The Book of Ivy
Publisher: Entangled Teen/Listening Library
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Introduction
The second book of the duology takes place directly after Ivy is put out of Westfall, the only home she's ever known. Without her husband, Bishop, or her family, she has to survive without any gear or basic survival skills. She has to navigate the world outside of her isolated city and meet new people and deal with old acquaintances she'd rather never see again. But of course her old life begins to catch up with her, and trouble in Westfall is stirring.
Communication/The Truth
Hey, look, another character that can't communicate. Tellin (from Fins are Forever) exibited HUGE plot convenience by using poor communication. Ivy not communicating/telling the whole truth is part of her character and backstory. So in the new world outside of Westfall, it'd be easy to change up what you want to forget. If I were her, I would definitely have trouble telling the truth to new people too. However, I was internally screaming for her to just explain some circumstances at that moment because you know it's catching up to her. But nope. Gonna die by those lies, ok.
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| This, except tell EVERYONE the truth. |
Secondary Characters and Antagonists
Engel could absolutely write a book (or two or three) about the two characters that Ivy meets. They are both unique characters with interesting backstories and their own personalities. They definitely weren't throw-away cardboard cut-outs and they become part of the plot.
There are a few antagonists in this one. One, Westfall society. Two, the Lattimers. Three, Ivy's family, who abandoned her outside of the fence. Finally, there is another character that waltzes in and inserts chaos into Ivy's new life. When an irredeemable, disgusting antagonist is so well-written, you really get behind the protagonist's goal of triumphing over them.
Essay Topics
Survival, found families, dystopian civilizations (and how they are overthrown), loyalty...
Final Verdict
The book folds up the story nicely. Yes, Bishop and Ivy are off doing other things by the end of it, but Ivy's revolution, her family and his, Westfall, all of that, is done. It drags a bit with all of Ivy's...less than stellar treatment of Bishop. This installment has more interesting action and stakes. The first one was slower with planning and scheming. This book starts with her trying to not die outside. Then fighting for her life. It gets a bit slower when it looks like she can carve out a place for herself in this world.
This book does a very good job describing how it would be for a young city dweller to be thrown out into the wilderness and how things can go badly very, very quickly. Plus, it's brutally honest with the kinds of people you will meet outside who will take advantage of you. And I'm not talking about scamming you out of squirrel meat, I'm talking violent assaults. If violence scares you, or if Mark Laird's crimes from the first book bothered you, don't read this.
Overall, I recommend this book if you read the first one. Probably shouldn't bother reading it if you didn't read the first one.
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