For fans of The Giver, a futuristic thriller with a diverse cast.
In Thalia's world, there is no more food and no need for food, as everyone takes medication to ward off hunger. Her parents both work for the company that developed the drugs society consumes to quell any food cravings, and they live a life of privilege as a result. When Thalia meets a boy who is part of an underground movement to bring food back, she realizes that there is an entire world outside her own. She also starts to feel hunger, and so does the boy. Are the meds no longer working?
Together, they set out to find the only thing that will quell their hunger: real food. It's a journey that will change everything Thalia thought she knew. But can a "privy" like her ever truly be part of a revolution?
"Compelling . . . A female protagonist who isn't staunch, heroic, and perfect is increasingly rare in dystopias, so Thalia's fumbling around for the right path is refreshingly different."
BCCB
"Science has eradicated the need for food in Swain's crowded but compelling dystopia . . . with solid, transparent writing and timely social commentary, this wild premise works quite well."
Booklist
"An alluring adventure in a future without food . . . emotionally satisfying dystopia."
