When I started my journey with the Underdogs books last year, I described the first entry as ‘a shining example of how to do diversity right’. Today, the Underdogs return to the site and, let me tell you, there’s nothing ‘shining’ about the dark occurrences within book number 2.
This is Underdogs: Tooth & Nail, a Chris Bonnello novel about an army of neurodiverse teens fighting to liberate England, whilst standing up to adversity, expectations and, oh yeah, an unrivalled evil clone army.
[Please note, although I have done my best to avoid all mention of spoilers within this book, there is always the chance that you may be able to infer an outcome from some of the points covered. As such, if you want to go into this new novel with fresh eyes, it may be best to bookmark this page and come back later.]
The Plot Thickens:
Picking up three weeks after the first book, when we return to the world of the Underdogs in Tooth and Nail, it’s evident that things have continued in a downwards spiral for the titular protagonists: citizens remain locked up, villains remain in power and information on how this all came to be remains largely a mystery (and, yes, I’m sure I’m describing the Underdogs and not our real world).
However, it’s not long after starting part two of the Underdogs that things go from bad to worse and, soon, Ewan West and the other neurodiverse liberators must leave Spitfire’s Rise to stop the launch of a new superweapon: a shield that can shred anything or anyone containing metal faster than you can say, ‘oh no I forgot my fillings contain metal’!
Of course, you may currently be wondering “who is Ewan West?” and “what in the world is a Spitfire’s Rise?”. Not to worry though as, straight off the bat Tooth and Nail has you covered. This is thanks to a nifty intro, in which the events of the last book are recalled to hilarious effect by the smiling assassin Oliver Roth and, while handy for helping people with goldfish minds catch up, it also serves as a warning that, what follows is a fast-paced book which, if you get lost in, you’re getting left behind.
This clever, timesaving summary helps push past a need for a dozen intro chapters of exposition and, instead, it allows author Chris Bonnello to cut straight into the heart of the book’s themes; themes which, this time around, switch up the discussion of neurodiversity and identity, to ones of trauma, adolescence and the age-old question of nature vs nurture.
The Themes of Underdogs:
If the tagline for the original Underdogs was ‘United by our Differences’, then, for Tooth and Nail, it would be ‘the pain of missing someone is always worth it for the joy of having known them’. Granted, that’s a few too many words to fit across a poster, but it’s certainly fit for a book in which, by the end, there are going to be a lot of people you will be missing.
Without ruining anything, this means that you should probably prepare for your favourite Underdogs to not make it through to the end of this novel – a bold step that defies the somewhat untouchable vibes the heroes held in book 1 and, subsequently, grounds the team in a reality fit for the dystopian landscape they inhabit.
For many reasons, this is certainly a commendable decision for the series to take. The defining impact of this is that, this time around, it opens up the the pages of Underdogs to explore complex ideas, such as 1) whether victory is more vital than survival and 2) what is the value of life (a question made all that more complex when pitched in a war setting of the ‘neurotypical’ vs ‘the neurodiverse’)?
Unfortunately, although these topics make for engaging storytelling, they do seem to have somewhat come at the cost of the once positive neurodiverse depictions. Underdogs is still as diverse as they come, but all the ‘positivity’ is quite literally blown to smithereens within the opening chapters of the book.
The Characters:
So, yes, Tooth and Nail is a much bleaker entry into the Underdogs saga than the first book – but this is unquestionably to the novel’s benefit. I felt fear when the characters felt fear, concerned when they were concerned and, above all, I was fascinated to see how motivations changed when previous motivations were wiped from the face of the earth.
In particular, I felt the older characters within the Underdogs’ world received the biggest and best upgrade in book 2, as those who are being looked up to start to crumble and feel the pressure as optimism becomes another casualty of their war. It’s during these moments that we get to see the psychological damage these people have endured, whilst trying to be a source of inspiration, yet subsequently training children into soldiers and fixing them up only to send them back into battle.
For this reason, it’s little wonder why any moments these characters fill were ultimately my favourite – especially when, during these interactions, writer Chris Bonnello busts out hard-hitting lines like: ‘lots of people say they believe in Karma, most of them just believe in revenge’ – yeah, I’ll let you catch your breath after that one.
Despite this, not all characters are given the same in-depth treatment in Tooth and Nail, as the opposing forces led by Nicholas Grant continue to remain a mixed bag; where on one side, the more time we spend with the ‘baddies’ the weaker their motivations seem whilst, on the other side, we barely spend much time with them in the first place.
Of course, this latter point might sound like a subtle dig. However, I really do praise the limited use of the clone army in book 2. With a limited presence, Grant’s forces no longer feel like faceless mercs they once were but, instead, they have now become the boogeymen in the night, acting unpredictably and leaving marks on the team which ensure that even when they are out of sight, they are very much afflicting the team’s mind.
Should you Read Underdogs: Tooth and Nail?
It’s an unquestionable fact that the first Underdogs book was a milestone for autistic literature: creating extraordinary representation which stands out due to how utterly unique it is. Tooth and Nail, on the other hand, is just a good book in general – which puts the brakes on fun and raises the stakes of consequence.
Understandably, I do wish that this new book championed autism in the same way it did previously, yet, it would be tough to walk this line without re-treading over old ground from the previous entry and, so, I understand why the evolution was made.
As such, Tooth and Nail isn’t simply a book for those who enjoyed Underdogs the first time around, but for those who want a little more to chew in their young adult fiction. Furthermore, the series seems to have found a solid footing which is immensely exciting for the future of the series – even if the ground it now walks is sombre, unstable and ready to hit you right in the feels for 28 chapters.
Underdogs: Tooth and Nail is available now and can be purchased on kindle and in paperback.
Carry on the Conversation
Have you read any books in the Underdogs series? If so, let me hear your thoughts of either novel using the comments section below. And, if you would like to hear my thoughts on other autistic series, then why not check out my review of the most recent series of Atypical? It can be found here: How Atypical Fails its Autistic and LGBT Representation (Spoiler-Free Review).
As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised, on Instagram @autisticandunapologetic and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com
If you like what you have seen on the site today, then show your support by liking the Autistic & Unapologetic Facebook page. Also, don’t forget to sign up to the Autistic & Unapologetic newsletter (found on the sidebar on laptops and underneath if you are reading this via mobile) where I share weekly updates as well as a fascinating fact I have found throughout the week.
Thank you for reading and I will see you next week for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
