Yellow Locust by Justin Joschko is a far future dystopia where famine and war have decimated the North American continent. Selena and Simon Flood live in the tyrannical country of New Canaan. Following the fall of the tiny, prosperous territory of Niagara, New Canaan sets sights on the Republic of California, far across the Middle Wastes. When Selena’s parents acquire data on a terrifying new weapon they make plans to get it to the Republic, a last bastion of democracy. The elder Floods send their children away first, with a copy of the data, and plans to meet them within two weeks. Unfortunately, Selena learns her parents were captured and tortured. Taking Simon, she flees for California, to complete the mission herself. Unfortunately, they must pass through the Middle Wastes, the vast bulk of the continent covered in the inedible vile wheat known as Yellow Locust.
In the midst of desolation, the pair come to Fallowfield, an oasis of greenery kept free of the Yellow Locust by a chemical called Compound L. Selena tries to find passage to California, only to learn that winter snows blocked the mountains, and she’d be lucky to find a caravan til spring. Unable to earn decent money in the fields, she turns to pit fighting, a forbidden hobby of hers, and here she catches the eye of Marcus who proposes to take her on a fighting circuit to earn money, then take her to California. Before they can make proper plans, treachery forces Selena to flee Fallowfield without Simon. As she works to get back to him, things within the town begin heating up as the sharecroppers plot rebellion against the merchants who have grown fat from their labours whilst leaving them to starve.
I absolutely loved this story! Yes, it was similar to many other dystopic stories out there today. It’s a current popular genre. Yet while they all share similar themes by necessity, I find most enjoyable. What can I say? I love the genre. This story has not only the war element, but the far more terrifying and implacable element of man Vs nature. The Yellow Locust wheat has taken over the continent (perhaps the world, we don’t know). It is the ultimate invasive species, outgrowing and overgrowing everything, and it’s completely inedible. It makes kudzu look like a darling houseplant. Despite the thoroughly decimated population, New Canaan wants to make war on far California. Like The Handmaid’s Tale, New Canaan, situated in the current ‘Bible Belt’ of the US, has utterly trampled everything Christianity is supposed to stand for, ripping outdated obscurities from the Old Testament alone to justify horrendous and close-minded behaviour. I love stories where such societies get thoroughly trounced, and I hope it’s the case here, but we’ll have to wait til the next book to learn more.
I liked the interaction between Selena and Simon. He’s only eleven, and they come to have very different beliefs about what they should do now that their parents are gone. Simon doesn’t have the constitution to travel through the harsh landscape like Selena does. He’s young, and he’s been pampered in a way. He thinks they should stay in Fallowfield. The Mayor has even given him a job making paintings. Painting was considered folly in New Canaan, so this turn makes Simon feel useful and appreciated.
Fallowfield has its darkness too, as much as New Canaan. There’s the stark class disparity, enforced by the brutal Bernard, captain of the Shepherds, the ‘lawkeepers’. Really, they are all a bunch of bullies. And there’s the pit fighting, which serves as a social release valve among lower classes not just in Fallowfield, but New Canaan, and other settlements as well. That’s where Marcus comes in. He’s a fighter, but he recognises Selena’s talent and makes a deal with her. She helps him get the cash he needs to pay back a steep debt, and he will see her safe to California. He was my favourite character. He’s quite the mercenary, but a great person to have by your side in a serious fight.
Overall, a great read, and I really want the next one now! It’s definitely meant for older audiences with the graphicness of some scenes.
***Many thanks to Chapter by Chapter Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
