Welcome to my eight-part blog series about the main themes in An Undercover Dream. You may have read my previous blog series on the themes of Atlantic Split and At Liberty To Live, so now it’s the turn of book 3 in the series. You can find the links to the previous blogs at the bottom of this blog post. There will be some crossover between the three books. Today it’s all about leadership – and this is the penultimate blog and the last theme of An Undercover Dream before we cross into the previous themes.

Warning: This blog contains spoilers.

Leadership is a great theme to almost end on. Throughout the book series, Luke Bright and his journey to fight against the Atlantic Split has always been at the centre. Being able to lead that cause is a motive that drives his characters. Yet, actually being a leader is something that’s much harder than it looks. For Luke who’s on the run for murder and in hiding, it’s even more difficult knowing that even if you were able to lead that cause, people wouldn’t listen to you because they think you’re a murderer. 

That’s why being at Riverdene is so significant for Luke because it’s a place where he can lead. Even though he’s still technically a student, his peers push him into taking some of their classes and he gets the opportunity to ‘teach’ them new things. It’s clear that his abilities make him stand out and his dedication to acting mean that he’s in a great position to lead them. He’s happy too to take charge when his friends need him, and especially trying to sort out Connor and Reebok’s drama means he’s really got to get right in there and set them in the right direction.

However, Luke does doubt himself. When he’s faced with the very real prospect of accomplishing the job that’s always been too hard to take on, he starts to wonder whether it was meant for him in the first place. It’s a key part of the book, and it provides a lesson we all need to learn from. Even though leaders may look like they have it easy, we only see the surface of what they’ve had to go through. 90% of it is hidden and that’s the bit that really matters. However, what also really matters is their mental state, and Luke soon discovers how he can relate to these characters even more. Martin Luther King Junior, Abraham Lincoln, Ghandi even…they all have something in common. 

But just like them, Luke is a leader. He may not want to be but he is a leader, and though it’s such a difficult burden to carry, it’s one that Luke knows he can’t shirk. After all, if he’s not going to do it, then who will? That’s the attitude we have to have – don’t wait to see if someone else will do something, take it into your own hands. If you wait around for someone else to make a difference you believe in, it may never happen. It’s up to you to do it for yourself if you really want it. And especially in times like these with Brexit and Trump, the more of us who can stand up for what we really believe in, the more chance with have at overthrowing them.

I end this blog with a quote from An Undercover Dream about leadership. This time, it isn’t from Luke, it’s from Steve to Luke, and it’s one of the most important quotes in the book.

“You have all of us supporting you. We all believe in your cause, which is why we’re going to help you through so you can still be the leader of it.” Steve Jackson – An Undercover Dream

Thank you for reading this blog, and next Thursday I’ll be back to discuss An Undercover Dream in the context of the previous themes of the series. See you then!

Atlantic Split Theme Blog Series Links:

1. Prejudice
2. Growing Up
3. Optimism
4. Courage
5. Friendship
6. Family
7. Bullying
8. Morality

At Liberty To Live Theme Blog Series Links:

1. New Beginnings
2.  Inner Strength
3. Following Your Passion
4. Rushing in too quickly
5. Feminism
6. Self Discovery
7. Making a Difference
8. Previous Themes

An Undercover Dream Theme Blog Series Links:

1. Independence
2. Dreams
3. Love
4. Mental Health
5. Loss
6. Self Acceptance

Atlantic Split, At Liberty To Live and An Undercover Dream, the first three books in The Luke Bright Series are available to purchase NOW! The final book of the series is to be revealed.

Please follow me on my blog and social media links below, and use the links on my website to purchase a copy of each if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post.

N.A.K.