I read this book for the first time in 6th grade (it was on the Battle of the Books list) and have loved it ever since. It was my first exposure to the dystopia theme in literature, and certainly left a mark. Bonham is an excellent writer for children - his prose is clear, but he doesn't write down to children (the book is as enjoyable now, at almost-30, as it was at 12.) The plot never drags, and his eye for descriptive details is amazing - he describes the sea as "lemonade colored" - a haunting image. This book probably deserves a lot of credit for inspiring environmental awareness in kids (including me!), so its fitting that I bought my copy used. Unfortunately, that was out of necessity, as the book is out of print. ( )

I first read this in elementary school and it has stuck with me because I lived in San Diego (where the story is set) and also because it was one of my first introductions to science fiction. The majority of the story is a mystery - what is going on? where are all the missing people going? Then there's the cool stuff - what would the world be like if the earth had been polluted beyond repair? This book is harder to find - I had to "interlibrary loan" it, although older elementary schools might still have a copy. I'd recommend it and find it somewhat timely given all the hoopla about global warming that is going on currently. ( )

Excellent young adult science fiction. ( )