Atlantia

August 11, 2014
Rio Conwy has lived her whole life in Atlantia, a city built underwater to preserve the human race after the atmosphere became filled with toxic pollution. Rio had always planned to go Above and join the workers who support and feed the Atlantians, but she promised her twin sister, Bay, she would stay after their mother died. When Bay betrays their agreement and abandons her, Rio plots, plans, and trains to make her own escape. As a further complication, Rio is secretly a siren, with a voice that compels obedience; if she’s found out, she’ll be forced to serve the Atlantian Council and never find out why Bay left. Condie (the Matched trilogy) pulls together many interesting ideas that don’t hold up to close examination. While the author’s fans will enjoy the immersive prose and gentle romance, newcomers may be impatient with the unsympathetic characters and lack of action. Overall, this standalone story is like a problematic trilogy in one book—a catchy opening leading to a slow journey and an unexpected finale that brings in bewildering new elements and works hard to wrap everything up. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.

September 15, 2014
The author of the Matched Trilogy dives deep for her next story. Rio and her twin sister, Bay, live in the undersea city of Atlantia. They've never been anywhere else. Long ago, the gods decreed a Divide between the Above and the newly engineered Below: A fraction of people stayed on the polluted land Above to labor throughout their short and painful lives, enabling the majority to move underwater and live well. Now, generations later, 15-year-old Rio longs to go Above-teens are given the opportunity to make that sacrifice, but they must remain Above forever-but she's promised Bay they'll stay Below together. When Bay unfathomably departs for Above herself, Rio's stunned. Condie's premise is terrific, and the pacing glides along smoothly as Rio schemes to sneak Above, hides her secret identity as a siren, worries about her mother's suspicious death and ponders her role in her society. However, the text barely explains Atlantia's structure of enclosed-bubble neighborhoods connected by dry concrete canals; sources of power, material resources and the city's mechanics are even vaguer. Weak worldbuilding seriously dilutes the story, as do narratively convenient character motivations and a reliance on line breaks to push intensity and depth.As cool as a submerged city and teen siren are, too many physical details are missing and too many emotional details forced. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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October 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-A fast-paced fantasy adventure tale in a richly drawn dystopian future. Despite her lifelong dream of living Above, recently orphaned Rio has promised her twin sister, Bay, that she'll stay in their underwater city of Atlantia when they come of age. In one shocking moment, however, Bay is headed Above, and Rio is left alone, separated from the last person who knew the secret of her hidden siren voice and loved her anyway. As Rio tries to find her own way to get Above, she also discovers pieces of Atlantia's hidden past and its uncertain future. Ultimately, the protagonist will have to rethink everything she's been taught and make courageous decisions on her own in order to reunite with her sister and save the world she loves. Complex characters, including Rio's antihero aunt, and a realistically slow and subtle first romance make this a book teens will relate to, even non-genre fans. A slowly unfolding backstory perfectly complements all the action. Despite a bit of a didactic lean in the final chapters, this is a title that's sure to be immensely popular with teens, especially those who enjoyed Condie's "Matched" trilogy (Dutton).-Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT

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