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Underdogs #1
Underdogs
One million cloned soldiers. A nation imprisoned. A group of neurodiverse rebels fighting back.
Britain as we know it lies destroyed. In the aftermath of the most daring military coup in history, the surviving population is crammed inside giant Citadels, watched over by an army of cloned soldiers. The hope of a nation lies in a tiny number of freedom fighters hidden in the abandoned countryside – most of whom are teenagers who escaped the attack on their special school.
Seen by many as no more than misfits and ‘problem children’, this band of fighters could never have imagined the responsibility that now rests on their shoulders. But perhaps this war needs a different kind of hero. After a lifetime of being defined by their weaknesses, the teenagers must learn how to play to their strengths, and become the best they can be in a world that has never been on their side.
Britain as we know it lies destroyed. In the aftermath of the most daring military coup in history, the surviving population is crammed inside giant Citadels, watched over by an army of cloned soldiers. The hope of a nation lies in a tiny number of freedom fighters hidden in the abandoned countryside – most of whom are teenagers who escaped the attack on their special school.
Seen by many as no more than misfits and ‘problem children’, this band of fighters could never have imagined the responsibility that now rests on their shoulders. But perhaps this war needs a different kind of hero. After a lifetime of being defined by their weaknesses, the teenagers must learn how to play to their strengths, and become the best they can be in a world that has never been on their side.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
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615 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
February 7, 2022
United by our differences
I read this book as its follow-up was shortlisted for the 2020 Guardian Not The Booker prize after a very strong show of support (which is easy to understand given how many followers the author has on You Tube and Facebook channels from his “Autistic not Weird“ website, and given the 500+ people who subscribed in advance to crowdfund this book on Unbound and are listed at the start and end of the book).
The set up of the novel is that an increasingly influential private defence contractor (and its evil owner Nicholas Grant) who over time had taken over anti-riot policing and then even overseas armed force duties, made use of massively government-subsidised research to develop a series of enormous research centres, a missile defence system and (secretly) an army of millions of killer drones. These drones were unleashed on Takeover day in a coup which lead to almost the whole population of Britain being killed or (for still unknown reasons) herded into giant prisons inside the research centres (the Citadels).
Almost the only independent survivors of these events (which took place 11 months before the novel’s opening) are a rag tag group of 30 who are organised by a widowed mathematics lecturer into a resistance army – the Underdogs – helped by a stash of arms and equipment (including a thremal blocker) stolen in a raid on army barracks. Of the original group only 12 still survive – and they are dominated by a group of teenagers from the Oakenfold Special School, who with their diagnoses are Kate (Autism, Severe Anxiety), Charlie (ADHD), Gracie (Global Development Delay), Jack (Asperger Syndrome), Raj (Dyslexia), Ewan (Autism – PDA Profile), Simon (Down’s Syndrome).
This book describes their adventures over a period of a few days – beginning with their rescue of a mysterious girl (almost the first they have seen out of the Citadels) Shannon Rose who is being hunted down by one of Grant’s main assassins, kills him, reluctantly allows the Underdogs to rescue her and claims to know how to destroy a main clone factory.
The book is on one level a very simple, dystopian, young adult adventure story – the first in what looks set to be a series of books.
But on a second level it’s an extremely worthwhile and important book – celebrating diversity and difference along a dimension which has not been well served by novels: neurodiversity.
The book’s key differentiator is its cast from Oakenfold – and the way in which each is both hindered by their condition (not least with the additional stress of their predicament) but also assisted by their unique world views, and how each learns over time they have agency over the ways in which they react to their new circumstances.
What I think is particularly strong is the original way in which the author uses a rather cliched apocalyptical scenario.
The clone attacks effectively remove from our heroes the need to try and force themselves to conform to what was previously an overwhelmingly neuro-normative (is that a word?) world and allows them the opportunity to explore their own potential and to move beyond a label which the old world put on them and behind which in some cases they previously hid. The different ways that the teenagers take or reject this opportunity will I think be key to the series.
The person is not the problem.
I read this book as its follow-up was shortlisted for the 2020 Guardian Not The Booker prize after a very strong show of support (which is easy to understand given how many followers the author has on You Tube and Facebook channels from his “Autistic not Weird“ website, and given the 500+ people who subscribed in advance to crowdfund this book on Unbound and are listed at the start and end of the book).
The set up of the novel is that an increasingly influential private defence contractor (and its evil owner Nicholas Grant) who over time had taken over anti-riot policing and then even overseas armed force duties, made use of massively government-subsidised research to develop a series of enormous research centres, a missile defence system and (secretly) an army of millions of killer drones. These drones were unleashed on Takeover day in a coup which lead to almost the whole population of Britain being killed or (for still unknown reasons) herded into giant prisons inside the research centres (the Citadels).
Almost the only independent survivors of these events (which took place 11 months before the novel’s opening) are a rag tag group of 30 who are organised by a widowed mathematics lecturer into a resistance army – the Underdogs – helped by a stash of arms and equipment (including a thremal blocker) stolen in a raid on army barracks. Of the original group only 12 still survive – and they are dominated by a group of teenagers from the Oakenfold Special School, who with their diagnoses are Kate (Autism, Severe Anxiety), Charlie (ADHD), Gracie (Global Development Delay), Jack (Asperger Syndrome), Raj (Dyslexia), Ewan (Autism – PDA Profile), Simon (Down’s Syndrome).
This book describes their adventures over a period of a few days – beginning with their rescue of a mysterious girl (almost the first they have seen out of the Citadels) Shannon Rose who is being hunted down by one of Grant’s main assassins, kills him, reluctantly allows the Underdogs to rescue her and claims to know how to destroy a main clone factory.
The book is on one level a very simple, dystopian, young adult adventure story – the first in what looks set to be a series of books.
But on a second level it’s an extremely worthwhile and important book – celebrating diversity and difference along a dimension which has not been well served by novels: neurodiversity.
The book’s key differentiator is its cast from Oakenfold – and the way in which each is both hindered by their condition (not least with the additional stress of their predicament) but also assisted by their unique world views, and how each learns over time they have agency over the ways in which they react to their new circumstances.
What I think is particularly strong is the original way in which the author uses a rather cliched apocalyptical scenario.
The clone attacks effectively remove from our heroes the need to try and force themselves to conform to what was previously an overwhelmingly neuro-normative (is that a word?) world and allows them the opportunity to explore their own potential and to move beyond a label which the old world put on them and behind which in some cases they previously hid. The different ways that the teenagers take or reject this opportunity will I think be key to the series.
The person is not the problem.
June 11, 2019
I've been a fan of "Autistic Not Weird" on Facebook for a long time, and have supported and anticipated his Bonnello's first novel for a while. It is a great read. The characters are well developed and Bonnello captures their neurodiversity very well. Students with autism, severe anxiety, PDA, developmental delays, ADHD, etc. tell their stories with insight and self-awareness and show their fears and strengths.
I highly recommend this book!
I highly recommend this book!
July 22, 2019
An incredible story that offers representation for neurodiversity in a positive light that shows the characters strengths and personalities well, but also discusses weaknesses, issues related to their conditions and how they are affected by day to day life as well as previous experiences. With the media often portraying special needs in a negative light, and more often than not, in incorrect ways, this book is a refreshing read. Written by an autistic man who was a Primary School teacher and currently teaches SEN children so he is able to offer both professional and personal insight to the characters and their development. The book was praised and endorsed by the Director of The National Autistic Society, Steve Silberman (Author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity) and Michael Grant (Author of the extremely popular Gone series).
Underdogs is a story that will give plenty of excitement, twists and a fair share of edge of seat moments. It's impossible to put the book down once you start it and you'll find yourself falling in love with some or all of the characters and you'll want to keep reading, and you will want more books to follow (which are coming....).
What I love the most about the book is that there is no shying away from the difficulties and issues that can come with conditions such as Autism, ADHD and PDA but the author makes sure you also see the characters deal with these issues as well as playing to their strengths and proving to everyone just what they are capable of in a world that often decides your problems, issues and disabilities for you because of assumptions and lack of knowledge or understanding.
I've lost count of how many times I've read this book (I was a backer on Unbound so I've had my copy already) and I love it. I'm incredibly attached to lots of the characters and can't wait to see where the story takes them in the next book.
Thank you to Chris Bonnello for writing this, the world needs more books like this!
***Edit to add that I'm so excited that book 2 is available for Pre-Ordering! I can't wait!! https://unbound.com/books/underdogs-t...
Underdogs is a story that will give plenty of excitement, twists and a fair share of edge of seat moments. It's impossible to put the book down once you start it and you'll find yourself falling in love with some or all of the characters and you'll want to keep reading, and you will want more books to follow (which are coming....).
What I love the most about the book is that there is no shying away from the difficulties and issues that can come with conditions such as Autism, ADHD and PDA but the author makes sure you also see the characters deal with these issues as well as playing to their strengths and proving to everyone just what they are capable of in a world that often decides your problems, issues and disabilities for you because of assumptions and lack of knowledge or understanding.
I've lost count of how many times I've read this book (I was a backer on Unbound so I've had my copy already) and I love it. I'm incredibly attached to lots of the characters and can't wait to see where the story takes them in the next book.
Thank you to Chris Bonnello for writing this, the world needs more books like this!
***Edit to add that I'm so excited that book 2 is available for Pre-Ordering! I can't wait!! https://unbound.com/books/underdogs-t...
August 23, 2020
6/10
LIMITED SPOILERS BELOW- referencing certain plot events but no reveals or major surprises.
I’ve read this book twice now and had similar (but not identical) thoughts both times I’ve read it. I think it’s a good book that is worth your time, especially if you’re actively looking for good representations of autism or neurodiverse characters within the YA genre.
That being said, as someone who tries not to read YA (or at least most YA, Mistborn really does it for me because of the magic), the actual plot and world presented here doesn’t necessarily rise above my expectations of the genre and if you’re looking for a memorable story and world, you’re not going to get one.
However, the central characters that the books revolve around really are very good, with some of the dialogue and tension being very tangible and realistic while still being exciting to read. The ‘realism’ of the book seems important given that the book generally has quite a dark tone throughout, which isn’t atypical for the genre but it really does commit to the ‘grittiness’ of war, despite the youthful protagonists and the ‘fluff’ conflict presented (it’s mainly just shooting anonymous bots)- but the effects of war are presented maturely through one character imparticular.
Things I Liked:
Characters
I love the central characters in this book- mainly Kate and Jack, but also Ewan too (who is the protagonist). Every single ‘Underdog’ is unique and memorable, and I felt the second time around I wasn’t flicking back to the character list in Chapter 2 all that often because I really knew and cared about the characters this time around. Jack and Kate just… feel so so real to me, based from people I know and my own experiences. I feel their regret sometimes as if it were my own. Ewan and Charlie are also good (especially given the power imbalance in their relationship), with Ewan’s struggles with his PDA being really interesting to mer and communicated very well.
Dialogue
The dialogue (especially when there is a tense conversation) in this book is really, really good. There’s a scene set in New London between Kate and Charlie that when I read it, I put down the book and just went. ‘damn’ because it felt so truthful and tense and exciting to read. I really think it’s the author’s strong point and easily the bit of his writing that feels best and most natural to me. Especially the way that each characters’ conditions (I hope that’s the right word?) comes through within their dialogue and so forth. Sometimes, there’s some terrible one-liners and jokes that I feel are too cringe-worthy to be in the book (especially the lines about Dr. Who and ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’) but they are few and far between.
Action
It’s generally pretty good and tense to read, especially anything with Oliver Roth in or the opening scene. The section in which the main characters escape from ‘New London’ is also incredibly dramatic and satisfying. The rest of the ‘bot’ action isn’t quite on the same level but is enjoyable to read, if hampered by the confusing, repetitive location.
Representation
This is something I feel like I don’t have the right to comment on too much but obviously this book is very good at representation of a wide range of neurodiversities and every character feels taken seriously (except maybe certain characters/the narrator is very harsh on Gracie, but that might just be my reading of it). The first time I read the book I felt like the book shouldn’t be sold on the rights that representation is it’s ‘main thing’ and that it should just be an added bonus to a great story, but my opinions about representation in media have changed over the last year to where I think it’s really important that representation of any minority is promoted in any way as largely as possible.
Things I didn’t like
Tone
It’s inconsistent- but not horribly so. It’s quite a violent book about a horrible war with mentions of suicide, horrible killings and slow, painful deaths of teenagers. Further, it’s quite ‘gritty’ imo and tries to be as realistic as possible, even though sometimes the idea of these young teenagers being highly-trained killers is quite comical (whenever Charlie’s height is mentioned and anything to do with Oliver Roth). There are moments of levity but these sometimes feel directly in contrast to what’s being presented elsewhere and don’t fully work because of it.
New London
I really, really dislike the section set in ‘New London’ apart from Jack’s POVs (for Jack’s character’s sake) and the conversation between Kate and Ewan. This is because the family is really, really forgettable, the timescale is wack in comparison to the rest of the book (like, a whole day isn’t described whereas each moment is commented on elsewhere), the villain of the place, The Lord is a very, very comical and underdeveloped character and the biggest sin of all is that the place has absolutely no culture. No culture or community or anything seems to have developed in almost an entire year. Really? If you wanted to give a more depraved, horrible version of a hellscape/area with no hope it needs to be worse than what is presented- it’s just so milquétoast. People always make the worst out of a bad situation. Further, the people inside New London are presented as absolute numbskulls consistently for no real reason.
Map
I really want a map of the Inner Citadel printed near the beginning of the book- the vast majority of the book takes place here and sometimes the action gets a little confusing to visualise with the endless corridors and doors and so forth.
Flow (sometimes)
This is only minor (much like my complaint above) but sometimes conversations could go on a little longer- a real issue as the chapters are quite short and Bonnello’s character writing is clearly his strong suit- ending a scene on a tense bit and then randomly time-jumping to a day or half-a-day later (as in the New London section) really disappoints as I, as a reader, want to see the diffusion of the tension.
Lack of wider, international perspective
I think there’s a brief mention of this, but what’s going on elsewhere? The EU and every other bloc would destroy the UK if that happened actually happened so. Why didn’t and couldn’t they? Is every other country as if it currently exists now? Does ‘Grantism’ have an influence elsewhere? Loads of questions are left unanswered, such as mainly ‘Why did Grant do it?’ And ‘Why are the Underdogs still alive?’
Blandness and Setting
The Dystopia presented, ultimately, isn’t that interesting. Which sucks. I just don’t think the situation, by itself, is exciting to read about as there is no culture. I really want to know what’s happening all around the country. Why is it London-focused? London is somewhat boring. I’m really rambling now, but geographical references are really exciting within this book- made more so by the lack of genuine political explanation for what happened. I just find the UK to be such an exciting place to explore and have as a setting and it’s not used effectively.
Conclusion
I still recommend this book- I think I must be obsessed with it to write this much about it. Despite its’ very slender length, it’s bloody ambitious and most of its’ ideas and certainly it’s characters really, really work. It’s the tale of a mission gone wrong- and the continuing tension throughout the extended mission, along with the character work that just is so, so good.
LIMITED SPOILERS BELOW- referencing certain plot events but no reveals or major surprises.
I’ve read this book twice now and had similar (but not identical) thoughts both times I’ve read it. I think it’s a good book that is worth your time, especially if you’re actively looking for good representations of autism or neurodiverse characters within the YA genre.
That being said, as someone who tries not to read YA (or at least most YA, Mistborn really does it for me because of the magic), the actual plot and world presented here doesn’t necessarily rise above my expectations of the genre and if you’re looking for a memorable story and world, you’re not going to get one.
However, the central characters that the books revolve around really are very good, with some of the dialogue and tension being very tangible and realistic while still being exciting to read. The ‘realism’ of the book seems important given that the book generally has quite a dark tone throughout, which isn’t atypical for the genre but it really does commit to the ‘grittiness’ of war, despite the youthful protagonists and the ‘fluff’ conflict presented (it’s mainly just shooting anonymous bots)- but the effects of war are presented maturely through one character imparticular.
Things I Liked:
Characters
I love the central characters in this book- mainly Kate and Jack, but also Ewan too (who is the protagonist). Every single ‘Underdog’ is unique and memorable, and I felt the second time around I wasn’t flicking back to the character list in Chapter 2 all that often because I really knew and cared about the characters this time around. Jack and Kate just… feel so so real to me, based from people I know and my own experiences. I feel their regret sometimes as if it were my own. Ewan and Charlie are also good (especially given the power imbalance in their relationship), with Ewan’s struggles with his PDA being really interesting to mer and communicated very well.
Dialogue
The dialogue (especially when there is a tense conversation) in this book is really, really good. There’s a scene set in New London between Kate and Charlie that when I read it, I put down the book and just went. ‘damn’ because it felt so truthful and tense and exciting to read. I really think it’s the author’s strong point and easily the bit of his writing that feels best and most natural to me. Especially the way that each characters’ conditions (I hope that’s the right word?) comes through within their dialogue and so forth. Sometimes, there’s some terrible one-liners and jokes that I feel are too cringe-worthy to be in the book (especially the lines about Dr. Who and ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’) but they are few and far between.
Action
It’s generally pretty good and tense to read, especially anything with Oliver Roth in or the opening scene. The section in which the main characters escape from ‘New London’ is also incredibly dramatic and satisfying. The rest of the ‘bot’ action isn’t quite on the same level but is enjoyable to read, if hampered by the confusing, repetitive location.
Representation
This is something I feel like I don’t have the right to comment on too much but obviously this book is very good at representation of a wide range of neurodiversities and every character feels taken seriously (except maybe certain characters/the narrator is very harsh on Gracie, but that might just be my reading of it). The first time I read the book I felt like the book shouldn’t be sold on the rights that representation is it’s ‘main thing’ and that it should just be an added bonus to a great story, but my opinions about representation in media have changed over the last year to where I think it’s really important that representation of any minority is promoted in any way as largely as possible.
Things I didn’t like
Tone
It’s inconsistent- but not horribly so. It’s quite a violent book about a horrible war with mentions of suicide, horrible killings and slow, painful deaths of teenagers. Further, it’s quite ‘gritty’ imo and tries to be as realistic as possible, even though sometimes the idea of these young teenagers being highly-trained killers is quite comical (whenever Charlie’s height is mentioned and anything to do with Oliver Roth). There are moments of levity but these sometimes feel directly in contrast to what’s being presented elsewhere and don’t fully work because of it.
New London
I really, really dislike the section set in ‘New London’ apart from Jack’s POVs (for Jack’s character’s sake) and the conversation between Kate and Ewan. This is because the family is really, really forgettable, the timescale is wack in comparison to the rest of the book (like, a whole day isn’t described whereas each moment is commented on elsewhere), the villain of the place, The Lord is a very, very comical and underdeveloped character and the biggest sin of all is that the place has absolutely no culture. No culture or community or anything seems to have developed in almost an entire year. Really? If you wanted to give a more depraved, horrible version of a hellscape/area with no hope it needs to be worse than what is presented- it’s just so milquétoast. People always make the worst out of a bad situation. Further, the people inside New London are presented as absolute numbskulls consistently for no real reason.
Map
I really want a map of the Inner Citadel printed near the beginning of the book- the vast majority of the book takes place here and sometimes the action gets a little confusing to visualise with the endless corridors and doors and so forth.
Flow (sometimes)
This is only minor (much like my complaint above) but sometimes conversations could go on a little longer- a real issue as the chapters are quite short and Bonnello’s character writing is clearly his strong suit- ending a scene on a tense bit and then randomly time-jumping to a day or half-a-day later (as in the New London section) really disappoints as I, as a reader, want to see the diffusion of the tension.
Lack of wider, international perspective
I think there’s a brief mention of this, but what’s going on elsewhere? The EU and every other bloc would destroy the UK if that happened actually happened so. Why didn’t and couldn’t they? Is every other country as if it currently exists now? Does ‘Grantism’ have an influence elsewhere? Loads of questions are left unanswered, such as mainly ‘Why did Grant do it?’ And ‘Why are the Underdogs still alive?’
Blandness and Setting
The Dystopia presented, ultimately, isn’t that interesting. Which sucks. I just don’t think the situation, by itself, is exciting to read about as there is no culture. I really want to know what’s happening all around the country. Why is it London-focused? London is somewhat boring. I’m really rambling now, but geographical references are really exciting within this book- made more so by the lack of genuine political explanation for what happened. I just find the UK to be such an exciting place to explore and have as a setting and it’s not used effectively.
Conclusion
I still recommend this book- I think I must be obsessed with it to write this much about it. Despite its’ very slender length, it’s bloody ambitious and most of its’ ideas and certainly it’s characters really, really work. It’s the tale of a mission gone wrong- and the continuing tension throughout the extended mission, along with the character work that just is so, so good.
July 19, 2022
I'm not typically a fan of either dystopian fiction OR military SF. But the premise of this book -- that humanity's last hope against a tyrant and his army of zombie clones are the teenaged students at a "special" school -- hooked me. Bonnello not only portrays the characters' disabilities and abilities with knowledge and warmth, but demonstrates that those characteristics do not define them. These are real, interesting people whose lives were interrupted and twisted by the crisis they inhabit, and I found myself caring much more about them than the apocalyptic plot. The writing is clever and even funny, but doesn't shy away from the violence inherent to the setting. I'm already looking forward to the sequel.
May 30, 2019
This is an amazing book for anyone to read, it has action and great characters - yes it came to our family because of the characters and their struggles but they are relatable and warm. The story is told with great understanding and knowledge of autism/spd/pda and adhd and it adds to the story, but overall it’s just a really engaging story about a band of kids who are at odds of winning this war.
I love it, can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I love it, can’t wait for the next book in the series!
May 28, 2019
Make this book your next buy because it is a good read and very different, giving alternative views of situations. You will want to read and not put it down.
This book should be on every child's book shelf and in every library. It opens up a view into others minds and resolving problems and the consequences. It has a good age variety to share the story and view point. An excellent read from age 9 to adult.
This book should be on every child's book shelf and in every library. It opens up a view into others minds and resolving problems and the consequences. It has a good age variety to share the story and view point. An excellent read from age 9 to adult.
July 2, 2019
A fast-paced action-packed read with some very real characters.
Though we’re never told exactly how this scenario came into play, we’ve got a world where one person has used clones to take over the country. However, there’s a small group who have not fallen...a group of teenagers from a special needs school. Though they’ve spent their lives being made to feel they’re not normal, in this scenario their ability to think outside the normal parameters is what’s helped them survive.
The writer’s knowledge of his subject means the characters are presented sympathetically, and the story is paced in such a way as to keep things moving.
Some questions are answered, but it’s nicely set-up for the second in the series to show more of what’s planned.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity read this prior to publication.
Though we’re never told exactly how this scenario came into play, we’ve got a world where one person has used clones to take over the country. However, there’s a small group who have not fallen...a group of teenagers from a special needs school. Though they’ve spent their lives being made to feel they’re not normal, in this scenario their ability to think outside the normal parameters is what’s helped them survive.
The writer’s knowledge of his subject means the characters are presented sympathetically, and the story is paced in such a way as to keep things moving.
Some questions are answered, but it’s nicely set-up for the second in the series to show more of what’s planned.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity read this prior to publication.
June 22, 2019
Overall, it was both a fun and an emotional story, with good pacing and an appropriate mix of calm moments and tense ones. Also, since I read it through Pigeonhole, the staves were cut in such a way that they stop just at the right moment: if they hadn't, I sure wouldn't have stopped reading until the next day.
I really liked the cast, and the choice of relying on different people for a change: not your typical teenagers, but clearly the "underdogs", those seen as "problem children", considered from the start as "inferior", "useless", and all other manners of stupid clichés by "normal" people (whatever "normal" means anyway, eh?). Our heroes were clearly much more than their differences: they were human beings, something that should never be forgotten. They were good people, with their positive and negative traits like everyone, with a hefty dose of bravery and a genuine desire to do the right thing. And without being bogged down by "regular" society's demands, they were given the space to grow into themselves as people.
Which is why it pains me not to give more stars to this book, because as much as I liked the characters, I also couldn't overlook the rest. Mainly:
- The plot holes. Because much time is spent with the characters (which is a good thing), too little is spent on the backstory, and the latter in turn looks very simplistic and cliché. Bad guy uses his money to acquire private companies and get the government to trust him, then surprises everybody with an army of clones, seizes power, and stuffs all the population of Great Britain into prison-cities. OK, I get a villain having a desire for power, but it still felt "empty". Also, clones wouldn't prevent another country from simply nuking his factories from above, so... What was the rest of the world doing?
- The bad guys in general were pretty cliché, too, especially Nat and Oliver. They made me laugh and roll my eyes more than thrilled me.
- The last point is one I hate making (although, to be fair, I've noticed this in other stories as well): when the main characters' neuroatypical aspects were mentioned, I most often found it too... didactic, so to speak. I have the same feeling when non-binary characters, for instance, are portrayed the same way: it screams "must show the readers how this character is trans/asexual/non-binary/etc., but surely most readers have no clue and are too lazy to do their own research, so let's spell it for them." Same thing here, only in this case, of course, it was about Asperger's, or Down's syndrome. And I get it, I really do: it's definitely hard to find the right balance, the one where enough is explained for most readers to receive the right information (and not lose them if, indeed, they don't care about doing some research), yet without slamming it in their faces either. Still, the fact remains that it tended to throw me out of my reading here.
Conclusion: 2.5 stars because of the clichés/holes and the explanatory tone. But without that, for the sheer entertaining factor and the very likeable characters, I'd have rated this book higher.
I really liked the cast, and the choice of relying on different people for a change: not your typical teenagers, but clearly the "underdogs", those seen as "problem children", considered from the start as "inferior", "useless", and all other manners of stupid clichés by "normal" people (whatever "normal" means anyway, eh?). Our heroes were clearly much more than their differences: they were human beings, something that should never be forgotten. They were good people, with their positive and negative traits like everyone, with a hefty dose of bravery and a genuine desire to do the right thing. And without being bogged down by "regular" society's demands, they were given the space to grow into themselves as people.
Which is why it pains me not to give more stars to this book, because as much as I liked the characters, I also couldn't overlook the rest. Mainly:
- The plot holes. Because much time is spent with the characters (which is a good thing), too little is spent on the backstory, and the latter in turn looks very simplistic and cliché. Bad guy uses his money to acquire private companies and get the government to trust him, then surprises everybody with an army of clones, seizes power, and stuffs all the population of Great Britain into prison-cities. OK, I get a villain having a desire for power, but it still felt "empty". Also, clones wouldn't prevent another country from simply nuking his factories from above, so... What was the rest of the world doing?
- The bad guys in general were pretty cliché, too, especially Nat and Oliver. They made me laugh and roll my eyes more than thrilled me.
- The last point is one I hate making (although, to be fair, I've noticed this in other stories as well): when the main characters' neuroatypical aspects were mentioned, I most often found it too... didactic, so to speak. I have the same feeling when non-binary characters, for instance, are portrayed the same way: it screams "must show the readers how this character is trans/asexual/non-binary/etc., but surely most readers have no clue and are too lazy to do their own research, so let's spell it for them." Same thing here, only in this case, of course, it was about Asperger's, or Down's syndrome. And I get it, I really do: it's definitely hard to find the right balance, the one where enough is explained for most readers to receive the right information (and not lose them if, indeed, they don't care about doing some research), yet without slamming it in their faces either. Still, the fact remains that it tended to throw me out of my reading here.
Conclusion: 2.5 stars because of the clichés/holes and the explanatory tone. But without that, for the sheer entertaining factor and the very likeable characters, I'd have rated this book higher.
July 19, 2019
"You're not defective. You're not broken. You're not the wrong kind of person. And don't let anyone in this world tell you otherwise. You and your friends are exactly who they're meant to be."
The author's note at the very beginning really started this novel off on the right foot, advising readers to view the characters as representations of themselves and nothing more, reminding us that even in united communities, there are differences, and that we can never compare one experience to another.
And this mindset really gets you into the story, silencing whatever preconceived knowledge and impressions you may have about neurodiversity, so that you can just sit back and read and immerse yourself in a good book.
And this indeed is a good book with characters that you can really get attached to. Because you soon realize that beyond whatever labels medical diagnoses and society have branded them with, the Oakenfold kids are really just like us. That beyond the perceived differences, deep-down inside we are all just the same humans .
The Underdogs did not only bring me along on an adventure that stirred my curiosity, surprised me, broke my heart at each turn, gave me every reason to cheer and then cry again. They also revealed and thus endeared themselves to me little by little through their familiar anxieties, their unique thought processes, the difficult choices they had to make and the sacrifices they chose to do. Until they all felt like friends I've had all my life and ones for whom, like Alex, I would be willing to lay my life for.
And a story that can do something like this really carves a permanent place in my heart (and bookshelf - definitely saving up for a physical copy!).
Thank you The Pigeonhole and Chris Bonnello for a chance to read this book and gain a better understanding of what it's like to feel different and how unity can be achieved in spite of.
July 9, 2019
Written by Chris Bonnello, Underdogs follows The Underdogs, a group that started out as 30 folk fighting to take back England from the Clones, and is now down to 12. A routine mission to get supplies turned into a rescue convoy after finding a girl who promptly killed the assassin after her.
One of the unique this about this novel is the fact that a good chunk of the soldiers are considered "special needs" or on the spectrum. And how they are portrayed is really important and a good step forward. The fact that they deal with things that people who aren't involved in that don't realize is a big plus for this novel. The approach. The writing style. The characters.
The post-take over style of this novel was also really refreshing in this over saturated market and how they took a different approach by making it, in some ways, far more simple.
I think the weak point in this is the non-soldier characters. The older characters. The come off as very flat, which is something that can be seen from a younger perspective, but is annoying in a character.4.
Overall, it was a really enjoyable book.
One of the unique this about this novel is the fact that a good chunk of the soldiers are considered "special needs" or on the spectrum. And how they are portrayed is really important and a good step forward. The fact that they deal with things that people who aren't involved in that don't realize is a big plus for this novel. The approach. The writing style. The characters.
The post-take over style of this novel was also really refreshing in this over saturated market and how they took a different approach by making it, in some ways, far more simple.
I think the weak point in this is the non-soldier characters. The older characters. The come off as very flat, which is something that can be seen from a younger perspective, but is annoying in a character.4.
Overall, it was a really enjoyable book.
February 6, 2025
I loved the premise and the story was great but this book needed a serious edit and the author a lesson on show don’t tell. The lengthy explanations of why neurodivergent characters are the way they are and why it’s great got seriously tedious and really ruined the pace of the action. Let’s not decide to debate the pros and cons of PDA in the middle of a gun fight shall we?!!
November 1, 2020
I read this as the sequel is getting so much attention and because I was interested to see what the author had done with his neurodiverse protagonists. I don't normally read dystopian fiction full of guns and clones, and to start with, there was too much action for my liking. But it got into its swing about halfway through. I really cared about these guys and their story. Bonnello writes with respect for the characters and has crafted a good story. On to the next one.
November 9, 2020
Not for me, way out of my depth.
Interesting to know what the buzz was about though.
Interesting to know what the buzz was about though.
January 14, 2023
I think the less than great narration affected my experience of this book. I wanted to love it but I really wish it had better editing. I do like Chris and I will check out the other books.
October 26, 2024
the close knit found family of neurodivergent teen soldiers got to me ok
June 16, 2020
Amazing representation of the diversity in autism spectrum disorders and other conditions!
September 24, 2021
A fantastic young adult action book, featuring a refreshingly well written cast of neurodiverse cast of characters.
The sequel to this book was mentioned in a Guardian article for 2020 and it peaked my interest. Having no idea of the plot other than it featured neurodiverse heroes fighting in a dystopian Britain. For anyone thinking of picking this up, it is very much geared towards a young adult audience. It features a faceless 'bad guy' archetype, teenagers who are impossibly good in armed conflict and ludicrous plot conveniences. This can be a little difficult to shake and the juxtaposition of extremely gruesome conflict, but unbelievably tame language ("numpty" is possibly the worst swear word used) stretches the suspension of disbelief to near breaking points.
But it doesn't break. It's just a young adult book, and that's absolutely the book the author wanted to write. There's a bit of snobbery about this sub-genre, but for those whom this book is geared towards it accomplishes some fantastic feats of storytelling. Chris Bonnello is the founder of Autistic Not Weird and is a big advocate for neurodiverse people. He writes incredibly well rounded and understandable characters here, all of which are role models in ways other young adult protagonists can never be. Bonello chooses to sacrifice some of the plot conveniences to set up a far more interesting source of tension. Because all of the protagonists are superhero-level competent at fighting, the tension surrounds wether or not they will overcome their personality traits in order to choose the path which helps others. That might be poorly worded. Effectively, the tension isn't wether the heroes will beat the baddies, but wether the heroes will resolve their internal tensions in time to get the job done.
Having worked with neurodiverse young adults, Bonello represents a range of traits compassionately and realistically. He covers some excellent ground here and I am really excited to see where he takes the story in the sequel. Each of his characters are nuanced, in particular Ewan and Charlie's arcs worked really well. I really appreciated the attention to language Bonello uses when switching POV's. The positive representation here is reason enough to pick it up. It's also short and well structured, and it is written in a way which I think a lot of people, with a range of different diagnosis, will appreciate and enjoy.
Overall, I liked the things around this book a lot more than I liked the story itself. The plot is pretty basic, with too many conveniences and over the top violence. But it's got a great cast of characters and is a worthy book to recommend to younger readers. For anyone looking for a bit of neurodiversity in their reading, or whomever needs to get a teenage relative a gift, this is a perfect choice to go to.
The sequel to this book was mentioned in a Guardian article for 2020 and it peaked my interest. Having no idea of the plot other than it featured neurodiverse heroes fighting in a dystopian Britain. For anyone thinking of picking this up, it is very much geared towards a young adult audience. It features a faceless 'bad guy' archetype, teenagers who are impossibly good in armed conflict and ludicrous plot conveniences. This can be a little difficult to shake and the juxtaposition of extremely gruesome conflict, but unbelievably tame language ("numpty" is possibly the worst swear word used) stretches the suspension of disbelief to near breaking points.
But it doesn't break. It's just a young adult book, and that's absolutely the book the author wanted to write. There's a bit of snobbery about this sub-genre, but for those whom this book is geared towards it accomplishes some fantastic feats of storytelling. Chris Bonnello is the founder of Autistic Not Weird and is a big advocate for neurodiverse people. He writes incredibly well rounded and understandable characters here, all of which are role models in ways other young adult protagonists can never be. Bonello chooses to sacrifice some of the plot conveniences to set up a far more interesting source of tension. Because all of the protagonists are superhero-level competent at fighting, the tension surrounds wether or not they will overcome their personality traits in order to choose the path which helps others. That might be poorly worded. Effectively, the tension isn't wether the heroes will beat the baddies, but wether the heroes will resolve their internal tensions in time to get the job done.
Having worked with neurodiverse young adults, Bonello represents a range of traits compassionately and realistically. He covers some excellent ground here and I am really excited to see where he takes the story in the sequel. Each of his characters are nuanced, in particular Ewan and Charlie's arcs worked really well. I really appreciated the attention to language Bonello uses when switching POV's. The positive representation here is reason enough to pick it up. It's also short and well structured, and it is written in a way which I think a lot of people, with a range of different diagnosis, will appreciate and enjoy.
Overall, I liked the things around this book a lot more than I liked the story itself. The plot is pretty basic, with too many conveniences and over the top violence. But it's got a great cast of characters and is a worthy book to recommend to younger readers. For anyone looking for a bit of neurodiversity in their reading, or whomever needs to get a teenage relative a gift, this is a perfect choice to go to.
May 24, 2019
My favorite thing about this book was the characters and the way the author made everyone's experience so much different from the others. Every character was so rich, interesting and well developed that I would love to know each and every one of them.
When it came to the plot, I didn't find it the most original ever, with very obvious plot holes and plenty of things that simply didn't make any sense or weren't believable but I haven't read many books that were able to make use of tension as a plot device and knows how to play with our feelings as this one did.
Every chapter was an opportunity to make the reader understand how it felt to navigate their world, how a little sentence could be a landmine, how aware they are of their "otherness" and how much effort can be put into something that for most is done without even thinking.
The most important thing in this book for me was not what it is but what represents: strong, smart, sarcastic people that are able to have friendships and enemies, are able of good and bad just like any neurotypical. This book teaches us that our diagnosis is not who we are.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound Digital for this ARC.
When it came to the plot, I didn't find it the most original ever, with very obvious plot holes and plenty of things that simply didn't make any sense or weren't believable but I haven't read many books that were able to make use of tension as a plot device and knows how to play with our feelings as this one did.
Every chapter was an opportunity to make the reader understand how it felt to navigate their world, how a little sentence could be a landmine, how aware they are of their "otherness" and how much effort can be put into something that for most is done without even thinking.
The most important thing in this book for me was not what it is but what represents: strong, smart, sarcastic people that are able to have friendships and enemies, are able of good and bad just like any neurotypical. This book teaches us that our diagnosis is not who we are.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound Digital for this ARC.
August 11, 2019
Solid 3.5 stars. Stick with it--it gets good!
The first few chapters feel really awkward and are hard to get through. Things are spelled out simplistically when a more nuanced approach may have been more engaging; in those first few chapters I felt like I was reading a creative writing essay from a high school lit class. I almost gave up...but I'm glad I stuck with it!
The writing style improves dramatically (almost like the author finally found his groove about 1/3 of the way in). The characters are engaging and the plot develops into a real page-turner (granted, you do need to suspend your disbelief in a lot of areas--like where is the rest of the world while these events are unfolding? Great Britain doesn't exist a vacuum)! Still, I find myself excited for the sequel. If you're a fan of YA dystopian novels and love the idea of unlikely heroes, give this one a go, and stick with it through the rough start. It really does get good!
The first few chapters feel really awkward and are hard to get through. Things are spelled out simplistically when a more nuanced approach may have been more engaging; in those first few chapters I felt like I was reading a creative writing essay from a high school lit class. I almost gave up...but I'm glad I stuck with it!
The writing style improves dramatically (almost like the author finally found his groove about 1/3 of the way in). The characters are engaging and the plot develops into a real page-turner (granted, you do need to suspend your disbelief in a lot of areas--like where is the rest of the world while these events are unfolding? Great Britain doesn't exist a vacuum)! Still, I find myself excited for the sequel. If you're a fan of YA dystopian novels and love the idea of unlikely heroes, give this one a go, and stick with it through the rough start. It really does get good!
September 22, 2019
The author describes his book as a “neurodiverse war series where autistic/ND characters are the heroes rather than the victims”. So, naturally, I wanted to read it and - thanks to the author Chris Bonnello and The Pigeonhole - I was able to do so. Fair warning: you will get attached to the characters and live in fear for them as they tackle the evil that rules in this Near Future series. In addition to reading a great book, you will get the opportunity to experience the world through the eyes of the neuro diverse and that is a huge plus. Indeed, it might very well be the out-of-the-box thinking of that ‘weird kid’, the one who doesn’t quite fit, that would IRL one day be called upon to save our world.
May 27, 2019
I was hooked from the moment I read the first chapter before the book was even published. I signed up as a backer on Unbound (have already signed up for Underdogs 2) so got my copy earlier than the actual release date. What a joy it was when it arrived "in the flesh". I tried to wait to read it on my holiday but failed miserably and read it from cover to cover in 2 sittings in less than 24 hours! It kept me gripped all the way through and I found it to be well written and paced. The characters deal with their neurodiversity in a real and believable way. I'm sure this book will one day be a film or massive TV series - I for one can't wait for Underdogs 2 (and 3 and 4!) to come out.
May 25, 2020
I have just finished reading Underdogs for the 2nd time in anticipation of the follow-up book (Tooth and Nail) which I am really looking forward to receiving on pre-order.
A refreshing read that focusses on a group of neurodiverse teenagers and how after being defined by their perceived 'weaknesses' for their entire lives, they are needed and relied upon to 'play to their strengths' to rescue the UK population. This dystopian future based novel is fast-paced and action-packed throughout.
The novel is written for teenagers but as a parent of an autistic child, I found it an inspiring read and will be recommending it to my son and his friends to read in the future.
A refreshing read that focusses on a group of neurodiverse teenagers and how after being defined by their perceived 'weaknesses' for their entire lives, they are needed and relied upon to 'play to their strengths' to rescue the UK population. This dystopian future based novel is fast-paced and action-packed throughout.
The novel is written for teenagers but as a parent of an autistic child, I found it an inspiring read and will be recommending it to my son and his friends to read in the future.
December 31, 2021
The neurodiverse dystopian teen novel I didn't know I needed. If you are over teenagers fighting dystopian governments, it might not be for you. If you are here for neurodiverse characters, though, this is a must-read. Author Chris Bonello is an actually autistic writer, speaker, blogger, and former teacher.
A dictator has taken over the UK with a clone army and trapped most of the population in his prison-like citadels. A plucky group of survivors, many of whom are teens from a school for kids with special needs, are fighting a long shot battle to foil the villains mysterious long-term plans and free the British people. Planned to be a four-book series, the first two are out so far.
A dictator has taken over the UK with a clone army and trapped most of the population in his prison-like citadels. A plucky group of survivors, many of whom are teens from a school for kids with special needs, are fighting a long shot battle to foil the villains mysterious long-term plans and free the British people. Planned to be a four-book series, the first two are out so far.
June 17, 2019
DNF. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was very curious about this book since I am a retired teacher of special education students. This was an interesting storyline but the author did not explain the situation early enough to reduce the confusion about who the the bad guys were, the rest of the planet, and how the good guy students could actually make a difference. I will not force myself to continue with a book that is not making sense.
August 23, 2019
The UK has been taken over by a megalomaniacal man who has imprisoned or killed every resident through the usage of specially trained clone soldiers. The Underdogs are the sole resistance, but their numbers have rapidly dwindled during the 11-month occupation.
If anyone has a hope of surviving New London’s horrific conditions, they’ll need the help of a small group of people who are used to being overlooked and mistreated by society. So, why do the Underdogs care about everyone else? Because their unique differences give them a strong sense of right and wrong.
As a person on the spectrum, I was very excited to read Underdogs. The concept of society’s cast-offs becoming humanity’s sole would-be saviors is appealing, even though little would likely change if everyone else could be liberated. But it’s not about being thanked or recognized as viable members of society. It’s about doing what’s right, despite the astronomical odds.
Unfortunately, the author uses this mindset to create a story that requires way too big of a suspension of disbelief. Yes, being on the spectrum or having any form of neurodivergence does come with unique ways of looking at things that could certainly help the characters stay alive a bit longer than most. It was also nice to see stereotypes broken down by the characters being able to work past their challenges for the greater good. But there’s just no way that such a small group of people - mostly teens - could hope to beat a never-ending quantity of clones trained with one primary mission: to kill them.
If you can put the unrealistic nature of the plot out of your mind, you will be rewarded by an exciting action-adventure that provides just enough quiet moments to help explain how each Underdog’s neurodiversity affects their life.
Worth a read, especially if you’re on the spectrum, but don’t expect the odds to be anywhere near as difficult for the Underdogs as they would be in real life.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
If anyone has a hope of surviving New London’s horrific conditions, they’ll need the help of a small group of people who are used to being overlooked and mistreated by society. So, why do the Underdogs care about everyone else? Because their unique differences give them a strong sense of right and wrong.
As a person on the spectrum, I was very excited to read Underdogs. The concept of society’s cast-offs becoming humanity’s sole would-be saviors is appealing, even though little would likely change if everyone else could be liberated. But it’s not about being thanked or recognized as viable members of society. It’s about doing what’s right, despite the astronomical odds.
Unfortunately, the author uses this mindset to create a story that requires way too big of a suspension of disbelief. Yes, being on the spectrum or having any form of neurodivergence does come with unique ways of looking at things that could certainly help the characters stay alive a bit longer than most. It was also nice to see stereotypes broken down by the characters being able to work past their challenges for the greater good. But there’s just no way that such a small group of people - mostly teens - could hope to beat a never-ending quantity of clones trained with one primary mission: to kill them.
If you can put the unrealistic nature of the plot out of your mind, you will be rewarded by an exciting action-adventure that provides just enough quiet moments to help explain how each Underdog’s neurodiversity affects their life.
Worth a read, especially if you’re on the spectrum, but don’t expect the odds to be anywhere near as difficult for the Underdogs as they would be in real life.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
July 13, 2019
Give me a few weeks and I may string together the perfect review. However, I won't give myself that time in my desire to share how much I recommend this book.
This piece of character and plot driven wonder shows what society does with people, with itself. People label and judge all those who aren't 'normal' - forgetting how ugly humanity in itself can be. This work shows the perspective of people labeled different - ADD, PDA, Autism - but shows their internals; and show how they are still human. Still powerful and strong in their own sense.
The book is most definitely not pulling the pity card - far from it really. Instead, it tells you the story of England in ruins and the small group of freedom fighters trying to set things straight - even with all the odds and opinions against them. Their internal dynamics, dreams, struggles and even a touch of warm fuzzy feelings. Just like with any other group of protagonists.
Give it a try. I know I'll be looking forward to the sequel.
This piece of character and plot driven wonder shows what society does with people, with itself. People label and judge all those who aren't 'normal' - forgetting how ugly humanity in itself can be. This work shows the perspective of people labeled different - ADD, PDA, Autism - but shows their internals; and show how they are still human. Still powerful and strong in their own sense.
The book is most definitely not pulling the pity card - far from it really. Instead, it tells you the story of England in ruins and the small group of freedom fighters trying to set things straight - even with all the odds and opinions against them. Their internal dynamics, dreams, struggles and even a touch of warm fuzzy feelings. Just like with any other group of protagonists.
Give it a try. I know I'll be looking forward to the sequel.
January 2, 2021
I originally bought this book because as the mother to an autistic child I wanted to support the author. I also figured that one day my little guy would enjoy reading it.
By the time it came in, I was genuinely curious about the book based on the reviews and teasers I had seen, and having read a couple other dystopian future novels and enjoyed them, figured it would be worth the read.
I read the book in one sitting and have read it multiple times. I pre-ordered the second book and anxiously waited for its arrival. And I have pre-ordered the third book.
This book is exceptionally well written and I have recommended it to friends who read similar books. The story line is well written and easy to follow and I am continually surprised by the twists and turns. Where I can normally predict where an author is taking the story, I cannot with these books. Truly exceptionally well written ❤❤
By the time it came in, I was genuinely curious about the book based on the reviews and teasers I had seen, and having read a couple other dystopian future novels and enjoyed them, figured it would be worth the read.
I read the book in one sitting and have read it multiple times. I pre-ordered the second book and anxiously waited for its arrival. And I have pre-ordered the third book.
This book is exceptionally well written and I have recommended it to friends who read similar books. The story line is well written and easy to follow and I am continually surprised by the twists and turns. Where I can normally predict where an author is taking the story, I cannot with these books. Truly exceptionally well written ❤❤
October 21, 2021
3.5/5 - I’m conflicted by this book! I wanted to love it as I’ve followed the authors “Autistic Not Weird” page for years and love his articles. As the mum of an autistic teen I obviously love the premise of the book. However it took me a while to get into it and warm to the characters, I think because straight away as soon as a new character was introduced we get a list of their additional needs too. It was just a little bit soap boxy too much too fast. I think this would be off putting to many not already involved with the SEN community.
That said, later in the book when the characters were more developed, I thought it was brilliant the way it was explained why the characters made the decisions they did and how and why their diagnoses impacted this. I loved that the characters were not simply defined by their SEN - Eg not all autistics are savants (as is so readily portrayed in films!).
The general post apocalyptic scenario is one I love although there wasn’t a great deal of back story about how such a thing could happen.
So a bit hit and miss but more hit and I will be reading the next one.
That said, later in the book when the characters were more developed, I thought it was brilliant the way it was explained why the characters made the decisions they did and how and why their diagnoses impacted this. I loved that the characters were not simply defined by their SEN - Eg not all autistics are savants (as is so readily portrayed in films!).
The general post apocalyptic scenario is one I love although there wasn’t a great deal of back story about how such a thing could happen.
So a bit hit and miss but more hit and I will be reading the next one.
July 9, 2019
Great for any dystopian fan
Imagine our world overtaken by a sadistic madman who impressions the populace in third world conditions in his giant Castle. He controls it by using throw away soldiers.Now imagine that the only hope for survival comes from a group of people society would normally call broken and you have the story of underdogs.
Fans of hunger games and maze runner will love this story. It will also open you up to understanding the very people who make this world unique. A story that shows that your ”defects” or ”disordes” can either become your own damnation or your salvation. A must read book.
Imagine our world overtaken by a sadistic madman who impressions the populace in third world conditions in his giant Castle. He controls it by using throw away soldiers.Now imagine that the only hope for survival comes from a group of people society would normally call broken and you have the story of underdogs.
Fans of hunger games and maze runner will love this story. It will also open you up to understanding the very people who make this world unique. A story that shows that your ”defects” or ”disordes” can either become your own damnation or your salvation. A must read book.
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