Tom and Judy Whicker are among the lucky citizens that survived the Age of Cleansing. Now, in the 57th Year under the leadership of The Ordained Liberating Party, the couple joins in with fellow countrymen to celebrate all that The Federation Britannia has to offer. However, nothing on this obedient island happens without order, consistency and full compliance. Tom, who loves the government and wholeheartedly supports its unyielding policies, is eager to participate in the ceremony. Judy doesn’t shine with the same spirit, but is glad to have a rare opportunity to spend time with their daughter. Under constant threat, Judy plasters the requisite smile on her face and spouts the appropriate slogans, all while fighting a growing unease. Events transpire that leave Tom no choice but to acknowledge that his wife’s radical views may not be so radical after all.
No Child of Mine is an intriguing Orwellian-esque story that is extremely tense and utterly disturbing. A bleak dystopian world complete with an overbearing totalitarian government will have readers calling to mind other favorites in the genre such as The Hunger Games or Brave New World. The robotic characters are difficult to connect to on a personal level, which adds to the impersonal nature of the tyrannical government, along with its controlled and conditioned citizens. But it isn’t difficult to appreciate a father’s dedication. Tom’s path to enlightenment feels genuine as he begins to uncover the deceptions of an organization he has loved since childhood, all while protecting his own child. Futuristic and dark, No Child of Mine combines a sinister dystopian society with the terror of an unfamiliar disease to create a chilling tale you won’t be able to put down.
