Karen Hesse

When Radley returns to the United States after volunteering abroad, she comes back to a country under military rule with strict travel restrictions, and she must find her way back to her Vermont home through the New England woods.

Safekeeping

Jeni Enjaian

The premise of this book left me disappointed. I thought that Hesse created an absolutely fascinating premise with America thrown into chaos by the election of a radical political party and the country becoming dystopian of sorts.
Unfortunately, that's about all the details Hesse ever gives regarding this back story. She leaves her protagonist almost completely in the dark and the readers even more in the dark because apparently Radley knew about this party and the potential chaos because she left for her stint in Haiti just before the inauguration. (The synopsis gives the impression that the election and inauguration and ensuing chaos all happen while she is in Haiti.)
Also, as a student of history who has seen history play out unfortunately similar (although not as drastic) just recently, I know that our constitution and all sorts of people in office at the state and local level will hold up and maintain those values. Our federal system simply will not fall apart because of something at the federal level, at least not to the dystopian level that Radley experiences.
Also, the ending, how it all goes away? Rather convenient.

Jacklyn O’Brien 

Nice short read. A journey to stay safe during times of unrest, and believable actions for a character of her age. The end had my so emotional and slightly unexpected.

Safekeeping

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