“‘Okay, Danny, we’re ready to go live in thirty seconds.'”

From Trent Reedy’s Divided We Fall: The Last Full Measure.

Ever since Idaho National guardsman Danny’s gun misfired at a rally in Boise, the seventeen-year-old’s life, his friends, and the future of the United States has been in turmoil. When the rest of the country called for arrest of the unidentified Danny, the governor of Idaho refused to punish the national guard unit and declared the state as an independent country, which launched America into a second civil war. Torn between his desire to do what’s right and protect those around, Danny is wrapped up in the turmoil on every level. While the governor moves to make Danny the face of the rebellion, the boy finds himself in danger from those claiming to support him, especially the small militia group in which he has been placed. With no other options and unable to keep their freedom, Danny and his friends set off across Idaho in search of freedom and a way to stop the violence, hatred, and evil that threatens to overtake the entire United States. However, Danny quickly discovers that those who claimed to be on his side are not all what they seem.

The third and final book in this sorta-dystopian young adult trilogy is action-packed and thrilling, creating a solid end for the preceeding books.  Reedy does well to create a world that is unique, but similar enough to the reader’s world to be chillingly familiar. The main character’s struggle is relatable in his desire to do the right thing while surrounded by a confusing amount of differing voices, but this overload of back-and-forth opinions does cause the story to drag in places.  As a whole though, The Last Full Measure is a page-turning read that easily draws readers into the story.