A gripping and exciting read that will make you feel like you are part of the action.
It is his seventeenth birthday, and everything in the life of James Coffey seems to be in order. An evening of celebratory drinking with friends lands him in the usual trouble with his parents, but it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before. Despite living in a society restructured by a confounding cataclysmic event that left half the world in the dark, for James, his reality in the Federation of the Americas hasn’t been bad. The routine of school, friends, chores, and family is predictable and calm. Nothing is amiss, except for an ambiguous, silent threat from the far side of the globe. However, one succinct address by the president of the Federation changes everything. It has become clear that imminent danger looms from the BlankZone, so the government has reinstituted the draft, a relic of bygone American governance. With no choice in the matter, James is whisked away to be trained as an elite warrior. Since the enemy is largely unknown, training will be all-encompassing and relentlessly brutal. Taking military life in stride, James discovers a fastidious side to himself he never knew, and at the same time learns more about the troubles that are in store for the Federation and the entire globe.
With all the grit and determination that dystopian novels are renowned for, Cut From Stone hits all the marks and offers a rugged new take in this classic genre. While half the planet is plunged into a dark age, the Federation forges ahead with bold, new technologies, creating ultramodern spectacles as the military teens are put through the paces and crafted into elite assassins. James is an interesting character study, as his personality is largely revealed only through his responses to slowly divulged secrets and shocking military exercises. Unlike the typically vulnerable protagonist, James remains stoic, determined to be the best soldier his mind and body will allow. Any sentimentality in the story comes from James’s fellow trainees and the spirited girlfriend he left back home. This emotional separation helps keep the tension high and matches the level of stress thrown at James as he finds himself in one perilous situation after another. More rigid and anxious than mushy or melodramatic, this fast-paced, action-driven novel will keep audiences glued to the pages. Amplified military maneuvers are tempered down to an edgy narrative that packs a punch, yet remains approachable for young adult readers. If you are looking for a gripping and exciting read that will make you feel like you are part of the action, Cut From Stone has earned its place on your reading list!
