Currents

Gr 8 Up—In a postapocalyptic world where water rules over land, a choice group of people dominate all others who have the misfortune of living in the flooded part of the country. The prosperous "Drys"—especially Governor Bradshaw, who spends his days cracking down on uprisings across all the territories, wet and dry—consider all the "Wets" little better than scum. Governor Bradshaw's daughter, Nina, must attend a new school in the wet territories, under a false name. Her attempts to keep a low profile are dashed when she meets Max Morris, a Wet who is tired of the status quo. Together they embark on a journey that includes kidnapping, jet ski chases, incarceration, and a passionate romance. This English translation of the 2012 novel from the Netherlands, Overstroomd, proves to be clunky—awkward wording and choppy sentence structure make engagement in the narrative difficult, and much of Max's and Nina's inner monologues are repetitive and nonsensical. However, the alternating perspectives offer a dynamic look into two different worlds, and each character's struggle to survive in hostile environments pushes readers toward finding out the truth about Governor Bradshaw's shady dealings. Character development never gets past conventional stereotypes, but those who are drawn to all-encompassing teen romances will not be deterred.