Publishers Weekly
10/03/2016
Loyalties are tested and family bonds are stretched in Simmons's complex tale of friendships forged in necessity, set in a grim future. Tri-City is an outpost of civilization in the wake of war, disease, and famine; teenagers Ty and Colin work in a munitions factory in Metaltown, the most hardscrabble part of the city. In Metaltown, everyone must work, but that work doesn't guarantee a paycheck: hunger and desperation are a way of life. Lena, daughter of the factory owner, is kept out of harm's way in the River District, desperate for her father's approval and something to believe in. After meeting Colin and seeing the conditions in which he and Ty work, Lena finds her cause, even as Colin takes it upon himself to improve conditions from the inside. Through the story can sometimes get lost as it draws in elements of romance, social justice, mystery, and corruption, Simmons (The Glass Arrow) paints a visceral portrait of inequality while using themes of connectedness and collaboration to pull the story's seemingly disparate parts together. Ages 13–up. Agent: Joanna MacKenzie, Browne & Miller Literary Associates. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
I’m clutching my mangled heart and smiling madly. It’s that kind of book. Such gorgeous heartbreak! Ty, Colin, and Lena owned me for 372 pages, and long after I finished reading. Smart, absorbing, and deeply human.”—Laini Taylor, National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Daughter of Smoke & Bone
“Metaltown is a raw, heart-racing tale of kids trying to survive in a society with nothing to lose. The most intense aspect is not its grittiness, but its familiarity: Simmons has created a story that is equal parts distant, war-torn fantasy and close-to-home, classist reality. Prepare to be destroyed.”—Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of Snow Like Ashes
“Kristen Simmons’ Metaltown is a compelling, inspiring read. The industrial setting is reminiscent of turn of the century works like The Jungle, and the characters had me rooting for rebels, fights worth fighting, and girls with gumption. By the time it was over, I had my fist in the air.”—Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood
“A page turner. The characters absolutely stole my heart.”—Katie McGarry, author of Nowhere But Here
“In her latest, Simmons paints a bleak picture of the future. [Simmons] creates multifaceted characters that are hard to dismiss. It is an unrelentingly grim place, such details as the rat meat Ty and Colin are too poor to buy bringing it to life. In this gritty tale of intrigue, corruption, greed, and human rights, Simmons offers readers a savvy take on a post-apocalyptic society.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The horrors each character faces—abuse, hunger, violence, a work accident with detrimental effects—are written about in a raw and realistic way. Rife with social commentary, this gritty, stand-alone dystopian novel will keep readers engaged.”—School Library Journal
School Library Journal
08/01/2016
Gr 10 Up—Ty and Colin have learned to survive in Metaltown: they keep their heads down, guard each other's backs, and put their lives at risk each day just to keep their jobs at Small Parts, a weapons factory that employs minors. Then things change. Jed Schultz, creator of the Brotherhood, an organization that acts as a liaison between the adult workers of Metaltown and the Hamptons, the family who owns everything, takes notice of Colin. The teen soon learns that protection—and freedom—have a price. At the same time, Lena Hampton, naive and eager to learn about her family's weapons factory, gets involved with Colin and Ty's fight for equality. Together, the Small Parts factory workers take on the Brotherhood and Lena's father, who will do whatever it takes to keep the war going and preserve the Hampton fortune. This speculative novel is told from alternating perspectives, allowing readers to connect with Ty, Colin, and Lena. The horrors each character faces—abuse, hunger, violence, a work accident with detrimental effects—are written about in a raw and realistic way. Throughout, there are hints of a possible love triangle brewing, but the harsh reality of Metaltown and the conflicts taking place prevent romance from blossoming. While the story ends with optimism for the future, Simmons does not pull back and tragically, not all characters live to see this hope. VERDICT Rife with social commentary, this gritty, stand-alone dystopian novel will keep readers engaged and belongs in most collections.—Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ
Kirkus Reviews
2016-07-02
In her latest, Simmons paints a bleak picture of the future. Famine has hit, contaminated corn has wiped out a portion of the population, and the world is in a constant state of war. At the center of it all is Metaltown, a factory town that produces many of the weapons powering the war. For many of Metaltown’s citizens, including fair-skinned best friends Colin and Ty, backbreaking factory work is one of the only means of survival. The only protection in town is provided by the Brotherhood, but even that comes at a price. Then there’s Lena, the spoiled, beautiful, olive-skinned daughter of the man who owns the factories. She is determined to prove to her ruthless father that she too can run the family company, but it is not long before she learns the dark side of the business. Meeting Colin further opens her eyes to the truth. And when Ty is hurt on the job, these three set off a series of events that will change Metaltown forever. While Simmons gives few hints of the world surrounding Metaltown, she creates multifaceted characters that are hard to dismiss. It is an unrelentingly grim place, such details as the rat meat Ty and Colin are too poor to buy bringing it to life. In this gritty tale of intrigue, corruption, greed, and human rights, Simmons offers readers a savvy take on a post-apocalyptic society.
