Railhead

Starred review from April 25, 2016
Reeve (the Mortal Engines series) sets this exciting science fiction adventure in a far-future universe where humans inhabit 1,000 worlds connected by K-gates, portals that allow inexpensive and virtually instantaneous travel across the galaxy. The only way to pass through a K-gate is by riding sentient and often eccentric trains, "barracuda-beautiful, dreaming their dreams of speed and distance as they race from world to world." Zen Starling is a young "railhead," a train aficionado, who supports his disabled mother through petty theft on a variety of worlds until he's approached by Nova, a strong-willed android, and Captain Malik of Railforce, the agency that polices the interstellar network. Nova wants to hire Zen to work for a mysterious revolutionary known as Raven; Malik accuses the bewildered Zen of already being so employed. A wild chase ensues across many planets, involving numerous spectacular train battles. Featuring gorgeously described alien landscapes, sharply drawn characters (some not even vaguely human), and genuinely awesome technology, this thrilling and imaginative escapade will captivate the Carnegie Medalâwinner's many fans. Ages 14âup.