Want

Title: Want 
Author: Cindy Pon 
Series: Want, 1 
Publisher: New York: Simon Pulse, 2017. 
Collection: Young Adult Fiction 
Resources: Novelist, Goodreads

Annotation:

Taipei in an alternate near future has it all; airpeds, bots, colourful nightlife and deadly pollution and viruses. 5% of the population, the ‘you’ escape sickness and early mortality rates. They have the means to buy the very expensive protective suits. The remaining 95% of the ‘meis’ go without. Jin Corp holds a monopoly on the suit and they drive up their profits by intentionally harming the environment and infecting citizens with lethal viruses. Jason and his friends hatch a plan to take down this malignant entity. To infiltrate the corporation Jason takes on a ‘you’ identity. The closer he gets to uncovering the companies hidden secrets the stronger his feelings grow for Jin Corp heiress Daiyu. Will the ensuing romance threaten to derail even the best laid plans?

Pon’s visceral description of Taipei immerses the reader in the story. Even though the story is faced-paced Pon takes the time to develop the characters as the themes of wealth disparity and corporate greed are explored. ‘Want’ is a well crafted sc-fi novel and the first book in Pon’s dylogy.

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Also available as an Audiobook

Frozen

Title: Frozen 
Author: Melissa De La Cruz & Michael Johnston 
Series: Heat of dread, 1 
Publisher:: Great Britain: Orchard Books, 2014 
Collection: Young Adult Fiction 

Resources: Novelist, Goodreads

Annotation: 
 Set in the future, the world has experienced Great Wars, Black Floods and the latest catastrophe is the Big Freeze. Encased in an ice age the world is sectioned out by autocratic run states or areas overrun by pirates and madmen. Although this novel is called “Frozen” it is not set in the picturesque town of Arendelle and no one will be breaking out in song but instead they will be breaking out of prison. Natasha Kestal is a marked being, who possesses special abilities and for that she is caged. The 17 year old manages to escape to New Vegas where the rules can still be bent. Life on post-apocalyptic Earth is hard, water and food are scarce and pollution and chemical waste lead to an early death. It all seems very bleak but for the fact that there is a fabled Nirvana called “The Blue”. To find it you need ‘Anaximander’s map it provides safe passage from the rocky, perilous waters of Hell Strait to the island doorway that leads to the Blue.’ Nat under the guidance of a voice in her head is lead to the map and is urged by it to embark on the dangerous journey to the mythical land. For safe passage she enlist Ryan “Wes” Wesson and his band of mercenaries. The journey brings Nat and Wes closer but will the ensuing romance survive the perils and distrust.

This science fiction, fantasy, dystopian mash up surprisingly works well. De La Cruz does not fail to provoke the readers’ conscience through her exploration of themes such as climate change apocalypse, environmental degradation and failed states in a world that might evolve. 

Further informtion
Also available as an Audiobook

The Lab

Title: The Lab 
Author: Jack Heath 
Series: Six of Heats, 1 
Publisher: Australia: Pan Macmillan, 2009 
Collection: Young Adult Fiction 
Resources: Novelist, Goodreads

Annotation:

Set in the distant future, Earth is devastated by pollution. Isolated from the rest of the world is a lone walled island city of nine billion people. The entire city is under the control of the diabolical ChaoSonic Corporation which conducts unethical DNA experimentation. The only line of defence the inhabitants of the island have is vigilante organisation called The Deck. Its most effective weapon is Agent Six of Hearts, ironically a ChaoSonic creation. Six is a hybrid clone of human and animal DNA. His entire life Six has distanced himself from his humanity focusing on his missions at hand but when he is captured by ChaoSonic operatives he comes face to face with Kyntak another boy with the same genesis as he. This forces him to re-evaluate who he is. 

Australian author Jack Heath was only in high school when he wrote this book. He has succeeded in creating an action packed dystopian fiction, exploring the ethical ramifications of cloning and genetic engineering.