Calm Written by S. J. Baker. Reviewed by Iona, Age 14

Calm by S.J. Baker is a dystopian novel set in Britain, where the population’s water is drugged so that people no longer feel emotions and are lulled into apathy – they call this “the Great Calm”. Among the population are resistors who fight within the system, two of which are Tiegan and Owyn. They follow different paths in their struggle for freedom but are reunited at the end of the story.

I didn’t find it easy to get into the book at first. The novel was written in dual perspective alternating between Tiegan and Owyn’s journeys, with the chapters being quite short at the start and the novel beginning in the midst of action. I felt that this made it hard to follow the story as it was constantly flipping back and forth between two separate lives with little explanation of the characters’ backstories or why they were in trouble to begin with. However, once I got more into it, I found that the dual perspective added to the suspense of the story, even though I wished that Tiegan and Owyn had met earlier on.

I found it interesting to read a novel that was based on emotions and human nature and how different our world would be if we got rid of these. It left a strong statement on how our emotions may be challenging sometimes but in the end, they’re what makes us humans, and we’re much better off how we are now, than if someone tampered with them. The story was eerily believable as if it were a warning that to try and control a population would end catastrophically.

Although the book had many twists and dramatic revelations, I felt that they were somewhat predictable which dampened the climax for me. I also would have liked more scene building to help better picture the world Tiegan and Owyn lived in.

I would have also liked more of a backstory to “the Great Calm” to better understand why this was happening, how Britain had got to this stage, who was specifically behind it and how the population first reacted to the drug. Hopefully, if a sequel will follow, S.J. Baker could answer some of these questions.

I liked the questions for the readers at the end of the book to help them think about some of the themes developed in the novel, making it more immersive. I found it interesting how S.J. Baker referred to those in power as “servants” as normally I would associate the word with people with limited freedom who are serving others. It made me question whether there was someone above them as well.

I would recommend this book for ages 14+/young adults who like getting immersed in a dystopian world and reading from different perspectives.