January Intermission: Article 5 (2012) - Kristen Simmons

Hi there!

Welcome to our January Intermission for Kristen Simmons' 2012 novel Article 5.

Content Warning: Animal Gore, Politics, Murder, Revocation of Civil Rights, Kidnapping, Assault, Mention of War, Mention of Donald Trump (IRL), and Mention of ICE (IRL)

Overall

This book should be required reading, like seriously. Already, at the end of the first half of this book, we've decided that, for teen or young adult readers AT LEAST, this should be required reading. The first half is a ton of scene setting, and we liked the way it was done a lot. It's accessible to its audience and an easy read, specifically regarding politics and the climate that the loss of civil rights will bring. At the same time, it is a run-of-the-mill YA fiction with romance and strong-willed teenagers. When it came out in 2012, it was more of a fun read, but in 2026, it's a bit real, and we'll get into that.

The FBR & Moral Statutes

The Moral Statutes are clearly about control. When a government, and by extension a religious institution that is too involved in the government, begins policing morality, it is more about control than anything. When the masses are told that they have to act or be a certain way, there is not only a loss of individuality but also a loss of hope, momentum, and growth in society. Society and individuals become stunted, abused, abusive, and grossly ignorant of the value of human life.

Fear is a weapon in the sense that if someone is to be controlled, they must either fear their controller or admire them, and nothing about the FBR is to be admired, so they have to use fear to control the populace. The populace, though, doesn't know what will actually happen to them - you just get taken. This is similar to what's happening with ICE right now in 2025 & 2026. They are profiling minorities and snatching them off the street just because they aren't white. Prior to Donald Trump being elected for the first time in 2016, racism was seen as bad, and most racists kept it close to their chests. After Donald Trump's insane, racist rants were publicised on television, social media, and radio, he effectively normalized racism. So the racists came back out of the closet very boldly, and are hoping to take over the United States. And with ICE, these psychos now have a gun in their hand and a paycheck to harm the people that racists don't like; it is not only approved of by millions, but encouraged. Even the night we post this, the protests against ICE continue.

Women and traitors seemed to be punished the most. Specifically, the most vulnerable individuals are single mothers (Ember's mom), young women who are untrustworthy, and young men who were coerced into being soldiers for the FBR. What needs to be reformed? The individuals who are most often attacked are those who are the most maleable - the teens and kids. The adults are executed right off.

The teens and kids are isolated, constantly monitored, and group-involved punishments are taken out on them if they disobey, so the group is used against them. These group-based-control methods were also featured in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (1985) - Link here for our blog on that book. Group control is probably the most effective for teens and kids who already want to be accepted by a group. The non-compliant individuals are considered traitors of the state and rebels, literally members of the Resistance. These are strong words - not just thrown around words like "oh, they ran away," but instead they are a "danger to the state and to you."

Ember and Chase

In the first half of the book, Ember is just trying to get out and get to her mother. She's still a little naive and doesn't even think of escaping until later on in the first half. Part of this is that she is trying to trust her government, and the other part is that she has no idea how deep the evil runs. We also have to remember that Ember was a kid when the war happened, so things are a little removed for her. Ceraya and I are in our late twenties, so, AS ADULTS, we have seen the world change from something hopeful to something much more dangerous in the past few years. We know and understand that speaking out is a risk, but Ember doesn't see it that way - the post-war world is all that Ember knows, and doesn't understand for a few reasons why they fear-monger and murder. Ember is only a teenager and doesn't see those deeper implications of wielding fear and control to govern a country.

Chase is interesting in the first half - we like the flashbacks about their relationship, and we liked that Chase came back for her to get her out of the reform school, after landing her in there. He's a dirty rat for landing them in there in part one FOR SURE, but I guess it helps that he's trying to rectify it. Otherwise, not too interested in him yet. We wouldn't want to trust him, but I guess if he's helping us, I guess we have to accept it.

Where We Are Now

Ember and Chase are fleeing from the system, and have just heard that their running away has been discovered and made public on the radio.

Where We Go From Here

Hopefully to find Ember's mom!!!!

Read against the machine!

Ceraya & Brieanna