Title: Cell 7
Author: Kerry Drewery
First published September 20, 2016
384 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781471405594 (ISBN10: 1471405591)
Rating: 3.76
Overview
Get ready to make the most important decision of your life. Martha Honeydew, a sixteen-year-old girl, has been accused of killing a beloved celebrity.
She was caught holding a gun, standing over the lifeless body. Now, her fate lies in the hands of the public.
Watch the gripping daily episodes of the popular TV show that has taken the world by storm – the only show that gives you the power to decide whether Martha is innocent or guilty. It’s all up to you, and all it takes is a phone call.
Martha has already admitted to the crime, but things are never as straightforward as they seem. Will you be able to unravel the mysteries surrounding the case, or will you be swayed by the images you see on TV?
The choice is yours.
About the Author
Meet Kerry, a proud resident of Lincolnshire who enjoys the best of both worlds with easy access to the countryside and the sea. She’s an accomplished writer with a first-class honours degree in Professional Writing and has lent her talents to BookStart.
Her work has been recognized as a finalist in the BBC Scriptwriting for Children competition, and she’s a valued member of Author Allsorts and The Prime Writers.
While Kerry takes her work seriously, she also knows how to have fun. She’s an avid runner, cyclist, and swimmer who has completed a gruelling 12-hour run across the Humber Bridge.
Even more impressively, she’s not afraid to swim in lakes during the winter while wearing a bikini!
Kerry’s writing career has been nothing short of impressive. Her book Cell 7, published by Hot Key Books in 2016, was longlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award, shortlisted for the CrimFest Best YA Award, and named Spellbinding Book of the Year in 2017.
The sequel, Day 7, hit shelves in June 2017, and the final instalment in the trilogy, Final 7, will be released in Spring 2018.
A Brighter Fear, another of Kerry’s works, was shortlisted for the Leeds Book Awards. Meanwhile, A Dream of Lights was shortlisted for the Hampshire Independent Schools Books Award, received a Highly Commended nod at the North East Teen Book Awards, and was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal.
Kerry’s passion for UKYA talent has led her to co-coordinate the UKYA Extravaganza events alongside fellow author Emma Pass. These gatherings bring readers, authors, and bloggers together to celebrate the best of UKYA writing.
Editoral Review
In Kerry Drewery’s riveting young adult novel “Cell 7,” readers are transported to a dystopian society that puts the power of justice in the hands of the public through a televised execution process. First published on September 20, 2016, Drewery’s thought-provoking book asks important questions about the nature of justice, morality, and the dangers of unchecked power.
Set in the near future, the novel’s gripping plot follows the story of Martha Honeydew, a young woman who finds herself on trial for a crime she didn’t commit. In the cell 7, where prisoners spend six days before being executed by the public, Martha becomes a cause clbre as the public’s interest in her case spirals out of control.
The novel’s main villain is the cruel and manipulative prosecutor, who uses Martha’s case for political gain and is willing to dig her grave before giving her a fair trial. Drewery’s writing style is fast-paced, and her characters are complex and fascinating.
Martha is a likable character, and readers will find themselves rooting for her from the first page. Through her character, Drewery raises critical questions about the ability of the justice system to protect the innocent and punish the guilty.
Her clever use of flashbacks, diary entries, and memos from other characters keeps the plot moving, and the suspense builds with every chapter. As a dystopian novel, “Cell 7” echoes the rise of the reality TV genre and the modern obsession with public opinion.
This aspect of the novel is particularly relevant today, as it warns against society’s failure to recognize the insidious role that social media can play in shaping the narrative around a person’s guilt or innocence. Although “Cell 7” is a powerful and engaging read, it does have some limitations.
The pacing of the plot can be uneven at times, with some chapters feeling rushed and others dragging on too long. Some readers may also find the ending of the novel to be disappointing, as it doesn’t provide a conclusive answer to some of the central questions posed by Drewery throughout the narrative.
Overall, though, “Cell 7” is a well-written, thought-provoking novel that is sure to appeal to fans of the dystopian genre. Drewery’s exploration of justice, power, and the importance of individual agency is timely and relevant, and her characters are fleshed out with care and precision.
For young adults who are interested in exploring themes related to power, justice, and morality, “Cell 7” is a must-read. Kerry Drewery’s debut novel is sure to leave readers reflecting on the complexities of human nature and the dangers of applying punishments to those who may not deserve them.
So, it’s a 4-star book.
