Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Children’s, Teenage & Educational

ORLEANS

Sherri Smith

Sherri L. Smith delivers an expertly crafted story about a fierce heroine whose powerful voice and firm determination will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

First came the storms. Then came the Fever. And the Wall. After a string of devastating hurricanes and a severe outbreak of Delta Fever, the Gulf Coast has been quarantined. Years later, residents of the Outer States are under the assumption that life in the Delta is all but extinct… but in reality, a new primitive society has been born. Fen de la Guerre is living with the O-Positive blood tribe in the Delta when they are ambushed. Left with her tribe leader’s newborn, Fen is determined to get the baby to a better life over the wall before her blood becomes tainted. Fen meets Daniel, a scientist from the Outer States who has snuck into the Delta illegally. Brought together by chance, kept together by danger, Fen and Daniel navigate the wasteland of Orleans. In the end, they are each other’s last hope for survival. Sherri L. Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois and spent most of her childhood reading books. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she has worked in movies, animation, comic books and construction. Sherri’s first book, Lucy the Giant, was an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults in 2003. The Dutch translation, Lucy XXL (Gottmer, 2005), was awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2005 De Gouden Zoen, or Golden Kiss, Awards for Children’s Literature in the Netherlands. Sherri’s novel, Sparrow, was chosen as a National Council for the Social Studies/Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People and is also a 2009 Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award Nominee. Upon the release of Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet in February 2008, Sherri was featured as a spotlight author for The Brown Bookshelf's Black History Month celebration, 28 Days Later. Flygirl, an historical YA novel set during World War II, is her fourth novel. “Cloudberries,” Ladybug Magazine (2001) Lucy the Giant (2002) Various stories, Bart Simpson Comics (2002) Sparrow (2006) Hot Sour, Salty, Sweet (2008) Flygirl (January 2009)

Available products
Book Published 2013-03-01 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Book Published 2013-03-01 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

Comments

A riveting tale told in a striking, unique voice. You wont regret pioking this one up.

In Smith‘s compelling and disturbing novel, the Guif Coast has been formally separated from the U.S. since 2025, after a deadly plague called Delta Fever emerges from the horrific conditions following years ofincreasingly destruetive hurricanes. A briefbut effeetive “Before“ section summarizes years of backstory with a time line showing the dates and casualties of seven hurricanes (starting with Katrina in 2005 and ending in 2019). There are also excerpts from the “official“ deciarations of quarantine (2020) and Separation (2025). The “After“ section begins with the dialect narrative of 15-year-old orphan Fen de la Guerre. Survivors have divided themselves into tribes based on blood type, which now matters more than race, religion, or wealth. Fen‘s tribe is ambushed, and her leader and best friend, Lydia, dies in childbirth, leaving Fen to care for the baby girl. Determined to honor Lydia‘s dying request to get the infant outside the Wall to the safety ofthe Outer Lands, Fen begins her journey and meets Daniel, a determined, naive young seientist who has illegally crossed the Wall, believing he can find a cure for Delta Fever. Alternating chapters of Fen‘s strong and often lyrical voice and a third-person account from Daniel‘s point of view move the complicated plot briskly. There are a few too many plot threads, but ultimately, they do not detract from the powerful, relevant themes: global warming, racism, political corruption, and the complexity of human nature.

The richly textured worldbuilding and the complicated relationship between Fen and Daniel, as weIl as the constant and varied dangers they face, will keep readers up long past their bedtimes. A harrowing and memorable ride. Read more...

Starred review: Smith’s vision of the future is terrifying because it scarily matches reality in a world where the Doomsday clock moves closer and closer to midnight. Readers may find themselves watching this year’s hurricane season with a deep sense of dread as they ponder the fate of little Enola.

An original futuristic tale with a lovely, lyrical, authentic voice and a spirited heroine to root for!