First published 1992
Francie lives in a Los Angeles where basic necessities have become luxuries. In 2052, the city rations water while disease spreads unchecked through overcrowded neighborhoods. Corruption controls every transaction, and those in power exploit the desperate masses below them. Francie attends college and dreams of building something resembling a normal existence, but the harsh realities of her world intrude at every turn. She must navigate a society where moral compromises are daily requirements and where simply staying alive demands constant vigilance. The government restricts movement and monitors citizens while the gap between rich and poor has become a chasm. Francie struggles to maintain her humanity and her relationships when the system around her rewards only selfishness and brutality. Her Japanese-American identity adds another layer of complexity to her position in this fractured society. The city she calls home has transformed into a place where hope itself becomes an act of rebellion.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, dystopia, 21st-century
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, social-commentary
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 2052
240 pages · Hardcover · Viking Adult
Content warnings: depression, violence