The XY

Gr 9 Up—A virus wiped out almost all of the men on Earth. Those not infected were taken to "sanctuaries." Women survived and live in the normal world. The remaining men are used for their sperm to keep the species thriving. Male babies are taken to the sanctuaries after birth. When River stumbles across an XY named Mason, she is shocked but also fearful. He is obviously sick. Should River save him or report him? Although the writing is slow at first, the narrative quickly becomes engaging; the world-building will pull readers in. It is an intriguing premise—what the world would be like run solely by women. There are some disconnects, such as why the men who are being held in pseudo-prisons seem to have access to advanced technology while women see baths and electricity as extravagances. The plot is compelling until the very end, when the story line veers off course and the world-building falls apart.