cover image Sky Jumpers

Sky Jumpers

Peggy Eddleman. Random, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-307-98127-1

In this fast-paced debut novel, a group of children risk their lives to save their village from bandits. Set several generations after World War III wiped out much of civilization and left old technology unreliable, the story focuses on 12-year-old Hope, arguably the worst inventor in a society obsessed with recreating lost devices and techniques. Her true talent involves leaping off cliffs to float safely through the Bomb’s Breath, an invisible, deadly haze left over from the war, a practice forbidden by her father. But when White Rock is invaded by those looking to steal precious antibiotics they’ve developed, Hope and her friends brave the Bomb’s Breath to seek help in a harrowing journey made worse by the dead of winter. While the focus on inventions occasionally borders on hard-to-swallow, a general sense of adventure and wonder permeates this tale, making it a fun, quick read. Eddleman brings a strong sense of atmosphere to this post-apocalyptic coming-of-age piece, and the underlying message—that it’s possible to contribute in unexpected ways—is a positive one. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger. (Sept.)