Nyxia

July 10, 2017
In Reintgen’s energetic debut, a Detroit teen is offered an extraordinary opportunity by corporate giant Babel Communications to earn more than enough money to bring his family out of poverty and get his mother needed medical care. Emmett Atwater, who is black, and nine other teens from across the world are eager to travel to Eden, an Earthlike planet that is home to humanoid beings called Adamites. There, they’ll mine for a sought-after substance called nyxia, which can transform itself into just about anything. But only eight can go, and they must fight for the privilege. Emmett isn’t about to lose, but winning becomes harder as he starts to care about his competitors, especially his sweet-natured Japanese roommate, Kaya, and the kindly Bilal, from the West Bank. The setup will draw comparisons to The Hunger Games, but Reintgen’s characters stand on their own, and the trials they face are inventive. Emmett’s self-deprecation, wit, and ability to see the good in others will keep readers riveted and eager for the next volume in this planned trilogy. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary.

Narrator Sullivan Jones conveys the desires, frustrations, and determination of Detroit teen Emmett Atwater as well as the tension in this fast-paced audiobook. Emmett is one of 10 poor teens, most of color, who are competing aboard a spaceship for a position with Babel, a company that mines nyxia, "the new black gold." Jones conveys Emmett's African-American background through intonation. He uses soft tones to express Emmett's sensitive, thoughtful side as the teen wonders about his mother's cancer, the powers of nyxia, and various moral dilemmas. Jones's facility with accents also enhances the differentiation of characters. Dominic Hoffman delivers the brief "Interlude" chapter, written by Babel employee Marcus Defoe. Hoffman's detached tone conveys Defoe's coldness, a contrast with Jones's emotive reading of Emmett's story. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine