Jamal is excited and apprehensive at the same time as he plans to attend a protest march in the city of Baltimore. Yet another black man has been killed by a police officer, and the sentence handed down, unfair. Jamal’s mum is unhappy about him going, but at Jamal’s insistence he will be with a white friend, she relaxes a little.

A journalism career is in Jamal’s sights and photos from the protest will be perfect for his portfolio. When his friend pulls out of the trip, Jamal is angry but not dissuaded from going on his own. With his camera bag over his shoulder he sets off into the streets of Baltimore to get compelling shots.

The protest is loud but peaceful and Jamal is taking photos of the participants and police presence. An officer suddenly takes offence and demands Jamal’s camera gear. Someone steps in to help Jamal and before they know it – chaos is rife.

An incredibly bright light fills the streets, spreading across the sky and all around them. Police become SWAT teams in high tech black suits and armour. Jamal flees in terror with his new friend. His name is Marco and somehow he knew this was about to happen.

In hiding with Marco in a stranger’s house, Jamal learns more about the light. It is in the shape of a dome, encircling the greater part of Baltimore, trapping all those deemed to be troublemakers by the police – inside.

Marco is part of a resistance organisation called Nemesis. Part terrified, part in awe of Marco, Jamal begins grilling him for all that he knows, just wanting to go home.

But someone has to stand up to the corrupt powers that be, and Jamal, Marco and a soldier-in-training called Catherine just might be the ones angry enough to do it.

A dystopian novel grounded in the all-too-real world – Survive the Dome is confronting and violent, as raw racism runs riot. The concept of placing an impenetrable dome over those deemed troublemakers (protesting against so-called lawmakers) is a riveting premise, and all sorts of wrong at the same time.

The fact that no one can see what’s going on inside the dome and all communication is blocked, allows military-styled police to lash out in full force. This terror filled action sweeps up anyone inside the dome, including young children and elderly – with no remorse. The concept was actually more chilling than the novel itself as main character Jamal spends a lot of time in his head with internal monologue, which often interrupted the flow of the story.

Survive the Dome is full of action, courage, quick thinking and planning in equal measure, as well as being a queer love story, which looks like will continue in another book? Although I would’ve liked to be in the action more than Jamal’s head, I look forward to his next adventure with Marco and Catherine – in full flight mode.

Author – Kosoko Jackson

Age – 13+

(2023, Sourcebooks, Racism, BLM, Black Lives Matter, Protest March, Police Brutality, SWAT teams, Dome, Loss of Freedom, Control, Power, Hate, Violence, Family, Tech, Resistance Movement, Corruption, Dirty Cops, Series, Nemesis, Courage, Queer, LGBTQ+, Baltimore, Journalist, Photography, Evidence, Crime)