About the Book
Book: The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society
Author: Terry Overton
Genre: Upper Middle Grade, Pre-Teen, Teen, YA Christian Fiction Dystopian
Release date: December 15, 2022
In a world without books, schools, churches, and parents, how can teens and pre-teens find each other and work to bring back a world like the world before? Ever watchful, this group of friends meet in an underground cavern in the mountains of Virginia. Rumors of spies, enemy soldiers, and the possibility of finding their parents, keep these friends searching to make a better life for everyone.
In Book 1, The Secret Society, the original four members of the group discover others who, like them, have lost their parents and older siblings. These friends bond together and form a strong new family. Together, they discover new documents, clues, and tools to assist in their adventures. In the hope of someday finding others who can help establish a new settlement, they study, plan, and make discoveries that will propel them forward in their journey. Are others hiding from the World Force Soldiers? They are determined to find the answer.
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Book Review
When I saw the plotline for this book, I was instantly intrigued. I started it with high hopes, and came out of it with mixed feelings.
I did really enjoy this book. The author did a decent job with the world-building and the dialogue. I loved how close the friends were and how they cared for each other and looked out for one another. And the idea of a secret underground book society that have their own underground library is pretty cool. However, there were certain elements that I felt was lacking, including character development. While we get to know some of the characters’ backgrounds, their personalities themselves were underdeveloped and I never really felt like I connected with any of them.
I really did enjoy reading about this world and secret society, and I especially loved how the author incorporated faith into the story. Overall, this book has a lot of potential, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I had received a copy of the book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.
About the Author
Terry Overton obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology and her Ed. D. in special education. She taught in public schools and was a school psychologist and a professor before retiring in 2016. She began her second “career” after retirement writing Christian fiction books and devotionals. She hopes to share the Christian worldview through her writing and touch the lives of her readers. Her novels, middle grade readers, and picture books seek to entertain readers through the travel experiences and characters included in her books. Her books have earned Bookfest Awards, Firebird Award Winner, American Writing Award Gold, International Finalist Book Award, Reader Views Awards, and Reader’s Favorite Awards. She currently resides in Laguna Vista, Texas, near the Texas-Mexico border. She enjoys Biblical history and general Bible studies, writing, and enjoying family and friends. She has seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
More from Terry
This book came from my concern about children and teens not being able to read many of the classic books we cherish. My concern that many children and teens do not value reading, our faith, and our freedoms, is the reason for the book being a dystopian story. In this new world, there are no books, school, or churches.
Here is the intro:
The world was not ready for what happened. And in the mountains and valleys of Virginia, a group of young friends wondered what to do in this different world. Their parents and older siblings were taken away, or “disappeared,” and have not been seen since that fateful day. Schools were destroyed, churches burned, and books banned. There was no fuel or electricity available for the anyone. Cars and other vehicles no longer worked and were found abandoned beside the roads rusting and in disrepair. Only the World Force military had fuel and vehicles.
The discovery of books, documents, tools, clues, and other teens hiding in the countryside, brought hope to group of friends who met daily deep in the cavern. Follow their journey of hope and adventure through the series: The Underground Book Readers.
And what do teens do when their world has changed and there are no parents or other friendly adults? They find each other, find forbidden books such as Huckleberry Finn and the Bible, hide in a cavern, read, study, and plan for a better world.
Blog Stops
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 14
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, February 14
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 15
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 16
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 17
Texas Book-aholic, February 18
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 19
deb’s Book Review, February 20
Simple Harvest Reads, February 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 21
Aryn The Libraryan , February 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23
For Him and My Family, February 23
Cover Lover Book Review, February 24
Lily’s Book Reviews, February 25
Mary Hake, February 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 26
Blogging With Carol, February 27
Lights in a Dark World, February 27
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Thank You for the review.
Marion
This sounds like an interesting read. I’m going to check it out. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts.