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Leah is a wonderful character. She's brave and intelligent and resourceful. She's capable of independent thought, despite a limited vocabulary and inarticulacy. She utterly exemplifies the failings of the YOP system - how can a girl with such potential have such limited opportunity, you ask. This is a society where an impression of ''feral youth'' is used to manipulate public opinion to support government policies that favour the rich and powerful. Oh. A bit like the one we're in now, then.
But don't think this is some kind of hand-wringing book in which the perpetrators of violence are given a free pass. It's not. Leah has no time for the shooters. She's conflicted about her brother because she loves him, but she's under no illusions. She knows what a loser likes looks like and violence makes her sick. So Mussi is showing both sides of this argument. And she's not afraid to make it ugly.
It has a dystopian setting, but ''Siege'' is more about violence and our reactions to it - both personal and societal. It's also a warning about the path we find ourselves on. It's a fast-paced, tense and shocking read and it's ''very'' violent. But I found it truthful. And tremendously affecting. I'd like to see it talked about in classroom discussions up and down the country.
