Vanguard

Gr 7 Up–This fourth volume in the postapocalyptic dystopian series continues Tegan's story. She has completed her apprenticeship as a healer and is eager to take her valued skills on the road. Szorak, the vanguard of the subterranean Uroch people, has booked passage on the same ship as Tegan, hoping to locate a safe new homeland for his kin. Tegan and Szorak are fast friends, but humans have not forgotten the war with the Uroch, and when a human is killed, all eyes turn to the hairless, clawed Szorak, and he is tossed overboard. Without hesitation, Tegan dives in to save him, and the two end up in an abandoned colony, where the bond between them quickly escalates to romance. Although this installment can stand alone, followers of the series will have an easier entry into the speculative world and will welcome the reintroduction of familiar characters. Those new to the books will be delighted with the fantasy-style details and sophisticated writing. The novel does occasionally include mildly gratuitous language, but sex is described so discreetly that less mature readers may miss it altogether.