The Free People's Village — Punk Rock & Resistance In An Alternative Timeline

Blurb

In an alternate 2020 timeline, Al Gore won the 2000 election and declared a War on Climate Change rather than a War on Terror. For twenty years, Democrats have controlled all three branches of government, enacting carbon-cutting schemes that never made it to a vote in our world. Green infrastructure projects have transformed U.S. cities into lush paradises (for the wealthy, white neighborhoods, at least), and the Bureau of Carbon Regulation levies carbon taxes on every financial transaction.

English teacher by day, Maddie Ryan spends her nights and weekends as the rhythm guitarist of Bunny Bloodlust, a queer punk band living in a warehouse-turned-venue called “The Lab” in Houston’s Eighth Ward. When Maddie learns that the Eighth Ward is to be sacrificed for a new electromagnetic hyperway out to the wealthy, white suburbs, she joins “Save the Eighth,” a Black-led organizing movement fighting for the neighborhood. At first, she’s only focused on keeping her band together and getting closer to Red, their reckless and enigmatic lead guitarist. But working with Save the Eighth forces Maddie to reckon with the harm she has already done to the neighborhood—both as a resident of the gentrifying Lab and as a white teacher in a predominantly Black school.

When police respond to Save the Eighth protests with violence, the Lab becomes the epicenter of “The Free People’s Village”—an occupation that promises to be the birthplace of an anti-capitalist revolution. As the movement spreads across the U.S., Maddie dreams of a queer, liberated future with Red. But the Village is beset on all sides—by infighting, police brutality, corporate-owned media, and rising ecofascism. Maddie’s found family is increasingly at risk from state violence, and she must decide if she’s willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of justice.

The book cover below includes alt-text.

Impressions

The Free People's Village is one of the most punk rock books I've ever read. It's set in an alternative timeline, so it's technically speculative fiction, but it felt raw and real. Some things in it were just my cup of tea:

- young people trying to change the world and build an alternative to the corrupt systems we're all a part of;

- music, resistance, love and counterculture all mixed in an exciting narrative;

- strong anti-capitalist and anti-colonial messages with an emphasis on community, activism and direct action.

There are also plenty of LGBTQ+ characters.

However, the book turned out to be much more tragic than I expected it, and perhaps much more realistic. It is kind of hopeful in the end, but it's not a strong beacon of hope, rather just a trickle. A belief that if we keep fighting, then maybe, someday, something might give. Not today, though. It left me in emotional turmoil.

What made it a bit difficult to read, but also even more real, was that some of the brutal events mirrored my own experiences as an activist. I also think that the challenges of building a non-hierarchical movement were represented well. It's clear the author draws from their own experience. The spirit of feeling a part of historical events, right in the middle of where real change happens, just to have one's heart broken... If you've been through this, you'll recognize what I'm talking about. If not, perhaps it's just an interesting story with a lot of heart to it.

In addition to the fact that the story is set in a world very similar to our own, except it's an alternative timeline where a few things went a bit differently, the realism of these struggles made it feel as if it were an account of events that actually took place. There is also a lot of cynicism about the American government's initiatives that look green and beautiful on paper, but turn into another way of oppressing the disenfranchised and upholding the existing powers. It's probably something at least some readers might relate to.

Some parts of the book might come off as preachy as characters discuss political issues and injustices. Specifically, there is one character who often educates others. It's in character and those conversations make sense for who they all are as people, but it did feel a bit grating, even if I agreed or felt like I was learning something.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and was really invested, but it was pretty difficult for me on an emotional level, perhaps mainly because a lot of these things felt personal. I also expected something more hopeful/optimistic/inspiring. Instead, the hope was very muted, and the personal stories of some of the characters, as well as the fate of the movement itself turned out to be pretty tragic.

You might enjoy the book if you love badass narratives and are interested in activism and building a better future.

You can get The Free People's Village at Kobo, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Apple and other bookstores.

The author

Sim Kern is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of Genocide Bad and The Free People’s Village. As an environmental journalist, Sim made a name for themself investigating petrochemical polluters. They’re also a book influencer and activist with over 500,000 followers across Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter, and in 2022, they used their platform to create The Trans Rights Readathon, which raised over $250,000 for trans-supporting organizations. Since October 7th, 2023, Kern has shared educational content about Palestine and mobilized their followers to raise more than half a million dollars in direct aid for families in Gaza.

Find Sim on their website, Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Featured image by Entre_Humos.