The Dividing Sky

Gr 8 Up–When Liv Newman gets the opportunity to secure enough credits to free her found family from life as Lowers, nothing will stop her. All she has to do is make her way to the Outerlands, record a Scrap (a memory) of the stars, and deliver it to her client, Mr. Preston. No big deal, except the Outerlands is riddled with dangers, full of raiders, and Liv has never set foot outside the Metro. Meanwhile, Adrian Rao is on the hunt for Liv, determined to find and arrest her. But when he does find her, she has no memory and is not at all who he thought she was. He finds himself frustratingly captivated by her beauty and spirit. Both Liv and Adrian question everything they thought they knew—about themselves, about each other, the Outerlands, the Metro—and find hope for a life they never would have thought possible. Tew rockets back and forth between Liv and Adrian’s perspectives, building readers’ understanding of the year 2364 through their eyes and experiences. This has the effect of solidifying a deep emotional investment for readers. Tew touches on tough topics like drug addiction, loss of parents, and blossoming teen sexuality in ways that are relatable and approachable.