Gravity is Heartless

June 1, 2020
In the not too distant future, Earth has been ravaged by climate change, rendering much of it uninhabitable and drawing a clear line between the haves, who exist in climate controlled air conditioning bubbles, and the have-nots, who sweat it out in dirty, overcrowded cities. Quinn Buyers, a climate scientist, is studying clouds and fretting about her impending nuptials, feeling obligated to go through with the wedding but dreading the prospect of marriage to a man she doesn't love. At the novel's beginning, her life seems to be figured out, until something tragic happens to shake it up. In the aftermath of the tragedy, which included losing her scientist mother, she is left to fend for herself and grows tremendously as a character. The supporting cast, including her best friend, a robotic meerkat, and a tough yet witty guerrilla fighter, are interesting in their own right, and almost steal the show. Lahey's debut is the beginning of a trilogy, so it is fitting that it ends with a cliffhanger, leaving readers unsure of Quinn's next steps in an increasingly unstable world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)