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Best of All Worlds
CCBC Review:
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; any 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 situation, 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 Jackson 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. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Extraterrestrials
Extremism
Farming and Farmers
Science Fiction
Survival
Suspense
Diversity subjects:
Black/African
Latine
Publisher:
Scholastic Press
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 245
ISBN: 9781546158202
CCBC Location: Fiction, Oppel