Starting out from what seemed a contemporary standpoint, readers of ‘Dawn of Rebellion’ by Michelle Lynn are introduced to the main characters, Dawn and Gabby, as students in school. Dawn is quieter and more reserved, while her sister Gabby is outgoing, pretty much getting whatever she wants, including boys. Despite their differences, Dawn and Gabby love each other very much, and they are only have each other. Their parents are not around, due to issues beyond the girls’ control, and they look out for each other as a result. When Gabby tries to pick up a present for Dawn’s birthday, all trouble breaks loose, and Gabby’s thieving spirit lands her in more trouble than she could have ever bargained for.

When she is sent from her home in London to the colonies, which used to be America, Gabby finds herself tested at every turn, aching to survive in an unknown world, full of people who don’t trust her any more than she trusts them. The few friends she makes are hard-won, and loss is all too familiar a feeling in the slave camps in which they’re all kept.

Dawn, along with Gabby’s semi-boyfriend Drew, hope to come to her rescue, even though Drew has other thoughts about what he’d like to be doing – searching for his lost and estranged brother. Going against his family and everything he grew up knowing and believing, he and Dawn find that their spirit doesn’t wane as they search for answers and escape plans. They meet up with others who help them along their path, as well as some who want to stop them from moving forward. Through it all, despite their growing uncertainty about their feelings for each other, they stay true to their motivation for coming to the colonies.

‘Dawn of Rebellion’ is a feel-good story mixed with action, adventure, downtrodden spirits, and the ability to rise up when times are tough. The title, while including the main character’s name, does a great job of symbolizing how Dawn learned to rebel as the novel went on, but at the same time, all of the characters learned that they had more in themselves than they would have ever believed as a means of starting to rebel against the evils of the world. All of this is poised against a backdrop of love and hard-earned trust that makes the characters brave and true. Michelle Lynn has captured bits and pieces of the human spirit and revealed how judgment and stereotypical thoughts about others can sometimes be turned on their heads and have you questioning who you can trust, and how people can change if you allow them the opportunity. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, as the novel did end on a cliffhanger, and there are some loose ends I would love to see tied up as the story progresses. Besides this and an issue with grammar or spelling here and there, the novel was a must read and kept me highly engaged.

You can find ‘Dawn of Rebellion’ by Michelle Lynn here: http://amzn.to/1XIahie