Sarah Crossan is the author of One, which won the Carnegie Medal and the Bookseller's prize for young adult fiction and was named the Irish Children's Book of the Year. It was also named to the White Ravens list, was an Indie Next selection, and earned four starred reviews in the US. In 2018, Sarah Crossan was named Irish Children's Laureate. Two other novels, The Weight of Water and Apple and Rain, were also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Sarah Crossan has lived in Dublin, London, and New York, and now lives in Sussex. She graduated with a degree in philosophy and literature before training as an English and drama teacher at Cambridge University. Since completing a master's in creative writing, she has been working to promote creative writing in schools.
"An amazing story! Sit down. Inhale. Now, while you still can." -- Kathleen Duey, author of National Book Award finalist Skin Hunger"This joins the ranks of Roth's Divergent and Wells' Partials as a provocative, character-driven, and action-packed dystopian series opener to watch out for." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Short cliff-hanger chapters alternate between the three teens' points of view and build to an ending that will leave fans breathless for the next one." -- ALA Booklist"Sci-fi fans with an environmental bent will find this book particularly engaging." -- Horn Book Magazine
Gr 9 Up-The survivors of the Switch are sealed within a domed city, dependent on oxygen supplied by the government according to their social status. Chapters rotate narration among freedom-fighter Alina, privileged Quinn, and empathetic Bea. Quinn and Bea are friends, but he doesn't notice her the way she wants to be noticed. A planned camping trip in which Bea hopes to gain his affection goes awry when beautiful Alina tags along. The relaxing getaway turns serious as the group tries to avoid government forces chasing Alina and heads for the safety of a rebel stronghold. Once at the base, the story hits its only sour note. The leader and her psychopathic, orphaned child sidekick are repulsive characters. Much of the sympathy for the rebels and their just cause evaporates in their leader's lunacy. Woven throughout the trio's perilous adventure to discover if the government has lied and humankind can survive outside the dome is a thoughtful romance. Secondary characters are fully realized. Pacing is quick, but allows the tension to build. While echoes of The Hunger Games lessen the originality of the story, it won't diminish readers' interest.-Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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