Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

Author: Moira Young
Book: Blood Red Road
Series: Dustlands (book 1)
Release: June 2011
Reviewer: Desi
Source: Personal Library
Purchase: Amazon

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives bearing four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she’s a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

This was an incredibly interesting book that was both unusual and gripping.

The author chose to tell the story from the main Character’s point of view and uses the different way she speaks and her accent in the text to really give readers an unusual reading experience. Saba has grown up apart from most of the world in what is basically a desert with her (some what ill) father, younger sister and twin brother Lugh. She has never had proper schooling and that fact is really driven home by her simple dialect that is reminiscent of the stereotype Hollywood uses for people from Oklahoma or even Louisiana for that matter.

Having had a secluded existence for most of her life Saba looks to Lugh for strength, friendship and leadership while she looks to her father for his whimsical reading of the stars. For whatever reasons, Lugh harbors resentment toward their father and Saba focuses her anger toward their younger sister. But everything changes when Lugh is taken prisoner and Saba’s father is killed. Before dying her father tells Saba that she must be strong for everyone and that they will look to her to take care of them. Saba doesn’t fully understand him and all she can think about is getting rid of her little sister and finding Lugh.

As Saba and her sister set out to rescue Lugh they end up in more trouble thenthey bargained for but also discovering more about themselves and what lengths they are willing to go to for those they love.

I really liked this story. It grew and grew on me. At first I really disliked the main character. She seemed ignorant and selfish, but as the story progressed she underwent a change that showcased the worst side of her but also allowed for the best to shine through. One thing that nagged at me was Saba’s obsession with her brother Lugh. I never understood what made him so fabulous, and by the end of the story I was sitting back thinking how weak his character is compared to Saba’s. The really amazing character was Saba’s little sister who showed a remarkable attitude and a feisty stubbornness that I admired.

The other thing that I really liked was the fiery attraction between Jack and Saba. I would literally get a big goofy grin on my face whenever I read the parts of the story with Jack…even just typing this I am smiling just thinking about his character. *smiles*

BLOOD RED ROAD is an intriguing dystopian book by a debut author that is sure to appeal to lovers of this style of story.

Desilula is our resident "Tween" who helps give us insight to all the Young adult and children's books from the perspective of....well...a young adult. She loves to read and write and absolutely hates math! Her favorite books include classics like "Little Women" and "Alice in Wonderland", but she is hip with all the latest young adult books including her favorite, "Hunger Games"! She enjoys hanging out with friends and doing activities like swimming, skate boarding, climbing trees, and performing in plays or musicals. She plays a little piano, and a little guitar (mostly power chords;)) and has played in a band. She loves animals and plans to travel the world someday!

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