Mutant City

In a dystopian future, five mutants are called together. Created 13 years before in an illegal experiment, they have lived separate lives to hide and protect them but as their powers start to strengthen, they are brought together to become part of the resistance, while the government are hunting them down. The set-up is a post nuclear society, where the Pure, who survived in underground bunkers, now live in privileged, well defended cities, while the Mutants, who unexpectedly survived above ground, are deformed and feared, living in poverty in shanty towns. Mutants are starting to demand rights, and the Pure are becoming more afraid their lifestyle is threatened. This is quite a complex world, and the book struggles to explain all this while telling a story based around six main characters who each have their own journey until they finally meet. In fact there are ten narrators, which makes it impossible to identify with any of them to any great extent.

There is plenty of action in the plot, but it tries to cover a lot of ground. That said, the ending is exciting, and leaves the story ready for the sequel. By that time I felt I had finally got to grips with all the background and characters, and wanted to know what happened next! 368 pages / Ages 11+ / Reviewed by Carol Williams, librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 11+