Vanquished by Katie Clark

Vanquished
by
(Pelican Book Group 2014) 

It is a time of Greaters, Middles, and Lessers...until that time is challenged by a few....


Dystopian novels are one of the more popular novels. Dystopian Young Adult novels seem to be the rage among them. Vanquished delivers not only a truly unique dystopian tale, but one that is full of true young adult material.

Many books leave the reader questioning if he/she really read a book told through a teenager's eyes. The angst may be there, but where's the character growth, the battle between adulthood and childhood? 

With Katie Clark's Vanquished, Hana is shown at the cusp of womanhood. She has her tendencies to act immature, but to also question and push the boundaries of her rigid surroundings.

Her bravery at not backing down to discover the truth, her wisdom in discerning what to do and when to do it, and her desire to learn the truth about the Greaters set in motion a tale that far surpass most books I have read.

Throughout the book, parallels of the present world and this new world portrayed weave in a complex thread. The scenario is believable. Greaters would have all the luxuries. Middles would have to provide it. Lessers would have to sustain it. The hint of a socialist world is seen through Hana's eyes. And the truth will set you free...that's the theme that comes across as I read Vanquished.

Katie Clark handles the present tense, first person style of writing with ease and expertise. I felt as though I was discovering the information right along with Hana. I panicked when she panicked. I wondered when she wondered. I became angry when she became angry.

If you are looking for an honest-to-goodness Young Adult novel, then I can definitely recommend Vanquished by Katie Clark. And I look forward to reading the further adventures of Hana Norfolk. 

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