Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I was blown away by this book! Jamal is a student journalist who goes to Baltimore to cover protests (very much like the Black Lives Matter protests). Once he is in the city he meets Marco, another teen at the protests. While they are trying to extricate themselves from a confrontation with a police officer, Jamal receives a call from his mother telling him to leave the city immediately. Before he can get more information the call is dropped and a Dome is installed over part of the city. Sticking together Jamal and Marco find a place to lay low and figure out what is going on.

As the story progresses Jamal and Marco make enemies, get into troublesome situations, make friends, and work together to find answers on how to stop the Dome. This story will stick you for a while- the Dome seems like it might be farfetched; but is it really?

This was a difficult book for me and a difficult one to review.

I didn't really enjoy it... but is it a book that is meant to be enjoyed?

I know that sounds weird - a book not meant to be enjoyed - but it does deal with quite hard and dark subject matter.

So I will say, this book was not for me.

But, if the synopsis sounds like your thing, then give it a go.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy of the book in exchange for honest feedback.***

Survive the Dome is a fast-paced and enthralling story, with just enough science-fiction that keeps the reader intrigued without completely forgoing realism. While at times it felt a little lacking in development, this is a book that throws some serious punches. It goes head-on with discussions on themes like racism, the BLM movement, and power. But not in a way that takes away from the undoutedly engaging and punchy storyline.

The characters themselves grew into their own as the story progresses, in a way that left me wanting to explore and follow their story further. While the writing didn't always feel completely fleshed out, I truly hope that Jackson writes more and grows within this genre because it was a real blast to experience.

"Darkness and pain and hate and anger come slowly, creeping like ivy, and they strangle you, and before long, you're a victim of it like everybody else."

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Jamal is a high schooler hoping for a journalism scholarship who decides to attend a protest after a cop gets away with killing another black man. Jamal is a little naive and when things get violent at the protest, he hitches himself to a handsome stranger, Marco. Marco tries to help Jamal but gets him tangled in the web of a counter culture group. When they discover Baltimore has been isolated from the rest of the world by a dome until the violence is under control, Jamal is forced to act. He and Marco and another stranger come up with a plan to challenge the chief of police and end martial law to release the dome.

Oof, this one is hard to rate. I liked the concept, although it is appropriated from other dystopian stories (Under the Dome and Hunger Games to name two biggies). The main character is immediately likeable and relatable. As the story goes on though, he becomes quite muddled and it's harder to see his character through the influence of others. He is a good kid wanting to do the right thing while "not betraying his race." I was really surprised by his blind belief and trust in others simply because they had similar skin color, to me this felt very uncomfortable, especially after it bit him in the butt a few times.

There is a ton of action, so if you like a face paced read with lots of violence and an MC that is constantly getting out of scrapes in convenient ways, you will enjoy this one. The science and technology proposed are pretty cool and I liked the hacker aspect of the story.
But, I didn't understand the need to perpetrate the idea that all cops and government officials are "bad" people who never do "good" things and all people of color are "good" even if they choose to do "bad" things. Marco and Jamal have this good people doing bad things conversation many times and it bordered on dangerous to me. The cops in this are atrocious, I wanted more depth on both sides of the colored fence, the reality is much more nuanced. There is not one ally or positive adult role model in this whole thing (except Jamal’s mother who is in it for only a few pages). 

The synopsis does not make it clear how anti-cop the novel is going to be or I may have passed on it altogether. I've read several YA black voices novels that just tackled the subject better and more realistically. That said, it is a dystopian and the threats were meant to loom large, I get that. I think this one could have been a phenomenal commentary on race and policing with fantastical fantasy elements. Instead, I think it was a little messy and heavy handed and it sucked the entertainment out. It's possible to enthrall and teach at the same time without overdoing it, there are so many great examples of that in dystopian novels. I finished it because I was interested in how it would wrap up but I personally wouldn’t recommend this book. Too much hate without hope for my taste.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this novel. All opinions above are my own.

Wow. This dystopian novel featuring very very important social justice issues hit the mark.
This would be a perfect novel for high school students, to cover topics that are so relevant today in our world.

As as apsiring journalist, Jamal wants to make a difference in the world. That's what brings him to one of the biggest protests in Baltimore against police brutality. He wants to document it in order to show the rest of the world. Especially since Black men just keep getting murdered by the police.

However, right before the protest begins, something happens. The city implements a new safety measure called the Dome. No one can come in, and no one can get out. With no one to turn to, Jamal is unsure of where to go. Until he meets Marco, a hacker determined to take down the police force. Together, they form an alliance to help take down the Dome. No matter the cost.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! This book was on my radar after reading Kosoko Jackson's book, Yesterday Is History, and it hits all of the right notes. If you're looking for a timely YA book that highlights real world issues, this is the book for you!

Kosoko Jackson has a really easy to read writing style that's fast paced and pulls you along in the story. This specifically works well for this particular story, because everything is happening at a rate that adds stress and anxiety to the characters. What also makes this book work well is the fact that (unfortunately) this is something you could see playing out today. Which honestly makes it feel all the more real.

While the writing and story is relevant, some of the dialog and other writing elements could have used a bit of tweaking. Some of the conversations between characters just didn't feel realistic to me, and I wanted a bit more character development in the story. It felt like, at times, there was more telling than showing. But I do think that's something that gets better the more that you write!

All in all, this is a fast-paced, dystopian-esque story that will definitely get you thinking.

This book had a really strong premise. Unfortunately, the delivery was a bit lackluster. The main character Jamal was a bit of a negative point for this book. His main reasons for doing anything in the early stages of the book were "because he was a journalist" and nothing else. He used this reasoning to take part in situations where he probably shouldn't have especially given the fact that he went into it (the situation) in order to gather information, but had no previous information so he was going in blind.

The relationship between him and Marco also lacked sufficient development on screen. Even though relationships are forged or be made stronger in tough situations, there is still some development that should be shown on-page and I felt this book lacked that.

I also felt that the comparisons this book got to other stories, did it a disservice.

My middle school students will love this book. Jamal is the main character and he decides to attend a protest against police brutality in Baltimore. While he agrees with what the protestors believe, he is going as a student journalist. However, when things get out of control and a giant dome is lowered over a large portion of the city, Jamal is trapped. For a minute he's terrified because he is all alone, but when he bumps into Marco, who turns out to be a very talented hacker, he agrees that something needs to be done to stop this. The duo is eventually joined by Catherine, who has an indirect connection to the dome...her parents helped construct it. Together they set out to figure out how to escape and bring the dome down, thus freeing the people of color who have been purposely closed in.

This book has a lot of references to current and recent instances of police and systemic racism. It is very in your face, and not exaggerated at all. I really loved this book and the ending sets up for what could turn into a whole series of sequels!

Publication is set for March 29th. I highly encourage everyone to find a copy and read this!

I tore through the first quarter of Survive the Dome, staying up well past my bedtime to do so. Unfortunately, the rest of the novel didn't grip me quite as thoroughly.
The plot could have been tighter (and I agree with other reviewers who question the ending - it felt particularly abrupt and not really in keeping with the book's mood otherwise), and the character development strengthened somewhat. I felt like the reader doesn't really get to know either Jamal or Marco as deeply as we could have. Catherine felt more clear in her personality, and easier to become invested in because of it.
That said, Jackson kept up a tense, fast pace throughout, and I was consistently desperate to see what happens next in this action-packed novel - I certainly cared about the outcome, and enjoyed it overall.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the ARC.

Jackson skillfully blends science fiction with issues impacting the black community and the BLM movement. Characters are well-crafted and believable. In some ways, the story reminded me of the TV show "Under the Dome," though some of the angles are a bit different. Ample action keeps the reader engaged in this story that has themes that don't seem as farfetched as they may have seemed a few years ago (the Dome aspect). The ending paves the way for a possible sequel. Timely themes such as racial injustice and police brutality are included.

Jamal is a journalist from his local high school set on using photos from a Black Lives Matter protest to help push his application for colleges. However, the last thing anyone expects is for a massive dome to encompass all of Baltimore and leave everyone there victim to the police inside. Through the help of unlikely allies and determination, Jamal will have to find a way to make it out alive and bring the dome down.

This story is set in our world, but more futuristic, where advanced technologies make it more possible for institutionalized racism to be carried out. As a result, this story is slammed with a lot of powerful messages and images that need to be heard. However, because these make up a majority of the book, it does make it extremely heavy emotionally, and I highly recommend reading this if you feel you are emotionally and mentally prepared for this kind of book.

As dark as it is, I really loved the concept. The horrifying reality of what this kind of situation would be like and the repercussions it would have on marginalized communities was terrifying to think about, that in some world, this could be our future. Reading how cops and higher authorities treated the characters of color was disgusting and immediately threw me back to June 2020 when all the protests occurred and how things took a turn for the worse when cops got involved. It could be our future, and sometimes even fictionalized renditions of real life events have just as powerful as an impact, which I felt this did. However, I will say I cannot speak to the accuracy of this representation of police brutality and racism as I am not a person of color, and instead push you to read reviews from people of color and marginalized communities to understand the quality of the representation.

When it came to characters, they felt pretty two-dimensional for me. Jamal had his moments that broke through from this, but otherwise he read to me, especially at the beginning, as just being defined by the fact that he is a journalist and he needs to break down the truth. I'm a journalist and I also understand that drive. However, it's not something that fully defines a person, and I felt it was Jamal's main character trait for a while. He breaks away from it a bit at the end, which I liked. Catherine was absolutely badass, and I liked Marco. I will admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the romance between Jamal and Marco, and felt the story could have been better off without it, even though it never took a major forefront of the story.

The ending for me felt... kind of anticlimactic? It's weird for me to describe. I don't want to say it was predictable but it kind of was? I like how it doesn't end with "racism is solved hooray" because that will take so long to fix. It gives us and the characters this hope that they'll be able to make a bigger difference, and maybe sets up for a sequel but I don't think this book needs it. But a part of me also thought it went too smoothly. I don't want to get into too much without reaching into spoiler territory, but it felt like the ending could have been more solid.

Survive the Dome is a powerful, jaw-dropping story about community, love, power, and the brutality of the real world we find ourselves in.

I received a copy of this story as an e-ARC from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Before we get into it, I'll say I had a rough time getting into this book. Not because of the writing but because at the very beginning is a list of Black lives stolen and that was painful. There's also a trigger warning for slurs and police brutality which was greatly appreciated. Thankfully, there are very few slurs in the book.

Survive the Dome is a fairly solid story.

Jamal, a student and budding journalist plans to go to a protest for the shooting of a Black man in Baltimore. The outcome of the trial wasn't acceptable for the crime and people are angry.

We've seen it time and time again. Cop kills Black man, gets a slap on the wrist. Protests happen where more brutality occurs.

Jamal wants to be there, get photos and he thinks it'll help him as when he tries to get into college, already being told as much from a teacher.

Jamal is a pretty well fleshed out character so I appreciated him as our protagonist. He's Black, queer, and nervous.

Then the dome happens. The mayor deploys it to control the "violent element". It cuts people off from the outside, no signals in or out. And that's when the story begins.

As far as characters go, Jamal is the best fleshed out. Marco fell flat for me and was more or less hacker love interest. And that's it. He didn't feel as real. Catherine is the Latinex solder. Who may be ace which was a nice touch but it's the only personal thing we learn about it and it was a bit of a throw away comments.

Now the story is easy to follow. The author has a writing style that's easy to read but at times felt a little young. Where the writing falls flat is on the characters. They are pushed along by the plot. It was hard to see where characters got ideas from and made leaps of logic to because they just did. It was in service of the plot. And that really messed with my reading experience. Being able to track a character's motivations is key and they just sort of did things because they had to.

Also Jamal went from terrified, sounding like he has clinical anxiety, to toward the end of the book, acting without fear. Or saying he was afraid but we weren't shown it. Which was a shame because we do see him battling with his anxiety after everything starts. Racing heart rates, his counting to ground himself. Real things.

He did write some things that quickly got old. Jamal bites his tongue, lip, cheek, often. And every time he did it was until he tasted blood. I read that description maybe eight times? It was a lot and unbelievable. You want me to believe in a dome? Fine. A police state created by a corrupt mayor is believable. But when he's been so descriptive about the feeling of his body, if he's bitten himself that many times, he's going to say something about it.

It also lost its effect. I was numb to that as a response from him.

It also felt like things moved along too easily in some points but that was also because they needed to be able to get where the plot needed them to be.

I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it, although enjoy is a strange word for me with this book. Yes, as the trigger warning states, there is police brutality. And it's often and on the page. That got draining. I finished it and sort of just sat because I was glad it was over.

When it comes to the ending, I don't know how I feel about it. I didn't like it as much as I wanted to because it felt like it left it open for a sequel. I don't know if one is planned but I won't be reading it. Nothing on the author but more police brutality is not what I want.

I will say that readers who pick this story up should monitor their reactions and mental health. It can be a lot. Doesn't mean it shouldn't be read, just be gentle while you read it.

For me, it gets three (3) stars.

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.

Survive The Dome truly messed with my head because I saw the entire book play out in my head and I could see how it could become a reality in a few years to come.

A book about racial discrimination in Baltimore, Survive The Dome brings a futuristic element with The Dome, where there's a barrier between the city and the rest of the world and all forms of communication is cut off. The police brutality in this novel reflected the harsh truths in the real world, where even kids are harassed by the police for fitting a certain type of profile.

Although it was bit of a slow start, I devoured at least 40% of the book in 2 days. It was that good and the ending suggests that there might be more books to come. I'd love to read another story on Marco, Jamal and Catherine.

Although the characters are queer (Marco and Jamal are gay, and there's a hint of Cat being aroace), the book isn't about a coming out story! I think it's the first time I've ever read a book like this and that goes to show that there needs to be more LGBTQ+ representation in books that don't specifically mention coming out to friends and family.

A definite 5star read from me! Possibly my favourite book that I've read so far this year!

The scariest part of this book for me is how plausible all of it is.

Survive the Dome, by Kosoko Jackson, Jamal Lawson is a high school student and aspiring journalist. He heads to Baltimore in order to document a rally protesting police brutality. Unbeknownst to him and most of the other protesters, the city of Baltimore and the state’s governor have chosen this has the moment to unveil their newest piece of safety protocol: The Dome.

This is exactly what you think it is.

A dome that surrounds the city, prevents anyone from entering or leaving, and blocks all calls and digital communication.

While this might seem a little futuristic or unbelievable to some, Jackson juxtaposes the technological marvel of The Dome with the horror of how technologically advanced police units have become. How can you argue that a giant dome could never happen when the cops in this book also have high tech gear, advanced ways of communication, and weapons to completely decimate protesters? And all of that exists already outside the pages of the book.

I had an interesting relationship while reading this book. It took me about a week and a half to read the first 30% and then I read the last 70% in one day. I think it was hard at first to get a handle on characters beyond Jamal, but once he really finds his trio with Marco and Catherine, that’s when the book really gels.

I found this to be a strong read. Jackson writes very complex characters and Jamal’s inner conflict about wanting to do the right thing while also protecting those he cares about really ties the story together. Very powerful overall.

Survive the Dome was chilling in the "this could totally happen in real life" type of way. With the long, violent history between Black people in America and the police, this book was such a visceral illustration of that relationship. Following Jamal, a journalist hoping that a protest in Baltimore will help develop his portfolio for college, Survive the Dome is ultimately about fighting back - like all good stories are. While it highlights larger themes of police brutality and government corruption, Jamal and his friends - Marco and Catherine - also have intimate moments that focus on morality, how they want to fight back, and what it means when they think it's all over.

I did feel like some things were skipped over or unrealistic, but overall it kept me hoping until the very end, and even beyond. Survive the Dome focuses on the corruption and violence in and from America, but it also demonstrates the need for community, hope, and a desire to fight back.

This is a well written, interesting speculative take on the next step in policing. The Dome encloses Baltimore, Maryland, forcing the protagonist and his friends to contend with police brutality in a literal bubble.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book but the actual book didnt play out for me sadly.. The characters felt very flat and unrealistic, and the conclusion felt too unbelievable for me.

The book is such a fun read and so fast-paced that I lost track of time. I love stories like this that just take you away from the world. I really hope there will be a sequel to this in the future

Survive the Dome feels like a breathing manifestation of the emotions felt in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020. Rage, frustration, anxiety, and pain simmer across the story, held together by a fierce hope in which a queer Black boy saves the city. The story follows Jamal, a Black queer teen journalist who attends a Black Lives Matter protest – against the wishes of his mother – but gets trapped in the city when a large technological dome forms around Baltimore proper. With nowhere to go, Jamal crosses paths with Marco, a mysterious Latino teen hacker, Jamal becomes intertwined with the resistance inside – and becomes instrumental to the fight against corruption and abuse of power.

On the surface, Survive the Dome is a heart-racing and action-packed read. Trapped inside Baltimore and initially friendless, Jamal does what he can to survive though he’s unsure of who to trust. The stakes are high in Survive the Dome; from avoiding and hiding from the police’s violent efforts to suppress the protests to plotting an operation to return the city to its people, every moment is tense. Violence is explicit in the story; from physical violence, the casual sexism and racism, and the ‘everyday’ fears that marginalised groups live with, Survive the Dome reflects the fears, anxieties, and realities experienced by communities of colour.

Survive the Dome isn’t purely an action story only about violence and resistance to that violence. There’s a hint of Inhabiting the small moments in between the tense ones is a thread of defiance against a system that sets up its Black and brown people up to fail. From the tender yet brave moments to feel love and connection when the next hour doesn’t feel promised to Jamal’s quiet meditations of his place in society as a Black queer man, Survive the Dome never loses sight of the ‘why’ – why fighting against injustice and standing up for what is right always matters.

Furthermore, what makes Jamal such a compelling character – though Marco and Catherine shine bright in this story – is that he’s an ordinary teenager; he’s concerned by college applications, passionate about his photography, doesn’t always agree with his mother, he’s worried about his boyfriend not being the right person for him (and finds love amidst the chaos), and wants to make it somehow. And yet, he finds a way to save the city – not because he’s particularly special, but because anyone and everyone can stand up to injustice, and Jamal does so with courage, even if it thoroughly terrifies him.

I hesitate to call this book ‘dystopian’. Indeed, Survive the Dome has a science-fiction feel with its technological dome structure that befalls over Baltimore city, police clad in hi-tech suits of battle armour, and a desperate race against time to save the city and its people. But dress down the science-fiction elements of this book, and what remains is the same as what we witnessed during the Black Lives Matter protests: institutional violence, systemic racism, and police brutality. Survive the Dome may be fictional in a sense, but the events and implications of this book are a window into the realities of being Black in America.

On one hand, Survive the Dome is an exciting and compelling story with a fascinating premise and plenty of action. On the other hand, Survive the Dome is also a story about anger at the violence perpetuated against Black and brown communities in America, one that also offers a tentative yet fierce hope that, together, the people can be stronger than injustice.