All Good Children, by Catherine Austen (Orca Book Publishers, 2011)
Quick-witted, prank-pulling graffiti artist Maxwell Connors is more observant than the average New Middletown teenager. And he doesn’t like what he sees.
New Middletown’s children are becoming frighteningly obedient, and their parents and teachers couldn’t be happier. As Max and his friend Dallas watch their classmates transform into model citizens, Max wonders if their only hope of freedom lies in the unknown world beyond New Middletown’s walls, where creativity might be a gift instead of a liability.
Winner of the Canadian Library Association’s 2012 Young Adult Book Award, and an American Library Association YALSA 2012 Teens’ Top Ten nominee.
“Action packed, terrifying, and believable, this entertaining novel will provoke important discussions about subservience, resistance, and individual freedom.” – Booklist, November 2011.
“Whether you need a rebuttal for someone who stubbornly insists on stigmatizing the YA genre, or you’re looking for a great read for yourself or a teenager you know, Catherine Austen’s novel All Good Children is an excellent choice….” – The Montreal Review of Books.
“With…an amazing cast of characters, author Catherine Austen offers a look at man’s resilience and desire to preserve what makes us unique, our spirit and free will….Her topic is not new, but her treatment of the topic is new, scary and inspirational.” – Tri-State Young Adult Book Review Committee, January 2012
“In its use of race, gender, social class and technology, All Good Children can stand with the best of the [dystopian] genre.” – Resource Links, October 1, 2011.
“The writing is excellent, the story is fast-paced and believable, and the author does an excellent job of balancing the horror of the environment with normal teen angst….[T]his highly enjoyable read will be devoured by both tween and teen readers.” – Canadian Children’s Booknews, Winter 2012.
To purchase a copy of All Good Children, visit your local independent bookstore, buy online from Amazon or Chapters, or order directly from the publisher, Orca.
To learn more about All Good Children, visit the author’s website.
