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Bridge 108 is a short dystopian novel about migrants escaping southern Europe which has been ravaged by drought and wild fires, and attempting to reach the UK.

It is told from multiple points of view which I really like, but our main character is young Caleb. Separated from his mother on the road, he is trafficked by a woman to an enclave in Manchester and kept as slave labour in the textile industry.

I'll not say much else about the plot, but we meet lots of other characters involved in Caleb's journey throughout. It's an easy read, definitely a page turner!

I was worried that with such a short book we wouldn't reach a satisfactory ending, but I'm quite pleased with how the story came together.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a short and fast paced book. I will never not read a dystopian if I can help it. Europe in the future, ravaged by fires and leaving the people to try and survive. What could feel more relevant? I wish that it had been a bit longer, but maybe it is the short length that leaves you thinking that is perfect? I would definitely read more from this author.

A really great book - following Caleb's journey into adulthood was both haunting and fascinating. I recently read this book again in 2020, and reading it within the context of the current global pandemic added a further dimension to what seems an unbelievable dystopian thriller. Great.

I wasn't able to read the book but will be featuring it is a series called "I Wish I'd Read That." Text below:

Bridge 108 sounded absolutely terrifying to me. A mix of future dystopia mixed with an epic climate crisis and the horrors of a world society long degraded by disaster. The concept of a multi-character focus is an interesting approach, especially at novella length, and I was excited to see how the story would unfold. I’d love to hear your opinions on the story and the world it presents. Read more about the author and book below, or purchase a copy for yourself. And of course, a big thank you to 47North for the free review copy!

A timely story that felt both disheartening and hopeful all at once. It did feel more like a young adult novel and I was surprised to see it wasn’t listed as such, but an enjoyable read either way.

I love a good dystopian, and was really excited to read one that centered itself around climate change, but it really didn't deliver for me. This was interesting, but I felt that it lacked in a lot of places. Because the climate situation that is causing the migrant situation was so infrequently mentioned, it makes everything feel so disjointed. I found myself almost constantly reminding myself why the main character had to leave his homeland to begin with. And then, certain elements of the story were given so much importance (like the bridge in question) that ended up not really feeling all that important because the characters spent practically no time there or they weren't really developed. There were also a few characters that were introduced, and sort of developed, only to show up that one time, You got a look into their lives, and their everyday goings on, only for them to provide barely anything to what the book was actually about. Which made it difficult for me to determine what was important, and what wasn't. Overall, it had an interesting premise, but I feel it tried to do too many things at once.

Bridge 108 is the story of a refugee boy during the near future when southern Europe is in a climate crisis. Caleb is an interesting boy who gets trafficked into a community in England. The interesting thing is that he does not really even realize that he was trafficked. Shortly after arriving he "escapes" and ends up as a migrant worker. Caleb spends the next five years developing hope that he will have a great life in this new country but has he already found the place where he belongs.

Bridge 108 was a interesting concept but it moved so quickly. While Caleb might spend a decent amount of time in some of the location he lands the story does not making it hard to really get a feeling for the place or what he experiences. This makes it hard to fully understand his choice in the end. Usually I feel like books are too long now a days but this one could have been slightly longer.

Published by 47North on February 18, 2020

Anne Charnock always brings a fresh, intelligent approach to her science fiction. Bridge 108 takes place in a dystopian future, but Charnock's focus is not on the panicked reaction of a disintegrating society to chaotic events. Rather, in calm but forceful prose, she addresses the political and personal implications of refugees who flee to England from southern Europe to escape drought and wildfires. Her story is a nuanced look at different perspectives of human trafficking and exploitation of refugees.

Caleb and his mother were walking to England from Spain. His mother planned to bring him to a reception center, where he would receive an inoculation against addictions, a way of controlling crime and compulsions. Along the way, however, Caleb’s mother succumbed to mental illness and abandoned him. Caleb hopes to find his father, who set off ahead of them.

A young woman named Skylark found Caleb in northern France. She warned Caleb that the reception center would assign him to a work camp where he would have to serve a period of indentured labor before earning an uncertain opportunity to live an independent life. Misbehavior or a failure to learn English and the names of all the British kings could result in his deportation, while the inoculations might make him “lose his spark.” Caleb agrees to let Skylark smuggle him into England, bypassing the reception center.

As the story begins, Caleb is twelve and working for Ma Lexie. Ma Lexie is part of an extended family that has cornered the recycling business in the enclave. She depends on illegal labor for her rooftop business, which consists of sewing and repairing recycled clothing that she sells at a market. Caleb works on the rooftop, where he has proven himself adept not just at sewing but at fashion design.

Caleb takes a shine to a girl on a neighboring rooftop. They communicate by throwing messages in plastic bottles back and forth. Eventually Caleb must make a choice between staying with Ma Lexie or joining the girl on a perilous journey.

Shifting perspectives give the reader different ways of understanding the society in which Caleb lives. To an immigration agent, Caleb is a victim of human trafficking, Skylark is evil because she smuggled him into England to work as a slave, and Ma Lexie's family is evil because they exploit refugees. When we see the world from the perspective of Skylark or Ma Lexie, however, they do not seem to be people of malicious intent.

A look at the government labor camps suggests that if refugees are exploited by people like Ma Lexie, they are more viciously exploited by the government. They do miserable work in fish farms, hoping that after ten years they might be given permission to pursue legal employment — a hope that is ruthlessly quashed when the government decides it is time to reduce the ranks of migrants by making arbitrary decisions to send some back home.

Caleb is a sympathetic character who embodies the hopes and fears of most refugees. He wants a simple but decent life, a chance to work for himself and to live with dignity. The immigration agent who first encounters Caleb seems well-intentioned if a bit shifty in his approach to the truth. Skylark, despite being labeled as a human trafficker, and Ma Lexie, despite being labeled as a person who exploits slave labor, both come across as caring individuals who sincerely want to help Caleb, even if they might be helping themselves at the same time.

Charnock thus advances a subtle understanding of illegal immigration. She illustrates how people who are condemned for breaking the law, including undocumented migrants and those who help or employ them, might be offering more benefit to society than the governments who condemn them. Like the best dystopian fiction, Bridge 108 imagines the future we might become based on the direction we are headed. The novel works as a cautionary tale but it also works as a well-told story about a young man who is trying to survive on his own terms.

RECOMMENDED

I love a good dystopian read. Bridge 108 provides a very realistic view. This story follows the path of 12 year old Caleb, and his struggle to survive in the changing world after he is separated from his mother. This book left me satisfied, but still able to finish out stories lines in my own head. I even dreamt about it, which it me is always the sign of a good read. I hope to read more from Ms. Charnock!

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Europe in the late 21st century is shadow of its former self. Climate change has destroyed industry and immigrants are flooding the few remaining places where people have been able to survive. Caleb is a 12-yr-old boy who has been enslaved in a community near Manchester. He is newly promoted to head of designed for his boss’s recycled clothing business. His work includes the sewing of all the clothing and the directing the two other young men under him. Caleb also is allowed to go to market with Ma Lexie, but she tests his loyalty… she gives him money to see if he’ll run away. Yet, he doesn’t. It’s not until the young woman who lives in the tenement across the way lets him know that she is leaving… running… escaping… and Caleb joins.

Bridge 108 is a novella that is told from several different points, but Caleb’s is the constant. The worldbuilding is minimal as I believe it is the author’s intent to focus the story on the characters and their journey or ability to live in this post-industrial world. But even at that I felt some things were missing. For example, Caleb’s plight was not given the immediacy that I thought was needed to show his motivation to run. Sure, a character can make snap decision, but his character has to show impulsiveness or some sort of catalyst, which I didn’t read at times.

In short, these characters were intriguing as well as the premise, but the follow through was lacking.

3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, 47North, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

This novel takes place in a near-future (and very believable) dystopian England. Immigrants are pouring in from fire-and drought-ravaged Southern Europe. Legally and illegally, with many being trafficked. Charnock has an earlier book that also takes place in this world.

Charnock's world building is what I enjoyed most about the novel, and made me want to know more. England has changed from the world we know. On the legal side are simulants, implants, innoculations, indentured servitude, and right to stay. For citizens, where you live, your job, and whether you receive an implant all depends on how you do on various test. In this novel 12-year-old Caleb became separated from his mother in France, and was trafficked to England. This book follows him as he tries to make his way in England. He's a good worker and serious, but will that be enough?

This very much reads as YA to me--not just because of Caleb's age, but the book is also very clean (no cursing, sex is only alluded to, violence is limited and not graphic at all), and is a quick and easy read. I also think this would be fine for middle grade readers (if they are reading Hunger Games, this one is certainly fine).

I love dystiopias, and I wanted to know more about this world: the innoculations, implants, and simulants, but those may be addressed in the other book. It is also clear from the ending that there will be a third book, which I will be reading. I have the first on hold at the library.

Interesting dystopian novel that is set in Europe and focuses on immigrants fleeing to the UK after much of the continent becomes unlivable. The story focuses on the experiences of Caleb, a twelve-year-old, separated from his mother while fleeing Spain. He is trafficked for labor by a number of seedy characters, but survives by knowing when to flee and learning how to take care of himself. The book is a stark account of the consequences of unfettered climate change and a great read.
***I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review of this book***

Bridge 108 is a dystopian fiction novel about England after “the fire” when there are a flood of migrants coming up from Europe and the English are divided between people who received inoculation to addictions and other socially undesirable qualities, and those older or poorer members of society who have not.

This book is a lot to take in. First, enhanced people who are all rich...quite on the nose for today’s rich upper class who outsource a lot of the grunt work that the rest of us have to do, like cooking, cleaning, actual work. Second, seems like this is a near-term future world where climate change has already hit the earth hard, though it’s not explicitly said (or if it is, I missed that part). In this world, the rich are not just enhanced to be genetically superior (as it’s called in the novel), but they live in luxurious estates built using a 3D printer. Meanwhile, in the enclaves, people live on top of each other in apartment buildings where they’ve stopped putting bathrooms in each unit. While the rich have monstrously big homes, the rest of the nation struggles in increasingly terrible conditions.

But, make no mistake, this book is about immigration. It’s set in England, and obviously Brexit was probably top-of-mind during the writing process (or maybe it wasn’t; this book is set in the same world as the author’s debut book in 2013, pre-Brexit). But the migrant detention centers are definitely a nod toward the disgusting American concentration camps on the Southern border. There is also no winning for the immigrants in this story or in real life. In this story, main character Caleb goes from one bad situation to another, unable to get by and forced into indentured servitude. The story strikes a chord with what prospective immigrants face when trying to come to America (not to mention echoing how some early immigrants to America managed the cost), except this isn’t unique to America. Witness the Syrian refugee crisis that’s been going on in Europe since the early aughts.

The book is written from several different characters’ perspectives, though migrant Caleb is the narrator in about half the chapters. His story is told through multiple viewpoints, from his flight on foot with his mother from Spain, to his hoodwink by Skylark, a trafficker, to his time working for Ma Lexie and many other awful situations.

I wasn’t ready for it to end!
Bridge 108 hooked me from the start and I scarcely put it down. Typically, this would warrant five full stars from me, especially as it doesn’t conform to the dime-a-dozen dystopian/coming-of-age/first-love script.
But I wanted more; I needed more. I can reconcile an open ending. I get some satisfaction from a neat closure, but I can reconcile an open ending. The bones were there, but the meat was lean. The implants, simulants, inoculations were not well fleshed out and didn’t add anything vital or exciting to the book. Similarly, the story’s backdrop of the impact of climate change, depletion of natural resources, and lack of renewable energy are reasons for the state of things, but it’s not made clear how these things drive the story and came to be. Despite these things, I read this book ravenously and enjoyed it.

I liked seeing the story through the lens of numerous characters of varying socioeconomic strata. It was, in my opinion, the best thing about the book. It was a most influential strategy in showing readers the disparity and disconnect between residents, illegals, traffickers, migrants.


Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for the provided e-ARC and the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest, unbiased, and voluntary. #NetGalley #Bridge108

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There’s a lot to be admired with what this book tries to do. It’s an honest and relevant critique of some of the issues that we’re faced with today and presents a very believable scenario of the near future. But unfortunately, for me, it felt like it didn’t quite accomplish these goals.

Caleb is an interesting and motivated young man, who is just trying to make his way in the world. He’s easy to relate to and cheer for. All of the points of view have distinct voices and make clear the differing goals of the characters. It works well in that it provides a clear panoramic of a world that we can’t get from Caleb’s point of view, it also offers some perspective on where the other characters of coming from.

I can’t really pinpoint what it is about the book that doesn’t work for me. On the surface, it seems to raise some important and thoughtful questions, but I also didn’t feel like it quite accomplished its goals. Not to mention, I didn’t have a clear picture of the world, and often felt a little like I was drifting, rather than being pulled into the world.

Overall, I’d recommend this to people who are looking for near-future science fiction, especially those who have enjoyed books with a more literary bend. It didn’t quite work for me, but I’m sure it’ll be a good fit for others.

Although sent in the future, within a new world order, where climate change, wildfires and water shortages have triggered mass migration this is a very current novel regarding the subject matter.
The U.K. is functioning well and is the place people’s from Southern Europe head for in this dystopian future.
Told in a series of events in the life of Caleb and narrated from the perspective of multiple voices he comes into contact with on his journey.
Initially travelling with his Mother he is later separated and although only 12 years old he is people trafficked and forced into slave labour. The dreams his Mum and Dad of leaving their native Spain and seeking refuge in England are a long way from his reality now. But he learns to adapt and adjust to his new situation. He is resourceful and this his story of changing, learning and seeing beyond his present circumstances. He his young; he makes mistakes and people let him down.
The system works against him but he never loses sight of the new life his parents never saw happen which he needs to fulfil through his own endeavours.
I liked this novel very much. It was fresh and although set in the near distant future it seems familiar and pertinent to many issues today. I liked the move to an assemble of perspectives through the different voices. Each character seemed real and faithful to this time and more human because of the flaws they demonstrate.
The writing is character driven with a clear descriptive voice to bring the enclave and aspects of Caleb’s journey alive. Focusing on family, relationships, self preservation and personal advancement it was almost Dickensian in spirit while mirroring many of the global issues in the present time. This allows for reflection and hopefully provides an impetus to avoid such a humanitarian crisis while seeing that the future is with us today.
It is hard to distance yourself from issues of child trafficking, unaccompanied minors and slave labour. The aspect of climate change also although obliquely referenced is one we cannot also avoid.
This isn’t an tract written by Greta Thunberg however, but a considered novel, told with thought and great skill that focuses on a young child Caleb and his journey may live long in your imagination.

I DNFed this one. After a few chapters I realized I was really having trouble getting into it and decided to give up. It felt really repetitive and didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Disliked the narrator right away, too. Not my cup of tea!

A poignant and timely story about forced migration, unlawful immigration, and the hurdles we face trying to adapt to systems that are inherently antagonistic to us. It is a book that is both disheartening and hopeful at the same time, with interesting and sympathetic characters.

The shifting perspectives in this story make it very interesting. Had the entire thing been in Caleb’s point of view it would have gotten tedious, but instead, we’re given a child’s perspective for the first little bit, then shift between him and different adults, all of whom encounter him at different times. This allows for blanks to be filled that Caleb, as a child, is unable to fill for us readers, which also gave us a different view on the adults in his life. Someone who seems hostile or harsh is later revealed to have simply made a mistake or a similar misconception.

The author really put a lot of thought into what life would be like for people living in different levels of the social hierarchy. We are given a view to the indentured, paid workers, leaders, civilians, even the well-off at one point. All these builds an interesting, yet completely feasible future – especially given what’s happening now with wildfires and natural resources around the world.

Yet, I would have liked a little more exposition (even later in the story) as to what these disasters are, how other countries are handling refugees, and perhaps a chapter with someone in the government. While I understand all the chapters are linked by Caleb, there was likely a way to show a broader view of the situation, as effective as the first person was.

I started out mildly intrigued by the story and ended up wholly impressed by the subtle intelligence behind what it was trying to say about migration, especially in our world where it’s said something like 1 billion coastal dwellers will be displaced by global warming in decades to come. Where will they go?

Nothing about Caleb’s journey was melodramatically terrible (though it obviously was not pleasant for him), which makes sense why people are just putting up with it. What we can endure, we tend to just accept after awhile.

2.5 stars. Well-written fiction in a well-developed world, but with very little action and an ending that made me feel defeated.
[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]

Compelling Premise. Lacking Execution. This was one of those books that seems destined for critical and maybe book club success at the expense of a wider commercial following. It was effectively a more interesting and less utterly depressing character drama in a sort-of-ish style of The Road.

The book only has 10 chapters, 4-5 of which are from the perspective of our main storyline character Caleb, the rest are from various adults on the periphery of the story but which sometimes provide key perspectives that Caleb can’t possibly have.

Still, the utter lack of world building can be a solid narrative choice – when executed well. Unfortunately this simply wasn’t executed to the level that I generally expect, and I’m not all that picky, y’all.

Finally, the abrupt and inconclusive ending was a bit too much and honestly in and of itself sunk this book from 4* to 3*.

If you enjoyed The Road and/ or generally like “awards season” dramas for your entertainment, you may well like this book. I personally despised The Road and prefer more “summer movie season” type entertainment, so it just wasn’t for me.