The Waning Age

by S. E. Grove Narrated by Kyla Garcia, Julio Sanchez, Arthur Morey

Overview

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Sentence, a lightly speculative, relevant puzzle box with undertones of Never Let Me Go.

The time is now. The place is San Francisco. The world is filled with adults devoid of emotion and children on the cusp of losing their feelings--of "waning"--when they reach their teens.

Natalia Peña has already waned. So why does she love her little brother with such ferocity that, when he's kidnapped by a Big Brother-esque corporation, she'll do anything to get him back?

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Sentence comes this haunting story of one determined girl who will use her razor-sharp wits, her martial arts skills, and, ultimately, her heart to fight killers, predators, and the world's biggest company to rescue her brother--and to uncover the shocking truth about waning.

Editorial Reviews

APRIL 2019 - AudioFile

Narrators Kyla Garcia, Julio Sanchez, and Arthur Morey combine their talents to describe a disturbing future in which people gradually lose all their emotions. Primary narrator Garcia adeptly gives voice to Nat Peña, a young woman whose emotions have already waned but whose younger brother, Cal, is still emotionally responsive. With complete believability, Garcia communicates Nat’s panic when Cal is kidnapped by the pharmaceutical giant RealCorp. Her performance is compelling, although her passionate delivery can seem at odds with Nat’s emotionless state. In supporting roles, Sanchez and Morey are expressive and sympathetic. Morey is particularly effective at conveying the twisty but tender side of the complicated Dr. Glout. Listeners will be captivated by this gripping, if somewhat uneven, production. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

The New York Times Book Review - Jeff Giles

…provocative…[Grove] mixes action, noir, brain science and moral philosophy here…At its best, The Waning Age is visceral and disarmingly smart…Grove refuses to write down to her audience, which makes her kin to her main character. Natalie may just barely remember what it means to feel, but she's as defiant and loyal a big sister as anyone could ask for.

Publishers Weekly

02/25/2019

Emotions have dried up in this stripped-down sci-fi noir novel by Grove (the Mapmakers trilogy), in which people “wane”—lose their ability to experience feelings—around age 10, a benchmark that keeps getting younger. Natalia Peña, 17, has been taking care of her younger brother, Cal, almost 11, since their mother died. Nat works as a maid at San Francisco’s Landmark Hotel, where she occasionally rubs elbows with the very rich, who can buy calibrated emotions, or “synaffs,” from manufacturing conglomerate RealCorp. Without feelings to guide them, the populace must follow strict rules to maintain law and order (“Know what harm is. And cause no harm. Know what need is. And help those in need”) to keep from becoming violence-seeking “Fish.” But Cal still responds to the world empathically and emotionally. When he is identified as a late waner and taken to RealCorp for testing, Nat determines to help her little brother, even without the ability to feel traditional love. Logic and reason are king in Grove’s rich near-future world, where a Raymond Chandler-style narrative meets questions of ethics and technology. This fast-paced novel provides readers with a deep range of emotions while highlighting the importance of empathy, attachment, and emotional intelligence. Ages 14–up. Agent: Dorian Karchmar, William Morris Endeavor. (Feb.)

From the Publisher

★ "A provoking, striking call to self-reflection." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review


★ "Unexpected twists create a fast-paced plot . . . A must-have for libraries with dystopian fans." —School Library Journal, starred review

"A dazzling,emotional journey about a sister's love and the fight against an emotionless society."  —Booklist

"Grove’s world shines through as a complex statement on empathy." —BCCB Reviews

"Readers, especially lovers of dystopian fiction, will enjoy this book and may just come away wondering, “what if…?” —School Library Connection

"The Waning Age brings dystopia back to YA, in a novel that feels like Lauren Oliver's Delirum mixed up with Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go" —Bustle

"A fun ride with cool characters set in an interesting world you won’t regret diving into." —Hypable

School Library Journal - Audio

03/01/2020

Gr 5–8—Imagine a world with no love. No hate. No emotions. Between ages 10 and 11, children begin the waning process. They wane from their emotions and take society-approved drugs (or "synaffs") or they risk being overwhelmed by their violent emotions, becoming "Fish." Seventeen-year-old Natalia has already waned and is counting down the days until her highly emotional ten-year-old brother, Calvino, will, too. Natalia is Cal's only family, since their mother died by suicide and their father is unknown. One day, Cal does not come home from school. Natalia is told that her brother is being tested by RealCorp to figure out why he hasn't waned. Doctors assure Natalia that her brother is in good hands but something tells her otherwise. Kyla Garcia, Julio Sanchez, and Arthur Morey effectively narrate. The action becomes a bit labored midway through, but overall this is a solid listen. Mild drinking and drug use makes this title more appropriate for slightly older teens. VERDICT Give to fans of Lauren Oliver's Delirium and other dystopian novels.—Amanda Schiavulli, Liverpool Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

★ Winter 2018

Gr 9 Up—In her first solidly YA novel, Grove crafts a dystopian society of teens who "wane" or lose all emotional sensitivity. Wealthy individuals create synthetic drugs that allow them to experience a range of feelings, while the poor attempt to secure cheap, often lethal versions of similar substances. As adolescence begins, children "wane" and are educated to follow logical rules and order. A portion of youth still turn to senseless acts of violence. When Natalia and Calvino lose their mother, they are forced to grow up quickly and fend for themselves. Calvino's late waning and constant show of emotion make him a prime target for lab testing at RealCorp. When RealCorp conspires to adopt Cal with the intent of indefinite testing, Natalia must break every rule to release him from a life of experimentation. The author creates a bleak society of people who yearn to feel, but offers hope through the relationship Natalia has with her brother. Unexpected twists create a fast-paced plot. Topics of suicide, rape, extreme violence, and murder arise but are discussed with reserved detail and sensitivity. Readers will explore the implications of a negative biological evolution and the relationship between human emotion and social order. VERDICT A must-have for libraries with dystopian fans.—Monica Cabarcas, Albemarle High School, Charlottesville, VA

APRIL 2019 - AudioFile

Narrators Kyla Garcia, Julio Sanchez, and Arthur Morey combine their talents to describe a disturbing future in which people gradually lose all their emotions. Primary narrator Garcia adeptly gives voice to Nat Peña, a young woman whose emotions have already waned but whose younger brother, Cal, is still emotionally responsive. With complete believability, Garcia communicates Nat’s panic when Cal is kidnapped by the pharmaceutical giant RealCorp. Her performance is compelling, although her passionate delivery can seem at odds with Nat’s emotionless state. In supporting roles, Sanchez and Morey are expressive and sympathetic. Morey is particularly effective at conveying the twisty but tender side of the complicated Dr. Glout. Listeners will be captivated by this gripping, if somewhat uneven, production. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169125498
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	02/05/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

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