Teen Reviews: Dystopian Twists

Posted on 28 August 2017

Our brilliant Teen Reviewers Chloe, Charlotte and Chelsea are here to help you to choose your next book to read this summer. In this post, they review two new dystopian novels, Show Stopper and Who Runs the World?. Look out for more teen reviews coming soon!

Show Stopper by Hayley Barker

Reviewers: Chloe, 15 years old and Charlotte, 14 years old
Recommended age of book: 14+ ( Chloe: the book does have some graphic and violent scenes, which is why I have given it an age level of 14+.)
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Thriller

Chloe’s plot summary:
This book is based on two different perspectives – Hoshiko, who is a circus tightrope walker and known as a ‘Dreg’ and Ben, who is from a very privileged family and is known as a ‘Pure’. When the circus comes into town, Ben is intrigued by it. He persuades his mother, who is a very important government minister, to take him there, and he soon discovers the horrors that go on behind closed doors. This story is about Hoshiko defying the cruel, unfair society that she lives in, and about Ben rebelling against what he has always been taught is right, and the evolution of their relationship with one another.

Thoughts on why this book is worth reading:
Chloe: Show Stopper is extremely gripping and had me hooked from the very first page. Tension and suspense builds up more and more as the book progresses, and every chapter leaves you on a cliff hanger and wanting to read more. I like the way that the book is written from two different points of view because it shows you two completely different perspectives – one from a privileged boy in the top class of society, and one from an extremely unprivileged girl at the bottom of society. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, especially towards the end, and it made me feel tense and excited. The storyline was unpredictable and had lots of twists and turns, which kept me hooked. My favourite character was Hoshiko because she was extremely strong and defiant. This book made me think about the tragic way in which society could become in the future if the wrong people lead it and animosity grows towards minority groups.
Charlotte: A book which captures the reader from the first sentence, jam packed with action and secrets. As you start to read, the circus begins to build around as you’re sucked in and see the story set out in front of you. An adventure which twists and turns, as you watch friendships grow stronger. An amazing book loved it from the start to finish!!

What is the hook for new readers?
Chloe: If you loved the ‘Legend’ series by Marie Lu, then you’ll love this.

Find out more about Show Stopper here.

Who Runs the World? by Virginia Bergin

Reviewer: Chelsea, 14 years old
Recommended age of book: 12+
Genre: Fiction

Chelsea’s plot summary:
Sixty years after a virus kills most of the men and the remaining are kept safe in sanctuaries. Women run the world and there is no war, greed and the world is put first. Fourteen-year-old River met Mason, she thought they were extinct…

Chelsea’s thoughts on why this book is worth reading:
The book was amazing, one of the best I have read in a while. It was different from any other book that I have read before and it kept me wanting more while I was reading. It was nice to see what would happen if women ruled the world and it shows that women are just as capable as men in politics.

What is the hook for new readers?
The hook for me were the lines ’”They said that,” he murmured. “They said you was lost without us.” “We are not lost,” she said, calmly. “We are running the world.”’

Find out more about Who Runs the World? here.


Fancy having a stab at a review yourself over the holidays? Go to the Teen Reviews page to sign up and we’ll see whether we have a book that matches your interests available.