THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN by Jon Agee

Agee, Jon. The Other Side of Town. New York: Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 978-0-545-16204-3. $17.95.

Jon Agee's whimsical book tells the story of a New York City cab driver who picks up an unusual fare. An odd little man, dressed in a strange green onesie-like suit with a pink tuft on the cap, directs the cab driver to take him to "Schmeeker Street," to which the cabbie responds confusedly, "You mean Bleecker Street?" No, the little man means "Schmeeker" street, which is one of the main roads on The Other Side of Town.

As the cabbie drives the man through the Finkon Tunnel during mush hour, the duo repeats the same game of words. The man says "nog lights," the cabbie says "fog lights?" The man says "Snooklyn Bridge," the cabbie says "Brooklyn Bridge?" And so on and so forth. There is little variation in the way the story is told, and when reading it, the repetitive conceit gets a little old. However, I can imagine that reading it aloud with an enthusiastic child would be a riot.

A caveat, though: that child would need to be familiar with New York City landmarks and lingo. This book, while charming and quirky, might have a limited audience due to how specific it is to New York. For children who live in New York or are particularly familiar with the city, this book would be a very fun way to talk about both real landmarks and nonsense at once.

Jill Coste

! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Rosenthal, Amy Krouse and Tom Lichtenheld. ! Exclamation Mark. New York: Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 978-0-545-43679-3. $17.99.

An exclamation point, after all, stands out, doesn’t it? So, if you’re a little exclamation point kid, you have to find your mojo, which is just what this little one does. Surrounded by friendly but markedly different periods, the little point can’t fit in. In fact, he’s “flummoxed” (I would recommend this book if only because the authors used this word!). Ah, but exclamation boy meets a question mark as unlike the others as he is, and voila. The charming “Who am I?” story is told in energetic prose and illustrated by personified punctuation drawn with a lot of dash. Both satisfying and funny, ! is a grammar tale that exemplifies the continuing collaborative excellence of Rosenthal and Lichtenheld.

Alida Allison

THE LIST by Siobhan Vivian

Vivian, Siobhan. The List. New York: Push, 2012. ISBN: 978-0545169172. 

On the last Monday in September, the students of Mount Washington High School will see copies of a certain list posted all over the school. It happens every year. It's unavoidable. It's a lottery of the ugliest and prettiest girls in the school, naming one of each category for each grade, 9th through 12th. The list is cruel but official, with a Mount Washington seal imprinted in the corner. Nobody knows who has the seal, or how it is passed down through the generations of list creators. But everybody knows that the notarized list will shape the school year for eight girls.

Siobhan Vivian's young adult novel takes on the volatile world of high school and shows how vicious it can be. The story follows the perspectives of the eight girls who were named on the most recent list, showing how each girl deals with what is either a great boost for popularity (for the prettiest) or a black mark of undesirability (for the ugliest).

Vivian explores the emotional complexities that accompany unrequested notoriety. The winners of Prettiest are flattered, but also cautious, and subconsciously aware that being pretty doesn't really matter all that much. Margot, the senior winner, is unnerved by the knowledge that her sister's "victory" the year before actually caused her to lose friends and retreat from the social strata, and she is also anxious about her unresolved history with her Ugly counterpart. Bridget, the junior prettiest girl, battles with an eating disorder -- one that caused the weight loss that got her recognized. Sophomore prettiest Lauren is new in town, still sheltered after being homeschooled, and she doesn't quite know how to handle the newfound attention she attracts. Finally, Abby, the prettiest freshman girl and a less-than-stellar student, struggles with conflicting feelings of insecurity and superiority, especially since her plain and academically brilliant older sister starts to give her the cold shoulder.

The emotional repercussions for the "ugliest" girls are expectedly severe. The senior, Jennifer, has made the list as ugliest for the fourth year in a row, and she longs to buck expectations as she tries to embrace her "ugliest girl in school" status. Junior Sarah reacts by making herself as ugly as possible, not showering and not changing clothes, to the detriment of her relationship with someone who thinks she's beautiful. Sophomore Candace, pretty and popular on the surface, is alienated by her friends and must address the fact that no one actually likes her as a person. In the freshman class, athletic swimmer Danielle is nicknamed "Dan the Man" and is ostracized by her own boyfriend.

The List alternates between the girls' perspectives chapter-by-chapter, examining their interactions with each other, showing the unexpected alliances that form in the face of rejection, and teasing out the mystery of who writes the list each year.

The characters face their insecurities with varying degrees of success. The "ugly" girls come a longer way than the "pretty" girls in mature self-actualization, but some need more help than others. With its flawed characters, The List demonstrates that beauty isn't a free pass for an easy high school experience, and that what's going on beneath the surface is far more important than appearances.

With so many perspectives to toggle through, it's understandable that not every character's situation is fully explored. That said, I would like to have seen more intricacy in junior Bridget's storyline; her experience with an eating disorder was a little too simplistic. Such a complex, painful affliction is difficult to tackle in spurts like Vivian does throughout The List, and Bridget's internal monologue fell flat for me. Covering a character's internal battle with thoughts of "I'm healthy! Just eat! But I mustn't eat!" just doesn't illuminate the psychologically damaging aspects of that kind of struggle. I applaud Vivian for giving her characters genuine real-life issues and examining how those challenges are colored and complicated by high school peers, but I wanted a little more from this particular storyline.

Overall, The List does an excellent job of illustrating a high school battleground and the relationships therein. Not every character gets a happy ending or has an epiphany, but each girl's experience of growth and self-reflection is drawn in a realistic, thought-provoking way.

Reviewed by Jill Coste

FRIDA by Jonah Winter

Winter, Jonah. Frida. Illustrated by Ana Juan. New York: Scholastic Press, 2002. ISBM: 0-590-20320-7. $16.95/$22.99. 

AWARDS:
ALA Notable Book
Américas Award Honor Book
Society of Illustrators’ Original Art Show selection
Parenting Magazine Best Book of 2002
2002 Parents’ Choice Gold Award (includes both English and Spanish texts)
National Association of Parenting Publications Gold Award

After captivating readers with his children’s book about Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, Jonah Winter shifts his focus to the life of Rivera’s resilient wife, Frida Kahlo. In this picture-book biography, Winter describes the life of the renowned artist through the use of poetic diction and incredibly vivid illustrations. The reader is led through Frida’s struggles and accomplishments, bringing light to the way in which she used art as an escape from all the pain that she had to endure. The story begins with her childhood and ends with an explanation of her impact throughout society and of how the inspirational beauty she created instills hope.

The book was originally written in English but has also been translated into Spanish. The diction is strategically chosen and although there are only a few lines per page, the language is sharp, appealing to the emotions of children and adults alike. The format of the text is unique, and the placement varies throughout each page, adjusting to fit within the vibrant illustrations. This seems very appropriate to me, especially considering Frida’s personal artistic style; however, some of the text is on dark colors, which impedes the clarity. For this reason, I think that in a classroom setting this book may be more appropriate for a read-aloud, especially with younger children. The abstract images contain references to Mexican culture, which adds a valuable authenticity to the book. Young students, especially those that have not been exposed to these traditional images before, may not understand the intention behind the illustrations at first, but adults reading it will find themselves immersed in their bold truth.

The audience for this book depends on the intended purpose for reading. Young children will surely enjoy the simple and effortless nature of the language as well as the mesmerizing illustrations. For upper-grade elementary students, the book can be an effective way to introduce a study of Frida’s triumphs and the strains she had to endure in order to achieve them. An analysis of the language and corresponding images could stimulate a sophisticated discussion of the impact of art and the value of a resilient mindset. I would also recommend using this book as a means of encouraging an interest in reading and art for young readers, as well as introducing the concept of biographies.

Reviewed by Erica Munro


This review is part of the Special Section: Books in Spanish, featuring a collaboration with Policy and Language Studies students at San Diego State University. Read more about it here.

SERIOUSLY, NORMAN! by Chris Rashka

Rashka, Chris. Seriously, Norman! Scholastic, 2011. ISBN-13: 9780545298773. $13.49.


Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.

Seriously, Norman! is a hilarious, inspiring, mind-blowing, mysterious book. I was at Borders trying to figure out which book I would read, but none of them stood out. Finally a person that knows my taste for books suggested Seriously, Norman! to me. Once I read the prologue, I was amazed! So I went to the counter to check it out.

Seriously, Norman! is a story about a 12-year-old boy named Norman Normann, who can’t pass a test to go to a good school. Finally his mom, Norma Normann, and his lazy dad, Orman Normann, hire a tutor, Balthazar Birdsong. Little does Norman know that an assignment from Mr. B will open up a new world to him. Mr. B’s assignment to Norman is to read the dictionary, from A-Z. Reading the dictionary increases Norman’s vocabulary. It also gives him clues necessary to find out why his father’s last business trip took longer than expected.

I relate to Norman because I struggle in math, while Norman struggles in various subjects. Additionally, as in life, the conflicts and problems presented in the story make it suspenseful. It also makes me feel the urge to laugh, be happy, and be sad at the same time. All of these emotions and events are ingredients for a fantastic story.

My favorite part of the book is when Norman plays with his action figure, Alfred the Great. He would have Alfred jump through spaces of time and go on adventures in new worlds. I connect to the book because I want to get good grades so that I can go to a good school. I will always remember this book because Norman’s imagination is a lot like mine. Through Norman’s adventurous imagination, I learned new words and their meanings. I highly recommend this awesome book to kids of all ages with big imaginations.

Review by Tatyanna Shillinger, 5th grade

PLANETS by Penny Arlon and Tony Gordon-Harris

Arlon, Penny and Tony Gordon-Harris. Planets. New York: Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 978-0545330282. Ages 7 and up.

Scholastic’s “Discover More” line of books comes with a digital companion book, accessible though a link and a code within the printed book. Planets is chock-full of interesting information, dedicating a full-page spread to each planet, with accompanying pictures and facts. The book gives mind-blowing size comparisons (the sun is 105 times the size of Earth!) and fascinating facts about the environments and day/year cycles for each planet.

This would be an excellent book to share with a child who wants to learn more about our solar system, and it would be a great companion book for an elementary school unit on the planets. The book does a very good job at conveying the enormity of the universe, situating the reader first in earth, then in the solar system, then in the Milky Way galaxy, explaining that ours is just one planetary system in the Milky Way, which is just one galaxy among millions.

The pages on what it’s like to have a career in space exploration feature the International Space Station, with pictures showing what life is like for an astronaut, a section showing the details of a space suit, and a Q&A with a member of the European Space Agency.

Overall a fascinating, informative book!

Jill Coste

SEE ME GROW by Penny Arlon and Tony Gordon-Harris

Arlon, Penny and Tony Gordon-Harris. See Me Grow. New York: Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 978-0545345132. Ages 5 and up.

Part of Scholastic’s “Discover More” line of books, which all come with a link and a code to read more and learn more from a downloadable digital book, See Me Grow shows the baby stages of several different kinds of animals. The first page outlines what makes the book a good choice for young readers – picture sequences, small words, and short sentences. What follows are 12 different kinds of animal babies and interesting trivia about each. The child reader will learn that baby bunnies are called kittens, that a foal can stand up and walk around within minutes of being born, and that baby birds are born blind, among other tidbits. Oddly enough, while puppies get a section, there is no mention of those other kittens, those of the feline variety.

This is a simple, easy-to-read book with straightforward facts. It’s a good start for a basic knowledge of baby animals. There is no mention of how babies are made, only that they come from either eggs or tummies. There are plenty of full-color photographs of cute baby animals along with fascinating shots of fish eggs and shark-egg-pouches. A nice little book for a kid who wants to know more about baby animals.

Jill Coste

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games. NY: Scholastic Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-439-02352-8. $8.99. 14 & up.

The first book in Suzanne Collins’ post-apocalyptic dystopian trilogy is compelling, suspenseful, and thought-provoking.

Collins presents readers with a strong female protagonist and narrator: sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen. As the head of her household, Katniss cares for her mother and younger sister by illegally hunting in their hometown of District 12, just one of the dozen impoverished districts that surround, and support, a lavish capitol city. Every year, to remind the districts of their failed attempt at rebellion 75 years prior, the nation’s oppressive President Snow requires that each district send two tributes, one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen, to the “Hunger Games.” When Katniss and her friend Peeta find themselves representing District 12 in the 74th annual Games, they are whisked away to the lavish Capitol, and forced into an arena where they must fight their fellow tributes, and one another, to the death on live television.

Readers are immediately intrigued by the strange world, and unjust circumstances, that Collins puts forth. They are hooked by Katniss’ plight, and are quickly impressed with her maturity, self-sacrificing nature, and the remarkable talents that she exposes in the arena. Collins uses a large portion of the text to successfully develop her characters. Instead of feeling fake or two-dimensional, each member of Collins’ cast of realistic and relatable individuals possesses a great amount of depth. Readers feel intensely attached to Collins’ complex characters, thus they relish every suspenseful twist and turn; however, the dark themes and graphic nature of the text should not be overlooked.

Because the Games are broadcasted live to “entertain” citizens, Katniss faces not only physical torment, but great psychological distress as well. Indeed, Katniss must wrestle with the thought of killing her young peers; and yet, what is almost more damaging is that she must also set her own personality and character aside to portray a different version of herself. If wealthy viewers in the Capitol like what they see on television they can become her sponsors, and send her medicine, food, water, and supplies. Therefore, in order to garner favor with the audience that is watching her every move, Katniss must abandon herself and pretend to be someone she is not. Collins does a wonderful job conveying to the reader Katniss’ inner turmoil as she is incessantly haunted by the requirement to kill or be killed, and continually torn between who she really is and who she must present herself to be.

Part of this inner turmoil and uncertainty is drawn from a love triangle between Katniss, Peeta (her fellow District 12 tribute), and Gale (her best friend, and hunting companion, from home). However, though the appearance of a love-story plays a great role in Katniss’ time in the arena, Collins clearly does not want this love triangle to be the forefront concern of the trilogy. Unlike the Twilight series, which divided readers into clear-cut “teams” that were built upon the protagonist’s two love interests, Collins clearly has more important subjects that she hopes to highlight. As the series continues, it is evident that though the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale is present it is often pushed aside to expound upon greater concerns like tyranny, materialism, conformity, politics, propaganda, starvation, and rebellion.

The Hunger Games does not simply establish a thought-provoking perspective of a dystopian society, or a cast of captivating and complex young characters. Most importantly, the text creates a wonderfully detailed foundation for the rest of Collins’ series.

Caitlin Kennedy

CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. NY: Scholastic Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-439-02349-8. $17.99. 14 & up.

Catching Fire, the second book in Suzanne Collins’ popular dystopian trilogy, will certainly satisfy a reader’s taste for suspense; however, this action-packed follow-up to The Hunger Games has a very political core.

Katniss must pay for the actions she took to save both Peeta and herself during the 74th Hunger Games. Some citizens have interpreted her overall success in the arena as an aggressive act of defiance towards the Capitol. The districts are buzzing with rumors of unrest and rebellion. As the “faces” of the supposed revolution, President Snow forces Katniss and Peeta to put a stop to it. The Capitol does not like to be made a fool, it demands revenge; thus, it threatens everything that Katniss and Peeta hold dear in order to salvage control of the nation. And President Snow hopes to regain the Capitol’s grasp on the districts through the conveniently timed “Quarter Quell,” an event that occurs every 25th year of the Games and allows the Capitol to introduce a twist in the way the Games are executed. As the 75th Hunger Games are set before her, Katniss must decide her role. Is she to be the face of the rebellion? What will she do to spare her family? To shelter Peeta? To protect Gale?

Once again, Katniss is faced with tremendous psychological distress, as she never feels completely safe from President Snow’s pervading threats and nearly omnipresent scrutiny. Readers witness the previously strong protagonist practically wither, due to the pressure of knowing that she might not be able to protect her loved ones. Katniss almost looses her sense of self-reliance, as it seems that President Snow is so set on her demise that she believes she is doomed before she can even attempt to make things right. However, what seems to wear on her the most is the heavy guilt she feels from the awareness that she is ultimately responsible for the needless deaths that have occurred, and will continue to occur, due to the “rebellion” she incited.

Readers adopt Katniss’ despair, and experience her same feelings of anxiety and near-paranoia throughout the entire book as she frantically attempts to attain some sort of clarity concerning the constant threats, and utter turmoil, that surround her. And yet, at the very end of the text, the author uncovers the truths that have been purposefully kept from Katniss (and the reader) throughout the entire novel. Collins sets up the next, and final, book in the trilogy by leaving Catching Fire in a complete state of questioning. Katniss does not know whom to trust, after she learns that her previous allies, like her mentor Haymitch, have kept such great secrets from her.

Collins presents a compelling and suspenseful narrative that ensnares her readers all over again. However, it is evident by the end of Catching Fire that Collins is clearly shifting the focus of her writing from character development to political and social commentary.

Caitlin Kennedy

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. NY: Scholastic Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-439-02351-1. $17.99. 14 & up.

The Hunger Games series has become extremely popular in the last few years. Its books have been stationed at the top of various bestseller lists for months on end, and the first two books in the series have been nominated for, and won, a number of awards and honors (including the California Young Reader Medal Award for Young Adult Fiction and the Publisher’s Weekly Best Book Award for 2009). And if that weren’t enough, the trailer was just released for the first Hunger Games movie, which will be in theaters Spring of 2012. And yet, in spite of all of the excitement and anticipation surrounding this series, author Suzanne Collins’ presented fans with a rather lackluster final book to tie up her trilogy.

Unlike the first two books in the series that establish rich character development and interaction, Mockingjay deals almost exclusively with the social and political issues that wreck havoc on Katniss’ world.

After Katniss is rescued from the arena of the 75th Hunger Games, a full-on war begins between the districts and the Capitol. She learns that her home, District 12, has been incinerated, and that her mother, sister, and best friend Gale have made it safety to the rebellion’s headquarters, located in District 13. District 13 is a militant, yet thriving, underground community, which is virtually unknown to the Capitol because it was presumably destroyed during the last uprising-attempt. While she is essentially jailed in District 13, Katniss learns that her time in the arena was completely planned, without her acknowledgement or consent. She was to distract the Capitol, while the rebels worked to make a strong first stand against President Snow. Katniss was to be protected in the arena at all costs because she is so important to the rebellion, while others, including Peeta, were to be sacrificed. Unable to return to District 12, Katniss is forced to take on the role of the Mockingjay (the face of the rebellion), participate in various propaganda videos, and take orders from the president of District 13, Alma Coin, who Katniss believes to be just as power-hungry as the evil President Snow.

Throughout the text, Collins continually illustrates the harrowing effects of war, goes into lengthy descriptions of different battles and, overall, completely drags out the rebel’s attempt at taking the Capitol and capturing President Snow.

It is as though, all at once, Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and the rest of Collins’ characters lose their depth, complexities, and even emotions. Their personalities become thin, weak, unrealistic, and unrecognizable shadows of their former selves. Perhaps this is an intentional decision on the author’s part, to show the numbing effects of war. But what is far more likely is that Collins’ characters suddenly become stiff and artificial simply because they are neglected throughout the majority of the novel, while the author rants about the dystopian world’s political problems.

Of course, had the trilogy ended seamlessly, critics would have been just as displeased. Katniss’ world was far too damaged and convoluted to present a convincing ending in which everything is resolved. However, Collins’ flagrant disregard for her characters, literally tying up their loose ends in a one-page epilogue, cannot be excused. It is as though the author got so caught up in the descriptions of war and the social and political flaws of Katniss’ world, that she reached her page limit and went, “Oh, I forgot, I have to wrap this up.”

After establishing such richly complex yet relatable characters in her first two books, Collins fails to do those characters any justice in her final text. Throughout The Hunger Games, and even Catching Fire, Collins writes about her characters so descriptively and intentionally that readers cannot help but form strong attachments to them. Having built a relationship with these characters, it is heartbreaking for readers to finish Mockingjay with the sense that their fictional friends were not treated with the respect they deserved. Readers finish the trilogy without answers, without closure, and with the haunting feeling that their favorite characters’ stories were not really given the ending they were worthy of. These characters deserved better.

Interestingly enough, most readers do not disagree with how Collins tied up her loose ends but rather the vague, pithy way in which she did so. For the final twenty-five pages, though Katniss is still narrating the text, readers are not given any insight to what she is really thinking, or feeling, about the big events that are transpiring around her.

By the end of Mockingjay, Katniss and the rest of Collins’ characters have become a shadow of what they once were in the first two books of the Hunger Games series. However, this is not the result of a harrowing war, or due to a damaged dystopian society, but rather, the characters are weak and artificial simply because of poor writing.

Caitlin Kennedy

SWIM! SWIM! by James Proimos

Proimos, James. Swim! Swim! New York: Scholastic, Inc, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-545-19419-1. $16.99. Ages 4-7

Big blocks of color are the best part of this picture book about a lonely goldfish who looks for a friend. Some pages are framed in foursquare panels. The typeface is too rough and doesn’t match the smooth lines of some of the drawings. All of the text is shown in dialogue bubbles next to the goldfish. The tone is that of a comic book and the fish’s conclusion that no one loves him is surprising. The loneliness is depicted on that two-page spread by a solid grey background around a smaller-sized fish on the page. The midpoint of the book with solitude quickly jumps to action as a hungry cat preys on the goldfish. But the cat puts the lonely goldfish with another goldfish and the two become friends. The reversal of cat as villain to nice guy is a pleasant surprise.

Linda Salem

MOUSE AND LION by Rand and Nancy Burkert

Burkert, Rand. Mouse and Lion. Illus. Nancy Ekholm Burkert. New York: Scholastic, Inc, 2011. $17.95 US $19.95 CAN. ISBN: 978-0-545-10147-9. Picturebook, ages 2-6

Aesop’s fables have delighted children for generations, and Rand and Nancy Burkert have created a rendition of the tale Mouse & Lion worthy of cherishing.

Rand Burkert’s retelling, unlike most traditional versions, places Mouse at the center of the story, since, as he writes in the author’s note, “Mouse clearly performs the lion’s share of the work.” Parents and children who read this story can discuss Mouse’s positive characteristics, such as loyalty, repayment of a debt, honesty, and courage, as well as Lion’s leadership as King, particularly his fairness and openness.

The dust jacket is made from off-white textured paper, and the soft colored pencil color scheme of the illustrations reminds me of classic storybooks. Burkert has set her illustrations in the savannahs of Africa, with its baobob trees and swaying grasses. Truly this is a gorgeous work that belongs in any classic storybook collection.

Marisa Behan

DEAR AMERICA: LIKE THE WILLOW TREE by Lois Lowry

Lowry, Lois. Dear America: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce. Like the Willow Tree. New York: Scholastic, Inc, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-545-14469-8. $12.99 US/$14.99 CAN

The Dear America series has long had a reputation for excellence. Lois Lowry’s contribution, “Like the Willow Tree,” a diary of the fictional Lydia Amelia Pierce, an orphan of the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918, lives up not only to the quality of her extensive other publications, but also the rest of the Dear America novels.

When Lydia and her brother Daniel lose both of their parents simultaneously to the Spanish influenza, their grieving uncle sends them to be raised by Shakers. Lydia learns the lifestyle of the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake, while worrying about her brother, who struggles much more acutely than she with the transition to Shaker life. Over the course of the year, Lydia grapples with difficult issues of gender separation, the loss of her personal property, and the strain of diligent work. She tries very hard to be a good Shaker, learning their songs and conforming to their ethical system, but she accurately questions the Shakers on the denial of marriage as a means of propagating the religion.

Lydia’s story and voice are a compelling read. Lowry also manages to be very informative about Shaker culture and the historical decline of the faith in American society.  Young readers will both enjoy the story and gain valuable insights about an often forgotten or misunderstood faction of American history.

Marisa Behan

Review: DARK LIFE by Kat Falls

Falls, Kat.  Dark Life.  New York: Scholastic Press, 2010.  ISBN-13: 978-0-545-17814-3.  297 pages.  $16.99.  Young Adult.

Dark Life is probably best classified as dystopian science fiction.  Following the catastrophic rise of sea levels, twenty percent of North America is under water. The forty-five remaining states have formed a Commonwealth that functions in a constant state of emergency.  Since the new frontier is now the ocean, where scientists and pioneers work underwater farms to provide the Commonwealth with sustenance,  the setting is underwater off the Eastern seaboard of the former United States. Families live in “subsea” homes made from soft-sided membranes modeled after deep-sea invertebrates, mostly jellyfish.  Children born and raised in these deep ocean settlements are sometimes referred to as Dark Life, and are thought by their Topsider counterparts to have special powers. 

One of these Dark Life adolescents, Ty, is the teenage son of scientist/underwater terra-formers.  Both Ty and his nine year-old sister Zoe, born subsea, possess unique talents suited for underwater living.  In the first chapter, Ty scavenges among the ruins of the now submerged New York City, though doing so violates his parents’ rules.  While investigating an abandoned sub, he discovers Gemma, a teenage Topsider and ward of the Commonwealth, who is searching for her brother.  Ty agrees to help Gemma, but the search proves way more dangerous than either could imagine.  They find themselves caught in an unfolding mystery that involves seagangs, escaped convicts, secret experiments, and the Benthic territory’s struggle for equal representation in the Commonwealth.

Falls’ Dark Life is a neat little gem.  Writing in first person from Ty’s perspective, she re-imagines the American Wild West. Her underwater setting is rife with settlers, outlaws, prospectors, and posses.  She mixes an appropriate amount of action with world building and character development to create an enjoyable read. And while Ty is a well- rounded character, I wished Gemma was a bit more developed. All in all, Falls’ prose is well constructed and pretty evenly paced.

Heather Tylock