This energetic debut—a rousing adventure of teens proving their worth as future rebels, ready to topple a dystopian society—takes place in 2075, after an ecological collapse allows the fascist Democratic Union for a Sustainable Tomorrow (D.U.S.T.) to take control. The Dust locks up dissidents, controls the media, and alters history books to favor the regime. Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, 17-year-old Everly Dahl faces her father’s imprisonment for treason and the government withholding life-saving medicine from her ill sister, Shelby. After Shelby is also arrested, a despondent Everly agrees to be whisked away by the total stranger Micah, who is with the rebel Bloodwood Society, “the most notorious group on the planet.”

As the Naked Mole Rats (all teams are named for underground animals), Everly, along with her teammates—the bulky and clever Inuit Katak, belligerent Indian Vashti, and insecure Latina Inés—must triumph at a series of trials, including an obstacle course, marathon race, free climbing a 500-foot tree, and anagram puzzle, all under the watchful eyes of their perpetually scowling mentor Micah. Readers young and old will be captivated by Doty’s swift-moving plot and fierce motivations of diverse, quirky teenagers who are troubled by anxieties and impetuousness, countermanded by their fierce desire to achieve independence as emerging adults.

This is a light read, but it covers familiar themes of teenagers learning how to work together, united by dedication and grit against a corrupt government. Doty’s message of loyalty to family and friends, along with the novel’s strongly drawn characters who succeed despite their difficult circumstances, rings universal. The exploits are satisfyingly demanding and exciting, rewarding readers with a healthy slice of action alongside the more character-driven drama. Doty draws a nuanced and powerful portrait of the type of camaraderie that can save a world teetering on disaster, as Everly herself realizes that “come hell or high water, their fates were intertwined.”

Takeaway: Eager teenagers undergo trials to prove them worthy for a rebellion.

Comparable Titles: Shade Owens’s Chosen, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: –
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A