Outwalkers is a book by English author Fiona Shaw, who has won countless awards for her work, including her book Tell It To The Bees, which was made into a feature film.
Outwalkers is a dystopian novel set in the near future in England. It is about a 12 year old boy named Jacob Riley, and his dangerous journey to escape England; the government has chipped everyone at birth to track and control them, plus they have sealed off all the borders sot that no one is allowed in or out. Jake’s parent died and he was sent off to a government ‘academy’, but after concocting a plan, he manages to escape, find his dog back at his home, and be taken in by a gang of kids – Outwalkers. They remove his chip and thus he joins their perilous plan to flee the country.
Each scene is vividly written, but there is still enough space left for reader interpretation
Outwalkers is a unique and thrilling book, with brilliant descriptions and an amazing story. Each scene is vividly written, but there is still enough space left for reader interpretation. The characters are fully three-dimensional, and feel truly realistic. The story does have political undertones – possibly relating to Brexit. However, it is so different and exaggerated that it most definitely wouldn’t qualify as ‘propaganda.’
The obstacles and challenges the characters face are all well thought out, and overcome in ways that are logical to a child.
Not only are the characters realistic, but so too is the world around them. The obstacles and challenges the characters face are all well thought out, and overcome in ways that are logical to a child. Outwalkers gives a refreshing view on the overdone trope of dystopia, and is a must read. The only issue with this book is that some people may find issue in the way dialogue is indicated. There are no quotation marks, just a hyphen at the start of the person speaking and no indicator when they are done. Aside from this, it is perfect.
Outwalkers has many brutal scenes and occasional swearing, so I would recommend it to anyone 12+. This is quite possibly my favourite book of all time, and so it is well deserving of this 10/10 score. Read it, now.