Summary
In May 2096, Cleo Porter and her parents are living in an apartment – like pretty much everyone else. Every apartment is sealed and secured. Supplies are delivered by drone. And no one leaves. It was the way the world became safe from influenza D.
The problem is that a drone has delivered a package of life-saving medication to Cleo’s apartment. By mistake. If the medication doesn’t get to the right person in time, she could die. Cleo plans to be a doctor when she grows up. In fact, she is preparing for her first major exam to get into the training program. She feels like this woman is already her patient. And she can’t let her die without trying to help.
After Cleo exhausts her ideas for finding a solution from the inside of her home, she decides she’ll have to leave it – its safety and security, her parents, and everything she knows – to try to get the medication to the right person.
Review
Believe it or not, this book existed before we had even heard the term “Covid-19.” But the publication process meant the book didn’t get into the hands of readers until fall of 2020, when many folks had already had their fill of quarantines and masks and such. Thankfully, this novel takes place far in the future from the novel’s own pandemic. In fact, the culture in the book “solved” their pandemic with extreme lockdown measures. I believe things are different enough for readers to be able to enjoy this and not let Covid dampen their enthusiasm for a high stakes, futuristic adventure. But there will be some kids who will want a different sort of escape these days. (There are questions raised about what the “proper” response to a pandemic should be, so readers may have questions about those pieces of the story.)
Cleo’s a great protagonist – bright, empathetic, brave, and determined. The author does a great job of giving Cleo of “team” of sorts as she negotiates her escape so she isn’t entirely alone or in her own head for the action of the story. I felt for Cleo at the resolution of her quest. There are a lot of complicated feelings for her to explore, and I liked that. As an adult, I wanted MORE at that point, but I think the focus on the adventure and the closing scene will be satisfying for most readers in the intended age group. I also wanted more details about the future for Cleo – what happens “after?” But the glimpse we are given is satisfying.
Hand this to fans of the author (Greetings from Witness Protection, The Right Hook of Devin Velma, The Tornado) as well as readers who love middle grade survival stories, adventure, and science fiction.
Rating: ♥♥♥½*
*♥♥♥½ = Good+