Kosoko Jackson's become an auto-read author, and I was so happy to be granted an ARC from Netgalley for his upcoming book Survive the Dome.

This book packs in social commentary while also having a fantastic sci-fi plot that builds off this real world commentary. I loved the prominent discussion of BIPOC issues--Kosoko Jackson has written this into all of his novels, but this book packs the most of it. As a political science I love these stories.

The writing quality was fantastic--I typically prefer more character driven novels to plot driven and this book was definitely more plot driven, however I found myself not minding because I was so enthralled. Fantastic book!

I was SO delighted to be able to get my hands on this book! Not only is the cover striking af, but the blurb promised that perfect combination of speculative imagination with real-world commentary, and let me say ... SURVIVE THE DOME really delivers.

It follows Jamal, a budding journalist who finds himself inside a dark government experiment during a protest in the wake of a police shooting. He's ambitious and brave and sassy as all Kosoko Jackson's protagonists seem to be, and I followed his ordeal with bated breath. (Literally. I don't think I exhaled until the very last page.)

Because SURVIVE is a jam-packed tale of resilience, queer love, and the realities of being Black in America. It's a near-dystopian thriller that feels all too real, and beneath all the running and breathlessness, it's also a surprisingly tender tale of a boy figuring out the best way to face the world and come out on top. Occasionally the plot did feel too convenient or contrived, but overall, this is a POWERHOUSE of a book and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.

I was surprised to not like this book. It was slow, and the concept did not fit with some of the plot elements: it felt very dystopian, but felt disjointed as it grappled with today's issues. I've seen the dome concept played out many times, and this is probably my least favorite iteration. I'm really shocked by this, too, as I heavily enjoyed Jackson's other book, Yesterday is History.

After hearing about this book last year, and eagerly awaiting the ability to read it, I finally finished Kosoko Jackson’s Survive the Dome!

The story follows Jamal, as he attempts to document the protest of police officer killing a black man. However, shortly into his arrival, Baltimore enacts a dome procedures, a physical structure surrounding the city meaning nothing can get in or out.

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book, such as the social commentary, the open queerness, the inclusion of Latinx conversations alongside Black POC issues. However, this book didn’t feel rooted in enough reality for me.

The story has tons of potential, and anytime you play with the Dome trope you invite your audiences to suspend disbelief to an extent. But it felt like the justification for anything was always “people don’t like to get involved in things that don’t involve them,” which is very true, but I wish this idea had been fleshed out more.

I was also missing a lot of dimension from our main characters. This is such a plot driven story, that many times I couldn’t figure out why a character behaved a certain way, other than to propel the story forward.

For me, the book lacked the subtlety that often goes into pieces of contemporary fiction, but didn’t allow us to explore the characters enough to consider it satirical either. It made the reading experience sometimes entertaining, but largely really disjointed.

I still enjoyed the potential that Survive the Dome had and I think Jackson has an eye for a good story and telling a plot in a powerful way. It just needed some more attention spent on some of the themes and characters for me!

This was a brilliant dystopia (or is it?!)

Well written, well paced. There were parts in the middle where it all seemed a bit disjointed but it then came back together fluidly at the end. The end end (as opposed to the resolution of the main problem) felt a little unrealistic - but, that said, I'd definitely read a sequel of JMC's exploits if it came out!

The characters were well fleshed out. I especially loved the portrayal of Catherine.

KS4 - and would need contextualising for students to really get the most out of it.

Stunning novel from Kosoko Jackson and an incredibly dark commentary on the state of our (police) state. Loved the characters, loved the fuzzy feels that come from survivalists banding together, just loved it all over.

Wow - what a ride! A super fast paced dystopian thriller that has the potential to be up with the best ever in this genre.

#netgalleyarc No spoilers here but this book was SO DAMN GOOD!!! I was hooked right from the beginning when the author listed the names of the Black men and women who have been victims of police brutality, victims of murder by the hands of policemen and women. As a high school librarian, I can see my students in Jamal. I’ve seen them at rallies and protests. I want to say so much but don’t want to spoil this book for anyone. Just READ IT. I hope this turns into a series. I will 100% be purchasing this for my library.

In the future, the mayor of Baltimore uses technology to intimidate her constituents to tow the line by trapping them inside 'the dome." Protestors were congregating to voice their distrust of the police force when 'the dome' appeared, separating Jamal from his mother. Jamal stumbles upon Marco and a hacking group determined to wreak havoc and spotlight the abusers in power. With the help of the militarily-trained Catherine, the two aim to escape 'the dome,' but also expose the mayor.

I didn't hate it but I didn't love it, either. The 'dome' seemed a little far-fetched, therefore the book wasn't quite sci-fi but also not realistic fiction. In addition, the romance between the two main characters, Jamal and Marco, came about quickly, but was chaste enough for younger readers. The introduction of Catherine was like

All-in-all the plot moved almost too quickly. And the believability required a suspense of realism. It was ok.

Jamal, an aspiring journalist, attends a BLM protest in Baltimore. As a Black teenager, this action in itself is dangerous for him. His mother is very reluctant to let him go, for good reason, anything could happen to him at the protest. Neither of them could have imagined the Dome, though. The Dome is, well, a dome that goes over the city of Baltimore. It cuts communication in or out. Police are suited with protective clothing and are roaming the streets to brutalize anyone they come across. Jamal feels that he has fallen into some science fiction story, but the Dome is real and he is going to tell his story. This book was incredibly nerve-wracking and very successful in its storytelling. As much as it is dystopian, it is our reality. It tells an important story that goes beyond Jamal, though he is an effective narrator as he is forced to survive this unimaginable event. Jamal, Marco, and Christine are a strong trio that I genuinely enjoyed reading about. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like stories set in our current world with science fiction elements, but I also think this is an important book for everyone to read. I can’t wait to see if any other books are published set in this universe!

I just finished reading an advanced copy of Survive The Dome. This book is amazing in so many ways. The author does an excellent job of weaving science fiction with social issues impacting the black community. As a black woman, i relate so much to these characters and their struggles. The book is told from the perspective of Jamal, a brilliant young black teenager who aspires to become a journalist once he graduates high school. He plans on attending a protest in Baltimore, MD in hopes of covering the story and documenting the movement to stop police brutality against black and brown people. What Jamal doesn't expect is that the government plans on putting a stop to the demonstration by any means necessary. To that end, they seal.off the city beneath a Dome and declare marshal law. The story continues to unfold through the eyes of this young man as he faces physical struggles, morality, growing up too fast in a world that doesn't seem to want him. He meets allies along the way and a battle for survival ensues. Jamal, a queer black male, is trying to navigate constant danger while having to rely on strangers and his own instincts to survive.
This book does such a good job of displaying Jamal's ethical struggles regarding his role in the resistance. He also feels guilty for enjoying the precious moments of love and friendships he develops during his ordeal. This book just hits different on all levels. There's action as well as thoughtful discussion and analysis of real-world issues set against a sci-fi backdrop that isn't too far from becoming reality. My heart raced, I swooned, I gasped, I cried. I cheered. This book should definitely be made into a move. It's incredible. It's realistic. It's important.

This is a pro-BLM book, the time is placed in a BLM protest after the police killing a Black man, we’re following Jamal, a journalist student and wanted to go take photos to boost his chances getting a college he wish for. As he arrives at the protest, a dome drops on the city, trapping people from going in and out, and cutting networks too which makes it a lot more dangerous quickly thinking law enforcement was present to stop the protest. Jamal will meet Marco during an altercation with a cop and will rescue him, he will find he’s a hacktivist and they will try to find a way to hack the dome.

This was fast-paced, was telling a lot of harsh truth, it shows the author knows what he’s saying with the details. It was focused on the message and succeeded in making it powerful, it was an interesting read about Black Lives Matter mixed science-fiction.

Although the dome isn’t a new concept and even “old”, I’ve felt deja-vu at some parts and the characters are not bad, they're just the typical character now, they’re likeable and nice to read about though. My little problem was how sometimes Jamal seemed more interested in admiring Marco’s curves than getting out of the dome, i put that under the fact that they’re young and it’s more likely human to have a little escape from that reality for a few seconds and I can’t lie I like the casual rep even in books like this.

I will definitely read the next book if it comes, the setting is all there and I’ll be interested to read more from this author.

Despite quite a bit of action happening, I found the pacing quite slow at times. It also seemed as if Jamal was more interested in ogling Marco than actually coming up with a solution for how to get out of the mess they found themselves in. I wanted to know more about the characters - their motivations, their back stories, their relationships. I'm glad there will be a sequel, and I hope this is further explored! Some events felt completely unbelievable, and almost ridiculous- then again, I suppose we'd have to suspend our disbelief for the whole premise of the book, anyway?

All in all, an enjoyable read, with a great start up and premise for a sequel.

Thank you so much, Sourcebooks Fire, for allowing me to read Survive the Dome early!

I loved Yesterday is History and was so glad when I got the chance to read Survive the Dome. Something about Kosoko Jackson’s writing immediately draws me into his stories. Although it’s almost impossible to compare The Hate You Give to any other book, it’s essential to have more books about racial injustices. Kosoko Jackson really did well to combine Black Lives Matter protests with science fiction elements. Jamal, Marco, and Catherine were great characters, and I immensely enjoyed how those three teens collaborated. Survive the Dome was a real pageturner, and I know one thing for sure, this book belongs in every school library!

The problem with this book is that it was compared to other books and falls short of the mark. This is nothing like THUG. Yes there's a protest and people of colour and minorities, but that's where it ends in my opinion. This book is trying to do to much and loses the essence along the way. The characters are likeable enough, but a little cliched and the plot becomes silly at times and events over simplified.

I like the premise, a dome which can be used to isolate and target individuals. And I like the idea of it being used on a protest. But it simply isn't believable. People just get locked in Baltimore and the police rampage. There wasn't much police brutality either so I didn't end up really having an emotional attachment to the characters and the protest becomes second to the whole cyber thing.

Maybe I'd have liked it better of it wasn't hyped, because if your going to make big claims you need to back them up. Age wise I'd say younger teen too, although there are a couple sexual references, I'd still say around y8/9.

I enjoy Kosoko Jackson’s writing style immensely, but Survive the Dome knocked it out of the park. The characters are well-developed, the plot is shiver-inducing, and the tension builds with every page. I cannot wait to get this in my high school students’ hands—the action will grab them immediately and keep them hooked. I will be purchasing multiple copies!

I started this book a few weeks ago and I have many opinions on it. To begin with, from the first pages it struck me that the argument focused on the protests. It is not a topic that needs a scientific explanation, but it has details that make the reader instinctively understand that the author knows what he is talking about. In Latin America (Latin American reader present), although many do not want to admit it, there is a very present culture of protests, so at least a percentage of the inhabitants are familiar with essential things such as clothing and essential objects.
The story is interesting, I liked the way it is designed so that the plot highlights the message giving it a lot of power. On the other hand, in the year 2010 approximately the fever of the domes passed, so in that sense it is something that has already been seen.
The characters, although I liked them, problems finding them spatially attractive, I feel that they are the kind of protagonists that you read a lot lately in LGBT books and although the story is centered on the racial issue, it gave me the feeling of having read them before. Still, they are not protagonists that they consider bad or underdeveloped.
In general, I liked the book, it was a very interesting read that managed to create a good combination between science fiction and Black lives matter, and it is also a very easy book to read. It was a good way to meet the author and I think I'll score future releases.

The Hate U Give, but with science fiction. So good! Will recommend. This thriller imagines a Baltimore where a protest is interrupted by police. A curfew is implemented and as citizens rush to get home, a dome is put over the city. The police are the ones causing the violence. Who will protect the city inhabitants? Enter our three protagonists as well as an underground group of BIPOC who are ready to fight back for justice.

loved this book! it was a fun, yet important read. it's a very self-aware book in that it manages and discusses timely themes, specifically the Black Lives Matter movement and the racial injustices Black people have to go through in their daily lives and in peaceful protests. it was an eye-opening read set in an interesting yet true-to-itself world. enjoyed it a lot.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THIS WAS AMAZING! This is something that needs to be required in every classroom. The storyline was great and the ending was wonderful.