Published: 2021
Author: Melissa Grey
Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Dystopia, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT
Audience (Grade Levels): High School; Grades 9-12
Number of Stars: 4-Stars
Goodreads Link: The Buried
Triggers: Claustrophobia, gaslighting, physical injuries
Review By: Karen Fenner
Publisher’s Summary:
Ten years ago, disaster struck the remote town of Indigo Falls. A horrific event drove the residents underground, into shelters that keep them safe from the danger on the surface. No one speaks about what happened that fateful day, but even the youngest still remember the fear and, most of all, the searing pain when sunlight touched their skin.
Now, a handful of families inhabit this bunker together, guided by a charismatic leader named Dr. Imogen Moran. There are many rules Dr. Moran has instilled to govern life belowground. You must always tell the truth. You must avoid the light of the sun. You must never touch skin to skin.
But the most important rule, the one that was drilled into their heads from the moment the hatch slammed shut all those years ago, was at the very end of the list. It rattled around in their skulls when all was silent, echoing in the quiet, lonely dark.
You must never go outside.
Review:
Told in alternating chapters by the three teens living in an underground bunker, this dystopian novel explores the challenges and tedium of living underground as the result of an unexplained catastrophe. Their undisputed leader insists that the families living there follow her rules: you must always tell the truth, you must avoid the light of the sun, you must never tough skin to skin, and you must never go outside. The teens, who remember life outside of the bunker, each deal with the challenges of the claustrophobic environment in their own way, but eventually start to question all that the leader has told them. When things don’t add up, they become determined to find out the truth. They discover a way out of the bunker, venture into the outside world and find not only the truth but much more than they bargained for. The teen protagonists’ differing personalities balance out their decisions and actions but show their dedication to each other and to discovering the truth. After a slow start building the dystopian environment and developing the characters, the tension builds and provides thrilling action in a conclusion that will keep readers hooked. This is a quick read and is recommended for readers who like shorter books!
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- English Language Arts (Alternating Perspectives & Narrative Pacing): This book serves as a strong model for teaching multi-perspective storytelling. High school instructors can use the alternating teen viewpoints to analyze how distinct character voices shape reader empathy and how a writer transitions from a slow-building setting exposition to high-octane suspense.
- Social Studies / Political Science (Authoritarianism & Social Control): The rigid societal structure established by Dr. Imogen Moran provides an excellent springboard for units on civil liberties and governance. Students can examine how crises allow charismatic leaders to implement extreme rules (like banning skin-to-skin contact) and control populations through isolation and curated half-truths.
- Social-Emotional Learning (Peer Collaboration & Combating Gaslighting): Centering on the protagonists’ realization that things in their environment do not add up, the narrative highlights the journey of uncovering truth. Educators can guide SEL conversations around developing critical thinking skills, recognizing psychological manipulation (gaslighting), and working collaboratively despite differing personalities.
Diversity & Representation:
The Buried incorporates meaningful representation by featuring queer (LGBT) themes and a diverse cast of teen protagonists navigating extreme psychological constraints. By presenting three main characters with starkly differing personalities and coping mechanisms, the novel highlights neurodiverse responses to trauma and isolation, avoiding monolithic depictions of survival and showcasing the power of intersectional solidarity in the face of authoritarian control.
Readalikes:
- Rated by Melissa Grey
- The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
- The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks
