One of the things I don’t like about some books is how they don’t have a synopsis on the cover — my borrowed copy of The One Safe Place didn’t, and I got annoyed that I had to do a Google search to find out what the book is about. There were quotes about how good the book was and all that stuff, but no synopsis. Urgh. Publishers, if you’re reading this, please don’t annoy your readers and not put the synopsis of the book. I don’t want to pick up a pretty cover and have no clue what I’m getting into.
Warning: Spoiler alert, you know the drill.
In a world where global warming has taken the Earth siege, Devin, a young boy, lives on a farm with his grandfather. But when his grandfather dies, Devin realises that he cannot cope with the workload on the farm and heads towards the city to find some help.
There are lots of people in the city, and he meets Kit, who introduces him to his new life as a homeless child. He sees that many children are destitute and that they have to resort to stealing to get enough to eat. Devin quickly gets rumours of a safe haven for the kids, and another child by the name of Roman brings him there. Of course, nothing is as it seems, and Devin quickly observes that some children get into a trance or a “dream”, eating dirt and making a fool out of themselves.
Unsworth writes clearly, making this book ideal for children who would like a challenge in reading between the lines. Guessing at what evil thing the adults have subjected these kids to is also intriguing, and we get at the puzzle layer by layer. The characters are well-developed and likeable, and we feel sorry for them when one of them dies. Kit’s desire for possessions are all too easy to understand as she has lost everything, and Ansel holding onto his memories of playing soccer are what keep him safe in the place.
Unsworth leaves clues to keep her readings guessing, and eventually, we know what happens to the children when the enter these “dreams”. She also uses her characters’ special traits, like Devin’s memory, Luke’s intelligence and Roman’s ability to throw well, to help them escape the home.
The One Safe Place is a page turner, and one that will keep readers, especially younger ones, in suspense. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t shy away from the issues that plague our society, but gives us hope that we may be able to conquer them, be they in the guise of adults or something even more horrible, like the destruction of the environment.
7/10