Across a Star-Swept Sea

Gr 9 Up—Persis is an airhead aristo who cares only for the latest styles and tending to her queen—or is she? The Wild Poppy is a renegade who rescues enslaved aristos from the clutches of revolutionaries—or is he? In truth, they are one and the same. The novel follows the adventures of Persis and "the league" as they attempt to right the wrongs inflicted by Galatean revolutionaries upon society. Persis might have carried on at the same pace—socialite by day, spy by night—if her path hadn't crossed with Justen's. He is grandson to the famous Persistence Helo, inventor of a treatment that saved many from suffering "reduction," but also proved to have unintended side effects. Once Justen enters Persis's life, seemingly remorseful for the dark direction taken by his people and ready to make things right, she is unsure if she can trust him. As she wrestles with her simultaneous distrust and growing admiration for him, all the while continuing her mission as the Wild Poppy, adventure and intrigue unfold. Persis's well-drawn world is one of genetically engineered pets and communication methods called palmports that require users to take supplements to sustain their functionality. It provides the backdrop for a well-paced story led by a strong and likable heroine. Readers will relish its tender moments, especially one shared by Persis and Justen in a star-swept cove, as much as its abundant moments of suspense.—Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ