 Hark grew up an orphan in a cruel world. His only friend is Jelt, and even he is willing to put Hark's life on the line for a good enough pay day. Which is how Hark ended up exiled on an island, caring for the old priests who went crazy after the death of their gods fifty years ago. The stories of the gods are terrifying, but with the passage of time some have started to forget or dismiss them as fairy tale. Still, those brave and stupid enough to go diving for their remains can make a fortune selling god parts and harvesting their powers. When Hark makes a life-changing discovery he isn't sure who to trust: his best friend, the old priests, the new zealots, or the genius scientist. His decision will affect not just him, but the whole world as a new reign terror from the gods threatens to begin.
I am in awe of Hardinge's imagination and world-building. The gods have a whiff of Cthulhu about them, but the details of the world are unique. I was completely transported to this strange and terrifying setting as I read. The book has plenty of action, but it does not skimp on character development or haunting questions of morality. Highly recommended for fans of YA speculative fiction. Deeplight by Frances Hardinge Erica's Picks 7th & 8th tags: adventure, dystopian, fantasy, fast-paced, horror, mythology
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 When Bea's adopted grandfather goes missing, she is determined to find him. He may be a powerful wizard, but he doesn't remember things like he used to and Bea is afraid for his safety. Along the way she meets Cad, the last of the Galudrians who is convinced that her grandfather holds the key to keeping the darkness at bay. Together, along with Bea's pet cat, they set off on a quest through a strange and dangerous world to find Bea's grandfather, the lost Galudrians, and the light.
This is a beautiful fantasy world and the full-color illustrations transport you into it. With lush landscapes and expressive characters, the comic has a cinematic quality. The story is a classic adventure tale with sacrifices, trials, tricks, and battles. Great for fans of Amulet and other fantasy adventures. Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian by Tim Probert Erica's Picks 3rd - 6th tags:  Amani knows what it means to live in fear. Ever since the Vathek empire came, her people have known fear as a constant companion: fear of hunger, fear of brutal Vathek droids, and the twin fears of losing their culture and being discovered if they dare to keep it alive. But nothing prepared her for the night of her majority celebration when she's kidnapped by imperial droids. When she learns she's to be a body-double for the princess, she doesn't want to cooperate--until the price of dissent becomes clear. Now despite her luxurious clothes and accomodations she's a prisoner and the life of her and her family depends on her fooling the court and playing the part of the cruel princess convincingly. The only bright spot is when she gets to spend time with the princess's fiance. But as the resistance grows, her loyalty is split and the danger increases. If she isn't killed for not playing her part well enough, she just might die for playing it too well and falling victim to an assassin.
I loved getting lost in the world of this novel. Even though it uses many familiar tropes, the unique context made me see them in a new light. I liked the way the princess's character is rounded out as the novel progresses and her struggles with identity are explored. An engrossing science fiction story of resistance to a corrupt government and staying true to yourself. Mirage by Somaiya Daud Erica's Picks 7th & 8th Tags: character driven, dystopian, global perspectives, people of color, science fiction, romance  A city of millions cut off from the rest of the world and left to starve. People killing for ration cards, which provide a mere 125 grams of bread made with sawdust mixed in to the flour. Desperate people resorting to cannibalizing the plentiful corpses lining the street. It sounds like the premise for a YA dystopian novel, but it really happened. In 1941 Nazi forces blockaded the city of Leningrad in a siege that would last two and a half years and result in the deaths of over a million people. One of the people trapped in the city was composer Dmitri Shostakovitch. When he escaped the city, he wrote a symphony that would commemorate those lost and give hope to those still trapped. This is his true story.
This thick, nonfiction tome should have taken me ages to slog through, but instead I tore through it like it was the latest sci-fi thriller. The story is at turns moving, disturbing, and triumphant. It is a prime example of the power of narrative nonfiction. Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson Erica's Picks 8th & up Tags: biography, dystopian, global perspectives, history, nonfiction  “The heavy blade hung high above the prisoners, glinting against the stars, and then the Razor came down, a wedge of falling darkness cutting through the torchlight. One solid thump, and four more heads had been shaved from their bodies.” In a post-technological age where the past is all but forgotten, a rebellion is stirring. The nobility are being captured and executed. Their only hope is the mysterious red rook who keeps sneaking into prisons and freeing people, leaving a red-tipped feather behind.
I adored this re-imagining of The Scarlet Pimpernel! The dystopian setting provides a perfect background and gender-swapping the main character creates a more modern feeling. There's the perfect mix of action, world-building, and romance. Rook by Sharon Cameron Erica's Picks 8th & up Tags: adventure, crime caper. dystopian, fast-paced, retellings, romance, science fiction  When the UN gave responsibility for world peace over to an artificial intelligence, it came up with a solution that no one anticipated. Instead of using atomic bombs for deterrence it works on a smaller, more personal scale. Every world leader is required to give a child over to be raised and taught in the prefecture. All of their needs are seen to, they get a wonderful education among the elite, and if their parents declare war on another country, they are executed. Those in power have always been willing to send other people's children off to die in wars, but they are far more hesitant to sacrifice their own. The system worked. Until the sacrificed children decide to fight back.
This book has a lot of meaty moral questions to dig your teeth into, but the pace is never slowed by them. The diverse cast was created with care and they each shine in their own way. The AI running the place is perhaps the most interesting character of all. I absolutely adored this. The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow Erica's Picks 8th & up Tags: dystopian, fast-paced, science fiction  The Oyster has been sailing for 300 years without any contact from the outside world. If they had a purpose once, no one can remember it. The ship has broken down into three warring factions with parents passing their prejudices onto their children for generations. Petrel is the only one without a faction or a family. Her parents committed a great crime and were thrown overboard. She survives by knowing the ship and all its hiding places better than anyone else. She sneaks down secret passageways and steals to survive. Everything changes when they find a half-frozen boy abandoned on an iceberg. How he got out there is a mystery, but he will surely die if they don't take him aboard. Many want to leave this outsider to freeze. But not Petrel. If anyone knows how to survive and evade capture on the ship, it's her. This mysterious boy will put all her talents and her courage to the test.
I liked the hints at the dystopian world and how it came to be instead of a lengthy exposition that explains everything. The world of the ship is fascinating and has a gritty sense of something that's carried on long past its time and is hanging on by sheer force of will. The boy's inner conflict is well-portrayed and Petrel is an endearing character reminiscent of a scrappy, Dickensian street urchin. I love sailing stories and the ship is a great background for the twisting plot. There's a lot of meaty themes explored from identity to friendship to faith. The story takes a bit of time to really get going, but I'm looking forward to how it will unfold in the sequel. Ice Breaker by Lian Tanner Erica's Picks 4th - 7th grade Tags: Adventure, Dystopian, Science Fiction  This book stands out from the rest for its unique structure and creative vision of the future. The first part of the book takes place just one year from now and revolves around a boy with the ability to cross into a parallel universe, a talent that others dismiss as him hanging on to childish fantasies. The consequences of this one boy's actions play out over the years at different intervals. Each story takes place farther into the future and revolves around different characters, although their stories are clearly related and have rippling effects on the others. The futures are both absurd and scarily prescient as society's obsession with social media and refusal to take responsibility reach their logical extremes. A science-fiction dystopia you won't soon forget!
Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse Erica's Picks 7th & 8th Grade Tags: Dystopian, Science Fiction  Death can be cured and aging reversed. The need for politics and politicians has been erased by a benevolent, all-seeing artificial intelligence dubbed the Thunderhead. The only thing humanity won't let the Thunderhead dictate is who dies. So how do you ensure the population doesn't surpass what Earth can provide? Scythes. These elite arbiters of death are apprenticed in adolescence and trained in how to kill from martial arts to poison. No one is entirely sure what methods they use to select who they glean and everyone is eager to get in their good graces. But in a world beyond politics, factions are rising within the Scythe ranks and radical splinter groups are forming that enjoy the art of killing a bit too much. They are orchestrating tragedies on a scale that hasn't been seen for centuries. In the midst of this chaos two rival apprentices appear who are destined to change everything.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman Erica's Picks 7th & up Tags: Dystopian, Fast-Paced, Science Fiction  Seth feels the impact of a rock against his head as the waters close in around him and he drowns. He dies in America, but he wakes up again in his childhood home in England. His neighbors' houses are exactly how he remembers them, except that nobody's home. He ventures into town for supplies and finds that nature has begun to reclaim the town with wild plants and animals. It's like nobody has lived there for years. He thinks he's in his own personal afterlife until he finds two others like him and a mysterious enemy that is hunting them all down.
I always go into Patrick Ness novels expecting death, so I was actually a bit relieved when it came at the very beginning. I had hoped that would remove some of the suspense and eventual emotional devastation--oh how wrong I was! I think talking too much about the plot will just ruin it for people who haven't read it yet so I'll just say that I love the the characters and the mind-trip that was the ever-twisting plot. More Than This by Patrick Ness Erica's Picks 8th Tags: Adventure, Character Driven, Dystopian, LGBTQ, People of Color, Science Fiction, Tear Jerker |
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