QUEEN OF BABYLON

In Gibson and Josey’s YA SF sequel to Babylon Twins (2019), a young girl tries to find her place among her fellow clones.

Josephine is one in a million—or one in 1,000,336, to be exact. She’s a clone—bearing the moniker Seven and robotically enhanced by Dr. Lauren Yetti—who’s part of a society of young Black girls who are all identical to her. Immersed in a post-apocalyptic world in which robots have forced humanity into submission, Josephine and her kind were created to facilitate resistance. These young women can communicate in a manner called the Twinkling, a “cryptophasic” language insulated from the influence of the machines. Josephine is deemed defective by her creators, as she’s unable to understand the secret language of her fellow clones; she finds a role as a hunter among her people. When One, the prototype for their society, is kidnapped, Seven is tasked with her rescue. Since she’s unable to compromise the Josephines’ communication code if captured, Seven can go where none of her sisters dare, from Siberia to the moon. But in a world of machines determined to control and surveil humanity, it turns out that nothing is what it seems; as Seven closes in on the whereabouts of One, she uncovers a conspiracy lead by the Swarm Cartel, a mysterious entity offering extreme power for a price. This fun, futuristic, and fast-paced work by Gibson and Josey takes readers on a truly imaginative adventure. In addition, the work offers deeper themes amid the exciting action sequences. Although Josephine isn’t an entirely flesh-and-blood character, she retains an inspiring sense of humanity—courage, passion, and love of family—from which she derives her greatest strength. Furthermore, the narrative effectively shines a light on systemic injustice and showcases the strength of women of color in ways that will resonate with readers.

A creative work of heart and heroism that’s likely to inspire young audiences.