Reviews

Children of Refuge by Margaret Peterson Haddix

13iscute's review

3.0

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2019:
#9 A book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads

Spoiler

Book #2 in this series takes over from the point of view of Edwy. His parents smuggle him over the border to nearby Refuge City to hide with his older brother and sister. While there, he learns the ways of his words and that the Freds are aliens and that the people in Ref City lie and cheat and he is learning to fit right in. But the teachings of the Freds tug at him and he aches to know what has happened to his friend Rosi. With the help of his sister, he learns that Rosi was arrested and escaped from prison and has the two young kids with them. They know that the kids will never be able to get across the border, so Edwy, his brother and sister, and another girl from a Fredtown he met, go to rescue the others. They are successful at subduing four Enforcers, but at the end of the book, they find out that their escapade has caused Refuge City to be taken over by the Enforcers.

This book was faster and more engaging than the first one, maybe because I knew what was going on from the first book, so it didn't have to be so shadowy and evasive. But it was a lot of exposition and not a lot of action until the end. It was also sweet to see how much Edwy cared for Rosi, even though from her perspective you didn't think he cared too much. Why do all the characters have such unusual names?

agatha_hopkins's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

yapha's review

4.0

In this second book in the Children of Exile series, we follow Edwy's story. He is separated from Rosi, kidnapped by his own father, and sent to live with an older brother and sister that he never knew he had in Refuge City. The more he learns about Refuge City, the more he realizes how vastly different than anything Fredtown and the Freds prepared him for. When he learns what happened to Rosi (which was in the first book), he sets aside his new life in Refuge City to find her. The non-stop action will keep readers engaged while questioning the lessons they are taught by the well-meaning adults in their lives. It is full of plenty of Haddix's signature twists as well! Please read the series in order. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

nerfherder86's review

4.0

The action increases apace, with the POV narrator now that of Edwy, Rosi's frenemy from book one. I liked the premise of an alien race interfering in Earth's affairs because we (humans) are too warlike. Lots to discuss in this trilogy about peaceful conflict resolution vs violence, and getting along with our intergalactic neighbors. Oh and of course, ends on a cliffhanger!

vicki_s's review against another edition

3.0

This would be good if I was a twelve year old. I rounded up to three stars as I'm not the target audience.

srl5041's review against another edition

4.0

Haddix has such an incredible way with words. As usual, Refuge kept me on the edge of my seat, always wanting more, unable to put down! Cannot wait for book 3!

agettler24's review against another edition

4.0

Always of fan of Haddix's work! Once again you are turning pages to see what is going to happen next. Love the way she keeps the suspense and wonder.

junkyardigan's review against another edition

2.0

I read the first book in the summer and I thought it was a pretty good series and I love Margaret's books because she writes a lot of dystopian, but this one was pretty disappointing. the characters are so frustrating, being so conflicted. I feel like she put too many conflicts in the first half, the second half was not very interesting personally. if you read the first book, you don't have to read the second book.

pat720's review against another edition

3.0

I honestly dont know why people like this book that much.

ekschulz's review against another edition

3.0

So much of what made the first book captivating was the mysterious nature of what was really happening. Children of Refuge lacks that captivation factor because it is written from the perspective of Edwy. He still hasn't figured out many aspects of his situation, while his counterpart in the first book knows everything. Because of this, he's slowly discovering over the course of the whole book what Rosi discovered in the climax of the last book.

On the bright side, Haddix does a great job of creating a likable and believable 12 year old rebel. His voice (full of questions) rings true.