The author of the acclaimed novel Scarborough weaves an unforgettable and timely dystopian tale about a near-future, where a queer Black performer and his allies join forces to rise up when an oppressive regime gathers those deemed “Other” into concentration camps.
This was not an easy book to review. You are, from the very beginning, immersed in a world that is dominated by the white upper class. It takes place in a dystopian country, namely, a Canada of the future. It becomes obvious that the country is overrun by black people, Hispanics, and gay people of all denominations, and the old and the sick. They are causing a drain on society and something has to be done about it.
You will note shades of the second World War and what steps were taken there to eliminate the problem. You see their world falling apart through the eyes of a gay man, Kay, and his lover, Evan. It’s a world they look at with horror, filled with work camps, concentration camps, and the disappearances, piece by piece, of their family and friends.
Of course, they form a resistance to fight back, with the aid of some white allies. An international meeting takes place in Toronto and the resistance shows them the horrors and they manage to have their names heard, especially the missing and the dead. It’s a scary reflection of what is happening now. This is hardcore brutality that you endure with the characters. They are so well-drawn by Catherine Hernandez that at times, it is painful to read because you know that for some, there but for the grace of God, go I. This book is worth your time and money and is a must-read.
Available in Bookstores December 8th
