Survival stories are popular with middle school kids and this fast-paced and riveting "Cli-Fi" novel (climate fiction) is going to be a big hit with young teen readers. Aurora is 17 years old and living with foster parents when the rain starts and never stops, flooding cities and leaving people stranded in their homes, desperate for food and safety. Society quickly dissolves into survival of the most prepared, and Aurora's foster parents happen to be peppers who have supplies and a plan of escape. However, when Aurora finds herself abandoned and alone (maybe accidentally but maybe planned) she takes to the water, trying to find a place called "The Hill" where there may be a community forming. Along the way she meets a younger boy and they band together in their search for refuge. The book has several features that make it especially appealing to middle school readers--one is the engaging cover (not a cartoony middle grade cover) and the other is the pace of action (non-stop). It's not that there is no character development, but the plot is primary and the story starts moving on page one. Although Aurora is 17 years old, she seems more like a 15-year-old, which is also makes the book relatable to the 13-14 year olds who need books written for them. Highly recommended for middle school collections!
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