The story is set in a post apocalypse period. Twenty years ago thirteen couples established home on an island where, for protection against zombies and hostiles, they destroyed the bridge linking them to the mainland. Their home is a fort, the centrepiece of which is the armoury holding a massive collection of weapons and ammunition. The adult members of the militia are the elite, the women – mothers and housewives.
The story is told through the eyes of Bowie, an older teenager who is captain of the cadets – an armed and trained youth militia. An aeroplane crashes in the forbidden zone on the edge of the island. Against orders, Bowie leads his cadets to explore. Rescuing a teenage girl from ‘outside’, whom is neither a zombie nor a hostile, turns out to be a seismic event for the community, the cadets and Bowie especially.
Told with pace, the snappy dialogue and Bowie’s thoughts add to that pace and character interplay, and lead to a climactic ending of discovery.
Set against a well crafted background, the coming of age story takes place across a turbulent few days. Although starkly presented here, the story nevertheless encapsulates the issues and challenges that face young people of all generations. It also offers an interesting perspective on how today’s society might handle the diverse groups of those dissatisfied with that society.