The Objectors

Three years in the making, The Objectors is due to launch on Sunday, 18^th July at 4pm. In these dystopian times, the Young Adult novel with 42 chapters, and set in 2042, will enter the world via the medium of Zoom. Details of the launch can be found on the Facebook events page.  It is written by Kevin Brooke, who achieved First Class Honours in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Worcester in 2018 and illustrated by fellow Creative Writing student Seraphim Bryant, who recently achieved a Master’s in illustration.

The promotional video is available on Youtube

The story began as a University dissertation and its aim has always been to highlight the power of Objection and the strength of standing up for what you believe. Its three main characters include a Quaker, a Christian and a girl of Spiritual upbringing, all of whom refuse an evil regime’s demands to murder six of their own.  Although it is set in a dystopian future, it focusses on major contemporary discourse such as economic division, citizenship, identity, global warming and the need for sustainable resources.

Full Synopsis

The year is 2042. England is cut-off from the former UK, Europe and the world. As resources dwindle, The Entitlement Party creates a devastating scheme to reduce the population. On their sixteenth birthday, young people of underling class are selected at random to eliminate six people. The reward for fulfilling their contract is to win their place amongst the elite.

Samarah, Ethan and Ellie-Mae, each of whom has a different reason to object, refuse to sign the contract. As civilisation crumbles, and a programme of genocide is uncovered, the regime deploys its synthetic warriors to destroy an underling rebellion. The only force that can prevent victory for evil is the spirit and collective strength of three young people.

It is published by Black Pear Press and available to pre-order now

Reviews

I am extremely grateful to the young readers who have offered feedback on The Objectors:

’I really enjoyed the idea of how the younger generation is often to blame for mistakes that the older generation has made. It made it relatable to issues in our society. I also felt that the range and depth of the characters made the book extremely interesting.’

Louisa Fullerton, 17

’The book is aimed at older children and this gave the story action and adventure. It had an interesting dark side and I couldn’t put it down.’

Noah Benedict, 13

’I thought it was great! It was super engaging and exciting to read and kept me on the edge of my seat. I like how different it is from Kevin’s other books, and I like how real the characters felt.’

Harriet Meek, 14

After their recent success with Max & Luchia: The Game Makers, a story that led to the successful partnership The Story Knights, Kevin and Seraphim aim to continue their blend of encouraging reading, writing and illustration alongside storytelling, to an expanding audience of young people.