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Divided We Fall Trilogy #3
The Last Full Measure
Idaho, Idaho, land where freedom lovers go
Danny Wright started the Second American Civil War—and now he’s out of it, at last. The Feds have left his beloved home state of Idaho, and Danny and his friends JoBell, Becca, Cal, and Sweeney can live free of US dominance. But that new peace comes with considerable costs, from Danny’s disturbing flashbacks of the fighting, to the ongoing food and power shortages, to the Brotherhood of the White Eagle, whose promises of “security” look more like brutality.
From fertile plains to mountains tall, brothers, sisters one and all
Then Danny makes a shocking discovery about the Brotherhood’s final aims, and he joins a group of townspeople on a dangerous journey across a ravaged Idaho. As America collapses into war and chaos, they find a hidden place to build a society of their own. But is it right to stay safe when the world is cracking apart? Danny must work out his answers to the ultimate questions: what is worth living for, and fighting for, and dying for.
We will defend our liberty, Idaho, our lives for thee
Danny Wright started the Second American Civil War—and now he’s out of it, at last. The Feds have left his beloved home state of Idaho, and Danny and his friends JoBell, Becca, Cal, and Sweeney can live free of US dominance. But that new peace comes with considerable costs, from Danny’s disturbing flashbacks of the fighting, to the ongoing food and power shortages, to the Brotherhood of the White Eagle, whose promises of “security” look more like brutality.
From fertile plains to mountains tall, brothers, sisters one and all
Then Danny makes a shocking discovery about the Brotherhood’s final aims, and he joins a group of townspeople on a dangerous journey across a ravaged Idaho. As America collapses into war and chaos, they find a hidden place to build a society of their own. But is it right to stay safe when the world is cracking apart? Danny must work out his answers to the ultimate questions: what is worth living for, and fighting for, and dying for.
We will defend our liberty, Idaho, our lives for thee
446 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2016
49 people are currently reading
811 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 30, 2016
This is the third and final book in the Divided We Fall trilogy and I was not disappointed! For those of you who haven't heard of these books, the first one is called Divided We Fall and centres around Private Daniel Wright who accidentally fired a bullet into a crowd starting a chain of events that led to the corruption of the US.
Now, as an Australian I think this book is super, americany but I still loved so much about it. There's strong guys driving in their pick up trucks with their guns and girlfriends, drinking beer and I kinda just pictured ever american college/country movie ever but this one...is much more heartbreaking and honest. It reveals the horrible, dark side of war and what it can do to people. It shows that not everyone survives and that no is a real winner when it comes to war.
One thing I loved about this series is that there are several plots. The US is fighting against Idaho, Idaho is trying to stop fights inside of its country, Daniel Wright is trying to keep his friends and family safe and no one ever gets a break. There's always something happening and more often than not, it's not a good kind of something.
As for the characters, they all develop so much through the books. Trent Reedy deals with PTSD, depression and so much more. There were partisan the third book where I struggled to breathe. I had so many feels.
Basically, if you like action-packed, dark, war books then this is for you. However, be prepared for death, gore and heartbreaking loss of favourite characters.
Thank you so much to Trent Reedy for writing these books in such a wonderful way. I'm going to look at these books on my shelves and remember the stories for a long time.
4.5 out of 5!
Now, as an Australian I think this book is super, americany but I still loved so much about it. There's strong guys driving in their pick up trucks with their guns and girlfriends, drinking beer and I kinda just pictured ever american college/country movie ever but this one...is much more heartbreaking and honest. It reveals the horrible, dark side of war and what it can do to people. It shows that not everyone survives and that no is a real winner when it comes to war.
One thing I loved about this series is that there are several plots. The US is fighting against Idaho, Idaho is trying to stop fights inside of its country, Daniel Wright is trying to keep his friends and family safe and no one ever gets a break. There's always something happening and more often than not, it's not a good kind of something.
As for the characters, they all develop so much through the books. Trent Reedy deals with PTSD, depression and so much more. There were partisan the third book where I struggled to breathe. I had so many feels.
Basically, if you like action-packed, dark, war books then this is for you. However, be prepared for death, gore and heartbreaking loss of favourite characters.
Thank you so much to Trent Reedy for writing these books in such a wonderful way. I'm going to look at these books on my shelves and remember the stories for a long time.
4.5 out of 5!
July 6, 2016
Another 4.5 stars. This book was SO good. So so good! Trent Reedy writes very believable war, and how it progresses in this third installment is so well-done and so logical. He really thought of everything, including consequences I never would have thought of, but once I read them, totally made sense. Also, in this book, the focus returns back to the personal tragedies faced by Danny, and so it again became a really emotionally hard-hitting book. At one point, Danny talks about how the deaths of the war are so huge, that they're in a number we can't even emotionally fathom, but how instead we need to focus on our "own personal list of the dead," and that's what this book did. When numbers are astronomical, I think that emotionally, we can't handle that. So we lose the pin-pricking type of sadness for that kind of loss. But as soon as we can put names, and faces, and personalities to even a small part of that number, the losses become more painful. At least, that's how I felt with this book. I also loved the end. Danny's first attempt to end the war fails. Which I loved. The first idea, the "easy" solution doesn't work. But then the solution he eventually comes up with works perfectly, and it required more risk of him, which I found incredibly satisfying as a reader. Also, I love his speech at the end. So perfectly written. It's poignant and powerful, but it still sounds like Danny, like something he would actually say, and not the author putting words in his mouth. This book was a seriously fantastic end to a truly fantastic series.
March 21, 2018
Wow, this one really wrapped things up. I was stunned with how bad things got, that finally the bad was starting to show. I was a bit surprised by how unflappable Danny was through most of it, yet even he reached his tipping point and what a tipping point it was! I don't think this one could have ended other than how it did, the outcome seemed to be between bad and worse. I would love to see how all of these characters are doing 5, 10, 15, 20 years later, to see how the events of this series affected them.
May 22, 2017
This book is the third in a series following Danny Wright in his adventure through America's Second Civil War. America has just been nuked and no one really knows who. Danny is going through a lot but he remains strong for those around him and consistently displays courage and bravery. I think Danny is a person I can aspire to be. I like the way he acts in tough situations and how he responds. The author Trent Reedy is an unpredictable author and I like that. He foreshadows but just barely and I like his style. He describes thoroughly and thoughtfully and that's what makes it so good. Needless to stay I am overjoyed and saddened that this is the last book in the series.
February 13, 2020
This is a great book, it is just as good as all of the other ones in the series!
August 23, 2018
Chaos, something that we hope never knocks at the front door. Unfortunately in The Last Full Measure, by Trent Reedy, Chaos is in overwhelming supply. The third and final book in the thriller war novel trilogy, Divided we Fall, The last full measure is a great way to bring the series to a close. I think the book should be read by High schoolers. The difficulty to read it is not enough where it would be frustrating to read. The Vulgarity also suggests that it is meant to be read by High school students. Suspenseful, and intense this book always kept me wanting to read more. Reedy also does a great job of making The Last Full Measure a finale leaving the reader with a sense of relief after they finish it. Reedy writes with emotion, truly connecting the characters to each other and the reader. He makes the small moments have big impacts, and everything has an important role. Because this is the Third book in the series I was excited to read this and finish it, tying up the loose ends from the other books. This book raises the question whether a war is worth fighting at all. It describes the anarchy of a nation plunged into chaos. It emphasizes that corrupt governments are bound to happen If a Nation cannot retain its unity. It describes America as a broken world due to trivial disagreements that were viewed as more important than human life. The theme is that human life is priceless, and no disagreement is worth the cost of taking the lives of others. The amount of stress placed on some changes people. For example, Danny Wright, the main character, believes it is his fault for the start to the war, and when talking to one of his old classmates he gets asked why he looks so much older and Danny replies “‘The war, man. The War happened to me’” (225). The consequences of war are not worth fighting for over something that just needs compromise.
March 23, 2018
Personal Response
I think this was a good book. There was always action, so it was never boring. If there were more books in the series I would read them too.
Summary
This book is about a guy named Danny. He and his friends are in the middle of a civil war in the United States of America. The group of friends leads a big group of people from their town to a safe place that nobody in the war would know about, so they could all live in peace. The book follows them through their whole journey to the end, where the war is finally over.
Reccomondation
I would recommend this book to people who like war books. I also think that people into dystopias would like this book too, because it is about a kind of messed up society. I believe that most people in my class would enjoy this book.
I think this was a good book. There was always action, so it was never boring. If there were more books in the series I would read them too.
Summary
This book is about a guy named Danny. He and his friends are in the middle of a civil war in the United States of America. The group of friends leads a big group of people from their town to a safe place that nobody in the war would know about, so they could all live in peace. The book follows them through their whole journey to the end, where the war is finally over.
Reccomondation
I would recommend this book to people who like war books. I also think that people into dystopias would like this book too, because it is about a kind of messed up society. I believe that most people in my class would enjoy this book.
Read
July 16, 2020Summary:
First, let me say that none of what I’ll say in this section couldn’t be found on the back copy of the novel. Heck, I cribbed this summary from the back, and then I added my own twist! And not even much of one, since most of the books I read have kick butt descriptions (aka blurbs). If the blurb doesn’t catch my eye, then I tend to skip the book unless a friend recommends it. Generally speaking, my goal is to provide a spoiler-free review, so here goes nothing!
In a YA trilogy like no other, Trent Reedy has raised the most primal questions of our national existence: Do we owe our greatest loyalty to our friends? Our state? Our country? Our party? How do we reconcile our individual rights and common needs? What keeps us all united — and what happens if we fall apart?
Now, in this third book, the Second Civil War has come to an end in Idaho. The Feds have taken the fight to other fronts, and Danny and his friends are free of US dominance. But that freedom comes with considerable costs, from Danny’s disturbing flashbacks of the war to the Brotherhood of the White Eagle, whose “security” for Freedom Lake looks more like outright thuggery. After Danny makes a shocking discovery about the Brotherhood’s final aims, he and his friends lead a group of townspeople on a dangerous journey across a ravaged Idaho, hoping to build a better society of their own, and fulfill the dreams they had in what once was the United States.
Cons:
I had a few major complaints about this novel. As with the first two novels, I didn’t like the amount of time spent addressing sexual issues by the main character. I don’t mind that in my books, but not when the protagonist isn’t a legal adult. This really bugs me, but not enough to stop reading, though. My biggest complaint is that this book is supposedly for children, and in Barnes & Noble, that’s the section where you’d find it. This is most certainly not a children’s book; the amount of swearing and graphic violence is certainly for mature audiences only. Secondly, the author had too high of an estimation of the HMMWV (Hum Vee) in this novel set in the near future. The author was Army and used these in Afghanistan and should’ve known better. Another complaint relates to the limitations of the audio format. There was no chance to show the map of the ever-shifting countries in Pan America, which may or may not be in the print copies. I only own the audiobook, so I can’t say whether they’re there in the physical copies, but it would’ve helped. Finally, some of the political nonsense in the novel irked me. It was too stereotypical of what we see daily from media. There was a lost chance for nuance on these issues, because no political party, ethnic group, or ideology are as uninformed as was shown in this book. I didn’t like seeing the stereotypes that any pro-Second Amendment and/or pro-states rights believers are merely racist yokels. This blog stays apolitical, so I’ll leave it at this… it irked me.
Pros:
The author was most persuasive in his creation of a narrative that was both compelling and believable. The scenario in this book was so convincing that it was scary. Seriously, it was one of those stories that won’t let you stop thinking about it. Sure, there were flaws with the flashpoint, but the author covered them with the bland “tensions were high about a lot of things.” He went on to show how these issues compounded on themselves, with each side digging in and refusing to give up. That part felt real, true to human nature, which is something I look for in a novel. The world-building was also top-notch, but that’s easy to do when writing in near-future America. We all already have our own cultural images of home that we bring in the story, making the author’s job a little easier. The use of news updates as a way to push the narrative was also a fun touch and one that grew on me as a way to show how the main character’s story fits within the larger world. I listened to the audiobook, so I appreciated these more as they were handled by several extra voice actors. At first, I didn’t like it, then it grew on me. While there are parts of the story that wasn’t flush out as well as I would’ve liked, it fits within the scope of young adult literature. Finally, the biggest pro for this book is its emotional resonance that comes from the main character, Danny Wright. He was likable but imperfect, and we watched him mature some throughout the trilogy.
Overall:
I’m really torn on my overall thoughts. I wanted to like it, the themes in question were “what if” scenarios that anyone who studied the Civil War or water uniform has thought about. However, there were parts that I hated because the characters made stupid decisions, the angst felt overdone, or the military culture seemed off. He really aggravated me in this book, his unwillingness to do what had to be done didn’t fit with the hardened warrior he’d become in the first two novels. Danny constantly laments that his actions started the war and got many people killed, yet the author made great pains to show that he didn’t actually hit anyone there. Further, his actions fell within the scope of self-defense, since the crowd in Boise were attacking the soldiers trying to control the riots. They even assaulted Danny himself. Given his angst, you’d expect him to make better decisions. He continually makes stupid decisions that put his friends at risk and get them killed. And yet… despite Danny’s flaws, I couldn’t put it down. The author made you care, which was a mixed bag for me. Moving on, I really disliked the political overtones in this novel, it felt unnecessary. In all fairness, I prefer to keep modern politics out of my books. In this series, however, I pushed through, and I’m glad I did. Next, there were several themes in this trilogy that I really loved. The overarching idea that freedom comes at a cost is important, something that’s often forgotten in this modern world. There was also a strong emphasis on family values, both your blood family and your chosen family. Finally, the author continually comes back to the importance of perseverance. Had Danny given up at any point in this narrative, the story would’ve unfolded differently. Another issue with his novel that I had concerns the incongruity of the timeline. The author was more intent on the character fitting the YA age range than the calendar for these events. The main character should have been a lot older in the end. However, he remains 17 for most of this trilogy. Speaking of country, I did enjoy seeing how events rippled outwards globally as a direct result of the Second American Civil War. That felt real, given the state of the world as it is today. Some of the events shown were dated, but I don’t hold the author responsible for not being able to correctly predict the future. Finally, I wanted to touch on the ending of this story. I did like it at first, but it went on too long and left you dissatisfied. The author did find a way to resolve the war, one that fits within the universe Trent Reedy created. However, that last-minute flip showing things starting back up again, it ruined it for me. It almost made me drop this novel down a grenade, but in the end, the author’s ability to make sure we keep reading was the deciding factor. When combined with a premise that I’ve spent too much time thinking about throughout my academic studies, you have a recipe for a gripping novel. Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 grenades.
First, let me say that none of what I’ll say in this section couldn’t be found on the back copy of the novel. Heck, I cribbed this summary from the back, and then I added my own twist! And not even much of one, since most of the books I read have kick butt descriptions (aka blurbs). If the blurb doesn’t catch my eye, then I tend to skip the book unless a friend recommends it. Generally speaking, my goal is to provide a spoiler-free review, so here goes nothing!
In a YA trilogy like no other, Trent Reedy has raised the most primal questions of our national existence: Do we owe our greatest loyalty to our friends? Our state? Our country? Our party? How do we reconcile our individual rights and common needs? What keeps us all united — and what happens if we fall apart?
Now, in this third book, the Second Civil War has come to an end in Idaho. The Feds have taken the fight to other fronts, and Danny and his friends are free of US dominance. But that freedom comes with considerable costs, from Danny’s disturbing flashbacks of the war to the Brotherhood of the White Eagle, whose “security” for Freedom Lake looks more like outright thuggery. After Danny makes a shocking discovery about the Brotherhood’s final aims, he and his friends lead a group of townspeople on a dangerous journey across a ravaged Idaho, hoping to build a better society of their own, and fulfill the dreams they had in what once was the United States.
Cons:
I had a few major complaints about this novel. As with the first two novels, I didn’t like the amount of time spent addressing sexual issues by the main character. I don’t mind that in my books, but not when the protagonist isn’t a legal adult. This really bugs me, but not enough to stop reading, though. My biggest complaint is that this book is supposedly for children, and in Barnes & Noble, that’s the section where you’d find it. This is most certainly not a children’s book; the amount of swearing and graphic violence is certainly for mature audiences only. Secondly, the author had too high of an estimation of the HMMWV (Hum Vee) in this novel set in the near future. The author was Army and used these in Afghanistan and should’ve known better. Another complaint relates to the limitations of the audio format. There was no chance to show the map of the ever-shifting countries in Pan America, which may or may not be in the print copies. I only own the audiobook, so I can’t say whether they’re there in the physical copies, but it would’ve helped. Finally, some of the political nonsense in the novel irked me. It was too stereotypical of what we see daily from media. There was a lost chance for nuance on these issues, because no political party, ethnic group, or ideology are as uninformed as was shown in this book. I didn’t like seeing the stereotypes that any pro-Second Amendment and/or pro-states rights believers are merely racist yokels. This blog stays apolitical, so I’ll leave it at this… it irked me.
Pros:
The author was most persuasive in his creation of a narrative that was both compelling and believable. The scenario in this book was so convincing that it was scary. Seriously, it was one of those stories that won’t let you stop thinking about it. Sure, there were flaws with the flashpoint, but the author covered them with the bland “tensions were high about a lot of things.” He went on to show how these issues compounded on themselves, with each side digging in and refusing to give up. That part felt real, true to human nature, which is something I look for in a novel. The world-building was also top-notch, but that’s easy to do when writing in near-future America. We all already have our own cultural images of home that we bring in the story, making the author’s job a little easier. The use of news updates as a way to push the narrative was also a fun touch and one that grew on me as a way to show how the main character’s story fits within the larger world. I listened to the audiobook, so I appreciated these more as they were handled by several extra voice actors. At first, I didn’t like it, then it grew on me. While there are parts of the story that wasn’t flush out as well as I would’ve liked, it fits within the scope of young adult literature. Finally, the biggest pro for this book is its emotional resonance that comes from the main character, Danny Wright. He was likable but imperfect, and we watched him mature some throughout the trilogy.
Overall:
I’m really torn on my overall thoughts. I wanted to like it, the themes in question were “what if” scenarios that anyone who studied the Civil War or water uniform has thought about. However, there were parts that I hated because the characters made stupid decisions, the angst felt overdone, or the military culture seemed off. He really aggravated me in this book, his unwillingness to do what had to be done didn’t fit with the hardened warrior he’d become in the first two novels. Danny constantly laments that his actions started the war and got many people killed, yet the author made great pains to show that he didn’t actually hit anyone there. Further, his actions fell within the scope of self-defense, since the crowd in Boise were attacking the soldiers trying to control the riots. They even assaulted Danny himself. Given his angst, you’d expect him to make better decisions. He continually makes stupid decisions that put his friends at risk and get them killed. And yet… despite Danny’s flaws, I couldn’t put it down. The author made you care, which was a mixed bag for me. Moving on, I really disliked the political overtones in this novel, it felt unnecessary. In all fairness, I prefer to keep modern politics out of my books. In this series, however, I pushed through, and I’m glad I did. Next, there were several themes in this trilogy that I really loved. The overarching idea that freedom comes at a cost is important, something that’s often forgotten in this modern world. There was also a strong emphasis on family values, both your blood family and your chosen family. Finally, the author continually comes back to the importance of perseverance. Had Danny given up at any point in this narrative, the story would’ve unfolded differently. Another issue with his novel that I had concerns the incongruity of the timeline. The author was more intent on the character fitting the YA age range than the calendar for these events. The main character should have been a lot older in the end. However, he remains 17 for most of this trilogy. Speaking of country, I did enjoy seeing how events rippled outwards globally as a direct result of the Second American Civil War. That felt real, given the state of the world as it is today. Some of the events shown were dated, but I don’t hold the author responsible for not being able to correctly predict the future. Finally, I wanted to touch on the ending of this story. I did like it at first, but it went on too long and left you dissatisfied. The author did find a way to resolve the war, one that fits within the universe Trent Reedy created. However, that last-minute flip showing things starting back up again, it ruined it for me. It almost made me drop this novel down a grenade, but in the end, the author’s ability to make sure we keep reading was the deciding factor. When combined with a premise that I’ve spent too much time thinking about throughout my academic studies, you have a recipe for a gripping novel. Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 grenades.
March 16, 2016
Book 3 in the series -- don't read it until you've read 1 & 2!
Danny, JoBell, Sweeney and the rest are trying to recover from the trauma of the last few months. They are beginning to realize that the escalating civil war may not be moving in a positive direction. The Brotherhood is getting more powerful and more dangerous. To say much more would be a spoiler.
I loved this series and this one is a fitting end to the story. There are several shocking moments, and I found myself in tears near the end. As the US disintegrated into multiple independent countries, I could foresee this happening in real life -- a very scary thought. Some will find the premise outrageous and the action a bit preposterous, but teenage boys are likely to love this. I can't wait to recommend this whole series to my students.
Danny, JoBell, Sweeney and the rest are trying to recover from the trauma of the last few months. They are beginning to realize that the escalating civil war may not be moving in a positive direction. The Brotherhood is getting more powerful and more dangerous. To say much more would be a spoiler.
I loved this series and this one is a fitting end to the story. There are several shocking moments, and I found myself in tears near the end. As the US disintegrated into multiple independent countries, I could foresee this happening in real life -- a very scary thought. Some will find the premise outrageous and the action a bit preposterous, but teenage boys are likely to love this. I can't wait to recommend this whole series to my students.
September 30, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this final installment, and I am very pleased with the ending. This is a great comeback after Burning Nation.
I have to say that this book was very depressing. If you are looking for a pick-me up story, don't pick this series. It is a very realistic depiction of war, and all the atrocities that go with that. I absolutely love the ending though. As I closed the book, I felt satisfied that everybody had come to their senses.
There is a lot to this book, and the series. And by far the scariest thing that I got out of this book was how close our own nation could fall into the fiction that Reedy depicts. Forget Divergent and the Hunger Games. This is a far more realistic of a dystopian future, and it is much closer to the truth than I bear.
I have to say that this book was very depressing. If you are looking for a pick-me up story, don't pick this series. It is a very realistic depiction of war, and all the atrocities that go with that. I absolutely love the ending though. As I closed the book, I felt satisfied that everybody had come to their senses.
There is a lot to this book, and the series. And by far the scariest thing that I got out of this book was how close our own nation could fall into the fiction that Reedy depicts. Forget Divergent and the Hunger Games. This is a far more realistic of a dystopian future, and it is much closer to the truth than I bear.
December 1, 2017
A Second American Civil War started by a senior in high school. Daniel Wright survived being tortured, ambushes, a crazy group of people, and so much more. Trent Reedy in my mind is an amazing author who knows how to target certain groups of people who like books about war and books about loss. This series rates very high on my favorite series of books.
January 1, 2017
With the threat of nuclear WWIII, I wasn't sure how this book was going to end. All in all, though, a fitting conclusion to the trilogy with no easy answers.
February 2, 2017
Wonderful book it definitely explored all the corners a book could reach
December 11, 2017
The final book of this series is just as good as capturing your attention right off the bat. Published in 2016, "The Last Full Measure" is a thriller novel by Trent Reedy that continues the story of Daniel Wright and his friends during the Second American Civil War. There are many different problems that they all encounter that add to the complexity of the storyline while still making sure the horror of war stays realistic. In the final book of the "Divided We Fall" trilogy, all the characters experience changes for good and for the worse.
Trent Reedy is already known for using his military knowledge in the novels that he writes such as in "Words in the Dust" and the "Divided We Fall" trilogy. His characterization is very advanced with each main character being fully developed by the time of this third novel. However, in this final novel, we see how the Second American Civil war has changed each character. Due to the wide spectrum of characters and personalities displayed, the reader can easily relate to at least one but most likely many characters. There is not much more than the author could do to make the characterization of the characters any better except maybe vary their language and how they use their words better. Along with the characterization, the plot is more original in this final novel than the previous few. The plot is still predictable at some points but some rare time there are some events that sucker punch you in the face because you just don't see it coming. Those events also add to the complexity of the story but don't overcomplicate it. There is also a huge importance of geography in this story due to the many different countries that are existent where the United States used to stand. The places in the book are all interconnected and important somehow and in need of knowing. There is also much world geography mentioned with international conflict.
I haven't read any books like this but this strikingly similar to our political debates and situations today around the world. What is scary about this book is that some small event could spark something like the second American Civil War just like in this book. Maybe sometimes the events pictured in this book are extreme but for the most part, this book is very realistic and likely to happen in real life.
What I do know about other books that Trent ready has written is that they incorporate his military background and his home of Idaho quite well. I have not read any authors quit like him and he is definitely unique.
Readers should be aware that there is very strong language at times in this book that is directed at a more young adult audience. There are also some very strong emotions that you could experience during this book giving it that this book is about modern war and war is never pretty. Many dark and terrible things happen in war and many families are destroyed. There are also some political aspects that this book incorporates buy using political parties and many political terms.
The theme of this book is friendship and war for the most part which seems very simple but is a very important aspect of the book. The moral is that war should be avoided at all costs and that sometimes trying to fix an issue ends up making the situation worse. The moral is present in the whole book but is very present towards the very end.
I would recommend this novel to any high school age student or young adult both male or female. However, as the reader gets older, I don't think they will enjoy this book as much due to how much this book is aimed towards a young adult audience. I believe that this book is also great on an academic level for students to learn about how a simple situation when unsolved can escalated into total chaos and change everything. This book is a great example of that although it is in an extreme situation.
Trent Reedy is already known for using his military knowledge in the novels that he writes such as in "Words in the Dust" and the "Divided We Fall" trilogy. His characterization is very advanced with each main character being fully developed by the time of this third novel. However, in this final novel, we see how the Second American Civil war has changed each character. Due to the wide spectrum of characters and personalities displayed, the reader can easily relate to at least one but most likely many characters. There is not much more than the author could do to make the characterization of the characters any better except maybe vary their language and how they use their words better. Along with the characterization, the plot is more original in this final novel than the previous few. The plot is still predictable at some points but some rare time there are some events that sucker punch you in the face because you just don't see it coming. Those events also add to the complexity of the story but don't overcomplicate it. There is also a huge importance of geography in this story due to the many different countries that are existent where the United States used to stand. The places in the book are all interconnected and important somehow and in need of knowing. There is also much world geography mentioned with international conflict.
I haven't read any books like this but this strikingly similar to our political debates and situations today around the world. What is scary about this book is that some small event could spark something like the second American Civil War just like in this book. Maybe sometimes the events pictured in this book are extreme but for the most part, this book is very realistic and likely to happen in real life.
What I do know about other books that Trent ready has written is that they incorporate his military background and his home of Idaho quite well. I have not read any authors quit like him and he is definitely unique.
Readers should be aware that there is very strong language at times in this book that is directed at a more young adult audience. There are also some very strong emotions that you could experience during this book giving it that this book is about modern war and war is never pretty. Many dark and terrible things happen in war and many families are destroyed. There are also some political aspects that this book incorporates buy using political parties and many political terms.
The theme of this book is friendship and war for the most part which seems very simple but is a very important aspect of the book. The moral is that war should be avoided at all costs and that sometimes trying to fix an issue ends up making the situation worse. The moral is present in the whole book but is very present towards the very end.
I would recommend this novel to any high school age student or young adult both male or female. However, as the reader gets older, I don't think they will enjoy this book as much due to how much this book is aimed towards a young adult audience. I believe that this book is also great on an academic level for students to learn about how a simple situation when unsolved can escalated into total chaos and change everything. This book is a great example of that although it is in an extreme situation.
April 8, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.25
Finishing the divided we fall trilogy I can say overall this was a exceptional series. While this third book I've given the lowest rating of the series I still found this a overall acceptable finish to the series.
Like the two books before this I found the action and military lingo great and I really felt like I was really there.
Something that I thought this final book went above and beyond with is the online discussion talks and the radio shows. Each book had these sections but I believe that this books were the best. Those sections really amazingly gave me a view on how others in the different nation's viewed events.
Following the creation of all the new nation's that were created following seceding from the US was a very interesting and creative way for the book to build tension. I'm a college History major and shockingly things like this have happened many times throughout history. This entire fiction book is all in the reasonable realm of possibility.
Now the reason this book received my lowest rating is something that was a problem in books 1 and 2. Now the second half of this book(excluding the ending) were fantastic and I would give at least 4 stars to it. But the first half like the other books seemed slow and we'll mundane to me. Now not saying it didn't have it's moments but overall I was much more into the second half
Another big problem with this book was also in the first two books, the characters. They continue to be flat. The author has tried to cover that up by throwing more and more characters to try and distract you and I'm just not having it. The second half of this book had a large character Jaclyn, yes the Jaclyn that has been almost non existent through this entire series randomly in the final book gets a bigger role. And don't get me started about JoBell, I have been saying since book one that she was the worst character in this entire series. And I still stand by that. Things in this book keep trying to tell me to care about her and be sad for her and at this biggest moment for her when I get told to feel for her I just think, why? Nothing in this writing makes me wanna care for her, all there is the author telling me to care for her and I just cant.
Honestly this book was an acceptable finish for a great series and while I wasn't I fan of the ending I understand what the author did, trying for our imagination to think of what will happen in the future of this books universe. For anyone reading this I wholly recommend you read this full series. One of the best unknown series I have ever read!
Finishing the divided we fall trilogy I can say overall this was a exceptional series. While this third book I've given the lowest rating of the series I still found this a overall acceptable finish to the series.
Like the two books before this I found the action and military lingo great and I really felt like I was really there.
Something that I thought this final book went above and beyond with is the online discussion talks and the radio shows. Each book had these sections but I believe that this books were the best. Those sections really amazingly gave me a view on how others in the different nation's viewed events.
Following the creation of all the new nation's that were created following seceding from the US was a very interesting and creative way for the book to build tension. I'm a college History major and shockingly things like this have happened many times throughout history. This entire fiction book is all in the reasonable realm of possibility.
Now the reason this book received my lowest rating is something that was a problem in books 1 and 2. Now the second half of this book(excluding the ending) were fantastic and I would give at least 4 stars to it. But the first half like the other books seemed slow and we'll mundane to me. Now not saying it didn't have it's moments but overall I was much more into the second half
Another big problem with this book was also in the first two books, the characters. They continue to be flat. The author has tried to cover that up by throwing more and more characters to try and distract you and I'm just not having it. The second half of this book had a large character Jaclyn, yes the Jaclyn that has been almost non existent through this entire series randomly in the final book gets a bigger role. And don't get me started about JoBell, I have been saying since book one that she was the worst character in this entire series. And I still stand by that. Things in this book keep trying to tell me to care about her and be sad for her and at this biggest moment for her when I get told to feel for her I just think, why? Nothing in this writing makes me wanna care for her, all there is the author telling me to care for her and I just cant.
Honestly this book was an acceptable finish for a great series and while I wasn't I fan of the ending I understand what the author did, trying for our imagination to think of what will happen in the future of this books universe. For anyone reading this I wholly recommend you read this full series. One of the best unknown series I have ever read!
October 22, 2017
I recently finished The Last Full Measure by, Trent Reedy. I think the main theme of this book is to always persevere. If the author wanted me to get one idea from the book it would be that even though there are tough times you should always push on. It is like the real world because it is based on political drama that is slowly. It is dislike the real world because 49 of the us states succeed from the union and that would most likely never happen.
This book is about a teenage boy named Danny who is a soldier fighting for the republic of Idaho in the second american civil war. This is his 7th year in the war and he is very fed up with all of the fighting. He decides to take 100 of his friends and family and go to an abandoned school far from the fighting. Up where the school is there is a force called the brotherhood who is fighting the Americans and the republic of Idaho army at the same time. Danny did not know the brotherhood was there but now he and his friends have to fight their way out of brotherhood territory. The genre of this book was dystopian. I know it was this because it was about a country with a totally messed up government. The setting of this book is the republic of Idaho and the book is set in 3001. The author did an amazing job making me feel like i'm right with the characters. The way he made me feel this was because of his use of descriptive adjectives. For example it said " The trees in the forest near the school had those acorns with the brown lumpy tops all over them. The leaves were red and orange. The brown oak door of the school had gunshots in it. The shots were bumpy and uneven. It looked like they had came a long time ago". The main characters in this book were Danny, Jo Bell, Beeca, Sweeney, and Calvin. They are all Danny's best friends except for Jo Bell who is his girlfriend. I think they characters were very believable. The author did a very good job describing them. I know this because of the direct and indirect characterization used.
Some of the strengths of this book were its use of similes. For example: In the book it said " the black cat was as black as the night sky. One of the weaknesses in this book to me was how the author didn't include a lot of what happened after the main conflict was over. For example: some of the ending words of the book were "and I couldn't believe we won". I loved this authors writing style. Especially his use of figurative language, all of the similes and metaphors I saw. Besides the one I mentioned earlier there were a lot more. For example: "Becca said the he was like a ghost moved in and out incredibly fast."
Even with the weaknesses I would still give this book 5 stars. I would 100% recommend this book. I would specifically recommend this book to soldiers in the national guard. That is because Danny in the first book of the series was a us national guard soldier. Also I would recommend it to people who like suspense and dystopian because it has tons of both.
This book is about a teenage boy named Danny who is a soldier fighting for the republic of Idaho in the second american civil war. This is his 7th year in the war and he is very fed up with all of the fighting. He decides to take 100 of his friends and family and go to an abandoned school far from the fighting. Up where the school is there is a force called the brotherhood who is fighting the Americans and the republic of Idaho army at the same time. Danny did not know the brotherhood was there but now he and his friends have to fight their way out of brotherhood territory. The genre of this book was dystopian. I know it was this because it was about a country with a totally messed up government. The setting of this book is the republic of Idaho and the book is set in 3001. The author did an amazing job making me feel like i'm right with the characters. The way he made me feel this was because of his use of descriptive adjectives. For example it said " The trees in the forest near the school had those acorns with the brown lumpy tops all over them. The leaves were red and orange. The brown oak door of the school had gunshots in it. The shots were bumpy and uneven. It looked like they had came a long time ago". The main characters in this book were Danny, Jo Bell, Beeca, Sweeney, and Calvin. They are all Danny's best friends except for Jo Bell who is his girlfriend. I think they characters were very believable. The author did a very good job describing them. I know this because of the direct and indirect characterization used.
Some of the strengths of this book were its use of similes. For example: In the book it said " the black cat was as black as the night sky. One of the weaknesses in this book to me was how the author didn't include a lot of what happened after the main conflict was over. For example: some of the ending words of the book were "and I couldn't believe we won". I loved this authors writing style. Especially his use of figurative language, all of the similes and metaphors I saw. Besides the one I mentioned earlier there were a lot more. For example: "Becca said the he was like a ghost moved in and out incredibly fast."
Even with the weaknesses I would still give this book 5 stars. I would 100% recommend this book. I would specifically recommend this book to soldiers in the national guard. That is because Danny in the first book of the series was a us national guard soldier. Also I would recommend it to people who like suspense and dystopian because it has tons of both.
May 28, 2024
The conclusion to the "Divided We Fall" trilogy showcases an America ripped apart by a devastating civil war and the threat of nuclear warfare.
I'm so glad that I finally made it through this trilogy. I can't even say these books are bad, but they most definitely do not fall into a genre that I would want to be reading again. They're just too full of gore, politics, and militaristic things for me to really enjoy them despite the valid points that Reedy is trying to bring to life.
One thing that I really couldn't believe about this book is that, once again, the action doesn't really start until about halfway through the book despite it being the third book. And a big majority of this book is the characters trying to move from location A to location B while being chased down by people with big guns. I don't find this kind of action very exciting, so I was left feeling rather bored.
I enjoyed the ending quite a bit though. Things in North America got really intense and it was sad to see the horrific things happening in the former United States. The war had only been going for a year and there were many scenarios that very closely resembled those occurring during Nazi occupied territory during World War II. These segments were difficult to read, but I found them to be the most influential and valuable part of this narrative. The loss that Danny deals with and the guilt that he feels towards these events is another part of this book that I enjoyed consuming due to the heartfelt and personal connections felt throughout humanity.
Overall, I can't say that I'm leaving the "Divided We Fall" series with happy memories, but the series most definitely gave me some familiarity with a new type of genre that I hadn't interacted with previously. My ride with Danny Wright and the crew has finally come to an end and I can say without doubt that the characters were most definitely the highlight of the series. They may be a bunch of idiots who seriously cannot make any intelligent decisions, but they're loyalty knows no limits. I love how devoted the friend group is to one another even during the hardest of circumstances and this conviction for one another kept me turning the pages until the very end.
I'm so glad that I finally made it through this trilogy. I can't even say these books are bad, but they most definitely do not fall into a genre that I would want to be reading again. They're just too full of gore, politics, and militaristic things for me to really enjoy them despite the valid points that Reedy is trying to bring to life.
One thing that I really couldn't believe about this book is that, once again, the action doesn't really start until about halfway through the book despite it being the third book. And a big majority of this book is the characters trying to move from location A to location B while being chased down by people with big guns. I don't find this kind of action very exciting, so I was left feeling rather bored.
I enjoyed the ending quite a bit though. Things in North America got really intense and it was sad to see the horrific things happening in the former United States. The war had only been going for a year and there were many scenarios that very closely resembled those occurring during Nazi occupied territory during World War II. These segments were difficult to read, but I found them to be the most influential and valuable part of this narrative. The loss that Danny deals with and the guilt that he feels towards these events is another part of this book that I enjoyed consuming due to the heartfelt and personal connections felt throughout humanity.
Overall, I can't say that I'm leaving the "Divided We Fall" series with happy memories, but the series most definitely gave me some familiarity with a new type of genre that I hadn't interacted with previously. My ride with Danny Wright and the crew has finally come to an end and I can say without doubt that the characters were most definitely the highlight of the series. They may be a bunch of idiots who seriously cannot make any intelligent decisions, but they're loyalty knows no limits. I love how devoted the friend group is to one another even during the hardest of circumstances and this conviction for one another kept me turning the pages until the very end.
January 14, 2024
I almost gave this 2 stars simply because it acknowledges the side that Danny has spent the entire war on is awful. Then in the last 10% of the book it goes out of its way to sanitize them yet again. The Brotherhood of the White Eagle is "revealed" to be a neo nazi organization so Danny and company decide to run away and find a safe place.
I put quotes around the word "revealed" because it was really obvious from the start to anyone paying any attention.
They fight the Brotherhood for a while, then decide to ask the Idaho government for help against them. You know, the Idaho government that's been openly working with the Brotherhood the entire war. In a halfway-competent book, this would lead to a twist about how the government and/or president knew all along and was fine working with nazis, in this book, the heroes take a detour to a radio station and call for a ceasefire, then everyone agrees to one.
Again, it's really obvious that the Idaho government was okay working with nazis if you think about this for even a moment. But this book series is so obsessed with making the far right look like the good guys, or at least no worse than anyone else, that it needs to make it look like the prim and proper politicians would never work with unsavory characters!
I'm reminded of how some apologists for the Third Reich will claim that regular Germans didn't know about the Holocaust to absolve them of guilt.
There's a long monologue near the end where Danny blames both sides for the war, completely ignoring that it was his side that started everything. They started the initial crisis by murdering protestors, then they started killing American soldiers and dropped nuclear weapons on two cities. All the deaths in this story are at the feet of the "good guys" and the books never acknowledge that.
On top of that, this book just has no climax, in spite of several good possibilities for one. A real shame, this series could have been something.
I put quotes around the word "revealed" because it was really obvious from the start to anyone paying any attention.
They fight the Brotherhood for a while, then decide to ask the Idaho government for help against them. You know, the Idaho government that's been openly working with the Brotherhood the entire war. In a halfway-competent book, this would lead to a twist about how the government and/or president knew all along and was fine working with nazis, in this book, the heroes take a detour to a radio station and call for a ceasefire, then everyone agrees to one.
Again, it's really obvious that the Idaho government was okay working with nazis if you think about this for even a moment. But this book series is so obsessed with making the far right look like the good guys, or at least no worse than anyone else, that it needs to make it look like the prim and proper politicians would never work with unsavory characters!
I'm reminded of how some apologists for the Third Reich will claim that regular Germans didn't know about the Holocaust to absolve them of guilt.
There's a long monologue near the end where Danny blames both sides for the war, completely ignoring that it was his side that started everything. They started the initial crisis by murdering protestors, then they started killing American soldiers and dropped nuclear weapons on two cities. All the deaths in this story are at the feet of the "good guys" and the books never acknowledge that.
On top of that, this book just has no climax, in spite of several good possibilities for one. A real shame, this series could have been something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2019
After laying in the sun and swimming all day everyday, not thinking about school, reading, or writing it came to me that I needed to read a book for summer reading. I’m honestly happy that I had to read the book because it was one of the best books I’ve read in awhile.
The Last Full Measure by Trent Reedy is about a kid named Danny Write just a normal kid who wanted to join the Idaho military but that all goes sideways and just like that he’s on the run, a teenage kid with friends that care and will stick with him through anything. This is a book about how they fought back against the FBI in a country tearing, world ending battle that tears apart the United States.
This book was one of the most exciting, action packed, and emotional book I have ever read there was always something going on no matter what what was happening. That’s why when I read this I would sit in my room for a couple hours because I never wanted to put it down because once one thing finished the next would come flying in. Once again if you like books that are emotional, action packed, and exciting books you have to read the Last Full Measure you won't regret it even if you are like me and don't read books a lot.
The Last Full Measure by Trent Reedy is about a kid named Danny Write just a normal kid who wanted to join the Idaho military but that all goes sideways and just like that he’s on the run, a teenage kid with friends that care and will stick with him through anything. This is a book about how they fought back against the FBI in a country tearing, world ending battle that tears apart the United States.
This book was one of the most exciting, action packed, and emotional book I have ever read there was always something going on no matter what what was happening. That’s why when I read this I would sit in my room for a couple hours because I never wanted to put it down because once one thing finished the next would come flying in. Once again if you like books that are emotional, action packed, and exciting books you have to read the Last Full Measure you won't regret it even if you are like me and don't read books a lot.
November 2, 2017
The Last Full Measure follows Danny, a boy who involved in a second American Civil War in Idaho and his attempts to extricate himself and those he loves from the conflict to lead normal lives. However, he keeps being pulled back in, and when he finally does manage to succeed and remove himself from the problematic Brotherhood, an organization heavily involved in the war, he must make hard sacrifices to attain a bittersweet freedom. This provides a cautionary tale for when differences in society threaten to break out. It provides an important political message about unity, criticizing both sides, Idaho and the USA, for their actions. Danny himself provides a likable but imperfect character whose choices are understandable and normal. It provides great context for war, as most people involved are just normal citizens not heroes or villains, though both are present. I think that while this book is interesting enough for its plot, its main benefits come from the wonderful messages it presents about the necessity for unity, peaceful compromise, and the sacrifices that must be made for freedom.
Review by Nathan P, 15, Delaware Valley Mensa
Review by Nathan P, 15, Delaware Valley Mensa
May 10, 2017
The book The Last Full Measure is a very action-packed book that really captivates you.It is about how certain states secede from the United States.This then leads to a really big war against the United States and states like Idaho and Texas.This book along with the series really develops its characters very well and really develops the storyline extraordinarily.This book really keeps you in suspense and catches you by surprise with some of the things in it.
This book also has some really good detail that really helps you envision some of the scenes that he writes.He does really keep it interesting.The plot is also really interesting and really has some depth to it. I would really recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick but interesting read.It really keeps you coming for more when you finally put the book down.
This book also has some really good detail that really helps you envision some of the scenes that he writes.He does really keep it interesting.The plot is also really interesting and really has some depth to it. I would really recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick but interesting read.It really keeps you coming for more when you finally put the book down.
March 3, 2021
I picked up this series after the Capitol attack of 1/20/2021 knowing full well what this was about. The first two books really made me hesitant and it took me a while to get through. While it ended with the US divided and WW III, it ultimately ended in a way I needed it too and it wasn’t all YAY right wing is correct and boo liberals like I was worried it was headed with the first two books. The third book really saw them realize the morality and reality of what was happening. It showed the rawness of war and consequences of actions.
October 24, 2017
A very good ending to an already excited, action packed series. Gives an Ending you would not expect. Makes you think about the actions and the decisions you have made. Danny's fiance is killed while trying to liberate a slave camp.
March 21, 2021
3rd in a US Civil War Ii trilogy. Better than book 2.
But does make you think. I pray this never happens. The end of the UNited States. Ripple affect of a destabilized US. China and Soviets jump in to fill the power void.
But does make you think. I pray this never happens. The end of the UNited States. Ripple affect of a destabilized US. China and Soviets jump in to fill the power void.
May 30, 2022
I think that i would have given this book more stars if I had read it closer to the other two volumes. There was so much that I didn’t remember that I felt totally disconnected from the story and I just had to stop reading,
December 7, 2016
Not the ending I had hoped for the series it felt very rushed and left too many unanswered questions.
August 29, 2017
Overall a pretty good book I like burning nation better. But I didn't really like the ending.
January 9, 2018
this really was not the ending I was looking for, as while it is interesting is has a story that looks kinda rushed. I was really saddened by how quick they ended it as well
March 20, 2018
I give this book a 4.5, because the ending was a bit unsatisfying, but overall, I loved the book
March 28, 2018
Not my usual genre but keeping up with a story with one of my kids. this is one of the most terrifying stories I have ever read, even though there is a significant stretch of what could be possible.
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