Book Review: To Those We Found by George Ander

As the reader we are following Taman Yedder, a young man who has just won the ‘lottery’. By winning he is given the opportunity to travel across the universe and compete in the esteemed Arnermis Report. To compete he must leave his life and loved ones behind. The prize is too great to resist, to become the best leader the world has ever seen, he just hopes he can make his family proud.

He wakes on a new planet, in a dingy laboratory after what seems like decades of interstellar travel. Something here feels very, very wrong. He is late, there are terrorists everywhere and he needs to break free, now. Desperate to reach the ‘well-loved’ and ‘very kind’ ruler Gwafa Izemrazen, he aims to use the time he has left to put together the pieces of this new society and complete the report in time to win.

As Taman travels from location to location gathering data, he discovers all is not as it seems, maybe those screaming for help in front of factory gates aren't the bad guys after all. This is a story of trying to choose the right side, learning to show compassion and accepting yourself for exactly who you are.

To Those we Found has so many important themes and I wish I had read it when I was younger. The author explores classism, religion, sexuality and political manipulation within these pages in a way that is approachable for a younger audience. I do have a few criticisms of the writing style and structure, however.

There were a couple of times when I was quite jarred by some of the pacing, and events that were important took a while to be explained or were glossed over at times I felt like they needed more explaining. I felt there was also a case of too many themes building on top of one another which meant some were put aside to come back joltingly later in the book. This could have done with pulling back on the number of themes explored while providing the same message making this a stronger entry.

There was one theme which shone in these pages. The exploration of sexuality was beautifully approachable for questioning young and new adults.  The author has really put their heart and soul into that particular story point, and it shows. It is innocent, and blossoms beautifully, even though some of the not so pleasant themes (like conversion therapy). That is something I wish I had 18 years ago, and I am happy that young adults now days have access to things like this to help them with their own though processes during a very confusing time.

At the end of the day, I had a good time here, I look forward to seeing how Ander's writing develops in the future.