by Daniel José Older (Author)
The battle for Earth begins now. Welcome to Flood City, the last inhabitable place left above the waters that cover Earth. It's also the last battleground between the Chemical Barons, who once ruled the planet and now circle overhead in spaceships, desperate to return, and the Star Guard, who have controlled the city for decades.
Born and raised in Flood City, Max doesn't care about being part of either group. All he wants is to play his music with the city band, keep his sister from joining the Star Guard, and be noticed by his crush, the awesome drummer Djinna. Meanwhile, Ato, a young Chemical Baron, has joined his crew for what was supposed to be a routine surveillance mission, only things go from bad to worse between unexplained iguanagull attacks and the discovery of deadly schemes. Ato's just trying to stay safe, keep his twin brother alive, and not hurt anyone. So when his commander prepares to wipe out Flood City completely, Ato must decide how far he'll go. As Max's and Ato's paths collide, it changes everything. Because they might be able to stop a coming war. But can two enemies work together to save Earth?
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Short, action-packed chapters will hook readers with excitement as this steampunk-y journey explores life in a time of intergalactic war, when anything is possible.
Ever since the waters rose and drowned the world, the last bastion of civilization on Earth has been Flood City, a ramshackle affair protected from the orbital menace of the Chemical Barons by the extraterrestrial, authoritarian Star Guard. Twelve-year-old musician Max has little interest in the ongoing tension until a devastating attack upon Flood City by the Chemical Barons, the city's former rulers, changes everything. Max meets Ato, also 12, a young Baron who winds up stranded in the wake of the incident, and the two swiftly become friends as Ato rejects his ruthless commander's extremist agenda in favor of Flood City's charms. Now they must work together to save the city from oppression and potential destruction. Older (Thunder Run) conjures a postapocalyptic world packed with danger, excitement, and memorable concepts, such as marauding iguanagulls and enigmatic, posthuman vapors. With Flood City populated by people of color and the Barons primarily white, Older imbues a clear message about how whiteness is proximal to privilege. The story is at times frenetic, filled with individually entertaining elements that are sometimes undersupported; still, this is a fun, adventure-filled read. Ages 8-12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary. (Feb.) Correction: A previous version of this review mischaracterized the book as a series starter; it is a standalone novel.
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