In an alternate 2020, where Al Gore won the election and declared a War on Climate Change, Sim Kern's "The Free People's Village" presents a powerful narrative set in a transformed world that is no less bleak than our own. Maddie Ryan, an English teacher and a member of a queer punk band, becomes involved in "Save the Eighth," a Black-led movement fighting against gentrification and racial inequalities in Houston's Eighth Ward.

"The Free People's Village" is an extraordinary and transformative book that left a lasting impact on my perspective. This book will live in my brain for years to come. Sim Kern skillfully navigates themes of activism, racial injustice, and the complexities of life in a capitalist society. This powerful narrative delves deep into issues that may be difficult for readers to confront, but it is precisely why every white-cis ally, and indeed everyone, should read this book. The emotional depth of the characters and their relationships is profound. It fearlessly explores shame, white guilt, and the resilience of marginalized communities against overwhelming forces. Through heart-wrenching scenes and thought-provoking discussions, the novel encourages readers to confront uncomfortable truths about our society.

Despite its challenging themes, "The Free People's Village" offers hope and a reminder that even amidst darkness, there is worth in seeking a better world despite overwhelming odds. It emphasizes the importance of showing up for others and using our privilege to uplift those who have less. This book is a rallying cry for change, a call to action, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. "The Free People's Village" is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by marginalized communities and a renewed commitment to fight for a more just and equitable world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Levine Querido for the eARC. Thank you to Sim Kern for writing this important and visceral novel; I sobbed like a baby.

A wild , wild meditation, no, not meditation, because nothing about this is chill-- A wild, wild primal shriek in the face of the unending drudgery of the state of the world as we know it, confronting gender, sexuality, society, culture, politics, and the dire financial and ecological crises we're facing today with a anarcho-punk universe of diverse and interesting characters. aka, I had a lot of fun.

Divorced Maddie begins to rediscover (or maybe finally discover) herself as she daylights as an English teacher in the Eighth Ward, a neighborhood that is so downtrodden and depressed it is on the cusp of being gentrified, and spends her evenings at The Lab, the archetypal commune that generally predates said gentrification. While she wrestles with her own thoughts, history, influences, and identity, she then struggles to understand how she exists and fits within the greater world. Sim Kern deftly weaves together the personal and the political, the internal and the external, and pokes at the places where they intersect, overlap, and fight.

I enjoyed the characters so much, and while I love discovering new points of view, I think my only complaint that's not really a complaint, is that there's almost no way to have these conversations without them overwhelming the plot sometimes. But this plot is AMAZING, and so well thought out and realized. The setting is unique and vibrant, the pacing is wonderful and engaging, never stagnant while never running too quickly. It's a great balance that will always suffer under the weight of its own identity as holding SO MUCH. It's not weaker for it though.

I can't stress enough how much fun I had with this book, how exciting it was and how relatable (for better or worse) some of the characters were. I can't wait to buy a copy.

I enjoyed so many different aspects of this book, the characters, the premise, as soon as this is published I will ask my partner to read this, because I know they will love it. It's real, it's gritty, and so very necessary to read. I didn't fully know what I was in for when I started reading, but as soon as I started I couldn't stop. Excited to read more about this author, they really have a way with words.

The Free People’s Village follows a political movement in an alternate-present Houston trying to save the Eight Ward from a hyperway with a hidden oil pipeline.

This book focuses on Maddie Ryan, who is hanging out in a warehouse that is owned by her tech-founder boyfriend. As she becomes more aware of what is happening in the Eight Ward because of some of the other residents of the warehouse.

As she becomes more politically aware, the book serves as a sort of political primer, complete with a reading list.

As the story progresses, the book examines what it takes to stay committed to political change, people’s different reasons for participating and the toll that it can take on those who do.

The characters are both diverse and believable, When reading, I felt as though I’d met a version of more than one of them.

Although not always an easy read, I’m glad I read this book. It has given me some insight into those who are fighting every day for a better world.

This is the first full-length fiction novel written by environmental journalist Sim Kern. I was first introduced to them through the 2023 Trans Rights Readathon.

This novel is set in Houston, the Eighth Ward to be exact, in an alternate-America that saw Al Gore win the Presidential Election in 2000. Instead of a ‘War on Terror’, the USA waged a ‘War on Carbon’. Go forward 20 years to when this book was set, and this ‘War on Carbon’ has not halted climate issues in their tracks. Instead, the wealthy are still living their lives, by buying carbon credits with their wealth, and the poor are left doing the dangerous but necessary work that makes the world go round, all the while scrounging for enough carbon credits to turn on the A/C at night.

This book is told from Maddie’s perspective as she and many others work to save significant parts of the Eighth Ward from being torn down, in order to build a new super-highway. Maddie is a 23 year old white woman who teaches high school in the Eighth Ward to mostly black and brown students. Maddie is characterized as being extremely naive and unknowledgeable about human right’s issues; and hence a good part of this book is Maddie getting schooled every time she says or does something wrong. It makes for a tedious read, and if I had not been reviewing, I would have DNF’d.

POSITIVES: -when writing characters with a good knowledge of activism and human rights, Sim Kern’s writing flows beautifully
-the premise of the book is unique and unlike anything I have ever read
-if you read for plot, you may enjoy this more than I did
-found family goodness

NOT SO POSITIVES: -very under-formed characters and very little character growth -the tone of the novel swings widely, as do character motivations
-a few times words are used improperly and I can’t tell if it’s a stylistic character beat, or a mistake (eg. using electrocuted when you mean shocked)
-the use of time jumps, especially in the first section

As much as this particular book didn’t work for me, I’m interested in picking up whatever Sim Kern writes next.

I loved this one. Total punk rock, anarchy and timely! It reminded me of my punk rock days in the early 80's in Seattle. Great characters, story and author!

This book was really something. Honestly I don't really know how to review this, I've been staring at my screen and I don't know how to summarize the best what I felt reading the book. The book made me feel hopeless, but also gave me hope. This book made me feel empowered, but also weak and small. I laughed about jokes but also gave me high moments of tension. And it made me feel happy while I still sobbed towards the end.
This book gave me a huge range of emotions, more than what I'm used from books and that is partially why this book is such an experience.

This book is all about activism and gave me a whole new perspective on the way that operates and happens. It shows all of the struggles and all of the amazing moments it can bring when things go right. (hence me mentioning feeling both hopeful and hopeless). I don't do a lot of physical activism myself as because of my disabilities I can't leave the house much, so it was great to be able to attend protests through the book while I can't in real life. But that doesn't mean that all protests in the book were all happy and great, because they are definitely not, just like they can be in real life. And I feel this book really showed the truths that all come with it.

I also want to talk about the fictional?? world this takes place in. It is not our current version of earth so I guess that would make it fictional, but it is close in a way it easily could've been, or it's our future coming. And it's the way that it's so close to our earth, that when you're reading you don't realize it is not completely accurate. The way this was done in the book was extremely skillful and made the book an even better experience than if it would've been in the real world.

A big part of this book is all the connections the main character has with her loved ones (and less loved ones) around her. Each relationship felt totally unique and had their own struggles. I enjoyed it so so much when people were being happy together, and it made me cry very easily if things were not. I happened to care for everyone in the book in the span of the first few chapters. And then when things went down bad as always happens in books... I was a crying mess just hugging my pillow. It was intense, but the right kind of intense, full of emotions from a great book.

I will be thinking on this book for a bit longer I know for sure. And I would highly recommend for others to read this too and join me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Wow. This book. So far, it's my favorite read of 2023. I'm not surprised how many people who got an ARC said they binge-read it until early in the morning, finishing it with a good cry. I wish I had had the time to read it all in one go, too. It was hard to put down: every chapter grabbed and pulled me through, I loved Maddie and all the varied personalities that surrounded her, and of course I became invested in their Free People's Village.

This alternate timeline Kern has designed is fascinating. Kern tackles so many huge topics and questions, turning them inside out, all while having me enthralled by the personal journey of Maddie, and Red, and the yearning that had me flip-flopping between excitement, nail-biting, pain, and hope. Don't hesitate to pick up The Free People's Village when it comes out this September 12th.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to NetGalley, Sim Kern, and Levine Querido for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.


For 2023, I’ll be using this rating scale:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I mourned the ending of this journey 🥹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really enjoyed and would recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was fine
⭐️⭐️ I didn’t enjoy this journey
⭐️ I dnf’d or wish I’d dnf’d
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ this is smutty smutty erotica 🥵
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ medium burn
🌶️🌶️🌶️ slow burn
🌶️🌶️ romantic b plot / closed door / YA romance
🌶️ no romance / nonfiction

The Free People's Village is a well-paced speculative novel that explores what US government and society in general would look like if Al Gore had won the 2000 election. This novel is a stark reminder of the empty promises of politicians and the communities that are overwhelmingly affected by gentrification and expansion. While there are several significant plot points and events that stand out, I would consider this to be a character-driven novel. The reader gets to know a group of unique, outspoken individuals that feel like old friends, all through the lens and emotions of the narrator. The flaws and multi-dimensional nature of the characters are highlighted as they navigate complex situations and feelings.

This is a call to arms -- a book people need to be reading right now.

Had a really tough time getting through the book. I just wasn’t connecting with the story and characters. It wasn’t written badly, just my pace. Definitely for a specific type of reader.

I received a pre-publication copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for writing a review. I have also met the author; we participated on panels together at a science fiction convention less than a year ago, and we had the opportunity to hang out. However, I do not know them well, and they did not in any way try to influence me to write this review. I requested the book from Net Galley after reading their earlier novella, Depart! Depart!, and enjoying it very much.

Where my background intersects with that of their protagonist, Maddie (and with Kern, themself), I can vouch for the authenticity. The scenes of Maddie at her teaching job were so on-target they were funny. The thrill of authentic teaching in a non-approved fashion in a state that dictates oppressive mandates to teachers--yup, dead-on. There are definitely administrators very similar to the one Kern describes. The chaotic nature of a protest movement run by consensus decision making and other concepts borrowed from feminist theory; the thrill of an action as it's happening--yep, dead on. The comfortable dynamics of a group house and of a band--yep. Although I lived in group houses, none were as Bohemian as the ones described, so although I can't fault the description, I can't verify it either.

The alternative history aspect--what if Gore had won--trends a little in the satirical direction. I enjoyed it as satire, even though I couldn't buy as realistic the extent to which Gore's capitalist climate schemes were taken seriously by the wealthy in the book or the embrace of eco-fascism by the mainstream Republican Party (or eco-anything). However, as this book is an alternate 2020, in many ways like today, little emphasis is placed on the alternate history aspects, so these departures in style didn't detract from the book.

The main character is written well. I identified with her; I felt for her. The struggle over avoiding white savior activities while still contributing toward the struggle is a real one, both in fiction and in real life.

The near-exposition on revolutionary theory from a couple of the characters (mainly Gestas) reminded me of the part of Native Son told from the viewpoint of the Marxist Jewish lawyer in the extent to with it was clear the viewpoint was the author's. I didn't mind the exposition, largely because I'd read most of what got referenced or at least was aware of it. It might be slow reading for a reader who hadn't.

There is no attempt to understand "the enemy"--they are just cops and white supremacists, etc. A faceless horde. One of the characters who went from friend to enemy was well described but from an unsympathetic point-of-view. The difficulty of doing so in a first person POV novel likely contributed to Kern's choice not to go in this direction.

There was clearly a lot of thought that went into this book as political messaging as well as this book as a character-driven novel. The plot happened and was mostly logical, but the character changes and the ideas were the essence of this book.

One additional strength was how "hyperlocal" the action was. Kern is from Houston; both this book and Depart! Depart! are set there. The sense of place paradoxically helps with the universality of the message.

I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to reading what comes from this author in the future.

Okay, here’s the thing. This book is not really a genre I enjoy reading. That being said, Sim Kern showed up to make a point, and let it never be said that point has not been made! I have not yet made it entirely through this book, and I’ll be completely honest when I say that I’m not sure if I will (like I said, it’s not a genre I prefer). That said, I absolutely recommend it to those who are in to speculative fiction, and are mad as hell about the circumstances in which we find ourselves, especially given the promises each new administration offers.
Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to check this out!

DNF @45%
Sorry but I'm simply not interested in reading about how Maddie gets schooled by BIPOC people at every turn of the way. BIPOC people do not exist to educate White people, we never have and we never will. If there was more personality to the characters other than teaching the white girl who is basically a stand in for white saviour and white fragility, I would’ve kept reading but unfortunately it doesn’t so DNF it is.
The side characters are so flat, they all exist for a purpose and that's pretty much it. Maddie is constantly butting her head into places it doesn't belong and then wonders if she's trying to be the White saviour. Like girl, yes. Yes, you are. Not to add that she's only doing all this just for the sake of Red, so she doesn't lose the band and hence. Red and so that she can impress Red which, ugh.

Overall an interesting read and I haven’t read another book like it! It took me about halfway to get used to the world (things like carbon taxes took me a while, and not sure I completely understand it). I also have never read a book with pronouns beyond he, she, they (that’s on me and other authors for not including xe). There were parts I got so annoyed at Maddie and that was probably the point lol. And the ending I thought was quite inspirational. The more I think about this book, the better I think it is!

Climate change is punk rock! Sim Kern expertly juggles political commentary with a fun punk voice and characters you want to succeed. More dystopian / utopian novels should have characters with neopronouns- it's just badass.

Overall, the Free People's Village was an engrossing read that made me feel hope, and memories of despair at certain parts. Included in Free People's were some great works to read if you wanted to educate yourself and that inclusion felt natural to the story. Also, given that the point of view is of a cis white woman, there was discomfort all over the place!

There were both big and little stakes throughout the story, and it felt like a nice blend of character development, plot continuity, and realism. This story felt grounded in reality, even though it did pose the question of what if Al Gore won the 2000 election.

There were some points that were lagging, but that felt more like personal preference over any issue with the pacing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Levine Querido for an ecopy of this ARC

Visceral and upsetting, The Free People’s Village is an alternate history imagining of the 2020 protest wave, setting Seattle’s Autonomous Zone in Austin during America’s War on Climate Change, a political push that has a striking similarity to the War on Drugs and the War on Terror.

Maddie, an ex-Catholic 22-year-old divorcée, finds her way to The Lab, an “arts space” in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Austin, where she carves herself a precarious space among the predominantly queer, trans, PoC musicians that play there. When she finds out that the government is going to bulldoze the place to put up a highway and the landlord, who she is reluctantly dating, has done nothing about it, she throws herself into a political struggle for the future of the city.

The Free People’s Village is a book that deals heavily with white savior complexes and white guilt, in particular the experience of being a white queer woman in a Black neighborhood. While Maddie was frequently unlikable and her perspective uncomfortable to inhabit, she is a familiar and very real character, and her struggles with belonging, privilege, and politics are intimate and believable.

Of all of the characters we meet at The Free People’s Village, Maddie is one of the least qualified to give an account of what happened, and one of the least interesting people involved in the story, but I think it works in this particular case. By the time Maddie is able to tell this story, she knows her voice is the wrong one for the job— but also that she’s one of the only people with both the knowledge and the position to be able to do it at all.

I felt that The Free People’s Village was a little overly didactic at times, and the both-sides-ism of the setup was extremely depressing, and I would hesitate to recommend it— not because it isn’t excellent, (it is) but because it’s such an unpleasant experience for so much of the narrative. You know the entire time how it’s going to end, and it doesn’t do a damn thing to soften the blow. But if you’re up for it? It’s absolutely worth the struggle.

4.5 stars, I cried, it made me gut-churningly anxious, hated the main character, excellent novel

Thanks to Levine Querido and NetGalley for the eARC, provided in exchange for an honest review

Eat-the-rice climate fiction, I'm here for it. I also had the joy of picking up a short story zine from this author, which primed me to be delighted for this work. The main character was relatable and I loved to see the Houston rep and will be recommending this book to friends based on that as well. I feel very grateful to have received an advance copy!

This is the story of a movement, and the place that is at the center of it — how the warehouse turned punk-rock party venue “The Lab'' becomes “The Free People’s Village”, an occupation and HQ for the movement trying to save the neighborhood from destruction to make space for a new superhighway.

WHAT WORKED:
- The world building of this alternate timeline is really well done. It is different enough while still being plausible, and plausible without being predictable.
- Captures the frustration of large, decentralized political movements, but also shows that it is possible for people with different ideas to cooperate towards a common goal.
- There are a lot of important conversations about fairness and social justice and the rights of poorer communities being trampled to make life more convenient for the more affluent. That alone makes this book worth a read, in my opinion.
- It was pretty cool to read a full-length book with a prominent character who uses neopronouns (Red uses xe/xim/xir). When I started reading I thought this might be jarring, but I got used to it pretty quickly.
- Gestas was my favorite out of the more prominent characters. I do love a smart character who runs circles around everybody else with his sharp analyses. Plus he wears skirts and glittery stuff. And has good book recommendations. Would love to be friends with him in real life.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
- The book is VERY didactic, like the story was created explicitly to be a vehicle to carry these political discussions. I usually really like books that do social commentary, but this one felt heavy handed at times, which took me out of the flow of the story.
- The characters, although beautifully diverse as a group, felt pretty flat as individuals. Most of them are very one-dimensional. Red is the rebel who breaks stuff. Fish is the white guy who is desperate to “be cool”. The main character Maddie is kind of a blank canvas. She was kind of unlikable (this might have been deliberate, as she represents white saviorism and white guilt), and I had a hard time connecting with her. The synopsis makes it sound like all she cares about is her band, but I got the impression that the only reason she cares about the band is because Red is in it. The music making gets kind of dropped and forgotten at a certain point, and while some characters say they miss the jams, it doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of difference in their lives.

YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS IF:
- You like stories where characters come together to try to “stick it to the man”;
- You like alternative timeline stories;
- You are in the beginning of your journey of social justice awareness and enjoy concepts being explained to you.

***Thank you NetGalley and publisher Levine Querido for providing an advanced reader copy of this book***

The Free People’s Village is a look at if Al Gore has won the election and waged a war on climate change rather then a war on drugs. A lot of things are different, but greed and corruption stay the same. The rich get everything while everyone else barely get scraps. Wow I was not expecting this to be such an emotional read in the way that it was, I felt every emotion while reading this. Sim Kern is an amazing writer that seamlessly integrates world building into their writing so this didn’t feel info dump heavy, but you also knew what was going on in this parallel universe. I really highly recommend this one!

*thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*