Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend

Full review available at https://talesfromabsurdia.com/book-reviews/sheltered-when-a-boy-becomes-a-legend-review/
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Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend is a strange book. Not bad, nor particularly great.

It's a coming-of-age novel(la) framed through the prism of an invasion of the United States. Sinister forces, including those from within, enable a country-wide shutdown, with only the major cities protected. This leaves James, his sister, and a handful of younger kids to protect their town.

It's a potentially interesting idea, if a little cliché.

But there is a major issue with the book – much of the content isn't suitable for its supposed target audience.

Bearing in mind, this is aimed at middle-grade kids, a dog is shot – its spasms of death detailed as the shooter proceeds to kick it repeatedly and rape is referenced on at least two occasions.

Which raises the question – who is Sheltered really for?

I'm not sure.

It falls into a problematic limbo where it's too simplistic a read for the YA audience and too violent for the younger demographic. The subject matter is incredibly serious, so the reader expects a serious examination of the invasion. Why did it happen? What are the actual motives of these invaders? Are there any moral quandaries the characters face?

Sheltered offers little detail – bar graphic detail – which leaves the reader confused. Is this a middle-grade novel? Certainly not. Is it a YA novel? Not really, no. Is it for adult readers? No.

Sheltered is not without its merits, however.

There is a clear passion in the writing. Jacob Paul Patchen writes with genuine heart and honesty. The novel's focus on family and comradeship is touching, and there's an authenticity to James and his father's relationship.

But this unfortunately isn't enough. The plot is vague, the characters a little one-dimensional, and the novel's tone is way off of the audience it's written for.

With these factors in mind, I cannot in good faith recommend Sheltered.