Attempting to mix genetic modification and global warming with intense action sequences, Brindley (Amy Peppercorn: Beyond the Stars
) bites off more than he can chew, sandwiching his novel around a heavy proscience, antireligion message. Ash has grown up among the ASPs (named for the “Admittance Strictly Prohibited” sign posted outside their camp), teens abandoned as small children who formed a primitive society based on surfing and vegetarianism. But when she is kidnapped and delivered into the wild, she must deal with warlike Raptors (mutants possessed of sharp claws) and peace-loving Rodents (also mutated from humans). The nearly nonstop action doesn't hide awkward writing: “You are mine to destroy and devour”—that's Ash somehow understanding a look from a Raptor who doesn't share her facial features. A subplot emerging in the final sections that features antievolution religious zealots further destabilizes the story. Ages 12–18. (Mar.)
