The Celestial Seas

Gr 9 Up–Onboard the whaling ship Dorado, orphaned captain Ishara Ming and her ragtag crew soar through the great expanse of space on a revenge-fueled quest to take down the Ballena, a mech-operated bio-integrated spaceship, also called a “whale.” Although the crew, including first mate and potential romantic partner Quinn, sometimes doubt Ishara, they dutifully follow orders, even accepting into their ranks enigmatic newcomer Augustus, who has a strange connection to the captain and leads the whaler into dangerous territory. Quagmired in another deep space battle, a love triangle, and an internal conflict to regain her lost memories and self-confidence, Ishara must fight for her life, the lives of her crewmates, and the ship they call home. With references to seafaring life and whaling exploits, this science-fiction retelling of the epic Moby Dick advances at a lull-free quick clip, delivering detailed worldbuilding laden with hard science, inventive jargon, fun future tech, and relatable characters that engage in zingy, sarcastic banter. Both character- and plot-driven, the story is woven with themes of self-awareness, forgiveness, acceptance, letting go of trauma, survival, loyalty, and trust. It touches on issues of identity based on gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and species, while also tackling the hot-button issue of AI. With a strong female protagonist and characters reflecting a broad range of identities, abilities, and backgrounds, this will appeal to fans of Star Wars, Emily Skrutskie’s The Abyss Surrounds Us, Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King, Tillie Walden’s On a Sunbeam, and Cecil Castellucci’s Tin Star. There are a few instances of strong language.