11/25/2019
In a world where 14 strains of magic, called maz, are regulated by Maz Management Corporation, 18-year-old tech genius Dizmon “Diz” Hela and her best friends are pulling off their final maz siphoning heist before the latter leave Kyrkarta for Jattapore. A decade ago, an earthquake released the spellplague, or contaminated maz, into the world, killing thousands and infecting many others with a chronic illness that worsens with time. MMC stepped in to clean up and now charges for maz. Orphaned by the spellplague, Diz, caretaker Jaesin, and nonbinary spellweaver Remi formed a family, adopting wealthy techwitch Ania though her parents are still alive. The group began siphoning maz from MMC to make money, but they quickly find themselves in the middle of a larger conspiracy involving the spellplague and a new kind of maz called maz-15. England (The Disasters ) creates a well-rounded, multicultural crew in a world that blends fantasy and science fiction. Though some plot twists are predictable, England successfully develops the intrigue surrounding maz-15, and the will-they/won’t-they nature of Remi and Diz’s relationship keeps the story engaging. Ages 14–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Agency. (Jan.)
A humorous mix of SF and fantasy with a diverse cast of strong personalities … [and] action that carries on right to the end.” — Booklist
"Joyfully queer. Buckle in for this high-speed, bighearted sci-fi/fantasy adventure." — Kirkus Reviews
“A bold and futuristic thrill ride with a dazzling blend of magic, mayhem, friendship, and heart.” — Jess Rothenberg, author of The Kingdom
“Fresh, inventive fun.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for The Disasters : “This laugh-out-loud sci-fi action-adventure will leave readers wanting more.” — School Library Journal
“Much to recommend: nonstop cinematic action, strong feminist messages, and great diversity of characters.” — ALA Booklist
“If humankind requires saving, then this is the crew to do it.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“An action-packed, entertaining blend of space hijinks, humor, and romance.” — Kirkus Reviews
“An explosion of edge-of-your-seat twists and high-stakes danger that leaves you glued to the page and rooting for these lovable misfits. I wanted a snarky romp across the galaxy, and M.K. England delivered with the force of a supernova.” — Ashley Poston, author of Geekerella and Heart of Iron
“A clever, cosmic thrill ride packed with nonstop action and starring a motley crew that won me over from page one. Just too much fun!” — Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
“Wildly entertaining and crackling with chemistry. Nax and his crew will crash land in your heart and leave you filled with laughter and hope.” — Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escaping from Houdini
“A BLAST from start to finish! Absurd levels of fun, fantastic pacing, and lovable authentic characters bring this rollicking adventure to life. Looking for a book you can’t put down? Pick up The Disasters . Mission accomplished.” — Katherine Locke, author of The Girl with the Red Balloon (2018 Sydney Taylor Honor Book)
A clever, cosmic thrill ride packed with nonstop action and starring a motley crew that won me over from page one. Just too much fun!
Fresh, inventive fun.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Much to recommend: nonstop cinematic action, strong feminist messages, and great diversity of characters.
A humorous mix of SF and fantasy with a diverse cast of strong personalities … [and] action that carries on right to the end.
An explosion of edge-of-your-seat twists and high-stakes danger that leaves you glued to the page and rooting for these lovable misfits. I wanted a snarky romp across the galaxy, and M.K. England delivered with the force of a supernova.
A bold and futuristic thrill ride with a dazzling blend of magic, mayhem, friendship, and heart.
Wildly entertaining and crackling with chemistry. Nax and his crew will crash land in your heart and leave you filled with laughter and hope.
A BLAST from start to finish! Absurd levels of fun, fantastic pacing, and lovable authentic characters bring this rollicking adventure to life. Looking for a book you can’t put down? Pick up The Disasters . Mission accomplished.
Fresh, inventive fun.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
A humorous mix of SF and fantasy with a diverse cast of strong personalities … [and] action that carries on right to the end.
If humankind requires saving, then this is the crew to do it.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Marisol Ramirez delivers a spellbinding narration of this genre-bending story. She expresses Diz’s high-spirited and feisty personality to perfection, varying her tone to bring listeners a smart-alecky portrayal. In a futuristic world, Diz navigates a materialistic society in which the most important resource—magic—is unfairly regulated. Ramirez varies her pace and tone, incorporating Diz’s sarcasm and spunk, giving listeners the feeling of truly knowing Diz's internal thoughts. Ramirez also weaves together the story’s magic, family dynamics, and diversity, including LGBTQ+ characters, with ease, adding to the overall experience. Listeners will be engaged from the first sentence. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Marisol Ramirez delivers a spellbinding narration of this genre-bending story. She expresses Diz’s high-spirited and feisty personality to perfection, varying her tone to bring listeners a smart-alecky portrayal. In a futuristic world, Diz navigates a materialistic society in which the most important resource—magic—is unfairly regulated. Ramirez varies her pace and tone, incorporating Diz’s sarcasm and spunk, giving listeners the feeling of truly knowing Diz's internal thoughts. Ramirez also weaves together the story’s magic, family dynamics, and diversity, including LGBTQ+ characters, with ease, adding to the overall experience. Listeners will be engaged from the first sentence. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
2019-10-08
Science fiction melds with fantasy in the futuristic city of Kyrkarta, where people use both advanced technology and magical energy, called maz. The Maz Management Corporation heavily regulates maz, leading teenage hacker Diz to illegally siphon the valuable resource with her best friends: spellweaver Remi, techwitch Ania, and muscle Jaesin. When the group's final job ends disastrously, it leads to a shocking discovery—and it's vital that Diz and her crew stop things before there is further damage. Action and humor combine in a compelling narrative that is rooted in Diz's complex relationship to her found family. Over the course of their adventures, Diz struggles to let her walls down, hindered by trauma from her childhood. In particular, she slowly learns to give room to her romantic feelings for Remi, who uses they/them pronouns and has a chronic illness caused by contaminated maz. Readers will be hooked by the high stakes throughout, though a linear plot and a sense of inevitable success deflate moments of tension. The cast is racially diverse and joyfully queer.
Readers will want to buckle in for this high-speed, bighearted sci-fi/fantasy adventure. (Speculative fiction. 13-17)
