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May 1, 2017
In this SF thriller, adapted from a short story that appeared in the 2011 anthology Diverse Energies, teens struggle to survive in a pollution-choked Taipei, where the wealthy live in expensive environmental suits and everyone else risks sickness and early death. Jason Zhou, one of the have-nots, joins a group determined to infiltrate the rich and powerful in order to undermine Jin Corp and its monopoly on the protective suits. In Jason’s undercover role, he grows close to his target, Jin Corp heiress Daiyu, but must avoid being seduced by power and privilege. But there’s no time to waste with a deadly flu sweeping through the city. Pon’s (Serpentine) dystopian setting is chilling but familiar—it’s a standard class warfare scenario—as is the omnipresent, corrupt Jin corporation and the romance that brews between resourceful Jason and privileged-yet-rebellious Daiyu. The strength of Pon’s story lies in the way it immerses readers in its gritty Taiwanese setting, and the emotional and cultural conflicts that arise as a result of this perspective. Ages 14–up. Agent: Bill Contardi, Brandt & Hochman.

Cindy Pon's fantasy thriller manages to sidestep many of the tropes in dystopian young adult novels. Roger Yeh's narration creates an enthralling audio experience. In a near-future Taipei, pollution has widened the gap between the haves and have-nots to a dangerous level. In a world in which the rich wear special protective suits while the poor suffer the pollution, acid rain, and rampant disease, Jason Zhou leads a group of teens to save their city by infiltrating the corrupt Jin Corp. Yeh's voice seems to perfectly match the 17-year-old hero while also creating other unique character voices throughout the story, especially that of Daiyu, the daughter of Jin Corp's CEO. Yeh's performance captures Pon's vision and will keep the listener hooked until the end. A.G.M. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine