Margin Notes

Have you ever wondered what the world could be like in the near future if we don’t stop climate change? And a corporation takes over Seattle and builds three domes to protect people from the elements and a deadly virus?

Well, if you haven’t, Cassandra Newbould who wrote Climate of Chaos has.

Climate of Chaos follows a teenage girl named Fox LaRosa who was injured in the violent storm that killed her parents and left her in need of a cane to walk comfortably. She lives within a rebel encampment in the forest surrounding Seattle. The book begins with Fox trying to prove to her mercenary aunt that she’s just as capable as her star sister. When a medicine heist that is supposed to earn Fox a place in the big leagues and finally gain her aunt’s respect goes wrong, her sister Rabbit is taken by the Aegis Corporation (creators of the Domes) for an unknown reason. After Rabbit is taken, Fox makes it her mission to save her sister and expose the company’s dark secrets, only to discover that even the people she trusts most are not always who they seem.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and it felt like an easy read because it’s similar to other books I have read in the past, such as The Hunger Games. Cassandra Newbould did an excellent job building this world, while leaving enough details open for readers to use their imagination. Fox is quite an interesting protagonist because she uses a cane, which is not something I have seen represented very often in other books.

The world building, which is really important in any story, but especially in a dystopian novel, was extremely well done and the plot’s progression really helped keep me glued to the story. While I was reading, I could really imagine and visualize this world which helped me enjoy the book more. As the book ends on a major cliffhanger, I think it’s safe to say that there will probably be a sequel to the book.

This is Cassandra Newbould’s first dystopian novel, and I think it is definitely a strong start.  I recommend this book to anyone who likes The Hunger Games or other stories about young adults overcoming the environments they are forced into.

Jack McDougall is a Grade 10 student at Fredericton High School who has been writing stories since elementary school. His most notable work is the unpublished “Cat in Space” series, which he began writing at the ripe age of eight while bored in class. Outside of school, Jack enjoys playing video games, fishing, and playing the violin. He is also the recipient of a Grade 8 music award and enjoys writing random things that come to mind whenever he feels inclined.