What would happen if the current atmosphere of political and societal polarization continues, and some further catastrophe struck the world? Would that be enough to combust the embers of unrest into civil war? Noah Hawley imagines just such a scenario, when he writes of a national, then global, pandemic of teen suicides in this provocative book. For no reason that psychologists or medical experts can discern, teens who appear stable and happy are impulsively taking their lives in wildly increasing numbers. At the same time, wildfires in California increase to the point of setting the entire state ablaze.

Into the world of chaos, about one year after our Covid pandemic has resolved, we follow the storytines of several young people which will inevitably converge into courageous action, bringing down an extraordinarily powerful, rich, dangerous, predatory man. The character of E.L. Mobley comes to represent all that is sick about our hyper-sexualized culture that feeds off the youth. You can’t help but cheer for this group of teens who attempt to take him down.

In this band we have the daughter of a Supreme Court nominee, her boyfriend, who is the son of an off-the-grid anti-government rebel, whose daughter was captured, raped, impregnated and held prisoner by Mobley, a trio of teens from an in-patient anxiety clinic , where “the Prophet” believes his fellow patient, Simon, is destined by God to lead their group, and Louise, a teen who was routinely raped and sexually abused by Mobley, but managed to escape. Each has their own reasons for wanting to end his reign of abuse, which amounts to the daily raping of young teen girls, acquired by his worldwide network of recruiters.

This story has the tone of a Kurt Vonnegut novel; for those familiar with his novels, you will sense the sarcasm, over-the-top descriptions and commentary on the action. We find the world we live in has simply become too unbearable for the next generation to enter, the hope and optimism young people bring has been almost extinguished by the climate conditions, but moreover, the polarization, discord, and violence that erupts. Every disenfranchised faction rises up, takes arms, and chaos erupts.

That’s a lot to take on in one novel, but Hawley manages to keep all the characters in motion until the final showdown and its resolution. It is one scenario our current circumstances could lead, as many do feel helpless in the face of so many problems feeling out of control, and we lose faith in our scientists to innovate our way out of this. This clever novel feels like a cautionary tale we need to heed. Recommended.