Outwalkers takes place in a dystopian near-future England where the government implants tracking chips into its people at birth to maintain surveillance over everyone, preventing anyone from leaving the country, which has been closed off from the rest of the world. The story follows Jacob Riley, or Jake, whose parents died in a car accident three months prior to the events of the novel. As an orphan, Jake is sent to a Home Academy, a dismal, oppressive orphanage run by the government. But Jake's main goal throughout the entire story is to find his grandparents in Scotland, keeping the promise he made to his parents if anything ever happened to them. Jake escapes, reuniting with his dog, Jet, and comes across a gang of children like him called the Outwalkers. He travels with this group of runaways through the heavily monitored and dangerous country in hopes of finding safety beyond the borders, relying on each other and doing whatever it takes to survive.
This book was an amazing read, full of action, emotion, and chilling realism. The characters are very well-written, each shaped by their different lives, circumstances, and goals, making them feel real and human. Each character has their own distinct voice and personality, which helps the reader truly connect with the individual members of the group. The story has powerful themes of survival, freedom, and loyalty. While there are a few topics that may be better suited for slightly older audiences, Outwalkers is overall a compelling adventure with a very strong emotional core, perfect for fans of dystopian novels or character-driven stories.