Year 0033

by J.M. Evans

Chella has lived the whole of her life in Area IF208, one of many Areas set up by a new World Council after war, famine and plague cause global devastation.

Religion is banned, supposedly for the sake of world peace, so Chella has to keep her Christian faith a secret.

But when her best friend disappears, her fianc� is arrested, and astonishing rumours of people living Outside surface, a new chapter in her life begins.

Chella is an unlikely heroine, battling a troubled past, a dangerous present and an uncertain future.

Shine your light into our darkness, Lord, and by your grace protect and deliver us from all evil this night; in the name of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, we pray.

Never has Chella needed to pray this prayer as much as she needs to pray it now.

And she has no idea how much is at stake.

This gripping novel for YA girls is full of suspense, even to the very last page.

A breathlessly good read! - Daisy

I read this book in just a few sittings because my heart was in my mouth. - Catherine

I enjoyed it so much that the only time I stopped reading was to eat. - Elissa

ebook

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Janet M. Evans is the author of Year 0033, Revenge of the Flying Carpet, London’s Gone, Mystery in the Snow and The Treasure Hunt. All her novels are written for young people, from a Christian worldview.

Janet was brought up on the south coast of England, where she read voraciously, dreamed incessantly, and made up stories in her head while sewing patchwork. She discovered the love of God at the age of thirteen, after being introduced to church by a friend, and found a new story to share.

Janet is founder of Dernier Publishing (www.dernierpublishing.com) – an award-winning company with a growing number of authors and successful titles. She is passionate about reaching a new generation with the good news of Jesus through story. She also runs a creative writing course (www.write-for-a-reason.com) to help new writers.

When Janet is not publishing, writing, teaching, or dreaming up new plots for stories, she can be found walking in the countryside, spending time with family and friends, and helping with the Community Fridge at her local church.

She lives with her husband and extended family on the very edge of London, where the urban landscape turns into woods and fields.

Reviews

[Catherine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this story. Read it during lockdown which was a really special time to hunker up with it. It’s quite the ride and I don’t want to give anything away at all but you just can’t put it down and go and make the tea. Seriously. Hole up with snacks and make a session of it. My Daisy felt the same. Spooky brave novel. More please @J M Evans x

[Katherine Blessan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Year 0033 is a gripping, beautifully written tale exploring a world many years in the future when religion is banned and the majority of people are divided up into social orders where everything seems outwardly safe and managed, but no one is truly free. Chella is a young woman who has recently got engaged to Jedan. The story explores Chella and Jedan’s adventures as they escape from the community that they are forced to live in to find the Old (and of course, free) Church, along with Amma and her grandchild, Mikiaih. It’s one of those stories where you’re constantly wondering what’s going to happen next. The twists and turns of the plot are always surprising you, with the emotional and spiritual journey of faith and fear paralleling the physical journey they take. Highly recommended for YAs as well as adults.

[Brenda Daniels]

Year 3033 by J M Evans is a Christian YA futuristic novel. Many years into the future it follows the story of Chella, Chella’s fiancé Jedan, and their friend Amma and her grandson Mikiah who live in the 'Areas'. The Areas are socially crafted places developed by a world council after the world experienced war, plague and famine. Religion is disallowed. Members of an underground Christian church in the Areas, Chella and company escape the Areas in search of the real, old church in Anderley. Full of intrigue, double-agent spies, romance gone sour, Year 3033 is exciting and different. Evans’s imagining of how life would be in this era is well developed. And the Christian characters are sincere, flawed and not overly sentimental. Rather sceptical of the Christian YA genre I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

[Angela Jelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in a futuristic time, when religion is banned and an outwardly peaceful, but deeply controlling world system has been set up.
When Cella’s best friend goes missing, her fiancé gets arrested and rumours of the Old Church surface, which exists outside of the controlled area Cells lives in, she faces a choice: Stay in the safety of all she’s known, or risk everything and leave.
Very well written and although this book is almost otherworldly, it is heart-poundingly plausible & at times seems uncomfortably prophetic.
It’s a gripping read, particularly the ending, which answers lots of questions and makes you go back and go, “oh I get it now!”
It’s also a great encouragement that no matter how dark the night, Gods light shines in the darkness.
Highly recommended for Christian teens and adults alike.

[KatieK · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first foray into Christian teen fiction. I enjoyed it and it was an easy read.

[Anne Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel, set in a dystopian future, is a gripping read. Chella is a young woman who lives in ‘Area IF208’. Religion is banned, but Chella is a member of one of the thriving underground churches. Her life seems settled, but people are disappearing – and one of them is a close friend. Rumours are circulating of people living Outside and worshipping in freedom. Then Chella’s fiancé Jedan is arrested and Chella is questioned. Before long they are on the run, trying to navigate their way through the Outside, looking for the Christians they believe they’ll find in a place called Anderley.

This is a multi-layered book. The beginning reminded me strongly of the early church, and the threat of danger and persecution reminded me of more modern situations too. The characters are living their faith in a real, down to earth and practical way, and have to make hard decisions. Not least leaving everything they’ve known, and setting out with a grandmother and young baby on a very uncertain journey with little but faith and an old map to guide them.

Elements of trust, hope, faith and truth run through the whole book. There are also secrets and lies and some of these are BIG, such as the Elite’s ‘staff’. There is plenty of tension, and a nice big twist in the tale which I really enjoyed. An excellent and challenging story for teenage or adult readers with some interesting and useful Reading Group Questions at the back.

[Maressa Mortimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book held me spellbound all evening.
It's gripping and uplifting, a wonderful story of courage and faith. I'm not really into dystopian books, but this wonderful novel was so encouraging.
The characters were interesting, with different views. Some unexpected twists and turns, leaving me wondering if and when there will be a sequel!