Standish Treadwell lives in a world that makes me cringe. It's ruled by ruthless leaders who have stolen all power from the people and reduced the lower classes to nearly nothing. Standish lives with his grandfather because his parents had "ideas" and were removed from his home, probably from the world. Standish's best friend Hector breaks a major rule, and then disappears. Standish sets out to find out what happened to Hector, how it relates to the corrupt government or the mysterious happenings behind the wall in his backyard, and what he can do to stop the injustice.
Why It's Worth
Reading:
I'll admit, I wasn't sure about this book at first. The setting is confusing at first, and Standish's view of the world is so strange. The way he explains himself is at times funny, and at others horrifying. The chapters are incredibly short, so for a while, it didn't seem like they were adding up to much. But when I reached the last half of the book, suddenly, I was captured by the story. What is happening behind the wall? What big secret is hidden in the basement? Can Standish be a force in the midst of the horror? I'm glad I pushed through to the finish of this novel. Since I finished it, I haven't stopped thinking about it!
Book Details:
ISBN: 0763665738
Format: eBook
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: February 12, 2013
Source: library