Exodus by Julie Bertagna

(loving the cover!) 

February 2011, MacMillan Children's Books

352 pages, Paperback 

Review copy 

Children's, Dystopian 

World in peril, tragedy, difficult choices, secrets, darker side of human life, survival, friendships, bonds of family, lots of danger and thrills, tissues are needed, mild romance (very subtly worked in)

Summary from PanMacMillan 

It is 2099 - and the world is gradually drowning, as mighty Arctic ice floes melt, the seas rise, and land disappears forever beneath storm-tossed waves. For 15-year-old Mara, her family and community, huddled on the fast-disappearing island of Wing, the new century brings flight. Packed into tiny boats, a terrifying journey begins to a bizarre city that rises into the sky, built on the drowned remains of the ancient city of Glasgow. But even here there is no safety and, shut out of the city, Mara realizes they are asylum-seekers in a world torn between high-tech wizardry and the most primitive injustice. To save her people, Mara must not only find a way into the city but also search for a new land and a new home...

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Mara: she thinks and acts so much like me its scary (at least in this book).  She's an admirable girl. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Nature is an enemy who wrecks Mara's life, but she becomes so strong because of what happens. Then there is the human enemy who are selfish arrogant so and so's who really ought to know better and stop being egotistical. (What makes you think I didn't like them?) 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? I guessed a few plot threads, but I was dumbstruck by some of the revelations. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Mara had to say goodbye to her island. It's so heart wrenching, and it made me think how in times like that, sentimentality can't always come into making decisions. 

Be sure to check out Julie's website! 

Suggested read

For a dystopian read on man-made disasters, try the fast paced Tomorrow: When the War Began by John Marsden