DELTA OBLIVION

Sometimes the real battle is in your mind.

Sixteen-year-old Tallie Hadderson has dreamed of being a mech-bot pilot since she was 10. Mech battles, “one of the most popular sporting events in the world,” pit towering robots against each other in epic battles. Each machine is maneuvered by two pilots who meld their minds, revealing all their thoughts and emotions in order to create seamless operations. Now entering her final year of training, Tallie hopes to be paired with Diego Rodrigues, her best friend since kindergarten and one of the few people who know that she’s autistic. Instead, Tallie is paired with Zaina Chandra, a virtual unknown who’s just joined the team after getting kicked off another. Despite their “successful mind fit,” Zaina and Tallie can’t seem to get in sync. Neither girl is willing to truly let the other in, and the consequences are disastrous. Their inability to connect causes them to crash their bot their first time out. To achieve their dreams, the two must find a way to fully trust one another and let go of their baggage—or risk losing everything. Although the characterization is largely told rather than shown, the fast pace and engaging plot will draw in reluctant readers. The writing is tight and accessible, and there’s some exploration of Tallie’s experiences as a neurodivergent person. Tallie presents white, and there’s racial diversity among the supporting cast.

Character-focused science fiction that packs a punch.