Outcasts by Jill Williamson (Book Two in the Safe Lands Series)

Return with us to the second book of this wonderful series! It is called dystopian as a genera, the opposite of Utopia. (Oh! Real life perhaps just set in the future!)  We are back with the boys, and they are really growing in this book! Here is out chance to catch up with Levi, Omar, and Mason. The boys are wanting to be men, and they are working on their goals.

Levi is sure he can be a good leader, and from what we have seen, that is possible. He figures he can lead and be an Elder. Mason is still of the same frame of mind he use to be, he wants to be a healer. A doctor, even though it is not as well excepted in his culture. Mason wants the thin plague to be cured, and has hopes that he can do that. Omar, mostly he just would like to be free of guilt. That guilt that eats up his gut and plagues him, and since he needs some goals too, ok.... he would love to be a hero. If he were a hero, maybe he wouldn't feel this way.

Being an Outsider in The Safe Lands means you are in a world where everyone is living for themselves. For what pleases them. (Does that sound familiar?) Intense topics are in this book too. Reminiscent to me of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which was down right scary to me in my teens. In this book, there are young teens being forced to have babies for the good of the community and their survival. True, they are clean of the disease so they can have babies, but because of this you might want a bit older teens or mid-aged teens to read this with lots of chats with their parents. The topics should be covered, yes, but just my thoughts there. I needed a bit of guidance after the book I mentioned up there! (That one was traumatic to me!)

These young men are fighting the system they are in. They are struggling to set their beliefs into place where they can't be shaken by romance, or other "doctrines" or peer pressure. They have to be un-addicted in a world addicted to drugs, to pleasure instead of to what is right and Godly. (Yes, that is familiar to us too!)
They are trying to rescue people who don't even know they need to be rescued, and might not want to see the truth at all. Some of their friends, might not be friends. They might be loyal, or they could have their own agendas in place. Omar has some major crisis and test of his faith and possible long term consequences. Touted as a great and rather perfect society, some mega issues with it are coming forth. Issues that the powers that be don't really want highlighted, shared, or allowed to be well known.

No shortage of action, and in some ways, this book tops Captives!  It is very fast paced, so read it quick before the next book comes out so you don't have to worry about catching up!

Carol :)

About the Book: 

In Outcasts, the second book in Jill Williamson's Safe Lands series, Levi finds himself not only the leader of Glenrock's remaining people but also the head of a new rebel force called the Messengers, intent on unmasking the Safe Lands' lies. At the same time, Mason uncovers secrets that may be more dangerous than he ever imagined. Meanwhile, Omar decides to take matters into his own hands.

    The inside Cover.... 

Uncovering the truth could cost them their lives.

Since entering the Safe Lands, Mason has focused on two things: finding a way to free his village from captivity, and finding a cure for the disease that ravages many within the walls of the Safe Lands. After immune-suppressive drugs go missing in the clinic, Mason discovers his coworker, Ciddah, may know more about the Safe Lands than imagined ... and may have an agenda of her own. At the same time, Mason's brother Levi is focused on a way to free the remaining Glenrock captives, while Mason's younger brother Omar decides to take the rebellion against the Safe Lands into his own hands as a vigilante.

Soon all three brothers are being watched closely---and when Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, his investigation just might get those closest to him liberated.

   About the Author

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including By Darkness Hid, Replication, The New Recruit, and Captives. She's a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant, who was raised in Alaska. She loves teaching about writing. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two children, and a whole lot of deer. Visit her online at jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Outcasts - http://www.amazon.com/Outcasts-Safe-Lands-Jill-Williamson/dp/0310724244/
Author Website - http://www.jillwilliamson.com/

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