America has just suffered the greatest attack it has ever seen. An international group of enemies, including many sleeper cells within the country’s borders, have begun the process of overtaking the country through the coordinated use of dirty bombs, prison camps, and the destruction of the nation’s infrastructure. Although only twelve years old, James survives this horrific attack on his own, facing some overwhelmingly large obstacles. He and his sister eventually cobble together a group of other parentless kids, calling themselves the Risers, and decide to take on the group of terrorists that have descended upon their community.
For youths that prefer playing with G.I. Joes or those little green plastic army men over perusing a book, Sheltered is a wonderful transition into reading. It encapsulates all the compelling features of an adult-oriented war story, including military strategizing and bloody skirmishes, in a manner more suitable to teens and pre-teens. In addition to the intense action scenes, there is a solid subplot revolving around the importance of family and doing the right thing. For example, a favorite line of mine is when James exclaims, “We can’t conquer evil if we don’t hold on to the good inside us.” Jacob Paul Patchen has an easy writing style, balancing a book of dramatic events and harsh armed conflict with lighthearted scenes that will make you smile. Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend is an entertaining, patriotic story about survival and fighting for what is right.
