by Trace Kerr
Published on May 19, 2020 by Ooligan Press
ISBN: 9781947845169
Format: Paperback
Pages: 242
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Never leave someone behind: it’s a promise easier made than kept, especially when seventeen-year-old Pip takes the headstrong twelve-year-old Iris under her protection in the wake of an earth-shattering plague.
After an unspeakable tragedy, the duo must navigate the nearly unrecognizable remains of Spokane, facing roving slave traders, merciless gangs―and worse. Pip and Iris soon meet Fly, a stubborn and courageous older girl, and as the three grow closer and their circumstances grow more perilous, they must also grapple with their own identities in this cruel new world. Pip’s vow to never leave someone behind may have made survival more difficult for her, but this promise could also be the key to finding meaning in the ashes of what came before.
The Writing Couldn’t Keep My Attention
I’ve reached the point in my reading career where I can generally tell when a book isn’t for me based on the opening pages. Either the story’s voice or the story itself will draw me in… or they won’t. With The Names We Take, I knew I wouldn’t click with this book from the start.
Much of it comes down to execution. I’m pickier about dystopians since the last rush of them in the early 2010’s, which is just the struggle of reading a lot in the same genre. For me, The Names We Take wasn’t following through on its potential. The story just lacked that extra something. I didn’t connect with the writing which read more as telling rather than showing — and there’s nothing wrong with telling in moderation, in this case there was too much and I was distanced as a reader.
I’m pretty sure this contributed a lot to where my focus went. I had more questions about the world and wanted less of the characters. The threat Pip is under never felt solid enough to give me the tension I was looking for, and eventually I gave up asking questions I wasn’t getting answers to.
I’d like to say that the one great aspect of The Names We Take is the inclusion of an intersex character but I’m not in a position to speak to how this representation is handled. I felt like the diversity was built into the story as much as the plot which was great, but I would look to those better able to speak to how it’s presented before recommending it for that alone.
And that’s all I really have to say on this one. The portion I read didn’t leave much of an impression and I moved on from it pretty quickly.
I considered whether the current global situation had an impact on my reading experience but I don’t feel compelled to return to this book again so I’m going to say it wasn’t a factor. I think there are readers out there who will enjoy this character-driven story against a post-apocalyptic backdrop. Unfortunately I wasn’t one of them and DNFed The Names We Take at the 68% mark.
About Austine
I'm a 20-something research proposal developer with a background in the life sciences and education. Reviewer of books since 2011, amateur photographer by day, and aspiring author by night. I believe animals (and books) are better than people.
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