All Good Children

Gr 8 Up—Jordan, a fearless and curious teenager, has heard stories of the ominous "Over" and "summer camp" stories her whole life. The Over are nine-foot tall birdlike creatures that have somehow taken over the entire world, watch humans from the sky, and are instilling fear into society just to "keep the peace." They also make sure that their own existence is maintained. Summer camp isn't quite what it sounds like, and Jordan's rebellious behavior gets her noticed in the most unexpected way. While trying to figure out her own path in this world, Jordan finds herself in the middle of a life-altering process that could bring down the current establishment, and she figures out why all of her peers' dreams are extinguished (quite literally) at birth. Ingram uses this beautifully written novel to bring Jordan and her family's fears to life—separation, the possibility of aliens taking over the world, and the frightening but enticing idea of a revolution. This new and invigorating addition to the YA category spotlights the bond of family and explores women's rights. Jordan develops from a naive teenager who is just trying to make it through her "special-needs" class to a very aware young woman, growing more and more skeptical of the government and her surroundings. This work ends with a cliff-hanger, as the protagonist finds herself at the beginning of a potential revolution.