We are so, so, so excited to be a part of the blog tour for Metaltown by Kristen Simmons! We adore her and this book was so amazing and you should all go out and read it immediately, but first… here are the details:
Metaltown by Kristen Simmons (Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Also by this author: The Glass Arrow, Pacifica, Scammed
Published by Macmillan on September 20th 2016
Genres: Dystopian, General, Science Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 368
Metaltown, where factories rule, food is scarce, and hope is in short supply.
The rules of Metaltown are simple: Work hard, keep your head down, and watch your back. You look out for number one, and no one knows that better than Ty. She’s been surviving on the factory line as long as she can remember. But now Ty has Colin. She’s no longer alone; it’s the two of them against the world. That’s something even a town this brutal can’t take away from her. Until it does.
Lena’s future depends on her family’s factory, a beast that demands a ruthless master, and Lena is prepared to be as ruthless as it takes if it means finally proving herself to her father. But when a chance encounter with Colin, a dreamer despite his circumstances, exposes Lena to the consequences of her actions, she’ll risk everything to do what’s right.
In Lena, Ty sees an heiress with a chip on her shoulder. Colin sees something more. In a world of disease and war, tragedy and betrayal, allies and enemies, all three of them must learn that challenging what they thought was true can change all the rules.
An enthralling story of friendship and rebellion, Metaltown will have you believing in the power of hope.
Jaime’s Thoughts
Metaltown is a raw and gritty story of perseverance, a story of friendship, family and fighting for what you believe in, no matter the cost.
In Metaltown, as long as you keep your head down and do your work, you should be fine. Told from three very different perspectives, Simmons tells a story of a group of kids who are determined to fight for what is right. Ty, at fifteen, has been surviving on her own for so long she struggles to put her trust in anyone else, Colin, who convinces her that he’s worth that trust, and Lena, a girl from the other side who wants to fix the problems and change the world her family has helped create.
I’m just going to say it right now. This book is not about a potential romance… so please get that out of your mind before diving in. IS there a romance… sort of. Colin is definitely interested in Lena, but there are so many outside things happening that a true romance isn’t what this story is about and it’s such a minor part of the story that it would have felt out of place if it became a big part of the story. Are there unrequited feelings for a character? Yes. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
I love the dark, gritty world that Simmons has created in this story, it’s scary, it’s unpredictable and I felt like I was right there next to these characters fighting for their rights. Ty is the scrappy, tough girl who isn’t going to stand on the sidelines and let people wrong her. She’s had a rough life, and it’s gotten worse more recently. Colin loves Ty… like a sister, or one of the guys. He’s struggling to help his mom make ends meet and keep his brother out of trouble and he certainly never expects to become the face of the rebellion, but he does. And Lena… she’s struggled to get her father to see her worth, to get him to see that she wants to be more than some man’s wife. When she meets Colin and Ty she sees the despicable things that are happening to those who are working for the companies her father runs and she wants to help change them.
Together these three unlikely partners are ready to ‘pressback’ against the evils of the city and face the consequences that choice may bring.
If you love stories of revolution and hope this one is for you! With captivating characters and a story that you will be completely engrossed in, you won’t want to put this one down until you turn the last page.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Erin’s Thoughts
If I haven’t told you this yet, you are going to want to add Metaltown by Kristen Simmons to your to be read list/shelf. I am fairly certain I hit every single emotion while reading Metaltown and I can’t even tell you everything. There are so many things that I loved about this book and I am fairly certain that I won’t be able to give it the justice it deserves in my review – I’m a rambler when I really enjoy a book. Nevertheless I will do my best and definitely try not to spoil anything.
At its heart, this story is about standing up for your beliefs, family and friendship.  And when I say family…that doesn’t always mean the family you are born to, it can also be the people you choose as your own. The characters at the heart of this story are Ty, Colin, and Lena. They all have different backgrounds but ultimately end up together fighting for a better life for all.
Metaltown is a place where factories make all the rules and they are really only interested in making a profit. Regardless of the conditions, most people fight for a place on the factory lines because if you don’t work, you end up on the streets. If you are living on the streets, you could end up dead so working, no matter what your age, is the only ways people can survive. If someone can provide value, they are used however the factory foreman sees fit. The Brotherhood is there to support the workers’ rights and is led by Jed Schultz but it is easy to see that Schultz is really only looking out for himself.
Ty really is my favorite character in this book. I don’t know what it was about her but from the first page of introduction to her, I loved her. She is not perfect…not even close and she did some things I didn’t agree with and ultimately put her in a bad position but I could understand where she was coming from and why she did what she did. Ty has been on her own for quite a while and when she vouched for Colin, they became linked like family. Even though Ty has Colin, she is still very independent and tries to be as tough as she has to be to survive. Underneath all the clothes and her toughness though, she really is just a young girl who has been dealt a bad hand.
Colin doesn’t have things easy either but he hasn’t always lived in Metaltown and he has a family. For me, Colin is the optimist. He believes there has to be something better and the factory workers can influence change.  He is always looking for the good in people and a way to make things better. Simply put, he wants something more than what Metaltown has to offer.  Colin values loyalty and cares about his family and if there is one thing he wants most, it is to protect the people he loves. I love this about Colin and I can’t fault him for his decisions…even if I didn’t like them all the time.
Lena is a Hampton…as in Hampton Industries which owns the factory that Ty and Colin work in. She has a very different life from Ty and Colin but things are easier. Yes, her family is rich but she is abused by her brother and not allowed to do anything her father doesn’t approve of. Her argument to be more involved in the factories is what puts her into the mix with Ty and Colin and it is also the catalyst to the rest of the story. Lena is smart and as she begins to dig into how her father and brother are running the factory, she realizes just how bad things are for the workers.
When something horrible happens to Ty at the factory, her ability to work is put at risk and when Lena is the one to kick her off the line, Ty is even angrier than usual. The factory and the Hamptons have become the face of all of her problems and this is important because all three of these characters become key players in the press for workers’ rights and Ty has issues including Lena in everything. Not only is she a Hampton and he cause of most of her problems (in her mind) but she is also taking Colin away from her. When the group decides not to pledge to the Brotherhood and instead start the Small Parts Charter, Lena pledges right alongside everyone else.
In their push to make changes, the group decides to show up to the factory and not go in and this is where things start to get out of control. I am not going to say all the things that happen here but this is the turning point in the story where the press back becomes real and there are real consequences to the decisions the group makes. It is also the catalyst to the rest of the story…which I can’t say anything about really because I don’t want to ruin it.
What I will say is this: Kristen Simmons can tell a great story. Not only is the world well developed but the characters are all so different. I really just wanted to hug each and every one of them (even though Ty probably wouldn’t have let me) and the second I finished the book, I couldn’t stop thinking about the book which to me, that is a sign of a great story. I’m pretty sure I hit on every emotion while reading this book and I can’t even tell you how much I both love and hate Kristen Simmons for making me feel ALL the things. Ok…I don’t really hate her for it but there’s this part – when you read it you will see what I mean.
Well – there isn’t much more I can tell you about this book because in all honesty, you should read this to experience the whole thing. Like I said, I am sure my review doesn’t do this book any justice and if you take anything from this at all, just know that you need to read this book. It should be on your TBR (if it isn’t already) and it should be read as soon as you can possibly get it into your hands. After reading all of Kristen Simmons’ books I can tell you, I am never disappointed and her books are immediately put onto my wishlist when I hear she has a new one coming out. If you are looking for a story that will pull you in from the very first page and holds onto you long after the book is finished, this is the book for you!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Week 1:
Giveaway:
3 Finished Copies of METALTOWN (US Only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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