Maggot Moon

Maggot Moon

by Sally Gardner

Standish Treadwell
Can't read, can't write,
Standish Treadwell isn't bright.
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Standish is "impure".  He isn't physically perfect.  He's got one blue eye and one brown one.  He can't read or write well despite being 15 years old with parents who both used to work at his school.

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But Standish isn't dumb.

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Standish knows the Motherland is evil.

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Standish knows the Motherland is fake.

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Standish knows that anyone who says the Motherland is evil and fake will disappear into the maggot fields and never be seen again.

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Standish knows the Motherland is lying to everyone and he knows he's the only one who can prove it.

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Final thoughts:  Weird vibe on this one.  It's an alternate reality historical fiction.  The Motherland is a Nazi-like country. The book is set in the 50's, with references to Cadillacs and Lucille Ball. The Motherland officials are trying to convince the world that they are going to send ships to the moon, set up weapons there, and then aim the weapons at any country that goes against them.  Everything in the book seems to fit, but it's all a little disconcerting, as well.  Hard to get a feel on this one.

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Rating: 3/5
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