Review: Before by Molly McNamara Carter

 

Before 

by Molly McNamara Carter

In the not-too-distant future, Leadership controls everything and everyone, and a new regulation threatens to take away 13-year-old Wren's little brother. Already reeling from her grandmother's relocation, Wren must give up school, her friends, and the protection of her parents to save her little brother from the cold grip of efficiency. Can Wren and her brother survive the exhausting journey, the scorching desert, and the threatening grasp of Leadership to cross the border to safety and freedom?

My Take:

"Efficiency is key for productivity, and productivity is key for safety." This is the mind-numbing mantra of Leadership, which tries to control the masses by eliminating their rights and freedoms. In the Leadership Lands, the government controls everything you do. All for the sake of efficiency. Before by Molly McNamara Carter is a dystopian tale of a teen’s flight with her mute little brother from a totalitarian state to a land of freedom. When Leadership announces that children who require special care will be forcibly removed from their homes for re-education, permanently, Wren realizes she will lose her little brother Kael, who is unable to speak. Under cover of night, Wren is forced to flee the city with Kael, and cross many miles of forbidding desert while pursued by the agents ordered to prevent their escape, at any cost.

 Content:

Drug Content:
G – none
 
Violence:
G – A wolf attacks one of the characters
 
Language:
G – Squeaky clean
 
Adult Content:
G – Squeaky clean.
 
Christian content:
Not much, but there seems to be a divine intervention going on in the protection of the main character. Wren puts her life on the line for her helpless brother again and again. People along the way take great risks to deliver these kids to safety.

 
Final Analysis:
I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure-packed dystopian thriller. Wren faces drones, soldiers, coyotes, scorpions, deadly heat, and terrifying storms. The threats to Wren and her little brother are tangible. There were multiple points in the book that my pulse was pounding in my ears, fully invested in the story, and hiding there in the dark with Wren, who transforms during the adventure from a slightly rebellious, carefree teen to a responsible and determined adult. is a well-written, action-packed thrill ride, but it’s more than that. This novel is a thought-provoking delve into a possible future devoid of freedom, all for the sake of efficiency. The world-building was immersive, the character development realistic, and the outlook, hopeful. The cover art by Denitsa Shopova was stunning. Before by Molly McNamara Carter is perfect for lovers of dystopian teen fiction and coming-of-age adventures. Five Stars!

About the Author:

Molly has been writing stories since she learned to read them. For her and her sisters growing up, she created magical lands full of adventures that were never far off. Molly continues to delight her own children with her stories and passion for books. She has lived in big cities, little towns, on islands, in mountains and in deserts. She loves adventures like jumping out of airplanes, riding camels, and even swimming with sharks. When she's not reading, writing or working on an art project, she loves to explore with her favorite people. One of her greatest joys is bringing the magic of stories to her readers. Visit her website at mollymcnamaracarter.com/