Deviants: The Dust Chronicles, Book 1

Gr 9 Up—Glory is a Deviant in McGowan's action-packed post-apocalyptic novel (Amazon Children's Pub., 2012). If the authorities in Haven, the domed city where remnants of the human race live, find out, the 16-year-old will face the same fate as her father who killed her mother and crippled her younger brother Drake years ago. He was forced into the hostile wasteland outside Haven where toxic dust and Shredders await anyone the authorities deem unfit to remain. It's been that way ever since Earth was nearly destroyed by asteroids. Glory tries to balance training and get extra rat meat to feed Drake, while dreading the possibility that her secret will be discovered. The story quickly gives enough background about Glory and those people most important to her, pulling listeners into an intriguing blend of action and tension that will hold their attention. Her friend Cal joins the Ethics Committee right before they get their dating license, but Burn, another Deviant, confronts her with news that her father isn't dead. When the authorities arrive, Glory thinks they're about to take Drake, so she and Burn escape with him. The action and tension as they try to elude Comps and Shredders on their way to find Glory's dad as well as some unexpected surprises near the end of the book will grip listeners. Tara Sands's narration makes each voice sound unique and natural. Glory's teen angst sounds somewhat whiny for a short while near the middle of the book, but vanishes when the action picks up again. An excellent listen.—John Clark, Hartland Public Library, ME