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Arctic Zoo
From London . . .
Georgia gets straight As at school, writes essays for fun, has been placed first in twenty-six drone races and has a serious addiction to buying Japanese stationery. She plans to follow her older sister Sophie and become a doctor, but her worldview is shattered when Sophie commits suicide.
To Lagos . . .
Julius lives in Ondo, a Nigerian state where half the population lives on less than a dollar a day. But he isn't one of them. His uncle has been governor of Ondo for more than a decade and his mother is the power behind that throne. He finds refuge in a derelict zoo with best friend Duke, but as the two of them grow close, the world outside becomes more and more hostile.
Georgia gets straight As at school, writes essays for fun, has been placed first in twenty-six drone races and has a serious addiction to buying Japanese stationery. She plans to follow her older sister Sophie and become a doctor, but her worldview is shattered when Sophie commits suicide.
To Lagos . . .
Julius lives in Ondo, a Nigerian state where half the population lives on less than a dollar a day. But he isn't one of them. His uncle has been governor of Ondo for more than a decade and his mother is the power behind that throne. He finds refuge in a derelict zoo with best friend Duke, but as the two of them grow close, the world outside becomes more and more hostile.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2019
19 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Robert Muchamore
152 books1,920 followersRobert Muchamore was born in Islington, London in 1972. He still lives there, and worked as a private investigator up until 2005 and the critically-accepted release of Maximum Security.
The Hunger Games phenomenon is part of the huge YA / Children's book explosion that has grown, thanks to the British Rat pack of YA authors, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Muchamore, Mark A. Cooper and Charlie Higson. We owe much of the hunger games sucess to authors such as Robert.
Robert was inspired to create the CHERUB series by his nephew after he complained about the lack of anything for them to read. CHERUB: The Recruit was Robert's first book and won the Red House Children's Book Award 2005 in the Older Readers Category.
Following the last book in the CHERUB series, it was revealed that a trilogy would be released starting from August 2011 that will focus on a new set of CHERUB agents centred upon Ryan Sharma and also involve an sixteen year old Lauren Adams. The first book will be called People's Republic.
Check out the Hendersons Boys series. Henderson's Boys is a series of young adult spy novels written by English author Robert Muchamore. The series follows Charles Henderson, the creator of the fictitious CHERUB organisation.
CHERUB is currently being made into a TV series.
The Hunger Games phenomenon is part of the huge YA / Children's book explosion that has grown, thanks to the British Rat pack of YA authors, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Muchamore, Mark A. Cooper and Charlie Higson. We owe much of the hunger games sucess to authors such as Robert.
Robert was inspired to create the CHERUB series by his nephew after he complained about the lack of anything for them to read. CHERUB: The Recruit was Robert's first book and won the Red House Children's Book Award 2005 in the Older Readers Category.
Following the last book in the CHERUB series, it was revealed that a trilogy would be released starting from August 2011 that will focus on a new set of CHERUB agents centred upon Ryan Sharma and also involve an sixteen year old Lauren Adams. The first book will be called People's Republic.
Check out the Hendersons Boys series. Henderson's Boys is a series of young adult spy novels written by English author Robert Muchamore. The series follows Charles Henderson, the creator of the fictitious CHERUB organisation.
CHERUB is currently being made into a TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 7, 2019
4.5 Stars
Thank you to ReadersFirst and Hotkey for a copy of Arctic Zoo.
Arctic Zoo is a contemporary novel based around 2 teenagers lives: Georgia and Julius. It is unlike anything I have read before as for the vast majority of the book these 2 characters do not meet, live in the same country or have any kind of link to each other. All we have is a small scene at the start of the book of the first encounter the 2 have of one another in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK. We then get taken a year or so back in time, to when Julius lives with his rich, large family who are constantly in the spotlight being one of the richest families in Akure and Julius's uncle being a corrupt political leader.
With Georgia we are taken back to when she was 14 years old and an A* student, living with her dad and flying competition drones for her dad's and uncles drone team, soon after she gets a phone call from her Mother with terrible news, which then goes on to influence the way her future plays out.
Julius & Georgia's stories are so vivid and complex and yet so different. I was impressed with how much research Muchamore has done especially in Julius's case as I've never been to Nigeria but he made me get a feel of how horrendous it would be to live in a country where there is so much political crime & human rights violation. You'd think that Julius would have it easy with being from one of the most wealthy families & under constant protection but if anything he is in more danger because of the opposition of his uncles political position. One thing makes Julius more of a target though: He's gay.
There are some parts of his story that I had to put the book down and think about what I'd read and the sickening feeling I had in my stomach. Julius has a secret boyfriend called Duke who is out as gay to everybody including the school in which they both attend. Dukes life is made a living hell on a daily basis as Akure is a heavily Christian town, so being homosexual is seen as a sin that deserves punishment. The abuse that Duke went through really pulled on my emotions, it was just so hard to read and the genuine but limited relationship Julius and Duke had together was made all the more difficult because of Julius's social standing which his cousins soon took into their own hands to protect. Julius's mother, a self made business tycoon and the power behind her brothers political campaign, goes to extremes to keep the pair apart. After an attack on her sons, she sends Julius away from Duke and the growing political bloodshed, to the UK, where eventually Georgia and Julius's paths cross.
Georgia has led a very different life. I didn't connect with her character as much as I did Julius's and I felt it kind of rushed. She goes from this average, good, smart girl to a national public figure after being asked by her sister's ex-boyfriend, to attend a radical protest group and soon ends up on the front cover of the newspaper after things go further than she initially intended. Taken up in the whirlwind of fame and new friends and through no fault of her own, she becomes the opposite of what she was and is seen as a leader for the younger generation in protests against the current government and the cuts they are implementing throughout the country. I really couldn't understand the complete lack of parenting from her father and mother, and I kept having to remind myself this was a YA book with younger than usual main characters, as Georgia goes on to skip school and non-intentionally lead others down the same path. Eventually she gets her comeuppance as they carry out what they thought was a non-lethal attack on the prime minister but things go wrong, people get seriously injured and it turns into what is seen to be an act of terror.
Both stories were interesting to read and I liked the way Muchamore led you to believe the story was going in one direction but then another turn of events played out and you were kept on your toes and turning those pages. Alternate characters view-points at every chapter can sometimes feel a bit 'stop-start' but this didn't at all. As soon as I finished a Julius chapter I was just as thrilled to start again with Georgia's and what was happening in her life. I think this helped because the chapters were quite short and didn't feel like you were reading in depth about one person only to be cut off at things were getting good.
I cant really find anything wrong with Arctic Zoo, it was a quick read for me even with its 450+ pages. The only reason I knocked half a star off the full 5 is down to my own enjoyment factor. The book addresses some very relevant issues in the world today and at times points out the stark and ugly truth of why more isn't done. Sadly this has a lot to do with the media and Robert Muchamore says it how it is and doesn't try to flower it up through these two characters that have experienced the darker side of politics & media. The first book I've read by Robert Muchamore and I can safely say I will be reading his other books after this.
Thank you to ReadersFirst and Hotkey for a copy of Arctic Zoo.
Arctic Zoo is a contemporary novel based around 2 teenagers lives: Georgia and Julius. It is unlike anything I have read before as for the vast majority of the book these 2 characters do not meet, live in the same country or have any kind of link to each other. All we have is a small scene at the start of the book of the first encounter the 2 have of one another in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK. We then get taken a year or so back in time, to when Julius lives with his rich, large family who are constantly in the spotlight being one of the richest families in Akure and Julius's uncle being a corrupt political leader.
With Georgia we are taken back to when she was 14 years old and an A* student, living with her dad and flying competition drones for her dad's and uncles drone team, soon after she gets a phone call from her Mother with terrible news, which then goes on to influence the way her future plays out.
Julius & Georgia's stories are so vivid and complex and yet so different. I was impressed with how much research Muchamore has done especially in Julius's case as I've never been to Nigeria but he made me get a feel of how horrendous it would be to live in a country where there is so much political crime & human rights violation. You'd think that Julius would have it easy with being from one of the most wealthy families & under constant protection but if anything he is in more danger because of the opposition of his uncles political position. One thing makes Julius more of a target though: He's gay.
There are some parts of his story that I had to put the book down and think about what I'd read and the sickening feeling I had in my stomach. Julius has a secret boyfriend called Duke who is out as gay to everybody including the school in which they both attend. Dukes life is made a living hell on a daily basis as Akure is a heavily Christian town, so being homosexual is seen as a sin that deserves punishment. The abuse that Duke went through really pulled on my emotions, it was just so hard to read and the genuine but limited relationship Julius and Duke had together was made all the more difficult because of Julius's social standing which his cousins soon took into their own hands to protect. Julius's mother, a self made business tycoon and the power behind her brothers political campaign, goes to extremes to keep the pair apart. After an attack on her sons, she sends Julius away from Duke and the growing political bloodshed, to the UK, where eventually Georgia and Julius's paths cross.
Georgia has led a very different life. I didn't connect with her character as much as I did Julius's and I felt it kind of rushed. She goes from this average, good, smart girl to a national public figure after being asked by her sister's ex-boyfriend, to attend a radical protest group and soon ends up on the front cover of the newspaper after things go further than she initially intended. Taken up in the whirlwind of fame and new friends and through no fault of her own, she becomes the opposite of what she was and is seen as a leader for the younger generation in protests against the current government and the cuts they are implementing throughout the country. I really couldn't understand the complete lack of parenting from her father and mother, and I kept having to remind myself this was a YA book with younger than usual main characters, as Georgia goes on to skip school and non-intentionally lead others down the same path. Eventually she gets her comeuppance as they carry out what they thought was a non-lethal attack on the prime minister but things go wrong, people get seriously injured and it turns into what is seen to be an act of terror.
Both stories were interesting to read and I liked the way Muchamore led you to believe the story was going in one direction but then another turn of events played out and you were kept on your toes and turning those pages. Alternate characters view-points at every chapter can sometimes feel a bit 'stop-start' but this didn't at all. As soon as I finished a Julius chapter I was just as thrilled to start again with Georgia's and what was happening in her life. I think this helped because the chapters were quite short and didn't feel like you were reading in depth about one person only to be cut off at things were getting good.
I cant really find anything wrong with Arctic Zoo, it was a quick read for me even with its 450+ pages. The only reason I knocked half a star off the full 5 is down to my own enjoyment factor. The book addresses some very relevant issues in the world today and at times points out the stark and ugly truth of why more isn't done. Sadly this has a lot to do with the media and Robert Muchamore says it how it is and doesn't try to flower it up through these two characters that have experienced the darker side of politics & media. The first book I've read by Robert Muchamore and I can safely say I will be reading his other books after this.
July 21, 2019
“It isn’t easy to change the world...but you’ve got to keep trying”
Arctic Zoo is an inspiring YA contemporary about fighting for what you believe in - no matter the cost.
Through the story of two teenagers with very different lives, Muchamore shows that although their worlds and environments may be different, fundamentally, the problems teenagers face growing up are the same.
Both Julius and Georgia are experiencing family problems whilst trying to figure out who they are. Both are coming to terms with their emerging sexuality and the pressure to fit it. These characters were fantastic. Engaging and tenacious, whilst still being young and believable, I fell in love with them from page one, especially Julius.
Short chapters make this an easy read but the alternating points of view do make this book read more like two separate stories. I feel like each narrative could have been written as it’s own book and it would not have detracted from the end result. Having said that the contrasting worlds do create a jarring juxtaposition between the lives of these two characters.
Julius is growing up in Nigeria where the majority of the population are poor, however due to his families’ political standing they are extremely rich. But this standing comes at a price - their safety is often at risk and as a result Julius has very little freedom.
Georgia on the other hand does not come from a wealthy family. Instead she come from a working class family in England. And as her parents are separated and her older sister committed suicide, she finds she has more freedom than most 14/15 year olds.
Based on the synopsis I thought Arctic Zoo would focus on Julius and Georgia’s relationship in the mental health facility however for the majority of the book the two main characters haven’t even met and are in totally different countries. Instead we see what led up to them being in the same mental health facility and the time they do spend together is brief. Personally I really would have liked more of their time together. Their relationship was engaging and it would have been great to see this developed further.
It’s clear from reading this book that hours of research have gone into making this as authentic as possible. The scenes in Nigeria felt disturbingly real and made it clear how difficult life is for so many people in countries where political corruption and civil unrest is the norm, and the innocent suffer for the crime of being poor.
A word of warning, Muchamore likes to tackle heavy topics and Arctic Zoo was no different. Bribery, corruption, violence, mental health and sexuality are all covered.
Arctic Zoo is a YA contemporary full of emotion and heartbreak, whilst being hopeful and honest. Unexpected but still very enjoyable!
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Readers First and the publishers (Hot Key Books) for my copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.
Arctic Zoo is an inspiring YA contemporary about fighting for what you believe in - no matter the cost.
Through the story of two teenagers with very different lives, Muchamore shows that although their worlds and environments may be different, fundamentally, the problems teenagers face growing up are the same.
Both Julius and Georgia are experiencing family problems whilst trying to figure out who they are. Both are coming to terms with their emerging sexuality and the pressure to fit it. These characters were fantastic. Engaging and tenacious, whilst still being young and believable, I fell in love with them from page one, especially Julius.
Short chapters make this an easy read but the alternating points of view do make this book read more like two separate stories. I feel like each narrative could have been written as it’s own book and it would not have detracted from the end result. Having said that the contrasting worlds do create a jarring juxtaposition between the lives of these two characters.
Julius is growing up in Nigeria where the majority of the population are poor, however due to his families’ political standing they are extremely rich. But this standing comes at a price - their safety is often at risk and as a result Julius has very little freedom.
Georgia on the other hand does not come from a wealthy family. Instead she come from a working class family in England. And as her parents are separated and her older sister committed suicide, she finds she has more freedom than most 14/15 year olds.
Based on the synopsis I thought Arctic Zoo would focus on Julius and Georgia’s relationship in the mental health facility however for the majority of the book the two main characters haven’t even met and are in totally different countries. Instead we see what led up to them being in the same mental health facility and the time they do spend together is brief. Personally I really would have liked more of their time together. Their relationship was engaging and it would have been great to see this developed further.
It’s clear from reading this book that hours of research have gone into making this as authentic as possible. The scenes in Nigeria felt disturbingly real and made it clear how difficult life is for so many people in countries where political corruption and civil unrest is the norm, and the innocent suffer for the crime of being poor.
A word of warning, Muchamore likes to tackle heavy topics and Arctic Zoo was no different. Bribery, corruption, violence, mental health and sexuality are all covered.
Arctic Zoo is a YA contemporary full of emotion and heartbreak, whilst being hopeful and honest. Unexpected but still very enjoyable!
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Readers First and the publishers (Hot Key Books) for my copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.
September 6, 2019
Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“It isn’t easy to change the world...but you’ve got to keep trying”
I am so confused on deciding if I like the book or not.
I did enjoyed the read but I just have meh feeling on it. I didn't feel attach to the story but I was invested on knowing what is going to happen.
I think I was expecting something completely different from the blurb and the cover of the book.
I thought I was getting more sci-fi and more interaction between Georgia and Julius and the concept of them being in the mental institute.
There wasn't much story involvement between Georgia and Julius. Their story is being told separately. They both go through different things just in the same time and place.
While Georgia focuses more on her sister's death and political, Julius was more on his family, his identity and the people around him and where he lives.
However they both have the same concept of where both of them are trying to grow out of their bubble and find their true identity rather than being in the same crutches of people controlling them.
In the beginning I was more invested in Georgia's story but later on I was more interested in Julius. I wish I was given the same amount of attention from each storyline. I wish we see more scenes in the mental institute because I find them ending up there was interesting and wanted to know more behind the scenes of it.
“It isn’t easy to change the world...but you’ve got to keep trying”
I am so confused on deciding if I like the book or not.
I did enjoyed the read but I just have meh feeling on it. I didn't feel attach to the story but I was invested on knowing what is going to happen.
I think I was expecting something completely different from the blurb and the cover of the book.
I thought I was getting more sci-fi and more interaction between Georgia and Julius and the concept of them being in the mental institute.
There wasn't much story involvement between Georgia and Julius. Their story is being told separately. They both go through different things just in the same time and place.
While Georgia focuses more on her sister's death and political, Julius was more on his family, his identity and the people around him and where he lives.
However they both have the same concept of where both of them are trying to grow out of their bubble and find their true identity rather than being in the same crutches of people controlling them.
In the beginning I was more invested in Georgia's story but later on I was more interested in Julius. I wish I was given the same amount of attention from each storyline. I wish we see more scenes in the mental institute because I find them ending up there was interesting and wanted to know more behind the scenes of it.
June 18, 2019
He felt every bit an awkward giant. Fifteen years old and seven thousand kilometres from anyone who loved him.
* * *
3 / 5
Robert Muchamore writes fantastic YA novels about contemporary topics concerning teenagers: racism, sexuality, the wealth gap, mental health, and family. Arctic Zoo is no different; it is bold and ambitious and diverse, but it also felt a little disjointed. I am a huge fan of Muchamore's CHERUB series and I was thrilled to read something with his characteristic style that still managed to feel totally new with original characters.
For Duke, seeing Julius skate was like going to a family party and seeing your grandma start breakdancing
Georgia is a British teenager who races drones because it makes her dad happy and spends her money on fancy stationary. Her world is turned upside down when her sister commits suicide and in an attempt to feel closer to her, Georgia becomes involved in political activism. On the flipside, Julius lives in Nigeria. His family is fabulously wealthy; his mother is a business tycoon and the power behind her brother's political campaign. But there's one thing she won't forgive: having a gay son.
Arctic Zoo felt like two books in one. The book begins with the two teens in a British mental health unit and then flashes backwards in time to show how they got there. We alternate chapters between Georgia and Julius and for 90% of the book the two have nothing to do with each other. Sure, their stories are linked via themes of politics, power, family, and discovering yourself, but I felt that this could have easily been split into two books without losing very much.
It had all made sense. It had all been leading to something. Georgia had never known precisely what the something way, but she'd believed hard work and A-stars would take her to better places
Both characters are very compelling. Georgia withdraws from her parents and gets more involved with her sister's boyfriend and his political protests. One day she joins a street march and ends up getting photographed as she leaps over a barricade whilst stuff is being smashed around her. This photograph makes the front cover of a bunch of newspapers and suddenly Georgia becomes a kind of public figure, offered a bunch of interviews and modelling contracts. I found this a touch far-fetched, but rolled with it anyway.
Julius struggles to get along with his brothers, constantly seen as the odd one out. He withdraws and spends more and more time with his best friend Duke, an openly out young gay man whose father is a vocal critic of Julius' family. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Ondo as political campaigns become more and more violent. Julius is a very sympathetic character and his journey is an interesting one - I was definitely curious how he would go from a wealthy family in Nigeria to being detained in Britain.
Like I said, both of their stories are very compelling in their own ways and touch on some important issues. I think the book suffered from having Julius and Georgia as very separate characters, such that the book felt like two smaller books in one. But I definitely enjoyed how Muchamore has written something very different to his CHERUB books whilst still being about teenagers and extremely relevant.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of Arctic Zoo.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * *
3 / 5
Robert Muchamore writes fantastic YA novels about contemporary topics concerning teenagers: racism, sexuality, the wealth gap, mental health, and family. Arctic Zoo is no different; it is bold and ambitious and diverse, but it also felt a little disjointed. I am a huge fan of Muchamore's CHERUB series and I was thrilled to read something with his characteristic style that still managed to feel totally new with original characters.
For Duke, seeing Julius skate was like going to a family party and seeing your grandma start breakdancing
Georgia is a British teenager who races drones because it makes her dad happy and spends her money on fancy stationary. Her world is turned upside down when her sister commits suicide and in an attempt to feel closer to her, Georgia becomes involved in political activism. On the flipside, Julius lives in Nigeria. His family is fabulously wealthy; his mother is a business tycoon and the power behind her brother's political campaign. But there's one thing she won't forgive: having a gay son.
Arctic Zoo felt like two books in one. The book begins with the two teens in a British mental health unit and then flashes backwards in time to show how they got there. We alternate chapters between Georgia and Julius and for 90% of the book the two have nothing to do with each other. Sure, their stories are linked via themes of politics, power, family, and discovering yourself, but I felt that this could have easily been split into two books without losing very much.
It had all made sense. It had all been leading to something. Georgia had never known precisely what the something way, but she'd believed hard work and A-stars would take her to better places
Both characters are very compelling. Georgia withdraws from her parents and gets more involved with her sister's boyfriend and his political protests. One day she joins a street march and ends up getting photographed as she leaps over a barricade whilst stuff is being smashed around her. This photograph makes the front cover of a bunch of newspapers and suddenly Georgia becomes a kind of public figure, offered a bunch of interviews and modelling contracts. I found this a touch far-fetched, but rolled with it anyway.
Julius struggles to get along with his brothers, constantly seen as the odd one out. He withdraws and spends more and more time with his best friend Duke, an openly out young gay man whose father is a vocal critic of Julius' family. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Ondo as political campaigns become more and more violent. Julius is a very sympathetic character and his journey is an interesting one - I was definitely curious how he would go from a wealthy family in Nigeria to being detained in Britain.
Like I said, both of their stories are very compelling in their own ways and touch on some important issues. I think the book suffered from having Julius and Georgia as very separate characters, such that the book felt like two smaller books in one. But I definitely enjoyed how Muchamore has written something very different to his CHERUB books whilst still being about teenagers and extremely relevant.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of Arctic Zoo.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
July 11, 2019
https://thebooksareeverywhere.com/201...
Disclaimer: Thank you so much to Hot Key Books for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected or changed my opinions in any way.
I really didn’t know what to expect with this book, and I was surprised in a big way. From the synopsis, I expected most of the book to be set in a mental institution, but instead I found a journey to both characters ending up there. I love how Arctic Zoo book flickered backwards and forwards between different times in the characters lives, often enough to feel fast paced but not often enough to make the reader confused.
In fact, let’s talk about these delightful characters. I honestly loved them both for different reasons, and I was shocked by how well the alternate PsOV from both characters worked so well. They lead very different lives, with Georgia being in the UK, a girl with straight As, who has been brought up on drone racing and has a difficult home life, especially when her sister commits suicide. Georgia, who has always looked up to her sisters achievements and followed in her footsteps, realises there might be more to life than studying.
Julius is a very different story. A young gay man in Nigeria, coming to terms with his sexuality and struggling with his family’s political status. His coming out changes his life in many ways, and the book explores his relationships, family/home life, school and friendships, all in a politically turbulent time and place.
Both of the characters, however different, lead very unique yet equally compelling and intriguing lives. Before long, I felt sucked in to both of their stories and I was struggling to put the book down, finishing it’s 400+ pages in just a few days. Sometimes, with books of different PsOV, I find myself favouring one character over the other and I struggle to give completely equal attention to both. This wasn’t the case with Arctic Zoo, and I think that’s because their stories are so different and not often intertwined. Some readers might find it disappointing that they actually don’t spend much time together, but I found it refreshing and well-paced, as the alternate view points would be a break from the one before. I never felt stuck in one persons reality, and knew something fresh was just a few pages away.
I even enjoyed how the characters ended up in different countries for the majority of the book. It still amazes me how Muchamore wrote Julius’ chapters in Nigeria having never visited the country himself. I can be no judge for accuracy, but I felt fully immersed in the story and it felt real. It shows that he had people who had experienced life in Nigeria check his work.
The only downside for me was actually Georgia’s story, towards the end. It just felt a little…rushed? I left feeling as though everything had happened too smoothly, and too quickly, and without much room for full explanation. I won’t go into it too deeply in fear of spoiling the ending, but I just wanted a little more in way of description of how everything slotted into place at the end. Unfortunately for me it left me feeling disjointed about her story as a whole, which I had otherwise really enjoyed.
However, this was a very small disappointment in the grand scheme of what turned out to be an incredibly enjoyable, heartbreaking but hopeful read. If you want something a little different in YA but still relatable and easy to read, this one is perfect!
★★★★
4 out of 5 stars
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
Disclaimer: Thank you so much to Hot Key Books for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected or changed my opinions in any way.
I really didn’t know what to expect with this book, and I was surprised in a big way. From the synopsis, I expected most of the book to be set in a mental institution, but instead I found a journey to both characters ending up there. I love how Arctic Zoo book flickered backwards and forwards between different times in the characters lives, often enough to feel fast paced but not often enough to make the reader confused.
In fact, let’s talk about these delightful characters. I honestly loved them both for different reasons, and I was shocked by how well the alternate PsOV from both characters worked so well. They lead very different lives, with Georgia being in the UK, a girl with straight As, who has been brought up on drone racing and has a difficult home life, especially when her sister commits suicide. Georgia, who has always looked up to her sisters achievements and followed in her footsteps, realises there might be more to life than studying.
Julius is a very different story. A young gay man in Nigeria, coming to terms with his sexuality and struggling with his family’s political status. His coming out changes his life in many ways, and the book explores his relationships, family/home life, school and friendships, all in a politically turbulent time and place.
Both of the characters, however different, lead very unique yet equally compelling and intriguing lives. Before long, I felt sucked in to both of their stories and I was struggling to put the book down, finishing it’s 400+ pages in just a few days. Sometimes, with books of different PsOV, I find myself favouring one character over the other and I struggle to give completely equal attention to both. This wasn’t the case with Arctic Zoo, and I think that’s because their stories are so different and not often intertwined. Some readers might find it disappointing that they actually don’t spend much time together, but I found it refreshing and well-paced, as the alternate view points would be a break from the one before. I never felt stuck in one persons reality, and knew something fresh was just a few pages away.
I even enjoyed how the characters ended up in different countries for the majority of the book. It still amazes me how Muchamore wrote Julius’ chapters in Nigeria having never visited the country himself. I can be no judge for accuracy, but I felt fully immersed in the story and it felt real. It shows that he had people who had experienced life in Nigeria check his work.
The only downside for me was actually Georgia’s story, towards the end. It just felt a little…rushed? I left feeling as though everything had happened too smoothly, and too quickly, and without much room for full explanation. I won’t go into it too deeply in fear of spoiling the ending, but I just wanted a little more in way of description of how everything slotted into place at the end. Unfortunately for me it left me feeling disjointed about her story as a whole, which I had otherwise really enjoyed.
However, this was a very small disappointment in the grand scheme of what turned out to be an incredibly enjoyable, heartbreaking but hopeful read. If you want something a little different in YA but still relatable and easy to read, this one is perfect!
★★★★
4 out of 5 stars
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
September 9, 2023
Arctic Zoo is the story of two different teens, Georgia and Julius, and how they each try to change the world around them.
Straight-A student Georgia is left reeling when her sister commits suicide after struggling to cope with the demands of her job in a time of budget cuts. Julius comes from a wealthy family in Nigeria. With his mum’s political influence Julius can have whatever he wants, apart from the love of his best friend Duke. Corruption impacts Julius and his family, leaving them vulnerable.
The story of each character runs concurrently. Though they meet, we are relayed their stories separately. For me, this led to a strange sense of disconnect.
While I found myself caught up in events and keen to see how things planned out, the world building felt unfinished and it was hard to feel fully invested in the story. Both characters drift along, caught up in events and neither really takes responsibility for their decisions until the end.
From start to finish this felt like two different stories, neither of which fully captured my attention. Shame, as it sounded like a very different story.
Straight-A student Georgia is left reeling when her sister commits suicide after struggling to cope with the demands of her job in a time of budget cuts. Julius comes from a wealthy family in Nigeria. With his mum’s political influence Julius can have whatever he wants, apart from the love of his best friend Duke. Corruption impacts Julius and his family, leaving them vulnerable.
The story of each character runs concurrently. Though they meet, we are relayed their stories separately. For me, this led to a strange sense of disconnect.
While I found myself caught up in events and keen to see how things planned out, the world building felt unfinished and it was hard to feel fully invested in the story. Both characters drift along, caught up in events and neither really takes responsibility for their decisions until the end.
From start to finish this felt like two different stories, neither of which fully captured my attention. Shame, as it sounded like a very different story.
July 27, 2019
This book was very interesting! It featured a lot of different themes, settings and characters that I haven’t come across before. We follow Georgia in the UK and Julius in Nigeria, both teenagers that are living unique but difficult lives.
Arctic Zoo is a tale of independence, friendship and standing up for what is right! Politics is an issue that I don’t have a huge amount of knowledge on, so it was very interesting to read a YA novel featuring it and encouraging teenagers to take an interest in it.
This book provides an insight into different cultures as well having LGBTQ and mental health representation.
The only issue I had with this story was that I felt it lacked development in certain areas. For example, I don’t think that Georgia’s mental health and well-being was very well portrayed and I think it was sort of brushed over, despite the life shattering events that she experiences. She seemed to just forget about these huge plot points when you would expect them to be at the front of her mind.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was very unique and featured so many things that were new to me - 4 stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟
Arctic Zoo is a tale of independence, friendship and standing up for what is right! Politics is an issue that I don’t have a huge amount of knowledge on, so it was very interesting to read a YA novel featuring it and encouraging teenagers to take an interest in it.
This book provides an insight into different cultures as well having LGBTQ and mental health representation.
The only issue I had with this story was that I felt it lacked development in certain areas. For example, I don’t think that Georgia’s mental health and well-being was very well portrayed and I think it was sort of brushed over, despite the life shattering events that she experiences. She seemed to just forget about these huge plot points when you would expect them to be at the front of her mind.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was very unique and featured so many things that were new to me - 4 stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 13, 2019
I enjoyed this story of two teenagers from vastly different backgrounds who meet in an adolescent mental health unit. The stories of how they got there are completely different but they still connect and become friends. With political protests, an African zoo for arctic animals, corruption, and terrorism this story has everything! I will be recommending it to my students.
March 2, 2022
This book was alright, I love Robert Muchamore’s CHERUB series but this isn’t the same and it’s not really my favourite book out there unfortunately. It is well written and I think if you are interested in more of this kind of story (a sort of coming of age kind of thing), you would enjoy this book.
May 7, 2022
I could not stop reading and read it in one sitting. This book was amazing and showed that two people from two different worlds can be the best of friends.
October 8, 2019
Arctic Zoo, Robert Muchamore
Arctic Zoo is about two teenagers living very different lives, the Arctic is a novel about protest, sexuality, mental health and flawed leadership. It is a very well written book about the 2 main characters; Georgia and Julius. At the start of the book, they both live very separate and different lives and you will wonder how they come together.
Georgia is a very smart girl and she writes essays for fun, has been placed first in twenty-six drone races (her dad owns a drone company) and has a serious addiction to buying Japanese stationery. She plans to follow her older sister Sophie and become a doctor, but her worldview is shattered when Sophie commits suicide without any warning.
Julius lives in Ondo, a Nigerian state that is one of the poorest states in Nigeria and Nigeria is one of the world's poorest countries. But he certainly is not struggling His uncle has been governor of Ondo for more than a decade and his mother is the power behind that throne. He finds refuge in a derelict zoo (Arctic Zoo) with best friend Duke, but as the two of them grow close, the world outside becomes more and more hostile.
I think it is a very well written book. Two of my favourite elements of the book are the amount of detail Mucharmore has created for these charters. For example, although it is not necessary to know that his mum drives a Lexus but because that is stated, you really can picture what happening. My second favourite element is how naturally the 2 main characters meet each other, I think Muchamore did a really good job of this.
Arctic Zoo is about two teenagers living very different lives, the Arctic is a novel about protest, sexuality, mental health and flawed leadership. It is a very well written book about the 2 main characters; Georgia and Julius. At the start of the book, they both live very separate and different lives and you will wonder how they come together.
Georgia is a very smart girl and she writes essays for fun, has been placed first in twenty-six drone races (her dad owns a drone company) and has a serious addiction to buying Japanese stationery. She plans to follow her older sister Sophie and become a doctor, but her worldview is shattered when Sophie commits suicide without any warning.
Julius lives in Ondo, a Nigerian state that is one of the poorest states in Nigeria and Nigeria is one of the world's poorest countries. But he certainly is not struggling His uncle has been governor of Ondo for more than a decade and his mother is the power behind that throne. He finds refuge in a derelict zoo (Arctic Zoo) with best friend Duke, but as the two of them grow close, the world outside becomes more and more hostile.
I think it is a very well written book. Two of my favourite elements of the book are the amount of detail Mucharmore has created for these charters. For example, although it is not necessary to know that his mum drives a Lexus but because that is stated, you really can picture what happening. My second favourite element is how naturally the 2 main characters meet each other, I think Muchamore did a really good job of this.
April 18, 2021
Arctic Zoo is a contemporary novel based around 2 teenagers lives: Georgia and Julius. It is unlike anything I have read before as for the vast majority of the book these 2 characters do not meet, live in the same country or have any kind of link to each other. All we have is a small scene at the start of the book of the first encounter the 2 have of one another in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK. We then get taken a year or so back in time, to when Julius lives with his rich, large family who are constantly in the spotlight being one of the richest families in Akure and Julius's uncle being a corrupt political leader.
With Georgia we are taken back to when she was 14 years old and an A* student, living with her dad and flying competition drones for her dad's and uncles drone team, soon after she gets a phone call from her Mother with terrible news, which then goes on to influence the way her future plays out.
Julius & Georgia's stories are so vivid and complex and yet so different. I was impressed with how much research Muchamore has done especially in Julius's case as I've never been to Nigeria but he made me get a feel of how horrendous it would be to live in a country where there is so much political crime & human rights violation. You'd think that Julius would have it easy with being from one of the most wealthy families & under constant protection but if anything he is in more danger because of the opposition of his uncles political position. One thing makes Julius more of a target though: He's gay.
There are some parts of his story that I had to put the book down and think about what I'd read and the sickening feeling I had in my stomach. Julius has a secret boyfriend called Duke who is out as gay to everybody including the school in which they both attend. Dukes life is made a living hell on a daily basis as Akure is a heavily Christian town, so being homosexual is seen as a sin that deserves punishment. The abuse that Duke went through really pulled on my emotions, it was just so hard to read and the genuine but limited relationship Julius and Duke had together was made all the more difficult because of Julius's social standing which his cousins soon took into their own hands to protect. Julius's mother, a self made business tycoon and the power behind her brothers political campaign, goes to extremes to keep the pair apart. After an attack on her sons, she sends Julius away from Duke and the growing political bloodshed, to the UK, where eventually Georgia and Julius's paths cross.
Georgia has led a very different life. I didn't connect with her character as much as I did Julius's and I felt it kind of rushed. She goes from this average, good, smart girl to a national public figure after being asked by her sister's ex-boyfriend, to attend a radical protest group and soon ends up on the front cover of the newspaper after things go further than she initially intended. Taken up in the whirlwind of fame and new friends and through no fault of her own, she becomes the opposite of what she was and is seen as a leader for the younger generation in protests against the current government and the cuts they are implementing throughout the country. I really couldn't understand the complete lack of parenting from her father and mother, and I kept having to remind myself this was a YA book with younger than usual main characters, as Georgia goes on to skip school and non-intentionally lead others down the same path. Eventually she gets her comeuppance as they carry out what they thought was a non-lethal attack on the prime minister but things go wrong, people get seriously injured and it turns into what is seen to be an act of terror.
Both stories were interesting to read and I liked the way Muchamore led you to believe the story was going in one direction but then another turn of events played out and you were kept on your toes and turning those pages. Alternate characters view-points at every chapter can sometimes feel a bit 'stop-start' but this didn't at all. As soon as I finished a Julius chapter I was just as thrilled to start again with Georgia's and what was happening in her life. I think this helped because the chapters were quite short and didn't feel like you were reading in depth about one person only to be cut off at things were getting good.
I cant really find anything wrong with Arctic Zoo, it was a quick read for me even with its 450+ pages. The only reason I knocked half a star off the full 5 is down to my own enjoyment factor. The book addresses some very relevant issues in the world today and at times points out the stark and ugly truth of why more isn't done. Sadly this has a lot to do with the media and Robert Muchamore says it how it is and doesn't try to flower it up through these two characters that have experienced the darker side of politics & media. The first book I've read by Robert Muchamore and I can safely say I will be reading his other books after this.
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With Georgia we are taken back to when she was 14 years old and an A* student, living with her dad and flying competition drones for her dad's and uncles drone team, soon after she gets a phone call from her Mother with terrible news, which then goes on to influence the way her future plays out.
Julius & Georgia's stories are so vivid and complex and yet so different. I was impressed with how much research Muchamore has done especially in Julius's case as I've never been to Nigeria but he made me get a feel of how horrendous it would be to live in a country where there is so much political crime & human rights violation. You'd think that Julius would have it easy with being from one of the most wealthy families & under constant protection but if anything he is in more danger because of the opposition of his uncles political position. One thing makes Julius more of a target though: He's gay.
There are some parts of his story that I had to put the book down and think about what I'd read and the sickening feeling I had in my stomach. Julius has a secret boyfriend called Duke who is out as gay to everybody including the school in which they both attend. Dukes life is made a living hell on a daily basis as Akure is a heavily Christian town, so being homosexual is seen as a sin that deserves punishment. The abuse that Duke went through really pulled on my emotions, it was just so hard to read and the genuine but limited relationship Julius and Duke had together was made all the more difficult because of Julius's social standing which his cousins soon took into their own hands to protect. Julius's mother, a self made business tycoon and the power behind her brothers political campaign, goes to extremes to keep the pair apart. After an attack on her sons, she sends Julius away from Duke and the growing political bloodshed, to the UK, where eventually Georgia and Julius's paths cross.
Georgia has led a very different life. I didn't connect with her character as much as I did Julius's and I felt it kind of rushed. She goes from this average, good, smart girl to a national public figure after being asked by her sister's ex-boyfriend, to attend a radical protest group and soon ends up on the front cover of the newspaper after things go further than she initially intended. Taken up in the whirlwind of fame and new friends and through no fault of her own, she becomes the opposite of what she was and is seen as a leader for the younger generation in protests against the current government and the cuts they are implementing throughout the country. I really couldn't understand the complete lack of parenting from her father and mother, and I kept having to remind myself this was a YA book with younger than usual main characters, as Georgia goes on to skip school and non-intentionally lead others down the same path. Eventually she gets her comeuppance as they carry out what they thought was a non-lethal attack on the prime minister but things go wrong, people get seriously injured and it turns into what is seen to be an act of terror.
Both stories were interesting to read and I liked the way Muchamore led you to believe the story was going in one direction but then another turn of events played out and you were kept on your toes and turning those pages. Alternate characters view-points at every chapter can sometimes feel a bit 'stop-start' but this didn't at all. As soon as I finished a Julius chapter I was just as thrilled to start again with Georgia's and what was happening in her life. I think this helped because the chapters were quite short and didn't feel like you were reading in depth about one person only to be cut off at things were getting good.
I cant really find anything wrong with Arctic Zoo, it was a quick read for me even with its 450+ pages. The only reason I knocked half a star off the full 5 is down to my own enjoyment factor. The book addresses some very relevant issues in the world today and at times points out the stark and ugly truth of why more isn't done. Sadly this has a lot to do with the media and Robert Muchamore says it how it is and doesn't try to flower it up through these two characters that have experienced the darker side of politics & media. The first book I've read by Robert Muchamore and I can safely say I will be reading his other books after this.
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2019
Upon first look at the cover and title of 'Arctic Zoo' it is almost impossible to decipher the content, style or subject matter of the novel. It is cluttered and in my opinion not particularly appealing, however after having read the book I can see that the cluttered cover portrays the chaotic nature of the world in which the two, 'regular' teenage main characters are positioned.
The opening is set in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK and introduces a number of young people undergoing therapy. This led me to believe that the story line would progress within the clinic showing a detailed insight into teenage mental health, a truly important issue that drastically needs to become less taboo in current society. However the timeline quickly jumps back a year to explain how the two main characters, a wealthy boy from Nigeria and a competitive drone pilot school girl from London found themselves in the same unit. These two relatively 'normal' teenagers find themselves thrust into physically and emotionally scarring situations such as kidnap, losing a sibling, unsought fame, terrorism and homosexuality in a Country in which it is illegal to have a relationship with a member of the same sex.
I found the plot fascinating and really struggled to put the book down, the structure of alternating the main character as the focus for each chapter combined with constant cliff hangers meant I was hooked. The themes and topics were really stimulating as they are aspects of life that are often overlooked or ignored and I admire Robert Muchamore for his bravery not only in tackling difficult issues but also for his honest preface to the book stating that much of the inspiration for 'Arctic Zoo' comes from his experiences in a psychiatric hospital. However I felt the emotional reactions of the characters to significantly traumatic experiences in their life were a little under-played and therefore not particularly believable.
The book is set against a strongly political backdrop showing the corruption of Nigerian politics and the flawed British democratic system which often ignores the opinions of its Citizens. It was particularly interesting that although the systems are so different many of the outcomes including terrorism and angry constituents were the same. This could also be said of the main characters, despite their vastly different lives and experiences they are both young people who want to make the world a better place without quite knowing how. They are both led into political turmoil by others, they both feel powerless, they both make mistakes and are both severely punished, however this makes them even more passionate about doing good. I think many young people in today's society feel this way and believe that many readers will empathise with and relate to this book.
The novel is well written, fast paced and before I knew it I had come to the end and was genuinely disappointed to stop reading. I would certainly recommend 'Arctic Zoo' for an action packed read with socio-economic and political themes.
The opening is set in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK and introduces a number of young people undergoing therapy. This led me to believe that the story line would progress within the clinic showing a detailed insight into teenage mental health, a truly important issue that drastically needs to become less taboo in current society. However the timeline quickly jumps back a year to explain how the two main characters, a wealthy boy from Nigeria and a competitive drone pilot school girl from London found themselves in the same unit. These two relatively 'normal' teenagers find themselves thrust into physically and emotionally scarring situations such as kidnap, losing a sibling, unsought fame, terrorism and homosexuality in a Country in which it is illegal to have a relationship with a member of the same sex.
I found the plot fascinating and really struggled to put the book down, the structure of alternating the main character as the focus for each chapter combined with constant cliff hangers meant I was hooked. The themes and topics were really stimulating as they are aspects of life that are often overlooked or ignored and I admire Robert Muchamore for his bravery not only in tackling difficult issues but also for his honest preface to the book stating that much of the inspiration for 'Arctic Zoo' comes from his experiences in a psychiatric hospital. However I felt the emotional reactions of the characters to significantly traumatic experiences in their life were a little under-played and therefore not particularly believable.
The book is set against a strongly political backdrop showing the corruption of Nigerian politics and the flawed British democratic system which often ignores the opinions of its Citizens. It was particularly interesting that although the systems are so different many of the outcomes including terrorism and angry constituents were the same. This could also be said of the main characters, despite their vastly different lives and experiences they are both young people who want to make the world a better place without quite knowing how. They are both led into political turmoil by others, they both feel powerless, they both make mistakes and are both severely punished, however this makes them even more passionate about doing good. I think many young people in today's society feel this way and believe that many readers will empathise with and relate to this book.
The novel is well written, fast paced and before I knew it I had come to the end and was genuinely disappointed to stop reading. I would certainly recommend 'Arctic Zoo' for an action packed read with socio-economic and political themes.
July 10, 2019
I received a free copy from Readers First in exchange for an honest review.
This is effectively 2 books in one, it starts out in a mental health unit as we witness the arrival of Julius through the eyes of Georgia then time jumps to take us back to a year or so earlier so we can see what happened for both individuals to have ended up in a psych unit. The story flits between both individuals, we get one or two chapters following Georgia in the UK then one or two with Julius first in Nigeria then later in the UK too. It sometimes feels like this was written as two separate stories, and then later was attempted to merge them together somehow as it takes about three quarters of the book before the two eventually get to the place we first met them.
Georgia is your typical star pupil who also happens to be an ace drone pilot, competing with her father, but she is growing out of that. She has a perfect big sister who has it all, or so it seemed, until she commits suicide which totally throws Georgia's worldview into a spin, making her question the point of everything and falling in with a bunch of liberal leftie protesters and the eventual attempted paint bombing by drone of the prime minister as he gives a speech.
Julius is a gay Nigerian teen, which is still treated badly by his family and school friends. He is mocked, bullied and eventually sent abroad to boarding school so his sexual orientation doesn't harm his family's re-election changes at the state governorship. He has grown up with money and in a walled compound so is removed from the day to day trials and tribulations of a normal Nigerian family. But he falls for someone from the opposite end of the spectrum, no money and living in a rough area. A bit cliche but is needed to move his story along. After being sent abroad his lover is brutally murdered by one of his homophobic cousins, which is the catalyst for his self destruction that makes him end up in the psych ward.
The individual stories were engaging and faster paced in the second half but i was a little disappointed in the short time spent with the psych unit, we didn't explore enough how it was trying to help the individuals other than a couple of brief group sessions being mentioned. A bit more time spent here could have been so much better.
This is effectively 2 books in one, it starts out in a mental health unit as we witness the arrival of Julius through the eyes of Georgia then time jumps to take us back to a year or so earlier so we can see what happened for both individuals to have ended up in a psych unit. The story flits between both individuals, we get one or two chapters following Georgia in the UK then one or two with Julius first in Nigeria then later in the UK too. It sometimes feels like this was written as two separate stories, and then later was attempted to merge them together somehow as it takes about three quarters of the book before the two eventually get to the place we first met them.
Georgia is your typical star pupil who also happens to be an ace drone pilot, competing with her father, but she is growing out of that. She has a perfect big sister who has it all, or so it seemed, until she commits suicide which totally throws Georgia's worldview into a spin, making her question the point of everything and falling in with a bunch of liberal leftie protesters and the eventual attempted paint bombing by drone of the prime minister as he gives a speech.
Julius is a gay Nigerian teen, which is still treated badly by his family and school friends. He is mocked, bullied and eventually sent abroad to boarding school so his sexual orientation doesn't harm his family's re-election changes at the state governorship. He has grown up with money and in a walled compound so is removed from the day to day trials and tribulations of a normal Nigerian family. But he falls for someone from the opposite end of the spectrum, no money and living in a rough area. A bit cliche but is needed to move his story along. After being sent abroad his lover is brutally murdered by one of his homophobic cousins, which is the catalyst for his self destruction that makes him end up in the psych ward.
The individual stories were engaging and faster paced in the second half but i was a little disappointed in the short time spent with the psych unit, we didn't explore enough how it was trying to help the individuals other than a couple of brief group sessions being mentioned. A bit more time spent here could have been so much better.
July 1, 2024
Content warnings: homophobia, homophobic slurs (frequent and repeated), violence, police brutality, shitty parenting, political corruption, embezzlement, gun violence, murder, assault, riots, suicide, death of a sibling, death of a loved one,
What in the actual fuck did I read?
I've read several Muchamore books before, and they're usually fast-paced and action-packed and pretty plot-centric stories. This, in contrast, took a good 150-200 pages to actually get to the point of the story, but it also never entirely felt like it got to the point. Like, if the point is to show two teenagers becoming politically engaged, then fine. It did that. But did it REALLY need to have both of their political awakenings come as a result of sudden and traumatic death??
It definitely didn't help that I spent most of the book thinking the characters were 16-17 only to have it revealed about 300 pages in that they're both in fact 14. Like..................Muchamore. My dude. Have you MET a 14 year old? They're tiny babies. Stop torturing your characters like this!!!
Anyway. The thing I found the most grating was the almost constant homophobia in Julius' half of the story. Yes, I appreciate that he's Nigerian and that homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria. But good LORD. It was a relentless stream of hatred, and the slurs definitely weren't necessary in the story. Add in the fact that the two halves of the story never entirely felt like they meshed and the fact that the ending was extremely cheesy and this was just a big ol' waste of my time.
What in the actual fuck did I read?
I've read several Muchamore books before, and they're usually fast-paced and action-packed and pretty plot-centric stories. This, in contrast, took a good 150-200 pages to actually get to the point of the story, but it also never entirely felt like it got to the point. Like, if the point is to show two teenagers becoming politically engaged, then fine. It did that. But did it REALLY need to have both of their political awakenings come as a result of sudden and traumatic death??
It definitely didn't help that I spent most of the book thinking the characters were 16-17 only to have it revealed about 300 pages in that they're both in fact 14. Like..................Muchamore. My dude. Have you MET a 14 year old? They're tiny babies. Stop torturing your characters like this!!!
Anyway. The thing I found the most grating was the almost constant homophobia in Julius' half of the story. Yes, I appreciate that he's Nigerian and that homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria. But good LORD. It was a relentless stream of hatred, and the slurs definitely weren't necessary in the story. Add in the fact that the two halves of the story never entirely felt like they meshed and the fact that the ending was extremely cheesy and this was just a big ol' waste of my time.
Read
April 11, 2025This book revolves around two main characters who struggle with the challenges that many young people face today pushed to extremes. The book tackles Issues such as climate change, sexuality, and even the topic of suicide. “We should have done more… Helped Sophie with her debts. Paid for Sophie to see a private psychiatrist instead of waiting six weeks… Gone over there to make sure Sophie was eating properly.” This quote shows how Georgia (One of the two main characters) is suffering from the loss of her sister. “I could feel the weight of the world pressing on my chest, a crushing reality that I wasn’t like everyone else. I wasn’t supposed to be this way. I wasn’t supposed to want him.” This quote shows how the other character struggles with his sexuality. The two characters meet in a mental hospital which is a reflection of why the author wrote the book. He wrote it after he tried to commit suicide and staying in the mental hospital even though he had just achieved most of his life goals and was top of many charts. He met many teenagers that were similar to the main characters that inspired him to write the book. New Zealand has unfortunately the second highest youth suicide rate in OECD. Rates are particularly high for New Zealand’s indigenous Maori youth. We know that minority populations and historically colonised people have higher rates of suicide which may be a factor in New Zealand. Suicide is not only terrible for the person, but it is also terrible for the people who are left behind as it shows in this book. Family members often feel like they did something wrong and that can cause them to do stupid things.
July 6, 2019
*4.5 stars rounded up*
I really enjoyed this book! I didn't know what to expect going in, as I hadn't read the synopsis, but I was invested from page one
This is the story of two teenagers living very different lives. Georgia lives near London, has an obsession with stationary (same, girl), and gets straight As. Julius lives in Nigeria, comes from a self-made, incredibly wealthy family, and is struggling with his sexuality (or, at least, other's opinions on his sexuality)
Both teens become unwittingly involved in the politics of their countries because of the people around them. Through a series of events their lives end up tangling when they meet at a mental health unit
These two protagonists were incredible. I related so much to Georgia, the expectations that were put on her and the strained relationships surrounding her. I loved being in Julius' head too, a perspective dissimilar to my own but as equally tangible as Georgia's
Though these protagonists are young, their concerns didn't feel juvenile. I've read books with teenage protagonists recently that made me feel old, but this one, these well-rounded, complex, real teenagers were relatable to me
Unlike with most dual perspective novels I liked each perspective equally! Usually I'm rushing through one protagonist's chapters to get back to the other, but that wasn't the case here
My one compliant is I wanted more of the drone racing! Georgia races drones competitively with her dad and I found that incredibly interesting and would've been happy with a story all about that!
TW: suicide, grief, mental illness, homophobia
I really enjoyed this book! I didn't know what to expect going in, as I hadn't read the synopsis, but I was invested from page one
This is the story of two teenagers living very different lives. Georgia lives near London, has an obsession with stationary (same, girl), and gets straight As. Julius lives in Nigeria, comes from a self-made, incredibly wealthy family, and is struggling with his sexuality (or, at least, other's opinions on his sexuality)
Both teens become unwittingly involved in the politics of their countries because of the people around them. Through a series of events their lives end up tangling when they meet at a mental health unit
These two protagonists were incredible. I related so much to Georgia, the expectations that were put on her and the strained relationships surrounding her. I loved being in Julius' head too, a perspective dissimilar to my own but as equally tangible as Georgia's
Though these protagonists are young, their concerns didn't feel juvenile. I've read books with teenage protagonists recently that made me feel old, but this one, these well-rounded, complex, real teenagers were relatable to me
Unlike with most dual perspective novels I liked each perspective equally! Usually I'm rushing through one protagonist's chapters to get back to the other, but that wasn't the case here
My one compliant is I wanted more of the drone racing! Georgia races drones competitively with her dad and I found that incredibly interesting and would've been happy with a story all about that!
TW: suicide, grief, mental illness, homophobia
August 24, 2019
Even with a good book, 456 pages can start to drag. With Arctic Zoo however, I wanted to continue on Julius and Georgia's story. This is brilliantly paced read with a "one more chapter before bed" level of intrigue on every page to keep you up far too late every night. The story follows Georgia, and relatively unextrordinary English schoolgirl who has lost her sister who becomes the face of the protest counter culture community, and celebrity, completely by accident, who with no choice, is drawn further into that world, and Julius, the son of very rich Nigerian political elite, who is guy and ousted from the family. Both these teenagers stories interweave intermittently and both are engaging on their own. The thing is I really liked Julius and I really liked Georgia and I wanted so much for each of them to succeed despite all the things thrown against them. Whats also brilliant s this book has a lot to say without it ever forcing anything down your throat and doesn't shy away from throwing up hypocrisies either. Muchamore is an absolute master writer who has managed to create an engaging novel that any adult or teenager will enjoy without ever feeling like the pages have been dumbed down to reach a general audience. Yes it was 456 pages long at at the end I said, "ohh, its finished" feeling disappointed rather than the sense of achievement I normally get when completing a book, just because I wanted to stay with these characters in this book and be with them for more of their journeys. But that is what a great artist does, leaves them wanting more, Muchamore.
December 16, 2022
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
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Overall it was a fairly good book, the split perspective was intresting. But I do feel that it wasn’t ended properly as it was neither a cliff hanger nor a full and explained ending. The fact that homophobia was portrayed so realistically and there was no attempt to hide the hatred the the LGBTQIA+ community experiences created a more realistic reading experience. I do feel that I didn’t get attached enough to Duke before he died as when I was told of his murder I didn’t really feel anything. The book is an amazing inspiration to young people to inspire them to change the world, however it does show that a lot of it is just being in the right place at the right time, as if it wasn’t for that famous photo of Georgia she wouldn’t have had the impact and reach that she did. It was startling to read about the amount of corruption and lack of proper government in Nigeria and how impacted the citizens really are by this. Overall it was a fairly good book but the reason for not having 5 stars was due to the ending as it left me wanting more. The positives of the book are the unfiltered homophobia, the reveal of the amount of corruption and the inspiration it provides to young adults as it shows that you can make a difference on the other side of the world. The use of social media is positive and shows that social media can be a good thing, which is a view which is not often seen in media these days.
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Overall it was a fairly good book, the split perspective was intresting. But I do feel that it wasn’t ended properly as it was neither a cliff hanger nor a full and explained ending. The fact that homophobia was portrayed so realistically and there was no attempt to hide the hatred the the LGBTQIA+ community experiences created a more realistic reading experience. I do feel that I didn’t get attached enough to Duke before he died as when I was told of his murder I didn’t really feel anything. The book is an amazing inspiration to young people to inspire them to change the world, however it does show that a lot of it is just being in the right place at the right time, as if it wasn’t for that famous photo of Georgia she wouldn’t have had the impact and reach that she did. It was startling to read about the amount of corruption and lack of proper government in Nigeria and how impacted the citizens really are by this. Overall it was a fairly good book but the reason for not having 5 stars was due to the ending as it left me wanting more. The positives of the book are the unfiltered homophobia, the reveal of the amount of corruption and the inspiration it provides to young adults as it shows that you can make a difference on the other side of the world. The use of social media is positive and shows that social media can be a good thing, which is a view which is not often seen in media these days.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2020
This book took me totally by surprise. It was another one that I picked on my library’s audiobook app, because everything I was actually looking for was on loan. I had never heard of the author and honestly the cover really doesn’t do it any favours - it gave me vibes of being either a trashy 80s YA novel or a hastily put together self-published one, but the blurb sounded interesting so I gave it a go.
Well, I’m so glad I did. It’s January first, so saying it’s the best YA book I’ve read all year would be a it of a joke, but to tell the truth it’s the best YA novel I’ve read in MANY years. The characters are so real and likeable and have realistic flaws and strengths - they actually seem like real teenagers, and very well developed ones at that. I was simultaneously cheering Georgia on and screaming at her to stop being so bloody stupid. My heart broke for Julius and while I didn’t agree with his decisions, I completely understood them.
The ending is a little convenient, but it’s also a great pay off. What’s really great is that it doesn’t end the way I was expecting it to - without giving too many details, it not only avoids a trap of white saviourism, it shines a light on and ridicules it.
I read 95% of this in 2019 but because I finished it today it goes on my list for 2020, and it’s an amazing start that will be really hard to beat.
Well, I’m so glad I did. It’s January first, so saying it’s the best YA book I’ve read all year would be a it of a joke, but to tell the truth it’s the best YA novel I’ve read in MANY years. The characters are so real and likeable and have realistic flaws and strengths - they actually seem like real teenagers, and very well developed ones at that. I was simultaneously cheering Georgia on and screaming at her to stop being so bloody stupid. My heart broke for Julius and while I didn’t agree with his decisions, I completely understood them.
The ending is a little convenient, but it’s also a great pay off. What’s really great is that it doesn’t end the way I was expecting it to - without giving too many details, it not only avoids a trap of white saviourism, it shines a light on and ridicules it.
I read 95% of this in 2019 but because I finished it today it goes on my list for 2020, and it’s an amazing start that will be really hard to beat.
July 8, 2019
This book was very thought provoking and was a realistic read - right up to the ending.
The story starts in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK where we are introduced to a number of patients in a therapy session. The book then proceeds to follow the lives of two of the patients, Georgia and Julius.
Julius starts his story in Nigeria, and is the son of a corrupt political leader. He is also gay which is punishable by 14 years in prison and a lot of violence from his peers and family.
Georgia is English and was a drone flying champion as a child. This all changes when her sister commits suicide.
The story, then follows a series of events, decisions and random acts which leads to both characters meeting at the mental health unit in East Grinstead.
What I found most thought provoking, is that neither character has what we would consider obvious "mental health" problems but their poor decisions and circumstance results in being admitted to the unit. It makes you consider that this could (and probably does) happen to anyone.
The characters were well written, and the story was believable until the ending which seemed an attempt at "happily ever after". It would have got five stars if the ending had been different.
The story starts in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK where we are introduced to a number of patients in a therapy session. The book then proceeds to follow the lives of two of the patients, Georgia and Julius.
Julius starts his story in Nigeria, and is the son of a corrupt political leader. He is also gay which is punishable by 14 years in prison and a lot of violence from his peers and family.
Georgia is English and was a drone flying champion as a child. This all changes when her sister commits suicide.
The story, then follows a series of events, decisions and random acts which leads to both characters meeting at the mental health unit in East Grinstead.
What I found most thought provoking, is that neither character has what we would consider obvious "mental health" problems but their poor decisions and circumstance results in being admitted to the unit. It makes you consider that this could (and probably does) happen to anyone.
The characters were well written, and the story was believable until the ending which seemed an attempt at "happily ever after". It would have got five stars if the ending had been different.
July 23, 2019
This is my first book by Robert Muchamore and it didnt disappoint!
Georgia is a straight A student and a master of flying drones, but when her sister commits suicide it leaves her challenging everything she thought she knew.
Julius is Nigerian and part of a highly successful political family. he's in love with his best friend Duke, his family can't accept that he's gay And is exiled and cast aside.
Told from both perspectives this is a story about wanting to belong.
It's harrowing and at times is truly heartbreaking.
The violence Julius witnessed due to his sexuality really was an eye opener for me it made me angry and simultaneously made me cry for him.
Georgia seemed so lost I feel like she never grieved properly for her sister and is desperately trying to fit in even if that leads her to making some questionable decisions.
I love that this book touches on so many important subjects and in my opinion does it well.
I'm always dubious about books that cover mental health as I feel it's a subject that should be covered accurately and this one does.
I enjoyed the writing style as I feel like it reads like a young adult book although there are graphic parts to the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I'd recommend it to anybody!
Georgia is a straight A student and a master of flying drones, but when her sister commits suicide it leaves her challenging everything she thought she knew.
Julius is Nigerian and part of a highly successful political family. he's in love with his best friend Duke, his family can't accept that he's gay And is exiled and cast aside.
Told from both perspectives this is a story about wanting to belong.
It's harrowing and at times is truly heartbreaking.
The violence Julius witnessed due to his sexuality really was an eye opener for me it made me angry and simultaneously made me cry for him.
Georgia seemed so lost I feel like she never grieved properly for her sister and is desperately trying to fit in even if that leads her to making some questionable decisions.
I love that this book touches on so many important subjects and in my opinion does it well.
I'm always dubious about books that cover mental health as I feel it's a subject that should be covered accurately and this one does.
I enjoyed the writing style as I feel like it reads like a young adult book although there are graphic parts to the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I'd recommend it to anybody!
June 23, 2019
The premise of Arctic Zoo intrigued me straight away, and the story did not disappoint.
Arctic Zoo starts off at a mental institute. For the most part, work backwards showing how Julius and Georgia end up there. I enjoyed that the timeline changed from past to present as it made me change mind in how Georgia and Julius end up there. The book is two separate stories that only connect in a couple of places. More places towards the end of the book. I liked having the two stories going on, it kept me interested.
Julius is a gay teen living in Nigeria where homophobia is rampant. The treatment he receives from his family made me so angry. I had to put the book down and calm down.
One of the elements that I must praise the author Robert Muchamore is the way he has portrayed mental health in Arctic Zoo. He shows that mental health problems can affect anyone and in different ways.
Both lead character Georgia and Julius are characters that you can relate on certain levels and makes that instantly likeable.
Arctic Zoo has;
Politics
Romance
Rebellion
LGBTQ+
Mental health
Corruption
My rating for Arctic Zoo is 4 out of 5
Arctic Zoo starts off at a mental institute. For the most part, work backwards showing how Julius and Georgia end up there. I enjoyed that the timeline changed from past to present as it made me change mind in how Georgia and Julius end up there. The book is two separate stories that only connect in a couple of places. More places towards the end of the book. I liked having the two stories going on, it kept me interested.
Julius is a gay teen living in Nigeria where homophobia is rampant. The treatment he receives from his family made me so angry. I had to put the book down and calm down.
One of the elements that I must praise the author Robert Muchamore is the way he has portrayed mental health in Arctic Zoo. He shows that mental health problems can affect anyone and in different ways.
Both lead character Georgia and Julius are characters that you can relate on certain levels and makes that instantly likeable.
Arctic Zoo has;
Politics
Romance
Rebellion
LGBTQ+
Mental health
Corruption
My rating for Arctic Zoo is 4 out of 5
July 11, 2019
If I hadn’t read the blurb and authors letter to the reader I wouldn’t have considered reading this, time the cover made it look like some sort of sci-fi book but I was way off the mark thinking that. This is a solidly written novel for young adults and adults about two teenagers whose only link is meeting each other in an adolescent mental health unit however there isn’t much focus on the unit more how two normal teens from very different backgrounds find themselves in need of the support the unit offers. This is not a judgemental book, it simply tells you about a year in the life of Georgia, a straight A everyday student and Julius, a Nigerian who’s uncle is the state governor and lives a comfortable life despite the poverty in much of the state he lives in. Both experience a crisis point and this book makes you think how easily it could happen to all of us. As well as mental health there is a very good focus on politics and protest both in the UK and in Nigeria where it would appear corruption rules and also a focus on sexuality. This is a very well balanced book that covers some strong issues and covers them solidly and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
July 14, 2019
Having not read anything by this author before and after reading the first impression of this book I wasn’t sure what to expect.
We start in this book in a mental health unit in the UK, in a group session with one of our main characters Georgia, as the session comes to an end our second main character, Julius is introduced.
You are then taken through the back stories of both these characters. Georgia - a young girl who is dealing with her father losing his job and the death of her sister, and ends up becoming the face of a political activism group. And Julius - son of a wealthy family in Nigeria, heavily involved in politics, who has everything he could want, but his family don’t accept his close relationship with his best friend Duke so he is sent off to boarding school in the UK.
This book is written in a way that you can’t help but like the 2 main characters. The author has handled a lot of difficult topics in his writing very well and this story is a reminder that mental health can affect anyone and everyone in different ways.
A very thought provoking book, addressing some relevant issues in the world today.
We start in this book in a mental health unit in the UK, in a group session with one of our main characters Georgia, as the session comes to an end our second main character, Julius is introduced.
You are then taken through the back stories of both these characters. Georgia - a young girl who is dealing with her father losing his job and the death of her sister, and ends up becoming the face of a political activism group. And Julius - son of a wealthy family in Nigeria, heavily involved in politics, who has everything he could want, but his family don’t accept his close relationship with his best friend Duke so he is sent off to boarding school in the UK.
This book is written in a way that you can’t help but like the 2 main characters. The author has handled a lot of difficult topics in his writing very well and this story is a reminder that mental health can affect anyone and everyone in different ways.
A very thought provoking book, addressing some relevant issues in the world today.
August 23, 2019
It's been a while since I've found a book to keep me awake at night and this book was definitely it.
I love the structure of the book with chapters alternating between the two main characters and parts separating the different stages in the plot.
The characters are believable, loveable and easy to identify with. I found myself rooting for Julius from the start and hoping that the inevitable things that happen, didn't. Georgia again evoked feelings of sympathy and admiration and despite making some bad decisions, they were all understandable and done with the right intentions.
The scenes were well described and I was able to feel as though I was there alongside side them, experiencing the good and bad.
I could not put this book down, literally. I needed to know the outcome, I wanted to make sure the characters were OK and I wanted to know whether justice prevailed. It bought many questions to mind and made me think about the world of social media and current society. Are we indeed more concerned by the ill treatment of animals than human suffering?
A good book, easy read, thought provoking.
I love the structure of the book with chapters alternating between the two main characters and parts separating the different stages in the plot.
The characters are believable, loveable and easy to identify with. I found myself rooting for Julius from the start and hoping that the inevitable things that happen, didn't. Georgia again evoked feelings of sympathy and admiration and despite making some bad decisions, they were all understandable and done with the right intentions.
The scenes were well described and I was able to feel as though I was there alongside side them, experiencing the good and bad.
I could not put this book down, literally. I needed to know the outcome, I wanted to make sure the characters were OK and I wanted to know whether justice prevailed. It bought many questions to mind and made me think about the world of social media and current society. Are we indeed more concerned by the ill treatment of animals than human suffering?
A good book, easy read, thought provoking.
September 10, 2019
After reading Killer T I was exciting to read this books. Killer T was thought provoking from start to finish and I found myself thinking incredibly critically towards science and the world following my read. Though reading Arctic Zoo was indeed thought provoking, it was for a whole different reason.
The story follows Georgia who after a family tragedy finds herself rebelling against her usual life of straight As whereas Julius, from Nigeria, finds himself wanting a relationship that his family was disapprove of and thus rebels in his own way. Both find themselves at the Walter J Freeman Adolescent Health Unit in the United Kingdom and so the book leads on to tell us about their lives before thy got there!
Interestingly the stories remain very separate from one another throughout, jumping from each's perspective after every few chapters or so. Though I may have perhaps liked to see more of Julius and Georgia together, I believed the book to be well written and thought provoking, an important thing to be for teens and young adults. I will always believe more books that cover these topics is integral.
Another brilliant Robert Muchamore book!
The story follows Georgia who after a family tragedy finds herself rebelling against her usual life of straight As whereas Julius, from Nigeria, finds himself wanting a relationship that his family was disapprove of and thus rebels in his own way. Both find themselves at the Walter J Freeman Adolescent Health Unit in the United Kingdom and so the book leads on to tell us about their lives before thy got there!
Interestingly the stories remain very separate from one another throughout, jumping from each's perspective after every few chapters or so. Though I may have perhaps liked to see more of Julius and Georgia together, I believed the book to be well written and thought provoking, an important thing to be for teens and young adults. I will always believe more books that cover these topics is integral.
Another brilliant Robert Muchamore book!
July 19, 2019
Starting the book you do wonder where this is going to lead as it almost has a One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest vibe in the opening stanzas. Starting, as it does, in a UK Mental Health facility and introducing us, via a group therapy session, to a group of struggling teens. It isn't immediately obvious who the book is about as we get introduced to several characters in a few lines but all is soon made apparent. From Alex's breakdown with Henry in the session to Julius's dramatic entrance on to the unit we then move back in time to before all of this happens.
Centering around Georgia Pack and Julius Adebisi the book follows a, more or less, chronological timeline describing the events that led both of them to land up needing help. Whilst being disparate teenagers in very different socio-economic groups and lands there is a lot that unifies the characters; not least the struggles and pressures of growing up and making a path for yourself in the world. There is a strong sense, initially, that things happen to the characters rather than them making any overt decisions about where their lives are heading or controlling the situations they find themselves in.
Even reading as an adult there is a lot to engross you and make this book enjoyable. The characters are well thought through and come to life in the pages of the book, you really do feel that you know as much as these shuttered people will let you know about themselves. There is also a very pronounced sense of hope in the book, that no matter how bad it looks, or indeed gets, there is always a little chink of light out there.
The plot felt a little outlandish at times but the author always manages to distract you with a gentle swell of unexpected humour or a quick subject change. I found it all too easy to slip in to Georgia and Julius's lives for protracted periods and ended up reading this book in almost one sitting. Whether you find yourself in rainy London or sweltering Akure the settings are brought to life by the characters and you do feel like you understand a little about their individual worlds.
The forward by the author mentions his own battles with Mental Health and it does give you pause before starting the book. However, don't let this put you off picking it up and giving things a chance. Yes, there are some tough subjects dealt with but the telling is so good you don't even really start to contemplate the bigger picture until you have finished reading. Yes, it does lead to some tough questions about your own opinions and beliefs but it could also open up some really useful conversations about important topics (this book touches on suicide, homosexuality, the nature of protest, corruption and many more). If that all sounds a bit "heavy" then just enjoy a cracking good tale that is very well told.
THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED FROM READERS FIRST.
Centering around Georgia Pack and Julius Adebisi the book follows a, more or less, chronological timeline describing the events that led both of them to land up needing help. Whilst being disparate teenagers in very different socio-economic groups and lands there is a lot that unifies the characters; not least the struggles and pressures of growing up and making a path for yourself in the world. There is a strong sense, initially, that things happen to the characters rather than them making any overt decisions about where their lives are heading or controlling the situations they find themselves in.
Even reading as an adult there is a lot to engross you and make this book enjoyable. The characters are well thought through and come to life in the pages of the book, you really do feel that you know as much as these shuttered people will let you know about themselves. There is also a very pronounced sense of hope in the book, that no matter how bad it looks, or indeed gets, there is always a little chink of light out there.
The plot felt a little outlandish at times but the author always manages to distract you with a gentle swell of unexpected humour or a quick subject change. I found it all too easy to slip in to Georgia and Julius's lives for protracted periods and ended up reading this book in almost one sitting. Whether you find yourself in rainy London or sweltering Akure the settings are brought to life by the characters and you do feel like you understand a little about their individual worlds.
The forward by the author mentions his own battles with Mental Health and it does give you pause before starting the book. However, don't let this put you off picking it up and giving things a chance. Yes, there are some tough subjects dealt with but the telling is so good you don't even really start to contemplate the bigger picture until you have finished reading. Yes, it does lead to some tough questions about your own opinions and beliefs but it could also open up some really useful conversations about important topics (this book touches on suicide, homosexuality, the nature of protest, corruption and many more). If that all sounds a bit "heavy" then just enjoy a cracking good tale that is very well told.
THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED FROM READERS FIRST.
August 27, 2019
This book is about Georgia Pack and Julius Adebisi, Georgia is from the Uk whilst Julius comes from Onde, Nigeria.
The two characters are from very different worlds, Georgia is just a “normal” girl whilst Julius’s family is mega rich in a place where many are poor and conditions are bad.
The book follows their separate stories for most of the way through. Georgia gets involved with a protest group during which time she is photographed jumping off a ledge, she became the face of the group and everyone wanted to interview her, the only reason she joined the group was because her sister took her own life and her boyfriend had suggested it to Georgia.
Julius had a boyfriend, Duke but his mother was furious, being gay was not allowed in her family. His two cousins were thugs and beat Duke up badly, quite rightly Julius was furious.
One day he was told a helicopter would be taking him to London, this is were Georgia and Julius met, in a psychiatric unit and became firm friends.
So much happens afterwards but I don’t want to give any more away
The two characters are from very different worlds, Georgia is just a “normal” girl whilst Julius’s family is mega rich in a place where many are poor and conditions are bad.
The book follows their separate stories for most of the way through. Georgia gets involved with a protest group during which time she is photographed jumping off a ledge, she became the face of the group and everyone wanted to interview her, the only reason she joined the group was because her sister took her own life and her boyfriend had suggested it to Georgia.
Julius had a boyfriend, Duke but his mother was furious, being gay was not allowed in her family. His two cousins were thugs and beat Duke up badly, quite rightly Julius was furious.
One day he was told a helicopter would be taking him to London, this is were Georgia and Julius met, in a psychiatric unit and became firm friends.
So much happens afterwards but I don’t want to give any more away
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