THE PLOT: ‘Augmented’ by Kenechi Udogu is a young-adult eco-dystopian novel. Climate change has ravaged the world and British sixteen-year-olds must surgically augment an ability to contribute to society. Akaego is transferred to a prestigious academy when they learn she has a rare skill – she can project a vocal frequency that accelerates plant growth. But when a group of rebels against enhancement warn Akaego not to get Augmented, she goes on a journey to discover the dark truth behind her power and those wishing to control it.

SUMMARY: Reading this book was an absolute rollercoaster. I was so invested and I gobbled it up in a few days. On the surface, this novel hits many of the typical plot points and character arcs of the genre. A teenage girl has a special power than can save the world. However, I feel like the author did a great job and elevated a typical premise into something truly unique and entertaining. Honestly, this novel was better than I expected and I would recommend it to all fans of young adult books.

GOOD BITS:  The world-building and main character set this novel apart. The world was so detailed and well-imagined, I was able to completely believe in how the effects of global warming could have led to a seemingly utopian society. The focus on plant growth and the natural world was a unique aspect that really captured me. Also, I felt like the plot escalated nicely and it was well-paced. This is because the author allowed her main character to be intelligent. Rather than dropping hints to the reader and letting the main character flounder, Akaego quickly came to conclusions before I (the reader) could guess what would happen next. This kept the plot moving forward quickly.

NOT SO GOOD BITS: When I started reading, I was worried about the line-writing. There were a lot of cliched phrases and I was scared the whole book would be formulaic and predictable. However, I was able to quickly get into the story and it didn’t bother me throughout the story. Additionally, I felt the ending could’ve been more dynamic. The prologue sets up a life or death situation, but the climax waters it down. It’s hard to explain without spoilers, but I felt the Chancellor character could’ve been brought in earlier to explain why they didn’t speak to her sooner. Or, there should’ve been a security guard threatening to shoot Akaego, rather than them calling for a medic and sedative.

OVERALL: I’d recommend this book to fans of ‘Uglies’ by Scott Westerfield, ‘Ace of Spades’ by Faridah Abike-Iyimide, and ‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins.

Thank you to Faber Books for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. ‘Augmented’ was published on 5^th June 2025 and is available to purchase (with a discount) on my bookshop.org page.