Climate catastrophe leaves the people of Earth fighting for oxygen in this gripping dystopian thriller from bestselling sci-fi author Alastair Chisholm.
Sparrow lives in the world after the Reek. The atmosphere is toxically polluted, and Axel Brodie, the tech billionaire behind Zephyr Industries, is cashing in as the only supplier of clean air.
Sparrow is struggling to help her family survive until her brilliant inventor friend, Miriam Fenn, comes up with a new form of technology that could break Zephyr’s stranglehold on the air supply. But men like Brodie are hard to defeat, and he will do everything in his power to stop Miriam and Sparrow. Who will triumph in this battle to breathe?
Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781800902589
Number of pages: 152
Weight: 260 g
Dimensions: 198 x 130 x 18 mm
"Dystopia probably shouldn’t be this refreshing … a thought-provoking thriller with plenty of points to unpack around power, poverty and big tech’s stranglehold over our lives … A gulp of fresh air." – The Times, Children's Book of the Week "This smart, action-packed sci-fi is a breath of fresh air … In a soupy, sulphurous Edinburgh, Sparrow dons her oxygen mask and hover-skates to scrape a living as a delivery courier, but is soon dragged into a big tech conspiracy. It’s brilliant. Even better, it’s short, easy to read and published in a dyslexia-friendly format, ensuring that reluctant readers can still have access to sophisticated stories." – The Times, 'The 21 best children's books of 2024' "This dystopian thriller … is stripped back to the bare bones of the plot and is all the better for it; this is an unforgettable, pulsating thriller that readers will inhale." – The Bookseller, Editor's Choice "Renowned sci-fi author Alastair Chisholm knows all about pacy plots … This all-too-pertinent dystopian thriller is not just for so-called “reluctant” readers." – The Guardian "Even the most reluctant readers will thrill to the dystopian story of Sparrow … A thumpingly good story." – iNews "A vivid and unsettling picture of a future where profit comes before the planet, encouraging young readers to think critically about the world around them and its power structures, the importance of protecting our natural resources, and the role that individuals can play in advocating for change … a dynamic dystopian read that will leave you gasping for air!" – Scottish BookTrust, Book of the Month "A dystopia that shines a light on potential inequalities our world could face as much as current ones, this gripping thriller aimed at Dyslexic readers is certain to get you thinking." – Irish Examiner "Amazing world building, relatable characters and a thrilling plot packed into a short accessible read. A triumph." – Jennifer Killick
Dystopian stories aren't easy to write. They often involve futuristic world-building, politics, and messages about right and wrong. REEK has all of these ingredients, and the story is told in so few words that I... More
The news that Alastair Chisholm was writing this, his first title, for Barrington Stoke was greeted by many of us that read children's books with an enormous amount of excitement. Although I haven't read all... More
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy.
Pleased to report that this is a good children's dystopian read.
Are we being poisoned by pollution?
Good tension and great characters.
Happy to recommend.
Please sign in to write a review
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?