Reviews of Enclave by Kit Reed

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Reviews of Enclave by Kit Reed

Posted on 30. Nov, 2009 by Brad in Books and Authors | Twitter: @bradhart |

Enclave by Kit Reed

“Enclave,” Kit Reed’s gripping satire about children confined on a deserted island is sure to draw comparisons to “The Lord of the Flies.” She explores the classic themes of order versus chaos, how the survival of a community depends on the morality of its individuals and the relationships between youngsters and adults.

Sarge Whitmore, an idealistic ex-Marine, renovates an old Benedictine monastery set on a sheer cliff on an isolated island. He turns it into a school and recruits the children of mega-wealthy parents by using the threat of war. He claims Mount Clothos will be a safe haven for the children. The rich and famous see it as a way to get rid of their troubled and rebellious offspring while Sarge plans to create a perfect military society with these rejected kids and a staff of misfits – and make millions while doing it. the kids are cut off from everything in their former lives. Sarge shows them films of wars and disasters to make them think he’s protecting them from Armageddon. But disaster strikes in their impeneterable fortress. An ill stranger appears from nowhere, infection spreads and the only link to the outside world is broken.

This novel is part psychological thriller, part mystery and part dystopian science fiction. The carefully crafted plot, the use of internal dialogue and the multiple points of view to narrate engage the reader immediately. Reed portrays teenage angst perfectly. She gets inside her characters and their emotions ring true. Her characters may be flawed and immoral but they are fascinating, believable and heroic in their own way. It’s a brilliant thought provoking tale and highly recommended.

Publisher: Tor Books; 1 edition (February 3, 2009)

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2161-9

Hardcover: 368 Pages

Price: $29.95

Gail Pruszkowski reviews for “Romantic Times BOOKreviews” magazine and her work has been published in the “Cup of Comfort” Anthologies.

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By	Harriet Klausner – See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Former marine “Sarge” Whitemore renovates Clothos, an isolated island that once was a Benedictine monk monastery. The only survivor from the religious order is elderly lay brother Benny. After the reconstruction is completed, Sarge offers a deal to affluent parents with troubled youngsters. In exchange for an exorbitant amount of money, he informs them that he can save their dissolute off spring from themselves and the ugly world. Give him their kids so his “hermetically sealed private school” can “keep them safe”.

The response from bone weary emotionally shot adults is incredible as bidding wars over obtaining one of the hundred seats begin. Sarge collects the chosen hundred; tosses away their gizmos and on Destination Day takes them to the remote isle that the unhappy kids scornfully call Mount Clothos. Nothing works in accordance with the plan as the physician is a drunk, kids hack into the computer room, Benny hid an ailing friend whose illness has pandemically spread amongst the residents, and then there is the rest of the staff and the ghost.

Ironically in spite of his martinet throwback drill instructor persona, Sarge is not the champion of this intriguing story line. Instead the teens led by peer Killer Stade are the heroes as they fight to stop the virus spread and the mob mentality of the staff and faculty. Quite frankly adults are condemned (worse than in Wild in the Streets) as miscreants who fail at the ecology, at raising their kids, and at saving those stuck at the isolated island. Fans who appreciate something off beat will enjoy this satirical allegorical thriller that claims the boomers and Gen X as pathetic losers with the present teen generation the only hope to save the planet from its elders.

Harriet Klausner

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In this gripping dystopian satire, ex-marine Sargent Whitmore has a plan to make millions while protecting children from the self-destructing modern world. He turns an old Mediterranean monastery into a combined impenetrable fortress and school, and enrolls 100 filthy-rich children, most of them already well-known for legal troubles, drug problems and paparazzi run-ins. Once there, everyone is cut off from the outside world, fed only canned news stories about wars and natural disasters. When things inevitably go horribly wrong, young hacker “Killer” Stade, physician assistant Cassie, drug and sex-crazed Sylvie and monastery-raised orphan Benny all attempt heroics, but remain deeply flawed. Reed (The Baby Merchant) displays unflinching willingness to explore all the facets of all of the characters, and her refusal to paint anyone as a simple villain makes this far more than a typical disaster novel. (Feb.)
Copyright © 1997-2005 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”Her prose is seasoned with zesty turns of phrase. A feast of entertaining food for thought. It’s nourishing, tasty – and leaves you wanting more.” –The Associated Press on Thinner Than Thou

“Reed’s visionary tale is brilliant, though at times painful to read. The main characters all come to realize their strengths, who they are, and what is really important.” –Booklist on Thinner Than Thou

“[Kit Reed is] always incendiary.” –Vanity Fair