Pale by Chris Wooding (Young Adult, reading age 8)

 

 2012, Barrington Stoke
76 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Intended Age: Young Adult

Reading Age: 8 

 

Themes: bullying, gang mentality, fear, persecution, tormenting others, prejudice, wearing someone else's shoes, finding new friends, slums, kindness of others, some moderate violence

Summary from Barrington Stoke

The Lazarus Serum can bring you back from the dead. Only thing is, you come back as a Pale. An outcast. Jed can't imagine anything worse, but then the choice is taken out of his hands
 

Nayuleska's thoughts
 

This wasn't a light read (no pun intended!) and its quite horrid (bear in mind I mostly need lighter reads at the moment), but I think it shows bullies & those who stand by while they hurt others that life on the other side of the fence isn't all that different. I love the concept of the pales and hope maybe there will be a sequel to this 9/10 read. It was a bit too dark for my tastes but will suit those loving dystopians.

Suggested read 

If you like this try another Barrington Stoke book The Dying Photo by Alan Gibbons