Brown and Black representation and thought the theme of systemic racism was handled thoughtfully and delivered in an accessible way for kids and teens.
There are many great jumping off points in this book that can spark critical conversations with the teens in your life.
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