Daughter of the Deep

September 6, 2021
In this contemporary reimagining of Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island, Riordan (the Percy Jackson series) merges foundational science fiction adventures with a modern sensibility and a variously inclusive cast from across the globe, injecting the adventure with action and generation-spanning intrigue. Ana Dakkar, 14 and of Bundeli Indian ancestry, is excited to undergo the freshman end-of-year trials that will determine her future at the prestigious Harding-Pencroft Academy, which provides a world-class education in all things marine and aquatic. No sooner has her class departed for the event, though, when the academy is attacked and destroyed by the rivaling Land Institute, forcing Ana and her classmates, the only survivors, to seek refuge in a hidden island outpost. Along the way, Ana discovers that she is descended from the infamous Captain Nemo as well as heir to his trove of futuristic technology and legendary submarine, the Nautilus. When the Land Institute seeks to usurp the technology for its own selfish ends, Ana and her classmates must harness Nemo’s legacy to defend themselves. But her parents died years ago while unlocking the Nautilus’s secrets—how can she succeed where they failed? Simultaneously retro and futuristic, this entertaining standalone starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. Ages 10–14. Agent: Nancy Gallt, Gallt & Zacker Literary.

November 5, 2021

Gr 6 Up-The last Friday of Ana Dakkar's freshman year at Harding-Pencroft Academy is like any other-until she watches her home crumble into the ocean, leaving her class of 20 students and their least favorite teacher the sole survivors. Soon, the students learn that the alt-tech of Jules Verne's novels is real and that Ana has inherited a legacy that may be too heavy to carry. A fast-paced, action-packed ride from start to finish, this latest Riordan title promises the same thrills and humor readers have come to expect from his work. The occasional pop culture reference may end up dating the story a bit, but current readers will certainly enjoy them. Ana is Bundeli Indian, and the rest of the students are a diverse mix of ethnicities; one student has severe anxiety and has an emotional support animal. VERDICT May be a harder sell for the typical Riordan fan, but perfect for readers who enjoyed Daniel Jos� Older's Flood City or Rhoda Belleza's Empress of a Thousand Skies. Recommended as a first purchase.-Kaitlin Frick, Darien Lib., CT

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Starred review from October 1, 2021
A teenager faces seemingly insurmountable challenges in this riveting modern-day spinoff of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. For Ana Dakkar and her fellow ninth graders at Harding-Pencroft Academy, there is nothing more momentous than the weekend trials each student must ace at the end of freshman year. Students who fail to showcase their survival skills are asked to leave the academy, a heavily guarded place Ana has thought of as home since the mysterious deaths of her parents. Though Ana's brother, Dev, is a senior, what happens at trials is such a closely guarded secret that no one in her year knows what to expect. While her group is out on the water for their trials, Harding-Pencroft is demolished in an attack orchestrated by a rival school. As Ana and her classmates discover that the events depicted in Jules Verne's classic novels were real, Riordan's lifelong love of the source material is clear--especially when Ana learns information that will help her find a way to protect the group. A foreword by Roshani Chokshi introduces this adventure that is both great entertainment and centers a well-developed protagonist who is thoughtfully shown dealing with loss. Ana is of Bundeli Indian descent, and her group of peers, who are diverse in various ways, experience losses and struggles of their own. (Final illustrations not seen.) A riveting novel that will have readers rooting for its star. (Harding-Pencroft Academy guide, cast list) (Adventure. 10-14)

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