By Kenneth Oppel
Scholastic Press, 2025
245 pages
978-1-5461-5820-2
Age 13 and older
When Xavier Oak (white), his father, and his pregnant stepmother, Nia (Haitian Canadian), wake up one morning, everything at their family lake cottage is as expected—except that it’s now in a completely unfamiliar location. Frightened and dumbfounded, the Oaks explore their now-rural surroundings and find that they are trapped within an invisible dome several miles in diameter. A nearby farm, complete with crops, goats, and chickens, becomes their source of food; the tools they need simply appear in the night. Assuming they’ve been abducted by aliens, their suspicion is confirmed when Nia delivers a boy, Noah, who is resuscitated by unseen visitors while Nia, Xavier, and Xavier’s father are unconscious. Reconciling themselves to their situations, the Oaks construct a peaceful, if lonely, life under the dome. Three years later, the Jackson family (white) arrives. Xavier, now 16 years old, quickly falls for Mackenzie, who is his age, while Noah befriends younger sister Alyssa. The girls’ father, Riley, presents a challenge. Friendly on the surface, volatile Riley subscribes to bizarre conspiracy theories and believes the government is behind their abduction. He’s determined to build a hot air balloon so his family can escape via a portal in the “sky”… and Xavier is considering going with them. Crackling with tension, this speculative thriller has the potential to spark conversations about climate change, politics, and human nature. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center