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Title details for The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah - Available

The Light at the Bottom of the World

by London Shah
Shiromi Arserio
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
At the end of the twenty-first century, the world has changed dramatically, but life continues one thousand feet below the ocean's surface. In Great Britain, sea creatures swim among the ruins of Big Ben and the Tower of London, and citizens waver between fear and hope: fear of what lurks in the abyss and hope that humanity will soon discover a way to reclaim the planet. Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Leyla McQueen has her own problems to deal with. Her father's been arrested, accused of taking advantage of victims of the Seasickness—a malaise that consumes people, often claiming their lives. But Leyla knows he's innocent, and all she's interested in is getting him back so that their lives can return to normal. When she's picked to race in the London Submersible Marathon, Leyla gets the chance to secure his freedom: the Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. The race takes an unexpected turn, though, and presents her with an opportunity she never wanted: Leyla must venture outside of London for the first time in her life, to find and rescue her father herself. Now, she'll have to brave the waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a secretive, hotheaded companion she never asked for. As she discovers a world drowning in lies, how much longer can Leyla hold out hope for the truth? If she fails or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture—or worse. And her father might be lost forever.

  • Creators

  • Series

    Light at the Bottom of the World

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    October 29, 2019

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781666577938
      • File size: 329007 KB
      • Duration: 11:25:25

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 670
    • Text Difficulty: 3

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 9, 2019
      In this thrilling postapocalyptic tale set in 2099, after civilization was forced underwater by global flooding, a young Muslim woman searches for her unjustly imprisoned father amid the remnants of Great Britain. British-Afghan Leyla McQueen, 16, a champion submersible racer, hopes to free her father (jailed for “aiding and abetting citizen suicides” among sufferers of an underwater malaise called “the seasickness”) by winning the prestigious London Submersible Marathon. When that hope doesn’t pay off, she sets out into the treacherous ocean to find him herself, accompanied by Ari, a mysterious young man sent by her grandfather to protect her. Despite Leyla’s insistence that she doesn’t need any help, the waters are filled with enemies, including the genetically engineered Anthropoids who prey upon humans, and the authorities who want to prevent Leyla and Ari from discovering the truths hidden in the dark depths of a drowned world. Shah’s strong debut, first in a planned duology, is vividly described and emotionally rich. Despite predictable plot points and an insufficiently explained underwater setting, the strong premise and underlying sense of excitement make this a fast-paced, wholly enjoyable adventure. Ages 12–up. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Rees Literary Agency.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Shiromi Arserio plunges listeners into an underwater London in this post apocalyptic YA debut. Sixteen-year-old Leyla McQueen is forced to join the London Submersible Marathon in order to free her captured father. But then she discovers that the government is hiding secrets about the world they live in. Soon, she's on a mad dash to leave London onboard a submarine to save her life and uncover a sunken truth. The author's descriptive writing is helped by Arserio's fine pacing and English accent as she vividly brings to life a high-tech underwater civilization. With strong vocal characterizations, Arserio fluidly switches between male and female characters. This is immersive storytelling of an ambitious debut. A.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:670
  • Text Difficulty:3

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