Upon first look at the cover and title of 'Arctic Zoo' it is almost impossible to decipher the content, style or subject matter of the novel. It is cluttered and in my opinion not particularly appealing, however after having read the book I can see that the cluttered cover portrays the chaotic nature of the world in which the two, 'regular' teenage main characters are positioned.
The opening is set in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK and introduces a number of young people undergoing therapy. This led me to believe that the story line would progress within the clinic showing a detailed insight into teenage mental health, a truly important issue that drastically needs to become less taboo in current society. However the timeline quickly jumps back a year to explain how the two main characters, a wealthy boy from Nigeria and a competitive drone pilot school girl from London found themselves in the same unit. These two relatively 'normal' teenagers find themselves thrust into physically and emotionally scarring situations such as kidnap, losing a sibling, unsought fame, terrorism and homosexuality in a Country in which it is illegal to have a relationship with a member of the same sex.
I found the plot fascinating and really struggled to put the book down, the structure of alternating the main character as the focus for each chapter combined with constant cliff hangers meant I was hooked. The themes and topics were really stimulating as they are aspects of life that are often overlooked or ignored and I admire Robert Muchamore for his bravery not only in tackling difficult issues but also for his honest preface to the book stating that much of the inspiration for 'Arctic Zoo' comes from his experiences in a psychiatric hospital. However I felt the emotional reactions of the characters to significantly traumatic experiences in their life were a little under-played and therefore not particularly believable.
The book is set against a strongly political backdrop showing the corruption of Nigerian politics and the flawed British democratic system which often ignores the opinions of its Citizens. It was particularly interesting that although the systems are so different many of the outcomes including terrorism and angry constituents were the same. This could also be said of the main characters, despite their vastly different lives and experiences they are both young people who want to make the world a better place without quite knowing how. They are both led into political turmoil by others, they both feel powerless, they both make mistakes and are both severely punished, however this makes them even more passionate about doing good. I think many young people in today's society feel this way and believe that many readers will empathise with and relate to this book.
The novel is well written, fast paced and before I knew it I had come to the end and was genuinely disappointed to stop reading. I would certainly recommend 'Arctic Zoo' for an action packed read with socio-economic and political themes.
The opening is set in an adolescent mental health unit in the UK and introduces a number of young people undergoing therapy. This led me to believe that the story line would progress within the clinic showing a detailed insight into teenage mental health, a truly important issue that drastically needs to become less taboo in current society. However the timeline quickly jumps back a year to explain how the two main characters, a wealthy boy from Nigeria and a competitive drone pilot school girl from London found themselves in the same unit. These two relatively 'normal' teenagers find themselves thrust into physically and emotionally scarring situations such as kidnap, losing a sibling, unsought fame, terrorism and homosexuality in a Country in which it is illegal to have a relationship with a member of the same sex.
I found the plot fascinating and really struggled to put the book down, the structure of alternating the main character as the focus for each chapter combined with constant cliff hangers meant I was hooked. The themes and topics were really stimulating as they are aspects of life that are often overlooked or ignored and I admire Robert Muchamore for his bravery not only in tackling difficult issues but also for his honest preface to the book stating that much of the inspiration for 'Arctic Zoo' comes from his experiences in a psychiatric hospital. However I felt the emotional reactions of the characters to significantly traumatic experiences in their life were a little under-played and therefore not particularly believable.
The book is set against a strongly political backdrop showing the corruption of Nigerian politics and the flawed British democratic system which often ignores the opinions of its Citizens. It was particularly interesting that although the systems are so different many of the outcomes including terrorism and angry constituents were the same. This could also be said of the main characters, despite their vastly different lives and experiences they are both young people who want to make the world a better place without quite knowing how. They are both led into political turmoil by others, they both feel powerless, they both make mistakes and are both severely punished, however this makes them even more passionate about doing good. I think many young people in today's society feel this way and believe that many readers will empathise with and relate to this book.
The novel is well written, fast paced and before I knew it I had come to the end and was genuinely disappointed to stop reading. I would certainly recommend 'Arctic Zoo' for an action packed read with socio-economic and political themes.