The Secret Society by Terry Overton Book Review

About the Book

Book: The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Upper Middle Grade, Pre-Teen, Teen, YA Christian Fiction Dystopian

Release date: December 15, 2022

In a world without books, schools, churches, and parents, how can teens and pre-teens find each other and work to bring back a world like the world before? Ever watchful, this group of friends meet in an underground cavern in the mountains of Virginia. Rumors of spies, enemy soldiers, and the possibility of finding their parents, keep these friends searching to make a better life for everyone.

In Book 1, The Secret Society, the original four members of the group discover others who, like them, have lost their parents and older siblings. These friends bond together and form a strong new family. Together, they discover new documents, clues, and tools to assist in their adventures. In the hope of someday finding others who can help establish a new settlement, they study, plan, and make discoveries that will propel them forward in their journey. Are others hiding from the World Force Soldiers? They are determined to find the answer.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Overton has created an entertaining novel for young readers as well as a sobering one for adults. I loved to read as a child but I know that is not the case with most children now. This novel really points out the value of books and what life would be like of they were taken away. Young readers will be reminded what we can learn from books and that there are certain books and documents we should know well.

The heroes in this novel are kids. I like the distinct personalities Overton has given them. What can the kids possibly do to survive, thrive and maybe even change the oppressive condition they have found themselves in? As one of them says, “We're just a bunch of kids.” Parents and older siblings gone, they are on their own. Can they learn to work together? Can they recover the vital knowledge stolen when the oppressive government took over? The possibilities before the kids might just inspire young readers of today.

This is a thought provoking novel for youth. It is obviously the first in a series as there is no suitable conclusion at the end. I will be looking for the sequel.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Terry Overton obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology and her Ed. D. in special education. She taught in public schools and was a school psychologist and a professor before retiring in 2016. She began her second “career” after retirement writing Christian fiction books and devotionals. She hopes to share the Christian worldview through her writing and touch the lives of her readers. Her novels, middle grade readers, and picture books seek to entertain readers through the travel experiences and characters included in her books. Her books have earned Bookfest Awards, Firebird Award Winner, American Writing Award Gold, International Finalist Book Award, Reader Views Awards, and Reader’s Favorite Awards. She currently resides in Laguna Vista, Texas, near the Texas-Mexico border. She enjoys Biblical history and general Bible studies, writing, and enjoying family and friends. She has seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

More from Terry

This book came from my concern about children and teens not being able to read many of the classic books we cherish.  My concern that many children and teens do not value reading, our faith, and our freedoms, is the reason for the book being a dystopian story. In this new world, there are no books, school, or churches.

Here is the intro:

The world was not ready for what happened. And in the mountains and valleys of Virginia, a group of young friends wondered what to do in this different world. Their parents and older siblings were taken away, or “disappeared,” and have not been seen since that fateful day. Schools were destroyed, churches burned, and books banned. There was no fuel or electricity available for the anyone. Cars and other vehicles no longer worked and were found abandoned beside the roads rusting and in disrepair. Only the World Force military had fuel and vehicles.

The discovery of books, documents, tools, clues, and other teens hiding in the countryside, brought hope to group of friends who met daily deep in the cavern. Follow their journey of hope and adventure through the series: The Underground Book Readers.

And what do teens do when their world has changed and there are no parents or other friendly adults? They find each other, find forbidden books such as Huckleberry Finn and the Bible, hide in a cavern, read, study, and plan for a better world.

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 14

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, February 14

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 17

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 19

deb’s Book Review, February 20

Simple Harvest Reads, February 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 21

Aryn The Libraryan, February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

For Him and My Family, February 23

Cover Lover Book Review, February 24

Lily’s Book Reviews, February 25

Mary Hake, February 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 26

Blogging With Carol, February 27

Lights in a Dark World, February 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/24515/the-secret-society-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)