Title: Bootleg
Author: Alex Shearer
Major Themes: Chocolate, Oppression
Synopsis: Finding themselves in a world where chocolate has been banned, Huntly and Smudger become bootleggers to supply local connoisseurs with their favorite treat.
Several years ago, friends of mine were describing a book they had about a culture where all sweet foods were banned, and two intrepid boys who figured out how to make and sell chocolate on the black market. I thought it sounded like fun, so I borrowed Bootleg, but it ended up sitting on the shelf, untouched, for quite a while. I realized last week that I needed to get the book back to them when I was going past on a trip, so I quickly read it. What a fun story! Not the kind of thing I’d want to read just any day, but as a once-off, it was a fun experience, and I enjoyed having an excuse to stay up late reading a couple of nights.
Huntly and Smudger, long-time friends, are horrified one day when they find out that the Good For You party are banning their favorite treats—most notably, chocolate. They eat the last of their stashes together, mourning the fact that their children will never know the joy of eating chocolate together—and watch as the Chocolate Police go door-to-door, demanding that families give up whatever they have in their house. The Good For You party will make sure people eat fruit and other non-sugary treats from now on. Huntly and Smudger aren’t sure what to do—until one day at school when they find out that someone is selling chocolate on the black market. When they are almost discovered buying some of the illegal candy, they are determined to do what they can against the unfair regime. Then, they discover a stash of ingredients for making chocolate. Can they find a recipe, and start making their own chocolate? Bootlegging is a dangerous business—if the Chocolate Police discover what they are up to, they’ll be sent off to a reeducation camp. Can they evade the police long enough for change to come to the country through their efforts?
One of the big things I loved about Bootleg was watching how people from many different walks banded together to help each other in their efforts to get something they all wanted. This isn’t a Christian story, but seeing them work together was beautiful.
On the flip side, one of the things I didn’t like about this story was the amount of lying that had to go on to make an operation like this possible. The children never told their parents what they were into, and that isn’t right, in my opinion. I also struggle with the idea that we should do all we can to overthrow corrupt governments, as this book seems to support. The Apostle Paul lived under a very corrupt government, yet you never read of him telling Christians that they should overthrow Rome—that’s not Jesus’ way.
Those two points aside, Bootleg was an entertaining book, and I’m glad I got the chance to read it. If you or your children enjoy adventure stories, this is definitely one of those. There’s also a delightful thread of British culture accenting the story, with some wonderful dry British humor sprinkled liberally throughout. If you’re looking for something different from the norm to read, I’d recommend this book.
WARNING: See the second-last paragraph. Children lie to their parents in multiple chapters throughout the book. Adults also lie at times to hide the bootlegging. On pg. 84, the effects of a laxative on a bunch of children are described. On pg. 198, a boy appears who has had his spirit broken and has been brainwashed. A boy is manhandled somewhat on pg. 215, and following that, he is sent to a reeducation camp. Near the end of the book, there is a bit of violence as people try to overthrow the regime. Hell appears on pg. 35, 311, 320, and 333; flipping is used on pg. 67, 149, and 323; goodness is used on pg. 102 and 302; cor is used on pg. 120; damn is used on pg. 143, 316 (twice), and 320; heavens or a variant is used on pg. 164 and 242; swear or sworn is used on pg. 168, 190, 259, and 313; and gosh is used on pg. 206.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Audible Audiobook (abridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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