In a world where wars and disease have decimated the population, Collin Mann’s small city holds on for survival. He buries the people who succumb to the Sickness, which claims everyone before they turn thirty. Being a grave-digger is the only way Collin feels he can contribute, because he’s not brave and strong like his brother Ethan, one of the protectors of the city.
Felicity is a teacher who watches over the children of the town, even though she is still young herself. When the leader of the city dies, she is thrust into the leadership void. However, she has a secret she is determined to protect as much as her people.
When the Saetos, the blood-thirsty hillsman, make a push to seize the city and kidnap people, Collin is forced to step up. Can he prove his bravery and become a savior for the people he cares about? Will Felicia be able to lead her people through the crisis, or will the city fall, along with all hope for the future?
The story Charles Franklin weaves is a potent mix of world-building, action, and drama. The society is a rich setting where a lot of conflict bubbles out of the surroundings. There is no shortage of excitement and action. Yesterday in my interview with him, Charles said he loves the thrills of Robert Ludlum, and it is evident.
The reader is sucked into the challenges faced by Collin, Felicia, and the other characters. There are surprises that will keep a reader guessing through 
the whole story. And just when you think things can’t worse for everyone, Charles turns the screws and makes the reader feel the pain.
Overall, this book is a strong debut and sets the stage for a trilogy that should continue to up the stakes and thrill readers. It is a book recommended for fans for Christian YA and dystopian stories.
You can order Children of the Forgotten here.