Worldshaker

Gr 6—10—Hand-selected by his grandfather, chief advisor to Queen Victoria and supreme commander of the juggernaut Worldshaker, 16-year-old Col Porpentine has a glittering future mapped out for him as his grandfather's successor. But when an escaped Filthy, a 14-year-old girl named Riff, seeks refuge in his cabin, that future is shattered. Col discovers that his privileged life on the Upper Decks is only possible because of the labor performed by the Filthies of the Lower Decks, who work in appalling conditions to keep the large-as-a-city Worldshaker constantly on the move. Through Riff, Col discovers that the Filthies are not the subhuman bestial creatures he was led to believe they were. In fact, they are the descendants of Great Britain's lower classes who attempted revolution during the Napoleonic Wars, were overthrown, became "factory slaves" during mass industrialization, and ended up incarcerated on the juggernaut. Casting aside years of social conditioning and training, Col joins with Riff and the below-deck revolutionaries to change the course of his entire world. Three-dimensional characters, a strongly delineated setting and social hierarchy, and taut suspense make for a satisfying read. Well known in Australia for his speculative fiction, this award-winning author's terrific, fast-paced novel makes an excellent introduction for a new audience of American readers. Harland should find a place on the steampunk shelves right next to Scott Westerfeld and Kenneth Oppel.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK