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Everywhere, Everything, Everyone
A vivid, captivating contemporary YA novel about the power of resistance, from a stunning Australian debut author. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Z for Zachariah.
Even though she lives on the wrong side of town, 16-year-old Santee believes her world is like ours: that running late for curfew will only get you grounded, and that the government tries to keep its good citizens safe and secure. Until one night, everything changes.
On her way home from school, Santee takes a detour to the outskirts of town with a boy that she likes – and then finds herself stranded overnight when his car breaks down. When she’s finally able to get a lift towards home the next morning, Santee discovers that everything has changed. A 'safety border' – a wall – has gone up around her part of town, imprisoning her family and trapping her on the outside...
With its subtle familiarity and a tender, defiant teen romance at its core, Katy Warner’s powerful debut novel is about the importance of hope and standing up for what you believe in.
From small cracks, big cracks grow.
Even though she lives on the wrong side of town, 16-year-old Santee believes her world is like ours: that running late for curfew will only get you grounded, and that the government tries to keep its good citizens safe and secure. Until one night, everything changes.
On her way home from school, Santee takes a detour to the outskirts of town with a boy that she likes – and then finds herself stranded overnight when his car breaks down. When she’s finally able to get a lift towards home the next morning, Santee discovers that everything has changed. A 'safety border' – a wall – has gone up around her part of town, imprisoning her family and trapping her on the outside...
With its subtle familiarity and a tender, defiant teen romance at its core, Katy Warner’s powerful debut novel is about the importance of hope and standing up for what you believe in.
From small cracks, big cracks grow.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2019
13 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Katy Warner
13 books11 followers"Katy studied at the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne), receiving a Master of Writing for Performance in 2012. Her plays have been presented across Australia and in Edinburgh as part of Festival Fringe.
She is an AWGIE winner (Best Children’s Theatre for Reasons to Stay Inside), recipient of the Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Emerging Writer (These are the isolate) and nominee for a Green Room award for new writing (A Prudent Man). Her play, nest, recently made the long list of Theatre503’s Playwriting Award and will have its debut in London with Small Truth Theatre, directed by Yasmeen Arden for VAULT Festival.
Spencer, premiered in May 2017 at Chapel off Chapel (Melbourne, Victoria) where it received excellent reviews – including Maxim Boon for the Music who wrote, “Simply put, this may very well be the birth of a future Australian classic.”
Other works include A Prudent Man (People’s Choice Award and WA Touring Award; Melbourne Fringe, 2016), Reasons to Stay Inside (Best Kids Show; Melbourne Fringe 2015, and Best Children’s Theatre; AWGIE, 2016), Dropped (Highly Commended – Best Emerging Writer; Melbourne Fringe 2013) and These are the isolate (Winner – Best Emerging Writer; Melbourne Fringe 2010).
Katy is a writer with the Red Stitch Theatre Company’s INK Program. She has been a part of the Besen Family Artist Program (writers) at Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre Program. In 2018, she presented a new work, K, as part of the MTC Cybec Electric Readings season.
Her fiction has received the Rachel Furnai Prize for Literature (Lip Magazine) and Overland Magazine’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize. Her writing has been shortlisted for awards including the Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Prize and Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers Prize.
Her fiction has been seen in Best Summer Stories (Black Inc.), The Slow Canoe and Overland.
Katy is currently working on her debut novel, Everywhere Everything Everyone, to be published in 2019. She is represented by Grace Heifetz at Curtis Brown Australia.
Katy is a proud member of the Australian Writers’ Guild." (source: https://katywarner.com/about-3/)
She is an AWGIE winner (Best Children’s Theatre for Reasons to Stay Inside), recipient of the Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Emerging Writer (These are the isolate) and nominee for a Green Room award for new writing (A Prudent Man). Her play, nest, recently made the long list of Theatre503’s Playwriting Award and will have its debut in London with Small Truth Theatre, directed by Yasmeen Arden for VAULT Festival.
Spencer, premiered in May 2017 at Chapel off Chapel (Melbourne, Victoria) where it received excellent reviews – including Maxim Boon for the Music who wrote, “Simply put, this may very well be the birth of a future Australian classic.”
Other works include A Prudent Man (People’s Choice Award and WA Touring Award; Melbourne Fringe, 2016), Reasons to Stay Inside (Best Kids Show; Melbourne Fringe 2015, and Best Children’s Theatre; AWGIE, 2016), Dropped (Highly Commended – Best Emerging Writer; Melbourne Fringe 2013) and These are the isolate (Winner – Best Emerging Writer; Melbourne Fringe 2010).
Katy is a writer with the Red Stitch Theatre Company’s INK Program. She has been a part of the Besen Family Artist Program (writers) at Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre Program. In 2018, she presented a new work, K, as part of the MTC Cybec Electric Readings season.
Her fiction has received the Rachel Furnai Prize for Literature (Lip Magazine) and Overland Magazine’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize. Her writing has been shortlisted for awards including the Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Prize and Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers Prize.
Her fiction has been seen in Best Summer Stories (Black Inc.), The Slow Canoe and Overland.
Katy is currently working on her debut novel, Everywhere Everything Everyone, to be published in 2019. She is represented by Grace Heifetz at Curtis Brown Australia.
Katy is a proud member of the Australian Writers’ Guild." (source: https://katywarner.com/about-3/)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 11, 2019
3.75 🌟 rounded up to 4🌟.
Everywhere Everything Everyone is a young-adult dystopian novel by Australian author Katy Warner and this is the book for this month’s(December) Lit Club. I really enjoyed this book, though I do have some few points to, you know, point out that I did not like as much as I would have wanted to. If I am being truthfully honest, it almost feels like a standard YA dystopian novel without a whole lot that necessarily sets it apart from many other dystopian novels.
Essentially, there is a ruthless dictator like character that wants to control the population through banning all sense of freedom, such as media, books, art, culture, etc. They do this to obviously brainwash the people into thinking that they are indeed safe and also promising that everything is getting better and better, when things are evidently not improving, despite what the government might say. It is set in Australia I believe though I don’t think it mentions what city it is in, though I feel like it may be Canberra due to references to Parliament House but that is merely an educated guess.
It is told in first person perspective and follows the character Santee, who is this sixteen year old girl who lives on a side of the city where certain people are called “threats” which is a term made up by the government to install fear in the populace, whereas the other side, most people are called “good citizens.” It does deal with lots of themes about government, democracy and dictatorship and at how a government slowly rolls out new stuff to control everyone.
The plot does move along pretty quickly and things are always happening, so at no point did it feel like it dragged, and when it did slow down, things picked up pretty quickly again. There are some feel good moments paired alongside painful moments of horror and fear from the characters to show the brutality of the regime.
There is a romance between Santee, our protagonist and Z, whose full name is Zac. Zac for most of the book is basically this perfect dude who can’t go wrong and he is so polite and kind and giving, which made me go, ehh, however, there were also parts that made him feel more human to me when he did let his emotions out to show he was a person rather than this perfect guy for Santee. I did feel that the romance between the two was a bit too quick for my liking. Like, it was not instalove per se, but more hormonal teenagers, which like, yeah? ok, but then also made me feel, wow, they got things moving really quickly. I understand that they have seen each other round for a little while, but there was minimal interaction from what the author gives us, though it worked out in the end so, oh well.
For all of the other characters, there were some I liked, some I disliked and some I appreciated for who they were. Beth, who was the wellbeing person in charge of “calming down” Santee or whatever, while annoying, tried to help her in her own way, which, look, was nice, even though there was nothing inherently wrong with Santee. Mila, who is Z’s younger sister was awesome and so very cute. She was honestly a highlight of the book for me, she was that amazing. Peter I feel like will always be an under appreciated character in the book, but I liked him and thought that his role, while small, was incredibly important to the story. Tash, who is Santee’s bully at school, while having a semi redemption arc was someone I could not really connect to, and even at the end, I still did not like her a whole lot. I found Z’s dad to be pretty cool though, and so was their neighbour. They were two good characters that I enjoyed reading about despite their flaws(it only makes them feel more like people). For the most part, I do not like perfect characters, and these characters all had their only flaws, which I did like, which is why I stated above that Z felt almost too perfect at the start before displaying more of his human side.
And there you go, my thoughts and opinions on December’s Lit Club book, Everywhere Everything Everyone. I really liked it, though had a few slight problems with the book and that’s about it. 7.5/10
My next post may be a little bit more controversial as I compare this book with really life things, both present and future, but until write that post, happy reading!
Everywhere Everything Everyone is a young-adult dystopian novel by Australian author Katy Warner and this is the book for this month’s(December) Lit Club. I really enjoyed this book, though I do have some few points to, you know, point out that I did not like as much as I would have wanted to. If I am being truthfully honest, it almost feels like a standard YA dystopian novel without a whole lot that necessarily sets it apart from many other dystopian novels.
Essentially, there is a ruthless dictator like character that wants to control the population through banning all sense of freedom, such as media, books, art, culture, etc. They do this to obviously brainwash the people into thinking that they are indeed safe and also promising that everything is getting better and better, when things are evidently not improving, despite what the government might say. It is set in Australia I believe though I don’t think it mentions what city it is in, though I feel like it may be Canberra due to references to Parliament House but that is merely an educated guess.
It is told in first person perspective and follows the character Santee, who is this sixteen year old girl who lives on a side of the city where certain people are called “threats” which is a term made up by the government to install fear in the populace, whereas the other side, most people are called “good citizens.” It does deal with lots of themes about government, democracy and dictatorship and at how a government slowly rolls out new stuff to control everyone.
The plot does move along pretty quickly and things are always happening, so at no point did it feel like it dragged, and when it did slow down, things picked up pretty quickly again. There are some feel good moments paired alongside painful moments of horror and fear from the characters to show the brutality of the regime.
There is a romance between Santee, our protagonist and Z, whose full name is Zac. Zac for most of the book is basically this perfect dude who can’t go wrong and he is so polite and kind and giving, which made me go, ehh, however, there were also parts that made him feel more human to me when he did let his emotions out to show he was a person rather than this perfect guy for Santee. I did feel that the romance between the two was a bit too quick for my liking. Like, it was not instalove per se, but more hormonal teenagers, which like, yeah? ok, but then also made me feel, wow, they got things moving really quickly. I understand that they have seen each other round for a little while, but there was minimal interaction from what the author gives us, though it worked out in the end so, oh well.
For all of the other characters, there were some I liked, some I disliked and some I appreciated for who they were. Beth, who was the wellbeing person in charge of “calming down” Santee or whatever, while annoying, tried to help her in her own way, which, look, was nice, even though there was nothing inherently wrong with Santee. Mila, who is Z’s younger sister was awesome and so very cute. She was honestly a highlight of the book for me, she was that amazing. Peter I feel like will always be an under appreciated character in the book, but I liked him and thought that his role, while small, was incredibly important to the story. Tash, who is Santee’s bully at school, while having a semi redemption arc was someone I could not really connect to, and even at the end, I still did not like her a whole lot. I found Z’s dad to be pretty cool though, and so was their neighbour. They were two good characters that I enjoyed reading about despite their flaws(it only makes them feel more like people). For the most part, I do not like perfect characters, and these characters all had their only flaws, which I did like, which is why I stated above that Z felt almost too perfect at the start before displaying more of his human side.
And there you go, my thoughts and opinions on December’s Lit Club book, Everywhere Everything Everyone. I really liked it, though had a few slight problems with the book and that’s about it. 7.5/10
My next post may be a little bit more controversial as I compare this book with really life things, both present and future, but until write that post, happy reading!
May 1, 2022
Every dystopian ever: main character takes down the regime by taking the evil dictator dude in an epic battle to the death
Everywhere, Everything, Everyone: main character takes down the regime by... protesting??
....
Right
*AHEM*
Let's just say I am just a tad bit salty over this book. Just a tad.
Don't get me wrong it was enjoyable as in it was a quick novel to get through however, I found myself getting annoyed over many things that just irritated me in general.
For starters, I was faced with insta-love in the first 50 pages in which was just a big no for me. Look, on some occasions insta-love is bearable but it just seemed quick and out of the blue with this relationship. I wish there was more of an incline with it but it just seemed like BAAM romance rather than a growing of chemistry between the two. I get that chemistry is something very hard to write and grow however if you get it right it makes the book. It really does! Look, although Z was a total smol bean, it also was really strange that he decides to dodge the "unit" with Santee after they had literally just one conversation together and decides to take her to his house a few days.
A few days after that incident Santee goes over to Z's place (again) where overnight a wall comes up out of nowhere to separate so called "threats" from the "decent" civilians who are more well-off financially than those on the other side. Santee is thus trapped on the other side with her family on the side with the threats.
And so I guess now you are thinking: "Wow so the main character then goes on an epic quest to go over the wall, take down the government and then find her family?"
Well... NOPE
If I get this right: although the main character had a family that she couldn't get in contact with and there is brutality everywhere in this messed up dystopian world, she still invests in a relationship???
Well that's just lovely isn't it?
My brain was getting fried just thinking about it. The fact that there is a girl who is being segregated from her whole family and yet she's like "Oh well there's always Z who I can kiss and forget about the whole dilemma I'm in that actually won't go away without me doing something about it."
Well okay maybe I'm exaggerating but she didn't even attempt to save them at all. All she did was write 4 words on a brick wall and yes it did spark a whole protest thing but it just felt like there was no point in following these characters if they did nothing in particular. And I guess, ok yes, that this would've been more believable. Protesting seems more like something a 16 year old would do than becoming a demon slayer and taking down corrupt kings and royals *AHEM*
But was there any point to the protests? Was there really?
Most likely: nope.
Because let's face it. That Dictator-y Varick dude would probably do something even worse than put up a random wall. What if he punished the citizens? Sent them back into submission? See what I mean? There was so much potential and this book didn't even tap into it *cries* But going back to the main point about the protesting it achieved nothing at all I don't think they were influenced by the protesting but more so their own values. It just brings me back to the conclusion that the main characters did nothing to really resolve the plot which... isn't the whole point of a book?
Throughout the whole novel I was like:
"YES COME ON TAKE DOWN THE SYSTEM YES YES YES TAKE DOWN THE VARICK DUDE YESSSS"
But that didn't happen. AT ALL and I must admit I was kind of disappointed by the ending. There was nothing to justify it as mentioned previously.
Also I just could not figure out what was so bad about the government really. Like yes, they were corrupt but what was so bad about the wall? Maybe it wasn't the best way or most effective in keeping the city safe but I needed more persuading and more reasons as to why the government were doing the things that they were doing. The excuse that the wall is "for people's safety" just seemed wacky to me. It didn't seem believable at all that nobody be questioning the government's logic. Also you'd think that the government would look up who is a "Threat" and who isn't and would send those to the safer side? Wouldn't they just take the threats to another place where the government would monitor them 24/7?
Oh wait hang on we DO have something like that and it's called a jail.
*Sigh*
Look, all in all, it was a quick book to get through but it had flaws such as insta-love, characters not really doing anything, an unbelievable world and a sort of unresolved plot. There was so much potential but I just feel like it hasn't really been tapped into.
ACTUAL RATING: 3 STARS
Thank you to Inside A Dog for sending me a copy :)
Everywhere, Everything, Everyone: main character takes down the regime by... protesting??
....
Right
*AHEM*
Let's just say I am just a tad bit salty over this book. Just a tad.
Don't get me wrong it was enjoyable as in it was a quick novel to get through however, I found myself getting annoyed over many things that just irritated me in general.
For starters, I was faced with insta-love in the first 50 pages in which was just a big no for me. Look, on some occasions insta-love is bearable but it just seemed quick and out of the blue with this relationship. I wish there was more of an incline with it but it just seemed like BAAM romance rather than a growing of chemistry between the two. I get that chemistry is something very hard to write and grow however if you get it right it makes the book. It really does! Look, although Z was a total smol bean, it also was really strange that he decides to dodge the "unit" with Santee after they had literally just one conversation together and decides to take her to his house a few days.
A few days after that incident Santee goes over to Z's place (again) where overnight a wall comes up out of nowhere to separate so called "threats" from the "decent" civilians who are more well-off financially than those on the other side. Santee is thus trapped on the other side with her family on the side with the threats.
And so I guess now you are thinking: "Wow so the main character then goes on an epic quest to go over the wall, take down the government and then find her family?"
Well... NOPE
If I get this right: although the main character had a family that she couldn't get in contact with and there is brutality everywhere in this messed up dystopian world, she still invests in a relationship???
Well that's just lovely isn't it?
My brain was getting fried just thinking about it. The fact that there is a girl who is being segregated from her whole family and yet she's like "Oh well there's always Z who I can kiss and forget about the whole dilemma I'm in that actually won't go away without me doing something about it."
Well okay maybe I'm exaggerating but she didn't even attempt to save them at all. All she did was write 4 words on a brick wall and yes it did spark a whole protest thing but it just felt like there was no point in following these characters if they did nothing in particular. And I guess, ok yes, that this would've been more believable. Protesting seems more like something a 16 year old would do than becoming a demon slayer and taking down corrupt kings and royals *AHEM*
But was there any point to the protests? Was there really?
Most likely: nope.
Because let's face it. That Dictator-y Varick dude would probably do something even worse than put up a random wall. What if he punished the citizens? Sent them back into submission? See what I mean? There was so much potential and this book didn't even tap into it *cries* But going back to the main point about the protesting it achieved nothing at all I don't think they were influenced by the protesting but more so their own values. It just brings me back to the conclusion that the main characters did nothing to really resolve the plot which... isn't the whole point of a book?
Throughout the whole novel I was like:
"YES COME ON TAKE DOWN THE SYSTEM YES YES YES TAKE DOWN THE VARICK DUDE YESSSS"
But that didn't happen. AT ALL and I must admit I was kind of disappointed by the ending. There was nothing to justify it as mentioned previously.
Also I just could not figure out what was so bad about the government really. Like yes, they were corrupt but what was so bad about the wall? Maybe it wasn't the best way or most effective in keeping the city safe but I needed more persuading and more reasons as to why the government were doing the things that they were doing. The excuse that the wall is "for people's safety" just seemed wacky to me. It didn't seem believable at all that nobody be questioning the government's logic. Also you'd think that the government would look up who is a "Threat" and who isn't and would send those to the safer side? Wouldn't they just take the threats to another place where the government would monitor them 24/7?
Oh wait hang on we DO have something like that and it's called a jail.
*Sigh*
Look, all in all, it was a quick book to get through but it had flaws such as insta-love, characters not really doing anything, an unbelievable world and a sort of unresolved plot. There was so much potential but I just feel like it hasn't really been tapped into.
ACTUAL RATING: 3 STARS
Thank you to Inside A Dog for sending me a copy :)
May 14, 2019
This was disappointing. It had the barest bones of world building, the romance lacked chemistry, the main character felt passive, things happened to her rather than the other way around. The ending was useless. It gets two stars because there were a few scenes that stood out to me and were tense and well-written.
July 21, 2019
What a book.. I could not put it down throughout! 5 stars for how well written and captivating it was. I could not recommend this any more!!
July 21, 2019
Loved it. Strong, courageous but 'real' central character. Didn't try to make Santee do things that were beyond a teenagers capabilities. Also loved the fact that the 'love story' wasn't unrealistic or over the top.
July 21, 2019
Could not put this book down. Loved Santee and her voice and courage. This book was a page turner for me and even got teary at the end. Can't wait for the next one - fingers crossed it comes out soon! Such a great debut novel from this new Australian voice in YA fiction. Read it.
July 21, 2019
Absolutely loved this novel by Katy Warner. I love the way she writes and can not wait for the sequel. Managed to read the whole novel within a couple of days (and I have two small children so this is no mean feat!)
Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.
June 30, 2019
In this Young Adult dystopian fiction we meet Santee, a 16 year old who apparently lives on the wrong side of town. She lives in a city, not unlike our own yet in this city there is curfew, there are rules and a leader who is ruthless to defeat the 'Threats' that inhabit this side.
Being a 16 year old the last thing Santee wants to do is follow rules so of course one rule is broken - a long car ride out of town and this turns out to be something that will change her life forever.
Written from Santee's point of view we feel the angst, love and fear of a teenager. We feel her pain as she discovers her family are now out of reach - behind the new wall that has been put up but we feel the love and power she gains through this loss.
Katy Warner has written this book with many different aspects of our world in mind - refugees who can't move beyond walls, those who cannot get in touch with loved ones in foreign countries and walls like the Berlin wall that were put up to stop threats in their own time.
Young Adults will not only love the teen romance but they will love the courage that Santee shows to ensure that her future, and that of others is one that is fair and just.
Everywhere Everything Everyone is a story of compassion, a story of the power of community and a story of hope . It shows that truth and love can conquer all - even if it takes a long time.
Being a 16 year old the last thing Santee wants to do is follow rules so of course one rule is broken - a long car ride out of town and this turns out to be something that will change her life forever.
Written from Santee's point of view we feel the angst, love and fear of a teenager. We feel her pain as she discovers her family are now out of reach - behind the new wall that has been put up but we feel the love and power she gains through this loss.
Katy Warner has written this book with many different aspects of our world in mind - refugees who can't move beyond walls, those who cannot get in touch with loved ones in foreign countries and walls like the Berlin wall that were put up to stop threats in their own time.
Young Adults will not only love the teen romance but they will love the courage that Santee shows to ensure that her future, and that of others is one that is fair and just.
Everywhere Everything Everyone is a story of compassion, a story of the power of community and a story of hope . It shows that truth and love can conquer all - even if it takes a long time.
June 15, 2019
Two regions, a girl trapped on the wrong side of a wall trying to get to her family on the other side. What will she have to do to get there?
I liked the idea of the story but was surprised that it didn’t really grab my attention as much as I thought it would. This book had a slower pace than I expected so although I read it quickly I found it and wasn’t as exciting or thrilling for me as other YA books with a similar style. Maybe this is not ‘that’ type of book but it did give that impression in the blurb.
Everywhere Everything Everyone reminded me of the real world: politics, war and power. I prefer sci-fi/dystopian future books that get my imagination away from ‘life’ when reading, but this book is almost too close to the Trump world we live in to be fun reading. I think a lot of people will enjoy it for exactly that reason though, so I hope they buy it and read it.
My heart was pumping just as hard as the main character in the book when I read the last paragraph. What an ending! The ending left me with questions that I hope will be answered if there’s a second instalment.
I definitely advise people to read Everywhere Everything Everyone as everyone will feel and think differently about the story and how it relates to the world we live in today.
I liked the idea of the story but was surprised that it didn’t really grab my attention as much as I thought it would. This book had a slower pace than I expected so although I read it quickly I found it and wasn’t as exciting or thrilling for me as other YA books with a similar style. Maybe this is not ‘that’ type of book but it did give that impression in the blurb.
Everywhere Everything Everyone reminded me of the real world: politics, war and power. I prefer sci-fi/dystopian future books that get my imagination away from ‘life’ when reading, but this book is almost too close to the Trump world we live in to be fun reading. I think a lot of people will enjoy it for exactly that reason though, so I hope they buy it and read it.
My heart was pumping just as hard as the main character in the book when I read the last paragraph. What an ending! The ending left me with questions that I hope will be answered if there’s a second instalment.
I definitely advise people to read Everywhere Everything Everyone as everyone will feel and think differently about the story and how it relates to the world we live in today.
August 23, 2019
I have no idea what that book was aiming to achieve, but I'm pretty sure that it didn't achieve it.
My main issue was that the protagonist (Santee) was completely irrelevant to the plot for the first 85+%. and even when she became relevant she was just kind of useless. I guess that my unimpressed response could be attributed to the vast array of fierce female characters that are predominantly displayed in modern YA literature. I know that of course, not all characters are ready to assume the role of leader or rebellion starter, but Santee was like the complete opposite. She just complained about her situation and then was unwilling to do anything about it, which I found quite irritating.
The book is set in a dystopian dictatorship (which is quite similar to post WWII Berlin) so life sucks, for anyone who isn't super-rich. One of the things that I really struggled with was that Santee was really angry about the sanctions imposed on the people by their government, but she was unwilling to stand up and do anything, even when there were people who were already fighting. I don't mind a reluctant hero, in fact, I find it quite endearing, but she was just straight up a wimp. I have never said the phrase, 'Build a bridge and get over it' so many times in my life, I literally feel like I was saying it every time Santee complained and then refused to try and do anything to make her life (and the lives of others) easier.
something else that also annoyed me (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Was that youngest character was killed, and no one was that upset and they then went and used her death as a political device (which is just plain rude). I hate it when a character is killed just to make a point, and feel like that is definitely what happened in this instance.
(SPOILER ALERT OVER!)
I actually quite enjoyed the writing style, which is the main reason that I finished the book, and was a highlight throughout.
The other thing that I really liked about the book was the cover art. it was gorgeous, and I also really love the title, surprisingly I actually thought it was very relevant to the plot and the world that it was set in.
Overall, I would only recommend this if you are looking for a book with quite a meek protagonist.
My main issue was that the protagonist (Santee) was completely irrelevant to the plot for the first 85+%. and even when she became relevant she was just kind of useless. I guess that my unimpressed response could be attributed to the vast array of fierce female characters that are predominantly displayed in modern YA literature. I know that of course, not all characters are ready to assume the role of leader or rebellion starter, but Santee was like the complete opposite. She just complained about her situation and then was unwilling to do anything about it, which I found quite irritating.
The book is set in a dystopian dictatorship (which is quite similar to post WWII Berlin) so life sucks, for anyone who isn't super-rich. One of the things that I really struggled with was that Santee was really angry about the sanctions imposed on the people by their government, but she was unwilling to stand up and do anything, even when there were people who were already fighting. I don't mind a reluctant hero, in fact, I find it quite endearing, but she was just straight up a wimp. I have never said the phrase, 'Build a bridge and get over it' so many times in my life, I literally feel like I was saying it every time Santee complained and then refused to try and do anything to make her life (and the lives of others) easier.
something else that also annoyed me (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Was that youngest character was killed, and no one was that upset and they then went and used her death as a political device (which is just plain rude). I hate it when a character is killed just to make a point, and feel like that is definitely what happened in this instance.
(SPOILER ALERT OVER!)
I actually quite enjoyed the writing style, which is the main reason that I finished the book, and was a highlight throughout.
The other thing that I really liked about the book was the cover art. it was gorgeous, and I also really love the title, surprisingly I actually thought it was very relevant to the plot and the world that it was set in.
Overall, I would only recommend this if you are looking for a book with quite a meek protagonist.
November 30, 2021
I finished this book and still have no idea what the story really was.
I don't know what happened to the world to cause people to be seen as threats or how it got to the point it did.
I felt confused and like I had missed a prequel the whole way through and when it finished I still didn't know what was happening. The story didn't so much as conclude as the book ended.
I don't know what happened to the world to cause people to be seen as threats or how it got to the point it did.
I felt confused and like I had missed a prequel the whole way through and when it finished I still didn't know what was happening. The story didn't so much as conclude as the book ended.
July 22, 2019
An amazing read. Impossible to put down once started. I can’t wait to see the next installment from this author. Bravo!
February 15, 2020
(Review originally posted on Inside A Dog's Lit Club page)
Overall, I enjoyed Everything, Everywhere, Everyone. It had a powerful message, mostly realistic characters, and a good pacing to it. However, the plot wasn’t very original and felt quite similar to other dystopian novels.
The book follows Santee, a 16-year-old who lives on the side of the city where people are referred to as ‘threats’, and the people on the other side of the city are called ‘good citizens’. One day, a wall is built dividing the two sides and separating Santee from her family, and she is forced to protest against the government and its corrupt leader and to find any way to reunite with her family.
The plot felt quite unoriginal. The main story of a dystopian novel is pretty much a main character fighting against the corrupt government to stop inequality and save their loved ones. This book was… pretty much exactly that?? Although, an element that felt much more realistic was that Santee didn’t simply fight and destroy the government and their leader but protested by using her voice and words. The book wasn’t paced too fast or too slow, and there was a very good balance of action scenes and character development scenes.
The character of Santee felt quite believable, but I think could have been developed a bit more. I would have liked some more flashback scenes about her childhood and her relationship with her dad, and a more in-depth explanation of her relation to her dad being sent to prison. I also felt like a few of her actions were quite unrealistic. For example, (small spoiler alert) it felt very unrealistic for her to, despite Z’s family welcoming her in and treating her like a family member, give information to someone working for the government just to gain information about her father? I understand wanting to know about her father and his whereabouts but disclosing information about someone who had shown you nothing but kindness didn’t make sense to me.
Another thing that annoyed me was the complete insta-love between Santee and Z. It progressed much too quickly to seem realistic, and it felt wrong that Santee was making time for a relationship with Z when people were suffering due to the corrupt government. I can’t fault Z’s character, but I wish it had been developed a bit more.
I really liked Mila’s character! I felt her character was very believable and she was a ray of sunshine throughout the book. I just wish she had had more scenes! And (spoiler alert) I was really taken by surprise and upset by her death. It made me angry that there was so much injustice happening, but I found it was so powerful how many people began to see just how ‘evil’ the Unit and the government were after people lost their lives protesting.
I couldn’t really connect with Tash’s character because I felt it didn’t seem natural that after bullying Santee, she would suddenly become friends with her again and change her views about the ‘threats’ living on Santee’s side of the city. I think Peter’s character was a very important addition to the book because it showed that not all of the Unit Officers were heartless and that many of them weren’t completely on board with the principles of the government. I really loved the theme of family throughout the book, and how Santee eventually felt like part of Z’s family.
I thought the ending was… very powerful. The last lines were very hard-hitting, and I think it conveyed the very important message that the perfect idealistic ending that we were hoping for did not come true. And I think that’s what made the book seem more realistic to me, because it explained that we will have to keep fighting for justice in this world and that things won’t be easily changed.
All in all, this was a good book that included some very important themes about society, prejudice and standing up for what you believe in, I just felt like it was a bit similar to other dystopian novels I have read. 🙂
Overall, I enjoyed Everything, Everywhere, Everyone. It had a powerful message, mostly realistic characters, and a good pacing to it. However, the plot wasn’t very original and felt quite similar to other dystopian novels.
The book follows Santee, a 16-year-old who lives on the side of the city where people are referred to as ‘threats’, and the people on the other side of the city are called ‘good citizens’. One day, a wall is built dividing the two sides and separating Santee from her family, and she is forced to protest against the government and its corrupt leader and to find any way to reunite with her family.
The plot felt quite unoriginal. The main story of a dystopian novel is pretty much a main character fighting against the corrupt government to stop inequality and save their loved ones. This book was… pretty much exactly that?? Although, an element that felt much more realistic was that Santee didn’t simply fight and destroy the government and their leader but protested by using her voice and words. The book wasn’t paced too fast or too slow, and there was a very good balance of action scenes and character development scenes.
The character of Santee felt quite believable, but I think could have been developed a bit more. I would have liked some more flashback scenes about her childhood and her relationship with her dad, and a more in-depth explanation of her relation to her dad being sent to prison. I also felt like a few of her actions were quite unrealistic. For example, (small spoiler alert) it felt very unrealistic for her to, despite Z’s family welcoming her in and treating her like a family member, give information to someone working for the government just to gain information about her father? I understand wanting to know about her father and his whereabouts but disclosing information about someone who had shown you nothing but kindness didn’t make sense to me.
Another thing that annoyed me was the complete insta-love between Santee and Z. It progressed much too quickly to seem realistic, and it felt wrong that Santee was making time for a relationship with Z when people were suffering due to the corrupt government. I can’t fault Z’s character, but I wish it had been developed a bit more.
I really liked Mila’s character! I felt her character was very believable and she was a ray of sunshine throughout the book. I just wish she had had more scenes! And (spoiler alert) I was really taken by surprise and upset by her death. It made me angry that there was so much injustice happening, but I found it was so powerful how many people began to see just how ‘evil’ the Unit and the government were after people lost their lives protesting.
I couldn’t really connect with Tash’s character because I felt it didn’t seem natural that after bullying Santee, she would suddenly become friends with her again and change her views about the ‘threats’ living on Santee’s side of the city. I think Peter’s character was a very important addition to the book because it showed that not all of the Unit Officers were heartless and that many of them weren’t completely on board with the principles of the government. I really loved the theme of family throughout the book, and how Santee eventually felt like part of Z’s family.
I thought the ending was… very powerful. The last lines were very hard-hitting, and I think it conveyed the very important message that the perfect idealistic ending that we were hoping for did not come true. And I think that’s what made the book seem more realistic to me, because it explained that we will have to keep fighting for justice in this world and that things won’t be easily changed.
All in all, this was a good book that included some very important themes about society, prejudice and standing up for what you believe in, I just felt like it was a bit similar to other dystopian novels I have read. 🙂
December 9, 2019
Part Reviews: (stars out of 5)
- Part 1: 4.5 stars
- Part 2: 4.5 stars
- Part 3: 5 stars
Overall review: 4.5 stars
- Part 1: 4.5 stars
- Part 2: 4.5 stars
- Part 3: 5 stars
Overall review: 4.5 stars
July 25, 2019
A compelling story that focuses on the themes of hope, community, and friendship. It had aspects of the real world infused into it, such as politics and power.
The dystopian world building for me fell a little flat for me, and the plot kind of gave me a mish-mash of Divergent and The Hunger Games vibes. However, the main characters Santee and Z were engaging enough.
The start of the book was a little slow, with a lot of focus on the teen romance, however, it really picked up the pace towards the middle of the book!
Rating: 3.5/5
Thanks to Hardie Grant Egmont for the physical ARC copy of this book!
You can also view this review on my
The dystopian world building for me fell a little flat for me, and the plot kind of gave me a mish-mash of Divergent and The Hunger Games vibes. However, the main characters Santee and Z were engaging enough.
The start of the book was a little slow, with a lot of focus on the teen romance, however, it really picked up the pace towards the middle of the book!
Rating: 3.5/5
Thanks to Hardie Grant Egmont for the physical ARC copy of this book!
You can also view this review on my
December 2, 2021
I liked the premise but it didn't stand out in any way.
Firstly, Santee was not an interesting heroine. She felt like just a regular teenage girl with a slight attitude problem. But I will say her personal growth was there at least. Moreover, the story itself was not particularly unique. It felt lackluster and just not fully developed. I wish there was more background on the past a bit to set the stage. Just build it beyond the high school and teenage life. Lastly, the messed up sentence structure and words annoyed me. I know this book is from a teenage girls voice and perspective. But I really hate the use of 'cos' in lieu of cause. I haven't got the best English and I'm not usually such a grammar snob. But that word sprinkled throughout the book just annoyed the hell out of me.
Overall, an unmemorable read. This novel was so close to making me connect with the story but it just never got there.
Firstly, Santee was not an interesting heroine. She felt like just a regular teenage girl with a slight attitude problem. But I will say her personal growth was there at least. Moreover, the story itself was not particularly unique. It felt lackluster and just not fully developed. I wish there was more background on the past a bit to set the stage. Just build it beyond the high school and teenage life. Lastly, the messed up sentence structure and words annoyed me. I know this book is from a teenage girls voice and perspective. But I really hate the use of 'cos' in lieu of cause. I haven't got the best English and I'm not usually such a grammar snob. But that word sprinkled throughout the book just annoyed the hell out of me.
Overall, an unmemorable read. This novel was so close to making me connect with the story but it just never got there.
June 8, 2019
Dystopian disquiet.
December 18, 2020
(Minor spoilers)
I read this novel back in late 2019 having bought it to read over the Summer.
Reading the synopsis I fell instantly in love with the concept. A dystopian tale set in certain isolation from parts of the world with the possibility of romance on the side was everything I looked for in a book, and I loved stories such as these.
Right of the bat, however, the romance side of it threw me off. The relationship between Santee and Z progressed so quickly I barely had time to process the fact that a wall had been put up between the two sides of the city. I suppose I expected their relationship to grow whilst they were stuck together on one side of the wall, rather than right before everything happens, considering they had just met pretty much that day.
After that, the book gets to be kind of slice of life? Not that it wasn't enjoyable, there were small conflicts in between that kept me going, and in all honesty, I couldn't put it down. However, I felt as though Santee's passion and will to fight to return home was being somewhat wasted? Like she had this fiery personality but it wasn't getting her anywhere. Z was an okay character, he was nice and caring and took Santee in, but I feel like that character with the most depth was Z's sister, Mila. Something about her just resonated with me and I found my self continuing to read because of her character.
Despite all this, the story later progressed to be really interesting as the protests and riots began to occur, which came with their own dramas, but even after all this, the stories ending (being that Santee makes it back over the wall to her family, though it is unclear if she finds them or not), really disappointed me. The ending really did nothing to sum up the main character's journey.
"And this is the part where I'd like to tell you that everything turned out all right. That the wall came crumbling down and families were reunited and the Regime was ruined and everyone was happy. The end.
But that would be a lie. I think you knew that already." This closing paragraph is obviously meant to leave you wondering how it ended, however, I feel as though it left me with too many questions, and it seemed as though it was setting the story up for a sequel.
I'm not sure if there is any plan to continue the story, I would definitely read it if there was any continuation, but as of right now it remains a stand-alone novel. I can't help but feel (and this might just be me) that given more detail the story itself would have made an excellent dystopian series rather than the stand-alone novel it is. I feel like it seemed rushed writing it as a series would have been really interesting.
I know I wrote about many of its flaws, however, in general, I really enjoyed this novel. I would recommend it as a light read for anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction, and altogether the story is a satisfying read for YA readers.
I read this novel back in late 2019 having bought it to read over the Summer.
Reading the synopsis I fell instantly in love with the concept. A dystopian tale set in certain isolation from parts of the world with the possibility of romance on the side was everything I looked for in a book, and I loved stories such as these.
Right of the bat, however, the romance side of it threw me off. The relationship between Santee and Z progressed so quickly I barely had time to process the fact that a wall had been put up between the two sides of the city. I suppose I expected their relationship to grow whilst they were stuck together on one side of the wall, rather than right before everything happens, considering they had just met pretty much that day.
After that, the book gets to be kind of slice of life? Not that it wasn't enjoyable, there were small conflicts in between that kept me going, and in all honesty, I couldn't put it down. However, I felt as though Santee's passion and will to fight to return home was being somewhat wasted? Like she had this fiery personality but it wasn't getting her anywhere. Z was an okay character, he was nice and caring and took Santee in, but I feel like that character with the most depth was Z's sister, Mila. Something about her just resonated with me and I found my self continuing to read because of her character.
Despite all this, the story later progressed to be really interesting as the protests and riots began to occur, which came with their own dramas, but even after all this, the stories ending (being that Santee makes it back over the wall to her family, though it is unclear if she finds them or not), really disappointed me. The ending really did nothing to sum up the main character's journey.
"And this is the part where I'd like to tell you that everything turned out all right. That the wall came crumbling down and families were reunited and the Regime was ruined and everyone was happy. The end.
But that would be a lie. I think you knew that already." This closing paragraph is obviously meant to leave you wondering how it ended, however, I feel as though it left me with too many questions, and it seemed as though it was setting the story up for a sequel.
I'm not sure if there is any plan to continue the story, I would definitely read it if there was any continuation, but as of right now it remains a stand-alone novel. I can't help but feel (and this might just be me) that given more detail the story itself would have made an excellent dystopian series rather than the stand-alone novel it is. I feel like it seemed rushed writing it as a series would have been really interesting.
I know I wrote about many of its flaws, however, in general, I really enjoyed this novel. I would recommend it as a light read for anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction, and altogether the story is a satisfying read for YA readers.
October 31, 2019
16 yr. old Santee resides in the "bad" side of the city. Magnus Varick, a dictator, attempts to stop the city's threats by first enforcing Curfew, then a wall. A wall that divided the 2 regions and separated Santee from her family. Against her will, she and Z conform with the ludicrous laws that have become inaugurated. Numerous innocent individuals are murdered, countless homeless.
Ms. Katy Warner's debut YA Novel is filled with hidden symbolism, serving as a reminder of a world that could form, if we don't act now.
disclaimer: everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. I merely wish to share thoughts on the book. Please be respectful of others. Thank you :)
So, I borrowed this book from the library and I know, I know. You SHOULDN't judge a book by its cover but the flames and font of the title were just so aesthetically pleasing.
I honestly didn't expect the book to be how it was but it was a positive surprise.
the bads: I wouldn't say it's bad but, it changes pace at different sections of the book. So, if you're looking for a consistently fast-paced storyline, this may not be the book for you.
the guds: I liked the fact that, though Santee is the main character, the story also revolves around the people and lives she encounters. She didn't forget about her family and continued thinking about them throughout the book. I also appreciated how little details at the start such as her anger issues weren't forgotten but were carefully scattered where appropriate.
The story reminded of the Berlin Wall, Unit officers being Stasi police and the 2 regions being the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany. The ridiculousness of the laws established and how real they felt.
i don't know how to feel about this:
TL;DR: In conclusion, this was a pretty good read. A few negatives but I'd still like to congratulate Ms. Katy Warner for a great debut novel.
"Forget not the tyranny of this wall...
nor the love of freedom that made it fall..."
- Unknown, Grafitti on the Berlin Wall
3 stars
Ms. Katy Warner's debut YA Novel is filled with hidden symbolism, serving as a reminder of a world that could form, if we don't act now.
disclaimer: everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. I merely wish to share thoughts on the book. Please be respectful of others. Thank you :)
So, I borrowed this book from the library and I know, I know. You SHOULDN't judge a book by its cover but the flames and font of the title were just so aesthetically pleasing.
I honestly didn't expect the book to be how it was but it was a positive surprise.
the bads: I wouldn't say it's bad but, it changes pace at different sections of the book. So, if you're looking for a consistently fast-paced storyline, this may not be the book for you.
the guds: I liked the fact that, though Santee is the main character, the story also revolves around the people and lives she encounters. She didn't forget about her family and continued thinking about them throughout the book. I also appreciated how little details at the start such as her anger issues weren't forgotten but were carefully scattered where appropriate.
The story reminded of the Berlin Wall, Unit officers being Stasi police and the 2 regions being the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany. The ridiculousness of the laws established and how real they felt.
i don't know how to feel about this:
TL;DR: In conclusion, this was a pretty good read. A few negatives but I'd still like to congratulate Ms. Katy Warner for a great debut novel.
"Forget not the tyranny of this wall...
nor the love of freedom that made it fall..."
- Unknown, Grafitti on the Berlin Wall
3 stars
March 16, 2023
new drinking game just dropped: drink every time the protagonist says “their words, not mine”, BECAUSE I SWEAR THAT IT WAS ON LITERALLY EVERY PAGE.
this book was not great. its themes of tragedy, dictatorship, dystopia weren’t really constructed well, and whilst the themes are generally quite heavy, this book was written in a way where, instead of hitting you where it hurts, it just ends up being a bummer.
like things just keep getting worse and worse and for no reason, and there’s like, no light at the end of the tunnel, and then the author kills the kid off because of course she did. the only child in the book, OF COURSE they were going to die. lEtS kIlL ThE mOsT sYmPathEtIc cHarCtEr fOr sHiTs n gIgS. and then you find out about her death, in like, a terribly written way where it’s like “i was here. mila was not here. mila wasn’t anywhere. mila was gone” and THATS IT I GUESS? not even how it happened or a live-recount of how it all went down. bollocks. and then they just use the death as a political symbol. so. yeah
anyways, it sucked.
also. the ending was so shit. SO shit. unbelievably so. ok. bye
this book was not great. its themes of tragedy, dictatorship, dystopia weren’t really constructed well, and whilst the themes are generally quite heavy, this book was written in a way where, instead of hitting you where it hurts, it just ends up being a bummer.
like things just keep getting worse and worse and for no reason, and there’s like, no light at the end of the tunnel, and then the author kills the kid off because of course she did. the only child in the book, OF COURSE they were going to die. lEtS kIlL ThE mOsT sYmPathEtIc cHarCtEr fOr sHiTs n gIgS. and then you find out about her death, in like, a terribly written way where it’s like “i was here. mila was not here. mila wasn’t anywhere. mila was gone” and THATS IT I GUESS? not even how it happened or a live-recount of how it all went down. bollocks. and then they just use the death as a political symbol. so. yeah
anyways, it sucked.
also. the ending was so shit. SO shit. unbelievably so. ok. bye
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2020
The story starts with 16 year old Santee living in a small apartment with her mother and sister, with Dad arrested and supposedly in jail for some undefined crime. it is evident that life is restricted by a government increasing monitoring and restrictive laws to keep the community 'safe'. Santee is a rule breaker, stressing her family. The severity of the situation increases and being grounded for missing curfew to spend time with a boy, Z, is quickly overridden by extreme government control that results in the a wall being erected to separate the poorer communities as they are considered threats.
Warner presents a compelling case for freedom - of thought, speech and action - and how easily that can be consumed through creating a climate of fear, complacency, inaction and lack of original thought and opinion. Sadly, it is so close to the current state of Australia that it barely ticks the dystopian box.
Highly recommended for teenagers and would be a great novel to kick start discussions on democracy, government, ethics and the freedoms we are so rapidly losing.
Warner presents a compelling case for freedom - of thought, speech and action - and how easily that can be consumed through creating a climate of fear, complacency, inaction and lack of original thought and opinion. Sadly, it is so close to the current state of Australia that it barely ticks the dystopian box.
Highly recommended for teenagers and would be a great novel to kick start discussions on democracy, government, ethics and the freedoms we are so rapidly losing.
July 29, 2019
I bloody loved this book. There is a special place in my heart for YA, and I loved that this didn't play the same game as the Hunger Games, Insurgent etc crowd by making Santee 'special' and the only one who can change the world /save the city etc. It's real. Santee is a flawed teenager who doesn't have the power to change much, and that hopelessness so beautifully mirrors how I feel in today's world.
I think the best review I can give for this is that my husband loved it. I have not seen that man touch a book in about four years, and have never seen him finish a book in less than a month. How did I marry a non-reader?! Well, he devoured this in a single day.
You can tell that the author is also a playwright - the world came across so visually as I was reading it that I now really want to see it on the big screen.
Loved it. Will be keeping my eyes peeled for the next novel from this fab new Aussie author!
I think the best review I can give for this is that my husband loved it. I have not seen that man touch a book in about four years, and have never seen him finish a book in less than a month. How did I marry a non-reader?! Well, he devoured this in a single day.
You can tell that the author is also a playwright - the world came across so visually as I was reading it that I now really want to see it on the big screen.
Loved it. Will be keeping my eyes peeled for the next novel from this fab new Aussie author!
January 28, 2020
This book tried too hard at being like every other dystopian.
It took major inspo from The hunger games, Divergent and... every other dystopian book out there.
BUT it stole the name people involved in the movements were called from The Last of us game, Fireflies but its not a big deal, this book wasn't about zombies even though I've read the word Zombies in this more than ive read in an actual zombie book. Also pre-order The Last Of Us 2 if you have a heart.
Instalove. Cant stand it. This was the fastest instalove ive ever seen and it made me throw up in my mouth.
Instafamily. When a character gets loved by their lovers family too quickly. Her boyfriends dad met her and risked his whole life for her the next day, his 10 year old sister risked her life for her. Instafamily, never talked about but it should be.
But... this book was addicting and fast paced. Not the best plot and way too unrealistic (yes even for a dystopian)
It took major inspo from The hunger games, Divergent and... every other dystopian book out there.
BUT it stole the name people involved in the movements were called from The Last of us game, Fireflies but its not a big deal, this book wasn't about zombies even though I've read the word Zombies in this more than ive read in an actual zombie book. Also pre-order The Last Of Us 2 if you have a heart.
Instalove. Cant stand it. This was the fastest instalove ive ever seen and it made me throw up in my mouth.
Instafamily. When a character gets loved by their lovers family too quickly. Her boyfriends dad met her and risked his whole life for her the next day, his 10 year old sister risked her life for her. Instafamily, never talked about but it should be.
But... this book was addicting and fast paced. Not the best plot and way too unrealistic (yes even for a dystopian)
June 28, 2020
This young adult novel chose to read due to a conversation with a student. I highly recommend it for the themes it has and the story. Katy has created a world that makes use of historical events of the 20th Century, but also has prescience in some of the events more recently in the World. No not to do with Covid 19, but with the way democracy seems to be heading.
Well written I liked the way that the story moved, and the way that I was helped to think on how the speech patterns of our politicians and media can influence how we see 'the other'. The challenge of dictatorships, the control of the people.
If you want to help your teenager think on the different forms of government- democracy, dictatorships or communism and the influence of how the other is presented this is a good book for you both to read and to discuss with each other. A benefit is because there are two protagonists, a male and a female.
Well written I liked the way that the story moved, and the way that I was helped to think on how the speech patterns of our politicians and media can influence how we see 'the other'. The challenge of dictatorships, the control of the people.
If you want to help your teenager think on the different forms of government- democracy, dictatorships or communism and the influence of how the other is presented this is a good book for you both to read and to discuss with each other. A benefit is because there are two protagonists, a male and a female.
July 5, 2020
I enjoyed this book written from the POV of a teen who had always lived on the bad side of town who enjoys to draw and wants someone she can spend time with even if she isn't sure that is what she wants at the start. When a wall separates her from her family she is desperate to get back with a stack of obstacles preventing her. Even though you never find out if she makes it back to her family the story is rather realistic in the aspect of a corrupt government and how a teen would go through those times. Its not an action packed story but the messages within the story still make it worth the read.
October 6, 2020
3.5
On the short list for the Readings book awards.
Authoritarian government installs a wall that divides two sections of a city. The citizens have their rights taken away from them. Santee is caught on the wrong side of the wall: wrong because it is the other side to her mother and sister. Her father has been imprisoned for crimes against the state. There is a love story between Santee and the only boy/person who doesn't think she's too weird, Z. This was a page turner but Santee always seemed on the verge of doing something big and then didn't. For this reason it dragged a little in the middle. Overall, an enjoyable read.
On the short list for the Readings book awards.
Authoritarian government installs a wall that divides two sections of a city. The citizens have their rights taken away from them. Santee is caught on the wrong side of the wall: wrong because it is the other side to her mother and sister. Her father has been imprisoned for crimes against the state. There is a love story between Santee and the only boy/person who doesn't think she's too weird, Z. This was a page turner but Santee always seemed on the verge of doing something big and then didn't. For this reason it dragged a little in the middle. Overall, an enjoyable read.
July 30, 2020
this story started out well, and by "started out", i mean up until the point that z was officially introduced into the story. from that point onwards it all just went downhill, beginning with the insta love but not ending just there. despite that the author had a pretty decent dystopian setting to work with, she didn't develop it anywhere near as she should in order for effective world building, and most of the characters were super tropey. the only good point of the story seemed to be the protagonist's sassy narration, but that seemed to be lost as the story dragged on.
July 16, 2021
I loved the book it was filled with emotion and drama. There was always something about to happen and it was always interesting to see what the characters would do. I got a bit addicted to it and read it in 2 days.
But the ending was unpredictable as it lead to a cliffhanger and you never knew what happened after that.
But it was truly amazing and would recommend to young-adults. I enjoyed this book very much but the cliffhanger was erupting in me not knowing what was going to happen.
But the ending was unpredictable as it lead to a cliffhanger and you never knew what happened after that.
But it was truly amazing and would recommend to young-adults. I enjoyed this book very much but the cliffhanger was erupting in me not knowing what was going to happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2019
This book grabbed me from the start. It demonstrates similarities to atrocities people faced when the Berlin wall was constructed and it really gives you a sense of the importance of standing up for what you believe in. The end had me on the edge of my seat. Waiting for the sequel!
December 27, 2019
This is an amazing book, the love story was perfect for a high school relationship and not over the top like a lot of other books I’ve read. I couldn’t put this book down, I read it within a day. I have many questions that I feel could be answered in a sequel book.
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