Neptune's Children

In this dystopian fantasy for young people, an instantaneous and devastating plague kills everyone over the age of 14. The story centers around Josh and Zoe, two of the many kids suddenly left to their own devices at the Isles of Wonder theme park. The island isn't a bad place to be stranded, and the young people slowly organize to use the park's restaurants, hotels, and gift shops to support themselves and their younger siblings. Narrator Carine Montbertrand does a fine job giving individual voices to the many characters, who range from toddlers to teens. She gives an especially appropriate world-weary quality to some of the teen boys' voices. As opposing factions move into all-out war, listeners can only hope there's help coming from the mainland. B.P. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine