Review: Locked Down

Locked Down by Jesse O (a pseudonym for Jessica Le Bas) was initially launched in 2011 (under the more mundane title Staying Home), around the time of several influenza crises such as so-called bird flu and swine flu. It won the 2011 Storylines Junior Fiction Award for its deft portrayal of a moment where a pandemic may have taken hold, and has recently been re-released. Considering the momentous events of 2020, it’s not surprising that it’s been granted a second life.

Written from 12 year old Zac’s perspective, the novel centres around his family, the Flints, who live in the (fictional) town of Hansen, somewhere in the South Island, and are trying to hold themselves together after the death of their beloved dad, James, in an accident. A virus, XB276, has struck the North Island and although it is yet to reach the South, the ripples run deep - we’re plunged straight into lockdown.

Half the fun is comparing the author’s projections with the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and now 2021. There are some notable differences, which actually serve to make the narrative more believable, and you can see how a few significant decisions coming from the Government would have dramatically changed the course. One example comes right at the start, where the country is plunged into lockdown after two people die of the virus. As we all know, when Covid hit our shores, the decision to go hard and early was made before a single death was recorded.

Zac’s mum Kathleen is a stand-out character for her practical abilities with running a household of four kids, especially when food supplies start to dwindle, and the electricity, telephone and internet is cut off. Lists and interesting facts (we learn about the reticulation of water and key properties of salt) are nestled into the engaging narrative and work well within the context of the book.

There were times that I wished a couple of the four kids in the house were merged into one character; the jostling for page time adds noise at the expense of weight. The dialogue is clunky in parts, such as when an English doctor gives us an information dump in a conversation which goes on for more than four pages. The white saviour overtones to this particular character, along with sweeping generalisations made about Africa (“there’s not enough food to go around...” “there are no toilets, inside or outside”) don’t sit well either.

But Locked Down doesn’t shy away from tough topics. Dad’s death in an accident some time before the pandemic is keenly rendered. Young Zac’s journey of loss and acceptance is finely wrought, with the inclusion of his dad’s diaries adding a wonderful voice. A mystery is rounded up in a satisfying conclusion, as Zac tries to find the identity of the “egg thief,” a culprit who regularly steals their precious cargo of freshly laid eggs. Toby Morris’s charming illustrations provide a lively addition to this story which, at its heart, is about the power that comes from strengthening bonds with your family and neighbours.

Reviewed by Angelique Kasmara