When 17-year-old Seb is selected for an exciting new retreat programme called ‘Happyhead’, designed to counteract an epidemic of teenage depression and anxiety, he hopes that this could be the solution he needs to get his life together and make his parents proud.
As the programme begins, Seb realises that there’s a hierarchy and the participants are being pitted against each other to gain rankings. Seb wants to do well to please his parents and the people in charge, but he finds himself drawn to the rebellious Finn who is asking difficult questions and refusing to cooperate.
When Seb and Finn discover that the fences are electrified and that they are all trapped, they decide to investigate to uncover the true aims of HappyHead.
It’s a great premise, we are currently living in a teen mental health crisis so the context feels very convincing and urgent. HappyHead sounds like exactly the kind of programme our government might dream up as a solution.
‘HappyHead’ is a thrillingly addictive read, I couldn’t put it down, and it’s perfect for fans of ‘Maze Runner’, ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Scythe’. It also reminded me a lot of ‘Brave New World’. Brilliantly done – I can’t wait for the next book!
Swimming in Books 