When her twin sister, Bay, chooses to leave for land Above instead of staying in their underwater city, Atlantia, Rio is left to piece together why and how this connects to Rio's siren voice, which she's kept hidden all her life. The plot is predictable, relying heavily on convenient circumstances, but Condie's descriptive writing is sharp and this new world vivid.

Gr 9 Up-A fast-paced fantasy adventure tale in a richly drawn dystopian future. Despite her lifelong dream of living Above, recently orphaned Rio has promised her twin sister, Bay, that she'll stay in their underwater city of Atlantia when they come of age. In one shocking moment, however, Bay is headed Above, and Rio is left alone, separated from the last person who knew the secret of her hidden siren voice and loved her anyway. As Rio tries to find her own way to get Above, she also discovers pieces of Atlantia's hidden past and its uncertain future. Ultimately, the protagonist will have to rethink everything she's been taught and make courageous decisions on her own in order to reunite with her sister and save the world she loves. Complex characters, including Rio's antihero aunt, and a realistically slow and subtle first romance make this a book teens will relate to, even non-genre fans. A slowly unfolding backstory perfectly complements all the action. Despite a bit of a didactic lean in the final chapters, this is a title that's sure to be immensely popular with teens, especially those who enjoyed Condie's "Matched" trilogy (Dutton). Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT

As a rite of passage, the children of the Below are given a choice: stay in the relative comfort of Atlantia eir artificial undersea home live a short life of sacrifice in the polluted air of the Above. All her life, Rio has wanted to go Above, where she could enjoy sunlight and use her siren's voice secret her mother kept so Rio could live a normal life outside the temple. After her mother dies, Rio is shocked that her twin, Bay, chooses a life Above after Rio has chosen to stay below to keep her family together. The only one she has left is her aunt Maire, a powerful siren and possibly the one responsible for her mother's death. While Condie's talent for world building was beautifully structured in the Matched series, here it goes into hyperdrive and butts against the constraints of what appears to be a stand-alone novel. Still, the family secrets and political intrigue will be plenty to keep her fans invested. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The big-time performance of Condie's Matched series has earned the planned festival promos, floor displays, and more.