Metaltown

October 3, 2016
Loyalties are tested and family bonds are stretched in Simmons's complex tale of friendships forged in necessity, set in a grim future. Tri-City is an outpost of civilization in the wake of war, disease, and famine; teenagers Ty and Colin work in a munitions factory in Metaltown, the most hardscrabble part of the city. In Metaltown, everyone must work, but that work doesn't guarantee a paycheck: hunger and desperation are a way of life. Lena, daughter of the factory owner, is kept out of harm's way in the River District, desperate for her father's approval and something to believe in. After meeting Colin and seeing the conditions in which he and Ty work, Lena finds her cause, even as Colin takes it upon himself to improve conditions from the inside. Through the story can sometimes get lost as it draws in elements of romance, social justice, mystery, and corruption, Simmons (The Glass Arrow) paints a visceral portrait of inequality while using themes of connectedness and collaboration to pull the story's seemingly disparate parts together. Ages 13âup. Agent: Joanna MacKenzie, Browne & Miller Literary Associates.

July 15, 2016
In her latest, Simmons paints a bleak picture of the future. Famine has hit, contaminated corn has wiped out a portion of the population, and the world is in a constant state of war. At the center of it all is Metaltown, a factory town that produces many of the weapons powering the war. For many of Metaltown's citizens, including fair-skinned best friends Colin and Ty, backbreaking factory work is one of the only means of survival. The only protection in town is provided by the Brotherhood, but even that comes at a price. Then there's Lena, the spoiled, beautiful, olive-skinned daughter of the man who owns the factories. She is determined to prove to her ruthless father that she too can run the family company, but it is not long before she learns the dark side of the business. Meeting Colin further opens her eyes to the truth. And when Ty is hurt on the job, these three set off a series of events that will change Metaltown forever. While Simmons gives few hints of the world surrounding Metaltown, she creates multifaceted characters that are hard to dismiss. It is an unrelentingly grim place, such details as the rat meat Ty and Colin are too poor to buy bringing it to life. In this gritty tale of intrigue, corruption, greed, and human rights, Simmons offers readers a savvy take on a post-apocalyptic society.

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August 1, 2016

Gr 10 Up-Ty and Colin have learned to survive in Metaltown: they keep their heads down, guard each other's backs, and put their lives at risk each day just to keep their jobs at Small Parts, a weapons factory that employs minors. Then things change. Jed Schultz, creator of the Brotherhood, an organization that acts as a liaison between the adult workers of Metaltown and the Hamptons, the family who owns everything, takes notice of Colin. The teen soon learns that protection-and freedom-have a price. At the same time, Lena Hampton, naive and eager to learn about her family's weapons factory, gets involved with Colin and Ty's fight for equality. Together, the Small Parts factory workers take on the Brotherhood and Lena's father, who will do whatever it takes to keep the war going and preserve the Hampton fortune. This speculative novel is told from alternating perspectives, allowing readers to connect with Ty, Colin, and Lena. The horrors each character faces-abuse, hunger, violence, a work accident with detrimental effects-are written about in a raw and realistic way. Throughout, there are hints of a possible love triangle brewing, but the harsh reality of Metaltown and the conflicts taking place prevent romance from blossoming. While the story ends with optimism for the future, Simmons does not pull back and tragically, not all characters live to see this hope. VERDICT Rife with social commentary, this gritty, stand-alone dystopian novel will keep readers engaged and belongs in most collections.-Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
Grades 9-12 Simmons' bleak dystopia takes place in the future, after global famine, flu, and warfare have decimated the human population, but it recalls the sooty, industrial early 1900s. Teenagers Colin and Ty work at the Small Parts factory in Metaltown, where they and other children build explosives for an endless war. For Ty, the grueling, dangerous work is preferable to prostitution; for Colin, the meager pay helps support his family. When Lena, the privileged daughter of the factory owner, visits Small Parts to learn the business, she's horrified enough to question her previously idolized father. Principled but naive, Lena makes a mistake that sparks a strike, giving the characters a choice to fight for their future or give in to corruption. Simmons' immersive world building and intense action create a gripping read, but the nuanced characters are the core of this dark, intense, but ultimately hopeful tale about love, loyalty, and sacrifice, especially the relationship between idealistic Colin and resilient, valiant Ty. Even better, this is a stand-alone, so readers can be satisfied right away.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)