Set in 23rd-century post-apocalypse Britain, this captivating story is told entirely in the present tense in alternating chapters by a fisher girl, Lilly, and a young Raider, Zeph, who ultimately find themselves in an unlikely alliance. One day, 13-year-old Lilly returns from fishing to discover that Raiders have attacked her village, murdered her grandmother (her only living relative) and kidnapped the Prime Minister of England’s daughter, Lexy. Lilly disguises herself as a boy, procures a large jewel to offer as ransom for Lexy and sets off for Lunden. On her journey, Lilly discovers that the jewel is actually a computer, perhaps the only one to survive the Great Collapse, with a personality of its own. Once in Lunden, Lilly meets Zeph, a member of the Raider group that kidnapped Lexy, and tricks him into helping her find the kidnapped girl. But Zeph soon discovers Lilly’s true identity and has to make some tough choices of his own. Will he betray his family or his new friend? A well-drawn world, plot twists galore and spunky characters make this one a true page-turner—readers will be panting for the sequel. (Science fiction. 9-14)
