Outside

By Jennifer L. Holm

Book Overview

From three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm, a chilling but heartfelt story of a girl being raised in a compound who doesn't understand how isolated and unusual her life is... until she must encounter the outside world.

Whatever you do, don't leave home.

Razzi has always been told: Don't go Outside. It isn't safe. There are people and creatures out there that will harm you. The walls of the Refuge will protect you from them.

Razzi's friend Ollie was curious about Outside... and it led to his death. So Razzi is trying to be on her best behavior. She is the oldest kid left, the one the younger kids look up to. She has to follow the rules.

But Outside has a way of getting in, and Razzi, guided by a dog she has a strangely close connection with, wonders what it's like to run free beyond the walls.

If she steps away from everything she's ever known... what will she find?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1546138145
• ISBN13: 9781546138143
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Interesting Story

I enjoyed reading this story. Of a first glance of the front cover and the book blurb on the back, I was immediately drawn in. The art on the front pops out and what I appreciate about the blurb on the back was, one, it said enough to give me an idea of the kind of story I would be reading while creating questions and curiosity, and, two, the back definitely did not spoil the story like I have known so many other summaries to do. In fact, I had one idea about the story and was wrong (in a good way). The story itself was very interesting. The first-person point of view in my opinion was a very good choice for this story. Following the main character Razzi in a place where she was never allowed outside. While this didn't bother her at first as we get to see the connection a life she lives inside "the Refuge", things begin to go wrong, and she has a difficult choice to make. I got to experience so much of the struggle and questions with Razzi, and never venturing out beyond her perspective really helped with creating curiosity and receiving only the answers she received (and then whatever my own understanding of life outside of Razzi's understanding allowed). This all helped keep the story moving along even though it isn't a high action book. The character development was well handled, and I felt and sympathized and struggled and wondered right along with Razzi. The setting was described enough to get an idea of where she lived without dragging it all out. Also, what I appreciate about the end was that, while it had a kind of happy ending it left some problems unfixed, but with hope, in such way that I think is very sympathetic with reality. This, for me, allowed a believability to the story. Overall, it was a simple read but very well written. I enjoyed it and wouldn't mind reading it again.