Children Of Exile

Children of Exile #1

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Rosi must decide what she’s willing to risk to save her family―and maybe even all of humanity―in the thrilling first novel of a new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author, Margaret Peterson Haddix.

For the past twelve years, adults called “Freds” have raised Rosi, her younger brother Bobo, and the other children of their town, saying it is too dangerous for them to stay with their parents, but now they are all being sent back. Since Rosi is the oldest, all the younger kids are looking to her with questions she doesn’t have the answers to. She’d always trusted the Freds completely, but now she’s not so sure.

And their home is nothing like she’d expected, like nothing the Freds had prepared them for. Will Rosi and the other kids be able to adjust to their new reality?

Genres: Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Dystopia, Young Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy

320 pages, Library Binding

First published September 13, 2016

About the author

Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.

She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.


Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.

Reviews

[Dramapuppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this is disappointing. I love Haddix books, but this one started out a little drier, and nothing much happened. I was still on board to see where she took the mystery.

She took it to aliens. Aliens! Aliens are fine if I chose to read a book about aliens, but they are a TERRIBLE plot twist. I don't buy it. I usually don't subtract a star for plausibility on middle grade books because I know I loved reading over-the-top plots as a preteen, but this one is just too stupid.

It's also weirdly dark. Most Haddix books have young characters in dangerous situations, always trying desperately to save their own lives. This one has young characters sitting around helplessly, hoping not to die. Now, I actually like a feeling of dread to my books, so I didn't take another star for it, but it might be something to consider if you prefer action.

I want to clarify that my actual rating is two stars, but I gave it an extra because, although I don't think even kids will buy the plot twist, they probably won't hate it as much as I did. This isn't bad enough to skip if you or your kid is a die-hard Haddix fan, but don't make this the first Haddix you read. For that, try Game Changer or Turnabout.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally enjoy Haddix's books but I really can't get behind this one, particularly the reveal at the end. Very far-fetched in my opinion. It is very reminiscent of The Giver and not nearly as well done. It is a page-turner and a fast read, however.

[Taylor Guffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is...interesting. It's difficult to say much about it without revealing an important detail. I definitely didn't see the ending coming, but I was hooked on the dystopian-like feel of the beginning. I'm still not sure how I really feel about it, but I definitely plan on reading the sequel to find out what happens next!

[Scott Fillner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy schmoly is the accurate term I believe when you finish a chapter and a book by Margaret P Haddix! I should not be surprised by now since I have read other books from this author, but each time I am. She is the master of leaving you hanging at the end of each chapter. Supreme suspense! I can only imagine trying to do this as a read aloud, stopping and having students jeer, and throw papers, and pencils at me because we had to move on for the day. I challenge you to read this and be able to put down...I know I couldn't.

The story is intense, and will have any reader asking a lot of questions and frequently speaking out loud to themselves. I highly recommend this read when it arrives, but you don't need my recommendation...Haddix is always a winner!

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this because my middle school going boy picked it up. He might enjoy it. Definitely not for me!! 🤪

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I was going to merely say that this was just a "meh" dystopian tale, rehashing some of the same ideas from The Hunger Games and Divergent but in a less-original and more uninspired way. Instead of complex world building, there were just vague references to people being grouped based on eye color. Had also included some scenes with odd religious undertones that weren't helpful or illuminating. And then I got about 85% done with the book and found out a "twist" that just made me go, huh?, and realized that it wasn't just dystopian, but true science fiction. This wasn't a redeeming factor for the story.

Rosi, Bobo, Edwy and all of the other children from their town have been taken away and raised by the Freds in Fredtown. And now, they are all being sent back. Without warning. Without explanation. And without any Freds to help them. When they get home, things are different. People with different eye colors are treated differently. Rosi can't understand why any of this has happened and she knows that the adults in town aren't telling them the truth. And when she stands up for herself, demanding answers, she realizes that things are much worse than she could have imagined and that she is dealing with people and forces far beyond her wildest imagination.

This book is clearly the first in a series and the extreme cliff hanger ending wasn't very satisfying for me. Recommended for purchase for libraries with large collections and with patrons interested in science fiction/dystopian tales.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve years ago and every year since, babies have been snatched from their biological parents and brought to Fredtown. Rosi and her brother Bobo have been nurtured with kindness, understanding, and a belief that all people are equal. They never realized that the Freds were not their birth parents.

Now, however, as they are headed back to the town of their birth, all the children of Fredtown realize they are not orphans as they once believed. As they reunite with their biological parents, they experience things they never knew...violence, hatred, and bigotry. OH! How they long to live once again with their Fredmamas and Freddaddys. The Enforcers, a cruel group of men, ensures that violent eruptions are managed in their birth town.

When Rosi gets caught up in an altercation at the marketplace, her world spins helplessly out of control. She is arrested and incarcerated. She learns some shocking secrets about both her biological parents and her adoptive parents. Clandestine assistance comes from an unexpected source and allows Rosi to escape her jail cell. More deeply troubling secrets are revealed as Rosi struggles to grasp the real truth of Fredtown.

Children of Exile is a tween thriller full of suspense and danger. When the real secrets are revealed, your jaw will drop and you'll be shaking your head in disbelief. The disturbing violence makes it a little too inappropriate for elementary school readers...best to recommend for tweens and above.

[Sarah Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on the edge of my seat for three straight days! Haddix does an outstanding job of leaving you wanting more. This is going to be a HUGE hit with my students!! I need book 2!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was great...until the end...
I thought it was unique and we'll written. I kept turning the pages; I could not wait to find out what was going on. And then the ending. I don't want to say because of spoilers but really! A*****! That's who the Freds were!?!?

[Sarah Monsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many rules in Fredtown, and sometimes it’s hard for Rosi to follow them. It seems like Edwy, the other twelve-year-old in Fredtown, doesn’t even try. But Rosi knows the rules are meant to ensure that everyone gets along and lives respectfully together. In fact, life in Fredtown with her Fred-parents is pretty great, except for the fact that it’s not her real town or her real parents. Rosi has known this all her life; nevertheless, she’s shocked when she learns that all the kids in Fredtown are going home to the real parents they left when they were newborns.

Rosi has a million questions. Why have they been raised in Fredtown since they were tiny babies? If she does have real parents in another town, why haven’t they come to get her before now? If the town her parents live in is too dangerous for kids like Rosi and her brother, why are the kids being sent back there now? Rosi takes very seriously her responsibility to help the younger kids through the trip. But as soon as they leave Fredtown, Rosi begins to question all she’s ever been taught by the Freds and everything she thought she knew. Nothing in Fredtown has prepared her for her real parents or life in the town she should call home.

Grippingly written, Margaret Patterson Haddix’s Children of Exile takes readers through a dark adventure which asks big questions. Readers will be swept up not only by Rosi, her brother BoBo, Edwy, and the other children of exile, but also by questions of respect, justice, judgment, and duty as they follow Rosi through the discoveries and trials of her new life.

The first book in a series, Children of Exile’s compelling characters and soul-searching dilemmas will appeal to middle grade readers. They’ll love Rosi’s spunk and independence and hate the injustice of decisions that are made for her and for the other children. Children of Exile provides great fodder for debates about the right course of action in a situation in which humanity’s continuing existence is at risk.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Friday's post will review the second book in the series, Children of Refuge.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Peterson Haddix has written some truly outstanding sci-fi, fantasy, and even dystopian for the middle grades that I serve. Her Shadow Children and Found series still have steady readership in both my public school libraries as do stand alone fiction such as Turnabout, Running Out of Time, and Double Identity. Her more recent offerings, Under Their Skin and Children of Exile, have their fans, too, and I finally got to the latter and can see why my fifth graders love it. From the beginning there is a plethora of questions: What in the world are Fred-parents? Why were babies removed from their parents and sent away to live with them? Why are they now going back? Why are the two “homes” so different and why would children be sent back to such an awful place?The answers that come in the final pages were totally unexpected and certainly left me wondering how much and what kind of resolution would come in book 2, Children of Refuge. The characters of Rosi and Edwy are fully fleshed out and interesting and I hope they continue to be featured in subsequent books. As is so typical of Haddix writings, the vocabulary used is rich and leaves clear pictures in the readers’ minds while also exposing them to high level words surrounded by enough context clues that meaning is clear. Readers in grades 5-8 will love this one and parents, teachers, and librarians can offer it to them with no reservations regarding content.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: We weren't orphans after all. That was the first surprise. The second was that we were going home.

Premise/plot: Rosi and Bobo are two of many children who are being sent back home to their real parents. For the past twelve years, the children have been raised not by their birth parents, their "real parents" but by the Freds of Fredtown. The children range in ages and reactions. Some are hopeful; some are angry. A few are very, very suspicious. Among the most suspicious is a boy named Edwy. Rosi is typically annoyed with Edwy's conspiracies and negativity. But she changes her mind after arriving "back home." Nothing in Fredtown could have prepared her for the harsh, cruel "real" world of her parents. And assimilation is not easy. Are the children safe? Are their lives now in danger?

My thoughts: Haddix's novels are always--or almost always--quick and compelling reads. Even if the plot later falls apart as you think more and more about the characters, the story, the writing. For better or worse, I'm rarely plagued with questions and doubts as I read the book itself. Did I love Children of Exile. I don't know now. Ask me later. As in when I've finished the second book in the series. Personally, I'd rather have one large book that tells a whole story than two smaller books that just tease you and leave you frustrated.

[Kizlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. It went from fairly entertaining to breathtakingly intense to unbelievably bizarre very quickly. The big twist comes about seven eighths through the book, which to me felt too late in the world-building. It also honestly gave me a bit of whiplash it was so wild. I'd still recommend the book though, because I honestly didn't see it coming and it was interesting and unexpected. I've come to really respect authors who are this fearless in their writing.
The sociopolitical commentary is a bit heavy handed at times, but I think it was spot-on with showing the complexities of the issues at hand.
Overall a very interesting and entertaining read.

[Cassie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

As if Haddix wasn’t already the Sci-Fi queen… I have had several friends recommend this book and then her sequel, so I had to get Children of Exile in my reading vocabulary, and o m g. I by no means ever thought I would be intrigued by science fiction, but this story seriously had me hanging on the edge of my seat for every single conversation, every movement, every thought. What would happen? What is happening? If this happens next, the whole story could take a turn for the worst.

Student who find themselves curious about outside worlds, aliens, the unknown, I highly, highly recommend.

[Cara Cahill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Rosi and her little brother Bobo. They have always lived in Fredtown with their Fred-Mama and Fred-Daddy. Now, they are heading home with little notice to their real parents. Except home is nothing like the Fredtown they are used to.

Wow!! This book is packed full of suspense. Each chapter had me dying to jump into the next one to see what happens. MG readers will love the fast- pace along with the twists and turns this book takes. I can't wait to get this book into the hands of my readers- and I can't wait to get my hands on Book #2. Another winner by Haddix.

[Kayla Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this one. It read quickly but I just didn't care - that may have to do with there being a little too much mystery for most of the novel. I'm all about suspense and buildup but you have to give the reader something or it just reads strange. And I can't even talk about the "reveal" at the end. So disappointing. Some of my uber-into-sci-fi kids might like it but that would be the only group I'd suggest it to.

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 12 year old girl and her five year old brother are raised in a "perfect" town, which emphasizes talking things out and accepting others. They are suddenly grabbed and taken back to their "real" parents---and everything starts going wrong. The pilot ignores the crying infants, and says the kids are "dumb," something the children have been told to NEVER say. What's going on?

[Michelle Glatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that thos book was part science fiction, part mystery. It was engaging to work with Rosi's limited knowledge to figure out what was going on in her home. Looking forward to the sequel.

[Nichole White · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is unfortunate that I chose this to be my first foray into the works of Margaret Peterson Haddix. I've long been told that I should try her work since I love a good middle grade read. The premise was intriguing, and I had heard from other readers that she tends to have a good deal of mystery and suspense in her writing, but I couldn't help but be quite disappointed.

To be fair, the writing itself seemed solid, if a bit juvenile even for a middle grade book. However, while the prose were sound, the book is written in first-person, and the voice of the protagonist actually read as much younger than her 12 years, in my opinion. Also, there just didn't seem to be much substance to the story at all... that's probably what really sunk it for me. I mean, it was written well enough that I didn't DNF it, but it felt like for everything that supposedly /did/ happen, nothing really happened at all.

Then, near the end of the book, the big reveal is that they've been dealing with Aliens all along, and that the parents that didn't show any real love or care for their returned children, actually did care and love them after all... and the protagonist decided it was better to stay in a dangerous world with people that she barely knew than to go back to the home and acceptance she'd been wishing for since they first left, simply because "it's the right thing to do..."

In my opinion, this felt simply regretable... I think the idea has potential, but unfortunately, the story as it is now doesn't feel like it was executed well enough to live up to that potential. It was beyond frustrating to me how naive and even - dare I say "Stupid" - the protagonist came across to me, especially for someone who was supposed to be portrayed as clever and smart for her age; in truth, she felt like her character had no real depth. It was ridiculously annoying how things were written in such a way that nothing was ever explained, and when it finally was, it didn't even make sense. WHY were green-eyed and brown-eyed people at odds with each other? WHY did the Aliens even decide to take it upon themselves to steal the children away in the first place? WHY was this one specific city, out of an entire planet worth of people, under lock and key as intergalactic war criminals? (And by the way, none of this is even known or hinted at until the last 2 chapters of the book... which is honestly a crying shame.)

One of the things that I thought could have been portrayed MUCH better was the idea that the children were taught not to judge by appearances... which would have made MUCH more sense to me if the eventaul "apearence" being judged were something other than just eye-color (which is hard enough to notice at a distance, anyway). Details about character appearance were vague to begin with, and I would have found this so-called "virtue" to be much more striking if the Alien creatures who were the children's original adoptive parents weren't somehow hiding themselves in "human suits" to blend in better. Or even if the children had returned to a society that supported a more diverse population of human culture, instead of the one mention of a preacher character who seemed to be of possible Asian decent and may or may not have been an alien too (that, at least, wasn't revealed in this book.)

It was just a really disappointing read, overall. None of the character motivations were clear or even really hinted at for any of the characters involved, not just the protagonist... and when things finally were briefly explained, it was done in a short info-dump that felt over-simplified and came far too late in the book.

I'm not planning to read the second book. I just can't imagine it will get better from here, even if it does give us more information on the world and its current situation. Everything about it was just far too aggrivating for me to think continuing the story would be worth the time spent reading it.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My name is Rosi, and my little brother Bobo and I have finally been reunited with our real parents. We've been raised in Fredtown since birth, and the Freds are the only parents we've ever known. They taught us respect, honesty, and empathy for others. However, the parents and everyone else in this rundown neighborhood seem to hate me, and I don't know why. My mother even slapped me in the face! Nobody will talk about what happened around here or explain why so many people suffer from missing body parts or other disabilities. This is not the life the Freds taught us. I'm fearing more and more for Bobo's safety. Something horrible happened here, and I've got to uncover the untold secrets.

First off, you'll need to get over all adults in Fredtown being called Fred. It was weird, but it contributed to their generic, institutional characterizations. This dystopian novel read like a mystery, as Haddix presented many questions to create the conflict. Why were the children taken from their parents at birth, and why were they being returned now? Why did the adults hate Rosi? Why weren't there other children around that were older than her? The answers to these questions were surprising for Rosi but weren't revealed until the last fourth of the book. This resulted in most of the plot being about a girl trying to solve a mystery with little freedom to actually investigate. My biggest problem with the book was the treatment of the kids. As a retired teacher, it really bothered me to read about the mistreatment of kids. It was more mental abuse than physical, and the adults didn't offer much affection to others, even other adults. The book's resolution reveals some truths that will change the focus of the rest of the series. Overall, I'm sure many readers will enjoy this novel, as Haddix has a loyal following. I probably won't read the sequel, but I'm not going to pass judgment and say you shouldn't give it a shot.

[Coralie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I didn't see that coming...Classic, Haddix. She turns your world upside down about three chapters before the end and then leaves you to hang, dying for the next book. Haddix has long been one of my favorite authors. I can't say this was my favorite of her works, but I did enjoy the read. It's excellently written, includes a variety of characters that keep you on your toes, and a few strange settings that add to the intrigue of the plot. as I've come to expect of Mrs. Haddix, her plot kept me curious and definitely kept me engaged throughout most of the book. As I came to the point where I started putting pieces together (and after she threw the monkey wrench in it that I did not see coming), I didn't become less engaged so much as...satisfied at seeing the bigger picture finally. I can't say I was as impressed with this plot twist as I have been with twists in her previous books, such as Double Identity and The Missing Series, but I don't think the book or the twist would be any less appealing to its target audience. Though I pride myself on still enjoying children's fiction, this may have just been a little too outlandish for me at my current age. That said, I totally enjoyed the read and will definitely purchase and read the sequel. I just wouldn't call it a favorite, that's all. Quick, easy middle-grade fiction.

My only true qualm with the book was that it feels almost, borderline...like a political statement. There were a select few lines that kind of ruffled my feathers, but I trust Haddix and I want to see where she takes this before I make any judgement calls. I've read and loved too many of her books (nearly all of them) not to see this through.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up this book, but it wasn't what I got. Haddix has long been known for her science fiction/fantasy/dystopia books. But at first this read like a realistic fiction with Rosi and her little brother, Bobo, being returned to their biological parents. The whole idea of the Freds was rather unusual, but I just assumed that they were people who had taken the children to protect them or something. But I sympathized with Rosi and the other children a great deal. After all they were having to give up pretty much everything familiar to return to a place they didn't remember in the slightest.

Once the children are on the plane, it becomes clear that something isn't right. And after the plane lands and is swarmed by rude, obnoxious people, I could tell that something was dreadfully wrong with this place. Rosi tries desperately to hold on to the things the Freds had taught her but these new living arrangements with people Rosi can't at first even refer to as her mother and father test everything she thought she knew. Survival just may require more of Rosi and the other children than they can give.

Haddix throws some pretty big twists into the book changing the way that Rosi and the other characters see things as well as the reader's view point. I admit I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have other ones that Haddix has written. But middle grade readers looking for a new twist on the dystopia tale may very well like this one.

[Crystal Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of SO MANY surprises! From the moment you start reading you have questions. The author gives you little tidbits that only add to the questions and speculations of what exactly is happening.

Then she bashes you upside the head with something TOTALLY unexpected!

The characters are interesting to read. The main protagonists struggles are interesting; struggling to keep the good values she has been taught in a near perfect world into this new one where no one behaves as she has been told they should.

Be assured this book is FAR MORE than a girl's struggle to fit in. But if I say any more I will give away the shock of the reveal. And I wouldn't want to do that.

[Elias · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out great and built a lot of suspense and was amazing until the "climax" of the book finally came and wasn't worth all the pages to get there. I was curious about the plot and actually got invested but about 100 pages of the book was the main character walking around a town and not progressing the story at all. Although most of it I didn't enjoy their were some good parts too, such as the main characters travelling from where they were born to a warfare ridden town that they've never seen. It was nice to see the characters experience something new but that emotion didn't stay long since that part felt so rushed. I feel that their were only 3 main plot points that felt random and all over the place.

The 3 main plot points were, the main characters travelling to their new home since they hadn't seen anything like it, it was refreshing to see new reactions. The second plot point was the main character, Rosi and a main-side character named Edwy. Edwy had found a run down town past the one they had been introduced to. This part was actually thrilling since they almost got caught by the antagonists. But after that part they never really concluded what happened after Edwy got caught which was my only motivation to keep reading. The 3rd plot point was the conclusion were Rosi had asked where Edwy had gone in front of a crowd of people and they randomly beat her up for some reason. She woke up in a Prison cell and left the prison in only 2 chapters and was very boring in my opinion. Although, after the prison point, a random search party came and looked through the whole town's houses which caused Rosi to run away since she is an outlaw. This is my own personal opinion but I hope that the next book is better since this one left a giant cliffhanger.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK

WHAT IS THIS BOOK??

I don’t think I will ever get over that ending...

FEELS TIME...FEELS TIME...FEELS TIME!

-BOBO BOBO BOBO
-Rosi’s relationship with Bobo
-Rosi’s friendship with Edwy (I get the vibe that he has a crush on her, don’t you?)
-FREAKIN CURSED TOWN
-Their parents
-Edwy fishing
-Pastor Dan (honestly bless that pastor)
-CANAAA
-Rosi’s beating
-THE ALIENS
-ALIENS?!
-THERE ARE ALIENS?!
-Rosi declining Mrs. Osemwe’s offer because she couldn’t leave Edwy behind
-Rosi naming the mountain “Better Times Ahead”

[Dyane Forde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, well-paced story with a main character that is easy to like and rally behind. The 'twist' in the story is teased throughout, finally coming together all at once at the end. I was a little frustrated with the exposition at that point; it bogged down the ending and deflated the building tension. Still, it sets up our main character as someone with a new perspective of her world, and justifies her newly found sense of purpose. Will move on to the next book. Recommended for youth who can handle a denser read (narrative paragraph-rich) and adults who enjoy YA/middle grade books.

[Emu · Rating 4 out of 5]

What on earth is this book?? And that sentence doesn't even make sense to describe this book.

But to be fair, the story was excellent. And then the author just decided to drop a giant surprise bomb on page 265. Aliens! Seriously? When did that happen??!!

Still, it was a solid 4 star read. I would definitely recommend it to sci-fi fans, though it's not really my style or what I expected at all.

[Two BookWorms Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haddix has the reader on the hook right from Chapter 1, and she slowly but surely reels us in as we begin to wonder, along with Rosi, what is really going on in Rosi’s world.

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Fredtown, everything is geared toward raising healthy, happy, well-adjusted children. Fred parents are reasonable, calm, and loving. The children love their parents and seek to please them. Children can play outside, walk their neighborhoods, and enjoy their childhood without fear of punishment or harm. Nothing could be more perfect. Then, out of the blue, the children are told they are being returned to their real parents. Real parents? Where? Why? Twelve-year-old Rosie is one of the two oldest children in Fredtown. She has one brother, five-year-old Bobo. As her Fred parents bustle her and all the other children of Fredtown onto a plane, she is told to take care of Bobo and all the others. When the real parents board the plane hours later, pushing, shoving, pinching, and screaming, Rosie has no idea how she'll ever look out for anyone. Her new home is the exact opposite of Fredtown, Bobo cries for his Fred momma and Fred daddy, and Rosie is actually slapped by her real mother. What kind of life is this? Why do these people even want children? And why are so many of the people in her new home scarred, injured, missing limbs, angry and fearful? What happened in this place? Children of Exile begins a new dystopian series by Haddix that students in middle grades and up will find provocative and exciting. This book is a South Carolina Junior Book Award nominee for 2018-2019.

[Molly Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would really recommend this to anyone interested in dystopian books or when the character doesn't really know a lot about themselves.