First published 2006
Ten-year-old twins Murel and Ronan Shongili possess an extraordinary gift: they can shift into river seals at will. When refugees from the dying world of Halau arrive on their home planet Petaybee, the twins help rescue and relocate the displaced population. But Petaybee itself is no ordinary world. The planet possesses consciousness and decides who may stay and who must go. As Petaybee adapts to accommodate the newcomers, dangerous situations emerge that test the twins and their abilities. Their parents, geneticist Sean Shongili and former Company officer Yana Maddock-Shongili, work as planet administrators while discovering an aquatic alien species. Meanwhile, their friend Marmion faces arrest by Intergalactic Enterprises Company for helping transport the Halau refugees. The twins must navigate both planetary politics and their own developing powers as Petaybee's sentient nature creates unexpected challenges for everyone seeking refuge on its surface.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, aliens, alternate-universe
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Petaybee, Halau
237 pages · Hardcover · Bantam Press