First published 2011
In a future where chocolate and caffeine are illegal, sixteen-year-old Anya Balanchine finds herself thrust into the spotlight as the heir to a powerful New York crime family. With water, paper, and cell phones strictly rationed, Anya must navigate the dangerous world of her family's shadowy business while struggling to maintain a normal life. As the threat of rival gangs and police crackdowns looms, Anya must decide whether to embrace her criminal legacy or risk everything to forge her own path. At its heart, this is a story about family, identity, and the power of choice in the face of seemingly inescapable circumstances.
Genres: family, science-fiction, dystopia, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, found-family
Setting: New York (State), New York (N.Y.), New York
384 pages · Paperback
Content warnings: drug-use, violence