Author: Sam Mills
Rating: 8.5/10
Black Out is set in England in the near future. Books have been deemed dangerous by the State as they seem to be causing kids to commit terrorist acts.
Terrorism is the major issue at this time.The State says books have to be sweet and pleasant so they don't inspire teenagers to commit crime. Famous novels are rewritten, many are banned.
Read and banned book and you go to jail.
Stefan is the son of a bookseller. He goes to school and is baffled by the stuff they read, they don't make sense(especially when he's read bits of these books before the state rewrote them). But he has been brainwashed by the State into thinking books are evil and that it's perfectly acceptable to hold public executions of authors in the name of the war on terror.
But then he comes home one day to find a "terrorist" in his home. Omar Shakir. Sentenced to death just for writing a book with supposedly illegal content. He is in hiding, His dad is helping them.
But that's wrong, truth to the state will set you free. At least that is the poor conclusion Stefan's indoctrinated brain comes up with. So when the Censorship pays them a visit Stefan turns them all in.
Taken to The Institution, Stefan is interrogated,some might say tortured, before being sent to live with a new family, Mr and Mrs Kelp. But they have their own plans. They are government rewriters and use him to study the effects of books that are banned.
Then Omar rescues him, but neither know he's been brain washed to kill the Words members when a trigger phrase is spoken, until it's too late. Hated both by the State for shooting someone in public and hated by the words for killing there members Stefan is on his own.
A when he stumbles across a secret code in a book will he decipher it in time to save his father?
Read this book to find out how Stefan struggles with conflicting thoughts and a country that wants to keep children down,
This is a great book for teenagers and upwards, it's told in an interesting story but raises some interesting points about government control and dictatorships, as well as fighting back etc. Also the idea books can control you is an interesting one. it's a very interesting read for that aspect and the story is pretty good as well.
I'd recommend buying it just to try.
Hope you found this review helpful,
The Devonian Book Reviewer
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