Thalli thought escaping to the surface would mean freedom But is she any less of an anomaly aboveground After escaping an underground annihilation chamber Thalli Berk Rhen and John find themselves fleeing across the former United States aboveground for the first time As the defectors cross the for gotten landscape the three youths see things the y had only read about on screens horses rain real booksxand a colony of unsanctioned survivors living the ancient way in a town called New Hope When the citizens of New Hope reveal the truth of what happened years ago Thalli is left unsettled and skeptical of everything shexs ever been told Can she trust anything from the State including her own feelings for Berk When she volunteers for a peace mission to New Hopexs violent neighbor Athens her confusion mounts as the supposedly ruthless Prince Ale x turns out to be kind and charming Although everyone in New Hope warned her not to she canxt help but fall for him Meanwhile Johnxs unwavering faith in the goodness of the Designer begins to make its mark on Thallixs heart But can Thalli really come to trust in a generous protective Designer who rules over all things Would that not be setting herself up for another betrayal The time for her to decide is now because the State is closing in xcMcGee once again blends a Christian message within a horrific science fiction plot death torture and confusing love trianglesxd xBooklist xcMcGee blends the determination of faith the malevolence of those who extol power over decency and the assertion of individual integrity in a humane glimpse at youthful couragexd xPublisherxs Weekly.
