Exodus

In the year 2100, fifteen-year-old Mara lives on Wing, an island slowly disappearing beneath rising seas caused by climate change. The inhabitants of Wing face imminent disaster as their remaining land shrinks, forcing them to seek refuge elsewhere. Through her cyberwizz device, Mara discovers information about New Mungo, a towering city that might offer sanctuary for her people. She leads her community on a dangerous journey across the waters, leaving behind those too old or unwilling to abandon their homes. Upon reaching New Mungo, Mara and her people face harsh realities about survival in a world transformed by environmental catastrophe. Their quest for safety becomes a test of resilience, courage, and the human capacity to adapt in the face of unprecedented challenges. This young adult novel examines climate change, social inequality, and human migration through the lens of a near-future dystopia. The story raises questions about environmental responsibility and the choices societies make when facing extinction-level threats.

Readers find this young adult climate fiction novel emotionally compelling but uneven in its execution. Positives from reviews: - Vivid descriptions of the flooded world - Strong female protagonist - Environmental themes feel relevant and timely - Fast-paced second half - Memorable supporting characters Common criticisms: - Slow start with confusing timeline jumps - Plot holes in the world-building - Romance subplot feels forced - Ending leaves too many questions unanswered Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (80+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The flooding scenes will stay with me forever" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes too long to get going but worth pushing through" - Amazon reviewer "Beautiful writing but the science doesn't make sense" - LibraryThing reviewer "Wanted to love it but the pacing killed it for me" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌊 The novel was published in 2002, nearly two decades before rising sea levels became a mainstream global concern. 🏙️ The sky cities in the book were inspired by real-world concepts of vertical cities and sustainable urban development proposed by architects in the late 1990s. 📚 Exodus is part of a trilogy that includes "Zenith" (2007) and "Aurora" (2011), each exploring different aspects of this flooded future world. ✍️ Author Julie Bertagna was inspired to write the story after reading newspaper articles about Pacific islands gradually disappearing under rising seas. 🏆 The book won multiple awards, including the Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year (now Costa Award).