ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Keith Arlo, 13, lives in a postapocalyptic world where fossil fuels nearly made the planet uninhabitable; now, the use of those fuels is strictly outlawed. Tasked with the responsibility of bringing his cousin Lulu back home after she lost her parents in an accident, he sets off on his two-day train trip. It's there that he meets a man named Malcolm, and after an accidental swap of their bags, Keith unearths a hidden operation known as Project F. Intrigued by what the project could mean for the future, Keith decides to dig deeper to find out more about the operation that Malcolm is so determined to bring to fruition. What he uncovers, however, leaves Keith in a dilemma: Do the benefits of moving humanity forward outweigh the disadvantages it would also bring? The author of the popular City of Ember series is back with a story that comments on the dangers of global climate change and reliance on fossil fuels. Middle-graders who like their books short and fast-moving will enjoy this imaginative piece of cli-fi.

Kirkus Reviews

Several hundred years in the future, one boy has the chance to fly-but at what cost?When 13-year-old Keith Arlo's family receives word that his aunt and uncle have unexpectedly passed away, he is sent to collect Lulu, his 6-year-old cousin, and bring her back to live with them. Most people in Keith's country live in one of seven cities surrounded by nature, and most people do not travel far, so Keith is excited to finally experience train travel. On the journey, he happens upon a man who's involved with the mysterious Project F, and he cannot contain his curiosity. Even after he returns home, Keith keeps thinking about the project and its wonders. Project F has a darker side, however, one that is tied to the times that came before, the use of fossil fuels, and the massive changes humanity experienced long before Keith's birth. Meanwhile, Lulu struggles with the loss of her parents and the large secrets that she carries. This deliberately paced story, reminiscent in tone to older classics but original and timely in its subject matter, explores issues of environmental degradation, renewable energy, and how the future might be shaped. The narrative is satisfying and the questions prescient; young readers looking for something slightly different will enjoy speculating about how our future might appear. Main characters appear to be white.A compelling, nostalgic-feeling story exploring contemporary issues in a futuristic setting. (author's note) (Post-apocalyptic. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Centuries after the Sudden Fall, during which governments across the globe forbade the use of fossil fuels, humankind has adopted a more eco-friendly way of living based on rejecting electricity in favor of renewable resources. As a result, most children, like 13-year-old Keith Arlo, have never encountered a working car, cellphone, plane, or television. While traveling via train to Sandwater City to retrieve his recently orphaned cousin Lulu, Keith encounters a man named Malcolm who claims to be working on Project F, an engineering scheme in remote Graves Mountain. Upon Keith’s arrival in Sandwater, he realizes that his and Malcolm’s bags were accidentally switched, prompting him and Lulu to detour to Graves Mountain on their return journey. There, they learn the secret of Project F: Malcolm’s team is developing a revolutionary new mode of transportation. Now Keith and Lulu are sworn to secrecy as they become embroiled in a venture that could change the world. Using distant-feeling omniscient prose and employing well-meaning messaging that provides much to think about, DuPrau (City of Ember) crafts a postapocalyptic adventure that reads like a cautionary tale about climate change, technology, and unchecked progress. Characters cue as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Nancy Gallt, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Oct.)