A girl, a boy. They meet in the most unusual circumstances. She lives in New York City. He lives under New York City. When they meet the two worlds collide, and she finds herself in a world she had never imagined. That world is intriguing, bizarre and tinged with suspense and adventure. What will happen when his society decides to kick him out of the only world he has ever known?
272 pages 978-1416997474 Ages 10 and up
Keywords: science fiction, If You Liked Running Out of Time, action/adventure, society, rules, new experiences, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, 13 year old
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Beneath the sewer grates and manholes of the city lies a strange and secret world called the Downside. Every Downsider knows that it's forbidden to go Topside, and most fear a collision of the two worlds. But fourteen-year-old Talon is curious about what goes on above ground, and one day he ventures out in search of medicine for his ailing sister. There he meets Lindsay, who is as curious about Talon's world as he is about hers. When Lindsay visits the Downside for the first time, she marvels at the spirit of the Downsiders, and the way they create works of art from topside "trash," like old subway tokens and forgotten earrings. As awed as she is by the Downside, however, she also questions its origins, and when she finds out that this fantastic world is not all it appears to be, she is determined to tell Talon the truth. Then a construction accident threatens to crush Talon's world, and his loyalty is put to the test. Can the truth save the Downside, or will it destroy an entire civilization? Neal Shusterman takes readers on an amazing journey into a place that's only a few steps away, yet beyond their wildest dreams.---from the publisher
