Q by Christina Dalcher

Q by Christina Dalcher (Master Class in the USA)
UK Publication Date: 30th April 2020
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]

This ARC was provided by HQ (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

What would your Q be…

Synopsis from Goodreads: Elena Fairchild is a teacher at one of the state’s new elite schools. Her daughters are exactly like her: beautiful, ambitious, and perfect. A good thing, since the recent mandate that’s swept the country is all about perfection.

Now everyone must undergo routine tests for their quotient, Q, and any children who don’t measure up are placed into new government schools. Instead, teachers can focus on the gifted.

Elena tells herself it’s not about eugenics, not really, but when one of her daughters scores lower than expected and is taken away, she intentionally fails her own test to go with her.

But what Elena discovers is far more terrifying than she ever imagined…

Bookworm’s Thoughts: This book started out really strongly and in a way that is recognisable in society today, with the call for education to focus on the gifted students rather than follow the “no child left behind” teaching ideal. The way the idea was initially enacted is also believable children are given coloured cards according to their academic performance and these cards bring benefits to those who score highly while those who are not so academic can be sent to “special” schools where their needs can be met without holding up anyone else.

As the book progresses we move backward and forward in time learning how this new system came into being, how people are kept on board with it and how Elena is now questioning everything she previously believed in now it is having a direct adverse affect on her family.

What I did like about the book was how it is reflecting the times we are living in currently, there is the use of an App to determine who goes to which school on which bus, there are regular television adverts with catchy slogans about how the population should behave and as ever there is corruption amongst those with the power to decide.

I appreciated the historical research into unbelievable programs that existed in the so called civilised world within living memory and I appreciate the author bringing this to light by way of a fictional dramatization.

Slight criticism and that is (like Vox) the ending felt rushed. Personally I would have liked a longer time spent on the resolution rather than things are fixed the end. At least in this one the world is saved due to Girl Power.

Who would like this? If you liked Vox you will want to jump aboard for the latest ride. If you like dystopian fiction with strong female leads go for it.

We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think?