In this dystopian sci-fi commentary on the ever-aching sociopolitical battle of choosing between the individual and the many, love and peace, and what is worth fighting for, Ali emphasizes the importance of knowing your story and safeguarding your truth under the thumb of a colonial regime. With beautifully nuanced characters to root for, Fledgling forces you to engage with the effects of war, forced assimilation, and imposing enlightenment head-on without metaphors to hide behind. After you finish this book, flip back to the first page and begin again as the lessons learned last a lifetime.
Fledgling by S. K. Ali, (List Price: $21.99, Kokila, 9780593531242, October 2024)
Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina