Book Shelf: When We Wake (When We Wake #1) by Karen Healey

My name is Tegan Oglietti, and on the last day of my first lifetime, I was so, so happy.

Sixteen-year-old Tegan is just like every other girl living in 2027--she's happiest when playing the guitar, she's falling in love for the first time, and she's joining her friends to protest the wrongs of the world: environmental collapse, social discrimination, and political injustice.

But on what should have been the best day of Tegan's life, she dies--and wakes up a hundred years in the future, locked in a government facility with no idea what happened.

Tegan is the first government guinea pig to be cryonically frozen and successfully revived, which makes her an instant celebrity--even though all she wants to do is try to rebuild some semblance of a normal life. But the future isn't all she hoped it would be, and when appalling secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: Does she keep her head down and survive, or fight for a better future?

Award-winning author Karen Healey has created a haunting, cautionary tale of an inspiring protagonist living in a not-so-distant future that could easily be our own.

More  info on Goodreads....


Review:

When We Wake is a fantastic edition to the Australian/New Zealand fiction world with Karen Healey's latest novel exploring deep hard-hitting issues and what it means to be human in this futuristic tale that will thoroughly entertain!

I was quite impressed with this book! Admittedly, I expected big things after reading the description, and while it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, what I discovered was an unexpected surprise. It's been a while since I've read a story set in right here in Australia and Healey's futuristic story of a world surprisingly not that different than the one we live in now was a breath of fresh air.

Author Karen Healy very cleverly explored the hard hitting issues of religion, racial discrimination, gender change, same sex relationships and more in this book. Set in futuristic Australia where so much has changed and yet nothing has changed, Healy steps outside the box as she introduces us to various characters of different backgrounds and personalities. It was really nice to see so much multiculturalism within When We Wake. There were characters of different physical physiques, backgrounds and cultures front and center in this story and with so many similar tales out there it was refreshing to read something that were so very different.

Our main character within When We Wake is Tegan Oglietti, a girl from the 21st century who wakes to find that not only did she die on one of the very best days of her life, but it's a hundred years later and everything she loves and everyone she knows is gone. My goodness did I really like Tegan as a character! Healy has written her so perfectly. Waking up to find her world entirely changed, the struggles and issues Tegan faces are so very plausible. You really feel for this girl as she attempts to adjust and make the best out of this world she lives in. The things she goes through are very plausible considering the situation and I think that this was a genius decision on Healy's part; to write the story, and Tegan, like that.

Tegan shares a sweet, blossoming romance with Abdi, a migrant to Australia and a "thirdie", an outcast who is severely impacted by the migrant policies that are in place during this time. She also forms a strong friendship with fellow army brat and Muslim journalist Bethari as well as a touching friendship with her guardian Marie. These characters are layered and not typical and their relationships with Tegan prove to be a great edition to the story.

When We Wake is nicely paced with an entertaining and interesting storyline which kept my attention from start to finish. With this chapter of Tegan's journey coming to a close, I find myself very eager to see what will happen next. Will she manage to rescue her captured friends? Will she be able to convince the public about the Ark Project and has Tegan and Abdi seen the last of the Inheritors of the Earth? Looking forward to what Karen Healy does with this series next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Allen & Unwin (Thank you Lara!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: Available now!
Buy it: Booktopia // The Nile // The Book Depository
Recommendation: Fans of the sci-fi/dystopian will enjoy this
Cover: Wow! This cover is amazing. It looks soooo amazing in real life--just amazing.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes. I want to read more.