Phoenix Rising

Gr 6 Up—In a dystopian world, natural resources are scarce, a supervolcano has blocked the sun for decades, and martial law rules. Toby serves as the chief engineer of his father's pirate ship, the Phoenix. Toby's father, Captain Barnaby Ford, is a brilliant inventor who has created the Phoenix as a way to escape the military, which wants to use his genius to develop weapons. Along with a crew of outlaws, Captain Ford and Toby search for salvage that can be used to keep the ship afloat, including solar panels that will provide power without the need for oil. When a dangerous storm brings about a confrontation with a rival ship, the Banshee, with its captain, Nell, and second-in-command, Ayla, Toby must use all of his skills to keep the Phoenix and her crew safe. Toby narrates this adventure on seas filled with junk, with ships made of salvaged materials. Fans of dystopian tales will appreciate Pearce's world-building and attention to detail in the mechanics of the new world. The opening fake newspaper clippings feel pulled from today's headlines, adding to the sense of realism and the possibility that the book's events could happen in the future. Questions about some of the characters' backstories and a mysterious island are left unanswered but may be addressed in future volumes.