SuperMoon

Gr 8 Up—A dystopian thriller set in the not-too-distant future when humans wear internal smart technology and have created a colony on the Moon. Uma, an Earth-born girl who emigrated to the Moon ten years ago, is on the cusp of her high school graduation and entry into adulthood. But before she is given her future occupation, she's looking forward to visiting Earth for the month of Sol—a "gap month" for graduates. Unfortunately, Dr. Fornax, the Moon's president, cancels Uma's trip, believing her to be a flight risk. Despite Dr. Fornax's directive, Uma escapes to Earth, meets a teen con artist named Talitha, falls in love with her, and eventually holds the very fate of the Moon colony in her hands. Uma is clever and likable, though some of her humanizing quirks—like culturing bacteria—are never fully explored due to the adventure that ensues once she reaches Earth. The romance between Uma and Talitha happens instantly and lacks emotional depth; it is shoehorned into what is otherwise a taut thriller. Swain's creation of new technology and future-thinking vocabulary is of special interest—tech implants, sensory chips, body harvesting, and rampant consumerism via video feed are woven into the story and quite fascinating. Despite raising complicated issues, the novel's ending is neat as a bow. Novels with similar themes include M.T. Anderson's Feed, Scott Westerfeld's Uglies, and L.J.'s Adlington's The Diary of Pelly D.