06/06/2016
In this first book in the Broken Sky Chronicles, originally published in Canada, Chabot should catch readers’ imagination with his keen eye for characterizations and flow. Elia is from Above, living and working on one of several majestic floating islands, though she and her family are little more than servants. When her island begins to crumble away, and the Imperial Guard stalk her as a traitor, she falls over the edge of her world into Below. Hokk is an exile cursed to a solitary existence on the prairies of Below for a crime committed in his youth. When he sees the islands of Above coming closer, all he can think of is to warn the same people who sentenced him. Along the way he finds Elia and takes her with him—as proof that their worlds may be literally colliding. Shifting attention between Elia and Hokk, the third-person narrative draws readers along briskly, the worldbuilding tinged with details sampled from indigenous and fantasy cultures. This installment’s open-ended mysteries should leave readers eager to see where it turns next. Ages 14–up. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House. (Aug.)
"Teen, tween, and adult fans of futuristic YA adventure such as Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games will devour this title, and parents whose children are reluctant readers will want to put this into their hands." - Library Journal, starred review
"This first volume in a new trilogy has much to offer genre enthusiasts." - Kirkus
"Below is post apocalyptic at its roots, but the nature of the world allows the introduction of tropes from fantasy, dystopia and science fiction, injecting much needed originality into this recently oversaturated genre." - CM Magazine
"Chabot should catch readers’ imagination with his keen eye for characterizations and flow. [The] narrative draws readers along briskly, the worldbuilding tinged with details sampled from indigenous and fantasy cultures. This installment’s open-ended mysteries should leave readers eager to see where it turns next." - Publishers Weekly
"With its inventive world-building and epic scope, Below hooked me from the very first lines and had me eagerly flipping the pages. But it's Chabot's unique and compelling characters from different worlds, especially Elia and Hokk, that pulled me through the story. I can't wait for the next installment. A great read for fans of YA, fantasy, or anyone looking for a fresh vision. Highly recommend!" - Jennifer Brody, author of The 13th Continuum
07/01/2016
Gr 8 Up—The world exists in two planes. Above, cities stand on islands that float in the sky. Below is a barren wasteland where only the strong survive. Elia is a laundress in the Mirrored Palace who spends her days toiling under the watchful eye of palace officials. When she is tasked with hiding a wooden box by a lady-in-waiting, she never dreams that it will send her tumbling over the edge to Below. Her world collides with Hokk, a boy who has been exiled from his city to the deserted prairie. He has never seen a body fall from the sky and survive, and believes that Elia could be his ticket out of exile. As they fight to survive, they learn that their worlds may be more entwined than they thought. The narrative is told in alternating voices; however, Elia's world Above is far more developed than Hokk's Below. Little background is given on how the two divisions came into existence, which leaves readers with many questions and without a particular allegiance to either character. A cliff-hanger abruptly ends the story, resulting in many questions for upcoming installments of the series. Overall, this is an interesting premise that was not fully developed. Here's hoping that the next volumes answer more questions, though only the most die-hard fans will likely continue reading. VERDICT In a crowded market of postapocalyptic thrillers, this one does not stand out.—Carli Worthman, Carmel Middle School, IN
2016-05-04
Hokk scavenges the dead bodies falling from the sky, but when he finds one alive, everything changes.An unusual twist on the post-apocalyptic theme finds humanity split into two races. Above, on the floating islands, dark-skinned humans live separated by class and surrounded by mythology. Below, the pale-skinned people crowd into the burned-out cities or try to survive in the vast wastelands. Other than the occasional dead body or trinket dropped from above, the two civilizations have no contact. That's until Hokk, serving out a sentence of exile in the wastelands, finds Elia, who has miraculously survived her plummet from her island home. Charged with the safekeeping of a mysterious box, Elia is desperate to return to her island. Hokk has other plans. The third-person narration switches focus between the two, giving readers insight into their thoughts and motivations. Hokk's duplicity and amorality make him an unsympathetic hero. Elia is similarly hampered by her frustrating naiveté. Worldbuilding inconsistencies abound. Below, grasses grow without sunlight, and the agrarian civilization Above exists without rain; a telescope is proclaimed "a miracle" in a society with working elevators. Still, although it meanders at times, the novel eventually finds its way to a satisfying conclusion and setup for Volume 2.Though flawed, this first volume in a new trilogy has much to offer genre enthusiasts. (Post-apocalyptic adventure. 12-16)
