''Fearless'' is a 2007

young adult In medicine and the social sciences, a young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence, sometimes with some overlap. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages ...

science fiction novel by British author Tim Lott. The novel follows the life of Little Fearless as she rebels against the tyrannical "Controller" in the City Community Faith boarding school.

Reception

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

s Josh Lacey referred to ''Fearless'' as "a well-written, entertaining and thought-provoking novel". Lacey found the text reminiscent of both fairy tales and dystopian novels, such as ''

Nineteen Eighty-Four ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' (also published as ''1984'') is a dystopian novel and cautionary tale by the English writer George Orwell. It was published on 8 June 1949 by Secker & Warburg as Orwell's ninth and final completed book. Thematically ...

'', ''

The Handmaid's Tale ''The Handmaid's Tale'' is a futuristic dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England in a patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state known as the Republic of Gilead, which has ...

'', and ''

Blade Runner ''Blade Runner'' is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, it is an adaptation of Philip K. Di ...

,'' among others, and enjoyed various allusions to "the years of Bush and Blair's leadership", as well as "allegorical asides about organised religion, faith schools and the war on terror". ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

'''s Lynn Rutan also found similarities to common "fairy-tale tropes", including the importance of the number three, the fact that the "characters are more symbolic than fleshed out; and the language is simple". Rutan noted that "clichés are mixed with some lovely passages, but the symbolism is often heavy handed". Rhona Campbell, writing for ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...

'', also found the novel to be "carefully contrived to feel like a traditional fairy tale, both in its larger-than-life themes ..and in its pacing". Given some of the allusions and allegories, as well as some issues pertaining to the "rather predictable plot twists", Lacey questioned the ideal audience for the novel. Rutan similarly noted that "older teens may need persuading to go past the unappealing cover and the youthful protagonists", but "younger readers may miss ..the political allusions to the war on terror". Campbell also mentioned that the "characters are simplistic, not as clever as they are set up to be, not very likable, and far too easily manipulated, as is the ultimate resolution".

Recognition

In 2007, the novel was long-listed for the

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award was a literary award that annually recognised one fiction book written for Children's literature, children or young adults (at least age eight) and published in the United Kingdom. It was conf ...

References

{{Reflist 2007 British novels Walker Books books British science fiction novels