Alone Out Here - by Riley Redgate (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Lord of the Flies set in space, with teens as the last hope for humanity.

*"Urgently driven by its desperate characters and flecked with hope despite its bleakness, this is a study of extremes that will linger with its readers."--Booklist (starred review)

The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up.

While the world's leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship. But when the apocalypse arrives months ahead of schedule, First Daughter Leigh Chen and a handful of teens from the tour are the only ones to escape the planet.

This is the new world: a starship loaded with a catalog of human artifacts, a frozen menagerie of animal DNA, and fifty-three terrified survivors. From the panic arises a coalition of leaders, spearheaded by the pilot's enigmatic daughter, Eli, who takes the wheel in their hunt for a habitable planet. But as isolation presses in, their uneasy peace begins to fracture. The struggle for control will mean the difference between survival and oblivion, and Leigh must decide whether to stand on the side of the mission or of her own humanity.

With aching poignancy and tense, heart-in-your-mouth action, this enthralling saga will stay with readers long after the final page.

Review Quotes

*"Part survival story and part exploration of the tenuous ties of cooperation, this memorable page-turner is a successful foray into science fiction for Redgate. A gripping post-apocalyptic survival story featuring a multinational cast and just the right amount of introspection."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Redgate explores what makes us human and what makes us teens with excruciating precision, revealing the best--and worst--of both. A fast-paced, beautifully put together story of a girl getting it done."--E. K. Johnston, New York Times #1 best-selling author of Star Wars: Ahsoka

"Redgate's eye for lyricism in her descriptions and vulnerability in her protagonists make this a satisfying, provocative, and memorable read."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"An enthralling adventure that's at once intimate and cinematic, with heart-pounding twists and vividly drawn characters."--Romina Russell, author of the New York Times best-selling Zodiac series

"Stunning, visceral, and utterly gripping, Alone Out Here is a vivid look at human determination when forced to survive the impossible."--C.B. Lee, author of the Sidekick Squad series

"Utterly absorbing, and packed with heart, action, and questions that lingered long past the final page. I read it in a single day."--Amie Kaufman, author of the Aurora Cycle and the Elementals trilogy

About the Author

Riley Redgate (she/her) majored in Economics at Kenyon College and is now based in Chicago, where she was an apprentice with the Onion. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Seven Ways We Lie; Noteworthy, a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book and NYPL Best Book; and Final Draft, a Bank Street Book of the Year. Follow her on Twitter @RileyRedgate.