Review Detail

In this dystopian book, The Q, we have a future where a mutating virus has created the necessity of isolating a portion of Texas for the last twenty years to prevent a mass extinction event in the world. This book came out in 2022 and since the topic hit a little too close to home after the covid pandemic it has taken a while to be ready to read this book but it ended up being an excellent read.
The world created feels immensely believable. The poor were most affected because they could not evacuate when the virus broke out. The American government provides aid while also building a wall and has a strict shoot-on-site policy if anyone tries to leave the quarantine zone. Civil law has broken down and the area is now ruled by two gang families that were able to seize power and be the most ruthless to keep it. The American people fear the brutal stories they have heard and as time passes a small extremist group advocating just bombing the area out of existence is starting to gain traction. While this is fiction, I see nothing untrue about how this imagined scenario would play out making for a compelling and thought-provoking read much like Lord of The Flies by William Golding looked at the breakdown of society in his classic book.
The status quo comes to a head when the presidential candidate's playboy screwup son, Lennon Pierce, is kidnapped and dropped into the Q zone. Advanced technology allows him to receive an untested vaccine that protects him for a few days until he can make it to the wall and leave. Issues of privilege and power are explored with his character. No one else is allowed to leave but he would be able to.
I was surprised that the gang leader was so willing to help him. I expected Lennon to have to appeal to a love interest, Maisie Rojas, to go against her gang to help him regain freedom. It sort of happens that way anyway when an internal mutiny finds the gang leader killed. From that point, we have nonstop action, danger, intrigue, shifting alliances, developing relationships, and a race against the clock to get Lennon to safety.
Overall, this was a compelling read with action and budding romance that will create a wide appeal for this book. I can see it being a great book club or school-assigned read to explore the meaty topics this dystopian scenario is based on.