If you love gritty, fast-paced YA with real-world inspiration, this book is for you! The action keeps you turning pages, while the three-perspective storytelling (Jin, Mei Yee, and Dai) brings the city to life. The Walled City stands out with its detailed setting based on Hong Kong’s infamous Kowloon Walled City, and it bravely tackles tough topics like human trafficking, survival, and sisterly love. Fans of thrilling escapes, character-driven stories, and hard-hitting social issues (think: fans of Ruta Sepetys or Marie Lu) will find a lot to love here. Also, the cast is fully POC - yay for diversity!

Who May Not Like This Book:

Sensitive readers should be aware: this is a dark and sometimes harrowing tale, touching on violence, exploitation, and trauma (though never gratuitously). Some may find the pacing slow at the start and have issues with the romance element (which can lean toward "insta-love"). The bleak setting and tough themes might not be for everyone, especially younger or squeamish readers. If you dislike alternating POV chapters or are looking for light, happy reads, you might want to pass.

Brave, raw, and beautifully written - a gripping YA thriller inspired by true events. It’s intense, impactful, and offers a glimmer of hope in the darkest places.

About:

The Walled City by Ryan Graudin is a fast-paced YA novel inspired by the real Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong. The story follows three teenaged inhabitants - Dai, Jin, and Mei Yee - as they navigate the dangerous and violent world of the Walled City. The alternating points of view provide insight into their lives and struggles, from human trafficking and prostitution to survival and hope in a hopeless environment. The author's vivid world-building, detailed setting, and well-crafted characters create a gripping story that delves into themes of trust, survival, and the power of hope in a dark and oppressive world.

Characters:

The characters are well-defined and complex, each with their distinct motivations and personal growth through the story.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by its alternating perspectives, engaging prose, and an urgent pacing that enhances the story's tension.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around three interconnected characters navigating a lawless city marked by crime and exploitation, highlighting their struggles for survival against overwhelming odds.

Setting:

The setting is a dark, oppressive city that serves as a crucial backdrop to the themes of survival and exploitation.

Pacing:

The pacing is steady and engaging, with a buildup of tension leading to more intense action in later chapters.

My lungs burn, bite for air. Water stings my eyes. Crumpled wrappers, half-finished cigarettes. A dead animal—too far gone to tell what it used to be. Carpets of glass, bottles smashed by drunk men. A...

Notes:

The Walled City is inspired by the real Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong.

Kowloon Walled City was a military fort before becoming a lawless area full of crime and poverty.

The story consists of three main characters: Jin, Mei Yee, and Dai, who each have their own struggles in the Walled City.

Jin disguises herself as a boy to survive in the dangerous city while searching for her sister.

Mei Yee, sold into prostitution by her father, longs for freedom and is at the mercy of a corrupt gang leader.

Dai, another character, is seeking redemption for his past mistakes by trying to infiltrate the drug lord's operations.

The narrative alternates between the three characters' points of view, enhancing reader connection with each storyline.

The book addresses serious themes like human trafficking, crime, and survival in a bleak environment.

Despite its dark themes, the book maintains an underlying message of hope and resilience.

The author includes pictures of the actual Walled City to provide context and deepen the reader's understanding of the setting.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for The Walled City include high themes of human trafficking, abuse, violence, and drug use, as well as a trigger warning for rape.

From The Publisher:

There are three rules in the Walled City: Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife. Right now, my life depends completely on the first. Run, run, run.

Jin, Mei Yee, and Dai all live in the Walled City, a lawless labyrinth run by crime lords and overrun by street gangs. Teens there traffic drugs or work in brothels-or, like Jin, hide under the radar. But when Dai offers Jin a chance to find her lost sister, Mei Yee, she begins a breathtaking race against the clock to escape the Walled City itself.

November 2014

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448 pages

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The Walled City

Ryan Graudin

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