It is 2099, and the polar ice-caps have melted, drowning most of the landmasses of Earth, and leaving only a few isolated islands of dry land remaining. But even these few islands are being eaten away by the sea and for Mara time is running out. She must persuade her fellow islanders that the rumours of vast sky cities built to survive the floods are true, and that their only hope lies in finding these favled cities. But will they be all Mara dreams they will be?

This is one of the best pieces of fiction I have read in a long time: the message is staright to the point without being preachy, and the story is absolutely riviting. Julie Bertahna writes a world which is fully imagined in each and every spine-chilling detail, and in several places I had to fight to hold back tears. The reader cannot help but be made more aware of the issues about global warming and ethical environmental awareness after reading this book, and I can only hope it will inspire many child readers to take an active interest in saving their planet. A

t the same time, it is a celebration of the strength and resilience of the human race - not as a race of conquerors, producers, and competitors, but as a race capable of love, vision, and compassion. It celebrates the power of human intellect to find, not just solutions, but compromises, and to find survival not only for itself, but in tandem with the planet. It is also extremely well-written, using lanaguage that draws you deeper and deeper into the story.

 I can't wait to read the sequel - I highly recommend this book, it should be given to every child and adult alike!

Buy this Book

2008-07-01