With the intensity of The Handmaid’s Tale, the drama of Divergent and the political intrigue of The Darkest Minds series, The Snow Laundry is a captivating, fast-paced thriller set in a dystopian world not so different from our own.
Seventeen-year-old Ally is one of 400 homeless young people who have been promised new and better lives in exchange for their votes. The once homeless children and teenagers are now warm and fed. But they are forced to work for the new administration – and their new home is really a prison.
When Ally’s boyfriend Bon vanishes into thin air, her search for him leads her to discovering that the homeless kids are really lab rats intended for scientific testing. And as Ally delves deeper into her search for Bon, she learns the frightening truth behind his disappearance.
The Snow Laundry is Sydney-based Danish author and playwright Mette Jakobsen’s first foray into YA fiction. Her adult novels, including The Vanishing Act, have been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize and topped the Indie Book List. She’s developed a cracking premise for The Snow Laundry – while it’s not clear exactly where it’s set, or how far into the future, it’s not set in the world as we know it. This world is harsh and cruel, especially to Ally and the other homeless children forced to work laborous tasks.
This novel isn’t for the faint-hearted – it’s recommended for YA readers aged 14+ as there are some dark themes and violence. Ally and her friend Fi are great female characters in the vein of other YA favourites like Katniss from The Hunger Games or Tris from Divergent. Ally exhibits immense courage, as she contends with life or death scenarios that (thankfully!) most seventeen year old’s never have to! I definitely wouldn’t want to be in her position, but I’m inspired by her strength of character and look forward to seeing how the novel concludes in part 2, which is set to be released in April 2023.
The Snow Laundry is a must-read for YA readers who love a fast-paced, disturbing, futuristic read. Fans of Alexandra Bracken and Suzanne Collins, look no further!
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