The Guardians

Rating:
Summary: Classy vision of the future!
Review: "A 21st Century book describing England split into Conurb and County, only being one or the other. The young Rob Randall from the Conurb finds himself in an unstable position after his rebellious father and his mother had both died. He attempts the life-threatening mission of crossing the barrier between Conurb and County. He falls into County gentry and finds himself into a handful of problems."

I found the book quite slow and hard to read at first, and had we not been made to read it, I probably wouldn't have carried on, but as I got to the end, I regretted it. The last two chapters swept me off my feet! I wanted to read it over and over again because there was so much drama and action in it. John Christopher wrote the book in 1970, trying to put across his view of what the world will be like in 2053, with the Country divided into two different ways of living. I thought that the idea of a group of people called the Guardians looking after both Conurb and County was a good idea.

All in all I thought that the book was very enjoyable and easy to read and if a sequel of it came out, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Read it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: 2053 and everything in England has changed. Virtually all of England has been split into the conurb and the county. This book is by John Christopher, about a fourteen- year old boy named Robin Randall. This book is set in county. There are big differences between the two. The conurb is how everyone would think the future would be like in England, where as the county is like England was in the late 19th century, but with a few more modern things. You'll have to read the book to find out what these are. It was hard to find some good points about this book but I managed to find some: It's interesting to see what the author thinks England will be like in the future. It's good how everyone exaggerates about the fence. They think it's electric and very high when it's actually 12 foot high. There were many bad points, here are some: This is a very slow book and after a while you'll find it pointless. It's very boring while he's in the middle of the escape. It tells you nothing good or funny. If you want action, fighting and adventure this isn't for you. Read this book at your peril.

Rating:
Summary: A good read but a bit slow.
Review: A Review of the Guardians

This book is about a boy called Rob in the year 2053. The country is split in two halves, the Conurb and the County. The book is about a boy who crosses the barrier separating the two halves because he is an orphan. He eventually gets mixed up in a revolutionary when he is befriended by a boy called Mike who lives in the County. This novel is full of ideas rather than action. Rob is told by the Gifford family that he can stay with them and he will be a distant cousin from Nepal. The Conurb is very high tech where as the County is very lazy with servants. The people there dress up in a grand style and use horses for transport, like in the 1900's. When Mike rebels with several others the Guardians question him. They know he is already from the Conurb, they found out within 24hours of his arrival at the Gifford house. Rob is considered by the Guardians as a potential recruit. They tell him the system and Rob finds out the rottenness of the system and the way in which people are made to live, as the Guardians want them to. Questions which were raised earlier by Mike, but which were rejected by Rob are now thought about. Should the government control people's lives, should there be freedom and should there be a choice of lifestyle? Rob finds out that people are brainwashed almost. In the Conurb people who have ideas stick out like a sore thumb and are sent to China where there is a war. Steam is let off in riots. Ideas are spread around that there is a huge barrier 150ft high, and electrified. These were no mistakes made, but rumors spread by the Guardians to discourage people crossing the barrier. In the County people have a revolt and they all gather together in one place. Then nerve gas is dropped, wiping out most rebels. Or people can have a bit of their brain removed so they are no longer rebellious. Rob's father died in a mysterious accident at work as an electrician. Rob begins to wonder if it was an accident? Did the Guardians kill him?

This is a good novel because it gives a good idea of what England may be like in the future. The last chapter is a very good one with lots of twists in it, which are not expected. The book is more a book full of ideas rather than action and this gives a lot of time to get to know the character.

Several questions are raised in the book about whether there should be a secret dictator who force people to do what they want or whether the country should be one of freedom where people make their own choice.

This is a slightly bad book because there is not much action (25%) which makes it run slowly. This makes it a bit boring.

I give it 3 out of 5.

Name : James McLeod Age : 12 School : St.Albans School

Rating:
Summary: The Guardians
Review: I read this book as a part of a study to do with books. This book deals with a lot of moral issues including thoughts on social control. In the book, John Christopher describes the place as being totally different but actually were under the same group of people who wanted to make England a better place. he shows the different ways of control and how people will go to certain extents to stage a rebellion!! This book is one of the best I have read and makes it a fantastic book for teens!!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent -for people with a lot of time !
Review: THE GAURDIANS

This novel is based in 2053 and is about two places (in Britain) in which people in. The two places are The Conurb (which is a futuristic place with fast electocars, fighting gladiators, and holovision ), and The County (a place based in the past, plain and peaceful, with unspoiled views but uses the technology of the future, like the soft plastic for the horses to travel on).The main story is about a Conurban boy called Rob, whose father has been killed. He is sent to boarding school, but is forced to run away due to the unbearable torture he has been through. He has found some letters of his mums which show his mums address in Gloucestershire, which is in the County. He runs away here. Here he meets a boy called Mike. He lives in their house with a false identity as a distant cousin. Here he releases what the government is doing. They are making people live in one place not giving them the freedom if choosing weather to live in the County or Conurb. Mike and a few friends start a revolt. It gets stopped. After this Mike runs away to the Conurb to start a revolt there. Rob thinks about his fathers death and suspects about it. He decides to run away and help Mike. I think this book is a very good book but is a little slow to get started then is all crammed in at the end.

Rating:
Summary: Very intresting
Review: The Guardians Book review.

This book is about a boy called Robin Randall who is has not settled into a boarding school called Barnes Boarding school and gets teased like a normal new boy would be. He decides to escape into the country where his mother was born. It was a hard decision to make and Rob shows his courage by crossing. It was a hard choice due to the County and Conurb were enemies. It was set in 2053 in the future.

This book I think is not well paced, as to much things happen in one chapter, especially in the 10th chapter as to many things happen as Robs true identify is spotted by Sir.Percy. I also do not like the story line, as it is very untrue but then again some readers find that good.

It is also a bit confusing so therefore you could get lost and confused. It is one of those books which start of boring then get exciting for the last 5 chapters and it finishes with you wondering what would happen next. That is why I thought it would be a good idea for the author to do another book following on as it does not finish well wondering well Mike meet Rob or not.

I recommend this book to people that like adventures and can get really into a book.

I give it 8/10.

Rating:
Summary: A slow book with a few twists towards the end.
Review: The Guardians by John Christopher

The year is 2053, and Britain is divided into the tightly packed Conurb and the leisurely County. The people in the County don't work, and they live a very easy life, with hobbies such as growing miniature trees. The Conurbans work in crowded cities with hi-tech entertainment, such as Terraplaning, the bloodthirsty Games and lots of riots. Rob is a Conurban, but he doesn't fit in with everyone else. He would rather read books, while others watch Terraplaning and the Games. When Rob's father dies, Rob is sent off to Barnes Boarding School, which he hates. Rob decides to try and cross the barrier, which is supposed to be a hundred feet high and electrified, and enter the County. Rob finally finds the cave and to his amazement is only 12 feet high but his temptations soon catch up with him but he soon does the jump a quick scramble and he himself was on his way to freedom. A boy, about the same age as him, named Mike Gifford soon finds him. Mike shows him a cave, which Rob lives in for a few days. However, Mike's mother soon finds Rob, and offers to take him into the house, and pretend he is a cousin from Nepal. How long can Rob stay in the County, fooling the officials? How long will Rob be able to pretend to be one of the Gentry? How long will it be until someone finds out the truth?

This is quite a good book, but I feel that it is not evenly spaced out. For a long time, from when Rob crosses the barrier to the last chapter not a lot seems to be happening. Even the last chapter goes on for too long, although it does have a few twists. The whole point of the book is about freedom, and how most people are not free, because they all have to go along with everything else in the Conurb. They are not free to do what they want to do. Equality takes a big part in the book I think this book could play apart in the war going on at the moment in Kosovo. It is a great book and a pleasure to read I think more people should read it.

Rating:
Summary: A slow book with a few twists towards the end.
Review: The Guardians by John Christopher

The year is 2053, and Britain is divided into the tightly packed Conurb and the leisurely County. The people in the County don't work, and they live a very easy life, with hobbies such as growing miniature trees. The Conurbans work in crowded cities with hi-tech entertainment, such as Terraplaning, the bloodthirsty Games and lots of riots. Rob is a Conurban, but he doesn't fit in with everyone else. He would rather read books, while others watch Terraplaning and the Games. When Rob's father dies, Rob is sent off to Barnes Boarding School, which he hates. Rob decides to try and cross the barrier, which is supposed to be a hundred feet high and electrified, and enter the County. Rob finally finds the cave and to his amazement is only 12 feet high but his temptations soon catch up with him but he soon does the jump a quick scramble and he himself was on his way to freedom. A boy, about the same age as him, named Mike Gifford soon finds him. Mike shows him a cave, which Rob lives in for a few days. However, Mike's mother soon finds Rob, and offers to take him into the house, and pretend he is a cousin from Nepal. How long can Rob stay in the County, fooling the officials? How long will Rob be able to pretend to be one of the Gentry? How long will it be until someone finds out the truth?

This is quite a good book, but I feel that it is not evenly spaced out. For a long time, from when Rob crosses the barrier to the last chapter not a lot seems to be happening. Even the last chapter goes on for too long, although it does have a few twists. The whole point of the book is about freedom, and how most people are not free, because they all have to go along with everything else in the Conurb. They are not free to do what they want to do. Equality takes a big part in the book I think this book could play apart in the war going on at the moment in Kosovo. It is a great book and a pleasure to read I think more people should read it.

Rating:
Summary: Read by the whole of class 2.2 (St.Albans School)
Review: The Guardians J Christopher

It's 2053, and Britain has been split into two different areas (the conurb and the county.) The conurb is a hectic urban area, full of bright lights and 'lumoglobes.' There is a great demand for blood sports and the streets are full of rioting conurbans. The county on the other hand is a peaceful country area. Everything is made in 'Victorian style,' and people (instead of driving around in modern electrocars,) ride horses and 'take afternoon tea with the rest of the gentry.' The main character is Rob Randall, a young orphaned boy. Rob decides to cross over to the county and the trouble carries on from there. I didn't really enjoy this book because it wasn't very fast moving. I myself prefer more action packed but for a less action orientated this would be a good book to read. I myself did not enjoy the book and would have to give it a, poor.... 4/10 Sorry John Christopher!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Read it and see!
Review: The Guardians

This is a book by John Christopher about how he thinks life will be like in the not-too-distant future. It stars a 13 year-old boy called Rob Randall who lives in the crowded, glitzy conurb. He is a likeable character who shares his emotions at every opportunity. Too often, for my liking. There are a lot of times when the pace of the novel slows to a crawl. But there are a few exciting parts, for example, when Rob is being interviewed by Sir Percy Gregory near the end of the book. The few pages on his dad before he dies (oops) say little about him except that he's an engineer, which is a shame because a strong father figure might have been more to the novel's advantage. Another drawback of the slow, boring plot is that the less patient reader may become bored and put it down way before he/she discovers it's best kept secrets. The story-line is flawed but there are a precious few nice twists, like when Mike's mother discovers Rob in the cave and tells him that she knew about it when she was a young girl, courting Mike's father. The characterization is impressive, providing likeable inhabitants of the County and not-so likeable members of the Conurb, Mr.Kenealy for example. Overall, a disappointing novel that could've been good. The execution lets it down though. Oh well.