by Lily Oak

Created on: August 09, 2010   Last Updated: August 10, 2010

The Hunted of 2060 tells the story of April. A university student living a normal life in 2060's America, until a mystery 'illness' brings into question everything she thought about herself, human nature and the world in general.

The Hunted of 2060 puts a great sci-fi twist on the classic paranormal shape-shifter tales. The storyline itself has a couple of killer twists that even the most seasoned reader of this genre won't see coming.

As well as a being a great read the book tackles issues of prejudice and persecution in a subtle but very effective way. Given this fact and also the language and other content of the book, I'd happily recommend this to the older end of young adult readers as well.

“’April?’ I tore off the last of my clothing I wore this morning and lowered myself to his side. I tried to say his name, but could only grunt, a grunt that would mean nothing to him. In this moment between us, I wanted to pull him close, hold him and be the comfort he needed, with the same comfort he has always afforded me. But I also knew I couldn’t endanger his life by revealing the truth to him. Arken may have been cruel but he was right about some things.”

(The Hunted of 2060, copyright Ami Rebecca Blackwelder)

The main characters in the book are well formed and complex enough to inspire empathy from the reader. There are a few supporting characters who's motivation and responses I would have like to have had further explained and examined more closely, namely Aprils adoptive parents and her classmates, Jessica and Samuel.

There are other characters that have been kept secretive and unexplained, but with a promised prequel and sequel from Ami Blackwelder still to come, I'm hoping there will be more revealed about both the heroic Bruce and elusive 'stranger' (who's identity I'll refrain from mentioning, as not to hint at spoilers).

I find it quite difficult to find flaw with The Hunted of 2060. The only thing that took away from it a little was the picture painted of the technologies used in everyday 2060. It wasn't that they didn't work in the book, they were very well crafted into then story, they just weren't anything we haven’t seen in films, or read about before.

All in all, The Hunted of 2060 is definitely on my 'recommend to friends' list.

Learn more about this author, Lily Oak.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.