They thought they’d found safety in Salvation. The Freaks have other plans.
Creative Staff:
Author: Ann Aguirre
What They Say:
Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight. To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out. Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.
The Review: (some minor spoilers)
While the action in the book is solid and exciting, I found the best part of the book to be the characters. The main group is introduced in the first book, Enclave,
The main character, Deuce, is a gem. In a world that seems to be bursting with strong heroines, she rises above. I love her power, and I love how she’s exploring integrating her warrior side with her more emotional side. She explores how she can be a friend, and experience love, without giving up her personal power to determine her destiny. Her intense drive to be herself made me want to cheer for her at each step of her journey. I also respected how she honors and respects the jobs others have in the community. She doesn’t expect everyone to be a warrior – she just expects those who have taken on the warrior role to live up to it with courage and honor.
The story doesn’t rest on Deuce alone, though. Each of the members of her own personal enclave found a way to grow and change throughout the story. Tegan gives us a glimpse into a quieter kind of strength. Stalker strives to understand the compassion and empathy that were missing from his own early life. Fade struggles, and I ache for all that he goes through, and yet his strength lies just below the surface.
I love the supportive adult figures Deuce has in this book. So often in young adult books the adults are relegated to confrontational roles. Momma Oaks makes me happy, because I’m always hoping that a strong female character will get a strong female mentor. Momma doesn’t completely fit the bill because Deuce’s mentoring is still primarily through the male characters, but it’s a step in the right direction. Longshot is flat out awesome. He has one of my favorite lines. “Speak louder, girl. Don’t let them put out your spark” (37)
Those freaks? They are terrifying. We are introduced to these creatures in the first book, and I thought Enclave gave me a solid understanding of that creepy bunch, but I was delighted to learn that many of my assumptions were incorrect. Watching the growing freak menace was chilling. This world feels like it could be just down the path for us – which is the most frightening thing of all.
In Summary:
Outpost ranks right up there with my favorite summer reads. I got to read a lot of amazing books this summer, and this one grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until the end. It isn’t often that the second book of a series really nails it. Usually it feels more like a setup for the final book. Aguirre got it right. She told a story that stands by itself, and yet connects to and develops the events from the first book. Yes, it left us hanging on (and pleading) for the finale, but I still felt completely satisfied by the arc itself.
My favorite kind of book is the kind that makes me want to hand it to all of my friends – insist they read it RIGHT NOW so that we can talk about it. Outpost? Yeah, it’s that kind of book. Anyone want to join me for a book club?
Grade: A+
Published By: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: September 4, 2012
