Gr 7 Up--The world has been devastated by Flu Flies, leaving small groups of survivors to make their way without technology or organizing institutions. Nico, an 18-year-old with "watery white skin," lives in a barricaded farmhouse in New Hampshire while Kit, an art-loving 12-year-old with "pale white skin," finds himself living in a theater with his mother and adopted siblings, Lakie and Monty--Black twins left orphaned after a swarm attack. Nico, Kit, Lakie, and Monty hear of a haven safe from the Flies and set out on a journey that will force them to consider the tensions among science, faith, and the nature of time itself. Arnold's fourth novel uses intricate storytelling to explore a postapocalyptic world through the eyes of teens who search for meaning in the midst of loss and disconnection. He weaves together rich language and satisfying plot turns while drawing on elements of science fiction and fantasy. His characters are warm and fully realized, and for anyone who has lived through 2020, the book's themes will feel all too real. VERDICT An absorbing read with well-realized characters and beautiful writing, this novel will appeal to readers of science fantasy such as N.K. Jemisin's "Broken Earth" trilogy.--Talea Anderson, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA.

With a haunting, deliberately paced tale of postapocalyptic survival, Arnold (Mosquitoland) creates a devastated world held together by myth and memory. Years after most of humankind is wiped out by swarms of Flu-flies--genetically modified honeybees that devour humans and leave behind a deadly Fly Flu--the remaining survivors eke out a tentative existence in the Northeast U.S. Nico, 18, is sent by her science-minded father in search of a portal that could grant her a better life. Twelve-year-old Kit, raised in an abandoned movie theater, sets forth to locate a supposed safe zone situated on a cluster of islands. And the enigmatic Deliverer, who has spent dozens of lives attempting to influence events, watches over them both while pursuing a mysterious agenda. As their paths converge, the disparate protagonists discover secret connections that bind them. The slow-burning story unfolds opaquely--Arnold suggests, rather than explains, certain details about the world, focusing instead on how his intertwining characters, clearly wrought and informed by story and speculation, face a changing landscape. Ages 12--up. Agent: Dan Lazar, Writers House. (Feb.)

In a postapocalyptic New England where nearly everyone has been wiped out by ravenous swarms of "Flu-flies" and a mysterious illness, white 18-year-old Nico is sent by her ailing father on an eight-day trek in search of a "geological anomaly" that seems more fairy-tale portal than scientific plausibility. Elsewhere, after white 12-year-old Kit's mother dies, he and his adoptive siblings set out in search of a rumored haven for survivors. As Nico's and Kit's paths intersect, Arnold shifts between their third-person points of view, in addition to first-person sections following an enigmatic figure dubbed the Deliverer, whose pivotal role is gradually revealed. In its conception, this is an intricate piece of high-concept sf, yet Arnold guides the layered narrative with such clarity and control that the underlying complexity never disturbs the flow; rather, the underpinning questions cultivate tension. The world building has depth in spite of the oddly idyllic setting, and while danger--whether from Flies or malevolent humans--lurks around every copse, this isn't a thriller; it's less concerned with physical survival than existential ruminations on art, emotion, and humanity. Neither the characters nor the text meanders, though, instead marching at a steady pace, carried by crystalline prose, which echoes like poetry, towards a genuinely astonishing and moving conclusion. Accessible, sophisticated, and immensely satisfying.

In a world where humanity has almost been wiped out, a teenage girl and her dog set out on a mysterious and potentially foolhardy journey. Nico and her parents survived the flu spread by ravenous Flu-flies by retreating to an isolated farmhouse, where they lived on supplies brought by the Deliverer. Then Nico's mother fell ill and died. When it seems that her father will succumb as well, he tells her that a beloved story from her childhood is actually true and that she must travel to see for herself a certain geological anomaly. Nico sets out into woods she has only ever viewed from her window, quickly learning of the darkness that exists outside--as well as the beauty. As her journey continues, she meets others, including Kit, a serious 12-year-old. They all sense that they have been here before--that perhaps time runs in a loop. In this near-future setting, social constructs of our present day influence the story in a way that is well executed and resonant. Strange and off-kilter, this is not a simple post-apocalyptic novel but instead a quiet, philosophical exploration of humanity with a touch of science fiction around the edges. Defying strict genre categories, Arnold leaves readers wondering and unbalanced until the final page. Nico and Kit are White; other characters are Black and Jordanian. Perplexing yet satisfying: If time moves in a circle, is a linear narrative possible? (Post-apocalyptic. 13-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.