ALA Booklist (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Centuries ago, the Fog, a dangerous, thick white cloud, descended onto earth, bringing with it a plague that killed or sickened most of its inhabitants. Those left have either taken to the skies on makeshift rafts with clockwork engines, or settled on the tops of mountains in expensive communities. It's on a raft that 13-year-old slum kid Chess and his motley crew live, trying to survive on what they can salvage from below the Fog and hiding from the villainous Lord Kodoc. The crew is determined to make it to the glittering city of Port Oro, where they know they'll find a cure for their benefactor's fogsickness, but on the way, they will need to dodge peril with only one another to count on. Ross' clever world building, where Star Wars and Star Trek have mashed up to become the fairy tales of a future steampunk generation, is unique and compelling, and he capably combines heartening emotional growth and absorbing adventure in an engaging read for middle-grade fans of sci-fi and fantasy.

School Library Journal (Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2015)

Gr 4-6 It's been years since the formation of the deadly Fog that drove the last people from the surface of the Earth. The only remaining humans live in towns high in the mountaintops. With few resources, it's a hard life. For a slum kid like Chess, working on a salvage airship is the best way to keep from starving. As his ship's tetherboy, Chess must dive into the Fog and recover relics from Earth that can be traded for food for his crew. Most tether boys don't last a year. Those who avoid the Fog sharks eventually succumb to Fog sickness in the end. All except Chess. For Chess, the Fog never hurts. Chess's deepest secret is that he was born in the Fog, and it has marked him. His whole life, Chess has kept his head down and avoided notice. Now things are changing. Mrs. E., Chess's guardian, is dying of Fog sickness, and Chess and his friends must race against the clock to get her to the cure. Unfortunately, the greedy Lord Kodoc has found out about Chess's affinity for Fog and has made other plans. With plenty of action, and characters who are as precocious as they are prodigious at their airship duties, this is a fun beginning to a unique new series. An abundance of pop culture references gone hilariously wrong add appeal for reluctant readers. Oh, and there are air pirates! VERDICT A solid choice for fans of adventure series or speculative fiction. Liz Overberg, Darlington School, Rome, GA

Voice of Youth Advocates (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Ross brings to life a new world where Earth is covered in a thick fog. Scientists developed tiny nanonites to clean the pollution in the air, but the nanonites began thinking for themselves and concluded humans were the cause of the pollution, so they blanketed the ground in a fog which allows plants and animals to thrive but is deadly to humans. All of humanity clings to the top of the highest mountains, with the wealthiest at the very top. The poor must scavenge for food or items to sell for food. Enter Chess and his friends who drift on top of the Fog to search for items to sell. Chess is the Fog diver and, while most would perish in the Fog, Chess thrives. The evil Lord Kodoc wants to capture Chess and use him to retrieve a device that will stop the Fog. Chess and his friends must find a way to avoid capture and reach the top of the mountain where a cure for Fog sickness can be found.An intriguing and exciting story for avid and reluctant readers alike, The Fog Diver entertains and captivates with likeable characters, a fast-paced plot, and an ending that hints of more but does not leave the reader disappointed. Ross is a masterful story-teller who creates a story with urgency and suspense that most readers will find hard to put down. Fans of Rick Riordan will become fans of Joel Ross and his engaging writing style. With more than 300 pages, this novel is worth the read.Juli Henley.