Book review: The Things We Leave Behind

The Things We Leave Behind

Clare Furniss

Simon & Schuster

Review: Lauren O'Connor-May

The Things We Leave Behind is a young adult, dystopian story set in the near future.

A tyrannical Prime Minister, with a racist agenda, rules Britain. His gradual ethnic purging slowly creeps up on Clem's mixed family and rips them apart. Soon Clem finds herself friendless, parentless and fleeing the country.

Along the way she crosses paths with kind and cruel strangers.

As she battles illness, fatigue and despair she eventually reaches Scotland where things are not as they seem.

The early chapters of this book are full of warm depictions of family and friendship, albeit with a dark, ominous undertone.

Once the dystopia sets in, the book becomes very dreary and the reader has to keep their wits sharp to spot the looming, devastating twist.