Outside by Jennifer L. Holm is about a young girl, Razzi, who has spent her entire life in a compound isolated from the rest of the world. Razzi has heard her entire life not to go outside because it isn’t safe. Her parents and other adults have told her the world ended and that only people and creatures that are “Poisoned” remain and will hurt them. Their only safe space is their refuge.
Razzi’s friend Ollie was curious about the outside, and that led to his death. So Razzi tries to tamp down her feelings about the outside world. She is the oldest kid left, and she wants to set a good example for the younger kids.
After an accident, Razzi has to undergo a heart transplant. She receives a heart from a greyhound, which causes her to have these weird feelings. As Razzi gets used to her new heart, she feels the urge to go outside again, but will she listen to her heart or be safe and stay inside?
I thought the book was an okay read. It went in a different direction than I was expecting. I thought it was a bit weird that they were able to perform a complicated open-heart surgery with seemingly few supplies. I had mixed feelings about Razzi’s new heart influencing her decisions, affecting her senses and thoughts. I thought some of it could be believable, while others seemed far-fetched. I am not sure why the author went that route instead of saying Razzi was missing her friend, which caused her wanderlust. While it wasn’t my favorite novel by the author, I would be open to reading more by her.
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