EDITORIAL PRAISE
Debut author Morell masterfully delivers a frighteningly plausible dystopian tale in which much of Kansas and swathes of other states in the region secedes from the Union and declares itself a new country called Independence. When journalist Roman Wolfe, who has been chronicling uprisings and secessions across the globe, heads to report on this “new country carved out of the interior states” that claims to embody “the noble belief in the freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness,” he leaves a U.S. border crossing in Eastern Colorado to enter a world where the economy and basic services have collapsed. Vigilantes hunt “illegals,” citizens remain dissatisfied with their government, and distrust runs rampant, with the Latino population frequently targeted. Then Independence experiences its first murder. The victim is a local named Jesus Criollo. With tensions rising—a spate of burglaries and inevitable further deaths have citizens on a hair trigger—and Roman’s prickly ex-turned-current girlfriend Kat acting strangely, Roman begins to question his extended stay in the bleak nation. Morell’s dialogue could easily be ripped from contemporary political discourse, with Independence citizens railing against immigrants, taxes, the media, and “people inside our country who can’t seem to grasp our ideals.” A Kansas native now living in New York City, Morell skillfully portrays the realities and challenges of rural living, taking seriously the grievances (and diversity of opinion) of his Kansans, and the state’s Free State ethos, while never letting the characters off the hook for their actions. Although many dismiss this nation’s increasingly violent political rhetoric as simply words, Morell’s storytelling demonstrates, with skill and persuasive power, the possible results of irresponsible and reckless speech about secession or civil war. He explores these outcomes with a sharp reportorial eye while avoiding a preachy tone. Instead, he suggests such conclusions rather than stating them outright. A cautionary tale about the extreme outcomes of the worst angels of our national character, this thoughtful work will stay with readers well after the final page is turned. Takeaway: Bleak, urgent novel of the secession of Kansas is frighteningly plausible.
“A gripping story that depicts a fictional, fragmented U.S. and the temptation of revolution.” To some, the word secession might bring up antiquated, antebellum images of the Civil War. In Aaron Morell’s A New America, secession is the tragic present. Roman Wolfe is a California journalist who is investigating the secession and the country that is born from the event, Independence. Despite the brusque name, the sentiment of independence, freedom, and most importantly, tax-free lives are what the residents strongly value. Even with freedom at its helm, Independence has few foreign journalists covering the state of affairs first hand. Roman decides to pioneer this venture to explore the new, infant political topography and the policies enacted to preserve Independence. It becomes clear, at the very least to Roman, that Independence is not a far cry from its predecessor nation as it faces a monumental racial divide. Many of the residents have bought into a myth of Mexican cartels being smuggled into Independence by the United States and that many Latinos in the community are secretly harboring dangerous criminals. Roman’s own personal life also becomes a source of clashing conflict, as he tries to navigate a relationship with a secretive woman named Kat, an Independence resident. The inclination comes to the forefront during the Independence election year. Something that is evidently clear from the initial pages is that this novel functions as a part exposé, part story. And it captivated me. Embedded between anecdotes of troubled farmers and disjointed families lies Roman’s thoughts throughout a personal journey. He offers a reasonable voice that cuts through the more reactionary beliefs that Independence was succumbing to. His voice has a ruminative coating, often thinking about the human instinct behind actions. Why were the people of Independence so afraid of the boogeyman they created? Roman offers the reader a lot of thoughtful discussion regarding this question. Roman’s relationship with Kat is also quite fascinating, if not saddening. Kat’s subpar treatment of Roman comes from her need to feel superior, stemming from her insecurity with her own mother. They keep wanting to recreate the lightning in a bottle moment of when they first met, not realizing how shrouded Kat’s life was. He reports their relationship similar to the way he reports other incidents in Independence; as though he is an observer and not part of it. This concept is well-executed, like many others concerning the politics of Independence, and it makes for a deep-thinking, thought-provoking novel. I longed to hear more from the youth though. They’re often mentioned as antagonizers or victims, but it’s rare to get the viewpoint of someone who grew up solely on Independence soil and has no other way of life. They come across mostly as political pawns, which is a compelling angle, but it does feel like we are missing something without their thoughts and internal experience. I’d gladly recommend A New America to political fiction readers who have an interest in journalism or appreciate thought-provoking stories on America with a clear, riveting writing style.
A New America: The State of Independence tells of the new state of Independence which emerges from Midwestern states Kansas to Texas and secedes from the union. Four years after this event, reporter Roman Wolfe enters the boundaries of this state to cover its life, politics, evolutionary process, and challenges. The fictional narrative form presents Wolfe’s impressions, encounters, and insights on the state’s interactions on local and global levels, covering an area under-reported in the U.S. for those interested in a compelling juxtaposition between personal and political relationships. Astute insights come from the variety of individuals who engage Wolfe during the course of his survey, posing important questions about cause, effect, and ultimate impacts of vision and change on all levels of society: Juan Diego believed if Independence failed, it would bode poorly for the world and the ideals of liberty and justice. The U.S. would make a big to-do of coming to the rescue, showing the world how generous and forgiving it was, like a parent taking in her misguided children. After so much suffering, who wouldn’t be happy to return to the old ways? Perhaps now is the best time for Aaron Morell’s book to appear … in the midst of national turmoil that impacts personal relationships as much as politics with questions of control, power, and law. Morell’s ability to step into a milieu fraught with struggles that seep outside the new state’s borders into the greater world at large, affecting reporting focuses and altering perceptions of what constitutes a fact, gives the story a powerful atmosphere that makes it hard to put down. Many nonfiction elements give additional food for thought to audiences interested in modern American political and social dilemmas. Meanwhile, the added value of dramatic fictional embellishments keeps the saga fast-paced, filled with unexpected discoveries, and relevant to anyone interested in shifting arenas of American legal, political, and social endeavors. Libraries that choose A New America will find its marriage of fiction with nonfiction realism to be engaging and worthy not just of leisure reader recommendation, but to book clubs and political discussion groups interested in a range of subjects, from America’s future and the rights of states to divide and grow to the freedoms and mandates of journalists charged with reporting these events and their underlying motivations and challenges. “What is it about this country that makes it worth suffering for?” That is the question. The answers will surprise. --D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review Review is also available at Donovan's Bookshelf: http://donovansliteraryservices.com/december-2024-issue.html#ana
A reporter chases after broken dreams in Morell’s alternative history of secession from the United States. Covering the “secessionism beat” for the Atlantic magazine, Roman Wolfe has traveled around the world and seen the anger and frustration driving people to try to create new nations and divorce themselves from the political status quo. After 17 fraught months of fighting and tension, one movement has succeeded, resulting in Independence, a new country within the Great Plains of the United States that covers parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Roman successfully enters the blockaded country, where general instability has left people with dwindling resources, notably fuel. Tensions only continue to mount when a man is found dead—Independence’s first homicide—sparking heated debates about security and illegal immigration. A decimated police force has opened the way for violent local militias and misinformation campaigns about Mexican cartels funneling their smuggling operations into the new nation. (“We didn’t secede from the most powerful country ever to get our rear ends kicked and chased away,” a local tells Roman, justifying his contempt for migrants arriving from Mexico and Central America.) Roman drifts through towns observing and writing about what he sees, but his real motivations for coming to Independence are revealed when he reconnects with Kat Taylor, a veterinarian that he had met by chance in Texas years earlier. Kat has consumed his thoughts ever since their passionate encounter, and he has been desperate to see her again, even desperate enough to come to Independence to try to build a life there. While Kat seems uneasy around Roman, the two decide to fix up an old farm together, struggling to find their way as a new couple in a country that is also laboring to find its footing. Elections bring more political instability as mayor Albert Gonzalez rises to power, further destabilizing the allocation of resources and igniting the fiery rhetoric around freedom and community. Morell successfully builds an expansive and immersive world out of a “what if” scenario. From Roman’s first summaries of various uprisings and populist movements to his struggle to get a money transfer into an embargoed country, Morell’s alternate history feels dense with realistic detail. Independence becomes a strange microcosm of the real world, with debates about immigration and government overreach. It’s a fascinating thought experiment exploring notions of self-determination and freedom; readers will encounter the same infuriating problems and political theater they see on the news. (“It seemed everyone harbored their own propriety blend of reality,” Roman reflects as revolutionary rebels turn against the government they supposedly chose.) Roman’s bittersweet romance with Kat should be a source of more interpersonal and emotional drama, but her sudden appearance feels inorganic and forced. (“In part two of this book, she’s inextricably intertwined with my experiences,” Roman announces abruptly to readers.) The protagonist’s disconnected, sparse, first-person narration works well when he is drifting aimlessly through desolate landscapes, but it does not feel appropriate to the troubled romance central to the book’s latter half. Readers curious about political science and visions of the future will nonetheless find it compellingly troubling how strangely familiar Morell’s fantasy world feels. Despite an uneven story, Morell delivers an unsettling, thought-provoking perspective on political realities.
Set in a world strikingly similar to our own, where global governments have been overthrown, a journalist embarks on a journey to a newly-formed nation carved out of the former United States. Which line stood out from all the others in the book? "I find it surprising so many of us can reach across psychological lines of demarcation and sympathize with even the most corrupt and malevolent." General Summary for Context: Set in a world strikingly similar to our own, where global governments have been overthrown, a journalist embarks on a journey to a newly-formed nation carved out of the former United States. Tasked with reporting on this fledgling country's struggle for survival, he uncovers an isolated society grappling with severe shortages and the cascading consequences of being cut off from the rest of the world. Amid the chaos of political upheaval, the journalist stumbles upon a story far more profound—one that could redefine his understanding of truth and power. Through this gripping narrative, the author delves into pressing contemporary themes such as fake news, fear-mongering, political instability, and the far-reaching influence of public opinion. Thought-provoking and deeply relevant, this novel is a compelling exploration of the fragile balance between power, perception, and the human spirit. Concise Review: Frustrated by overregulation and governments that refuse to listen, people around the globe rise up in unprecedented protests, toppling regimes left and right. What begins as a groundswell of frustration with political corruption and manipulation evolves into an unlikely revolution—a worldwide movement that reshapes the very fabric of society. Amid this upheaval, a journalist sets out to uncover the truth behind a new nation formed in the heart of the former United States. But as he crosses the border, the stark reality hits him like a chilling wind: this fledgling country feels eerily post-apocalyptic. Isolated and cut off from the rest of the world, its people struggle to survive without the conveniences and connections so many take for granted. What begins as a straightforward story quickly shifts gears when the journalist stumbles upon a discovery with far-reaching implications. As he navigates the harsh political landscape, the challenges of this fractured world mirror the turbulence in his own personal life, deepening the story’s emotional resonance. The narrative is interspersed with news articles and flyers, lending a raw sense of authenticity and grounding the fictional events in a strikingly realistic world. Through this lens, the book examines the fallout of global political collapse and the ripple effects on ordinary lives. It masterfully explores timely and pressing themes such as fake news, the importance of accurate media reporting, and the staggering influence of news outlets in shaping narratives and public opinion. This is not a light or escapist read—it is a thought-provoking, chilling exploration of a world on the brink. With hauntingly vivid prose, it compels readers to ask, 'What if?' and leaves them pondering the delicate balance between order, chaos, and the stories that define our reality. General Thoughts on the Novel: "A New America: The State of Independence" is a thought-provoking novel that dives deep into the "what ifs" of a nationwide revolution. What would happen if people rose up en masse? How would governments respond? How would the media cover it, and how would it impact everyday lives? This is not a lighthearted tale. With its striking parallels to real-world events, the story carries a powerful emotional weight, immersing readers in a narrative that feels raw and unsettlingly real. As the plot unfolds, it challenges readers to confront difficult questions about power, politics, and the human condition. The book's authenticity and emotional depth leave a lasting impression, moving you and sparking reflection long after you turn the final page. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys political intrigue grounded in a believable, realistic world. This is a story that will stay with you, forcing you to think critically about the fragile balance of society.