Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman
Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Hope lives in White Rock, a town of inventors struggling to recover from the green bombs of World War III. But Hope is terrible at inventing and would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath—the deadly band of compressed air that covers the crater left by the bombs—than fail at yet another invention. When bandits discover that White Rock has priceless antibiotics, they invade. With a two-day deadline to finish making this year’s batch and no ingredients to make more, the town is left to choose whether to hand over the medicine and die from the disease that’s run rampant since the bombs, or die fighting the bandits now. Help lies in a neighboring town, but the bandits count everyone fourteen and older each hour. Hope and her friends Aaren and Brock might be the only ones who can escape to make the dangerous trek through the Bomb’s Breath and over the snow-covered mountain. For once, inventing isn’t the answer, but the daring and recklessness that usually get Hope into trouble might just save them all.
Review:
Hope, Aaren, and Brock like to do dangerous stunts in the deadly Bomb’s Breath. And while the dangerous substance has been a barrier for bandits, keeping their town safe – White Rock is suddenly invaded at their most vulnerable time. Hope is determined go get help no matter the risk to herself, since the bandits want to steal the rare medicine that can save her father.
White Rock is a post-apocalyptic town where inventions are the most valuable commodity since so much was lost after the war. I loved the setting and feel of the town. It was unique and fascinating. The plot, too, was engaging and fast-paced. I certainly look forward to Hope and her friends’ further adventures.