In a dystopian future uncomfortably plausible, Aislyn lives in the territories where the religious, and the unwanted have found refuge and forged a free society on the fringe of the Republic. Aislyn isn’t incredibly smart, athletic or heroic but she discovers she has a certain something and that may make all the difference. Still, she imagine being chosen to join the elite protectors who, trained in espionage, history, medicine and other special skills infiltrate the Republic. There they save unwanted children and pregnant women in the Republic branded as “unnecessary vessels.” But when the unimaginable happens, how can Aislyn possibly master in six weeks the skills the other 26 protectors have obtained from years of training. Her reluctant trainer, Collin, has some secret and Aislyn wonders why she was chosen—and if she is destined for a suicide mission.
The Five Unnecessaries is a highly imaginative dystopian with excellent world building and a fascinating plot from a Christian worldview, intense action and unlike some other dystopian tales—real hope. I’d love to give this book five stars. However, there are some verbosity and apparent formatting issues and a slow opening with little real action until past the halfway point. The teenage girl angst was well done, but so lengthy, the guys might not hang in there, and the romantic subplot got a little physical but without conveying the attending repercussions.
Age Range: 11 and up
