Review: Juice by Peter Deadman

A coming-of-age adventure in a near-future dystopia, Juice by Peter Deadman is an original YA story about finding truth and forging your path through an unpredictable world.

Will has spent his childhood with his mother and uncle in a humble community of survivors, protected against the “dangers” of the pre-Devastation world by the Council and their strict beliefs. After receiving long-delayed news about his father in Coal City, Will embarks on a harrowing journey of self-discovery. From juice-generating Factories and vengeful energy barons to savage wilderness attacks and unexpected romance on the road, this young hero relentlessly pushes forward in the search for his father, and a place to call home.

Along the way, he is exposed to both the cruelty and the compassion that are borne from desperation – deceitful thieves and shameless killers, good Samaritans and gracious hosts, all of whom provide an eye-opening education for a young man whose only knowledge of the outside world had come from stories and warnings. As he navigates imprisonment, banishment, and alienation, he just as readily discovers the comforts of community, courageous companions, and unquenchable hope.

Considering today’s political, social, and environmental climates, the unfolding real-world dystopia can feel overwhelming, and popular media and culture feed into that terrifying potential of a chaotic world on fire. While this novel does present one possible path of environmental breakdown, it does so without the bleak world-building that defines most dystopian novels. At times, the prose is downright tender, and by zooming in on the seemingly impossible quest of two teenagers, the survivors of the future become easily humanized, rather than highlighted as trauma-stricken avatars of pity and fear.

Refreshingly, Deadman offers a softer take on societal change, and a more hopeful one, cultivating a sense of possibility and optimism, rather than nihilistic determinism. In the author’s post-Devastation world, the natural world is deeply respected, and the idea of gun violence is repulsive – a stark divergence from the chaos and selfishness we have been trained to associate with social upheaval. There are also some striking allegorical aspects, such as the elder survivors of the Devastation trying to define the future, rather than cede decision-making power to younger generations, but these conflicts are expressed with careful nuance, rather than easily pitting hero versus villain.

On the technical side, the dialogue is sharp and believable, capturing the cadence of real speech and demonstrating a range of emotional nuance across characters and personalities. The prose is occasionally rushed, particularly in emotional scenes, such as Will’s hasty goodbyes before he leaves his community, or his hurried departure from the Factory. The rigorous pace of the story does make it hard to put down, as the plot never slows, but there are some missed opportunities for increased character development and storytelling impact during certain turning point moments.

As a whole, this is a remarkable story of resilience and a prophetic cautionary tale that will give every reader plenty to ponder. For readers of all ages, the novel can act as both an inspiration and a dire reminder, embodied in a likable protagonist who is fumbling through his own uncertainty, which is immediately relatable and recognizable in a world that is changing at a dizzying rate.