The Shadow Road

After electricity-dampening dragon-like monsters dubbed the blitz invade Earth, society is in ruins and survivors live in fear of sudden death from above. When the last of his family dies, 16-year-old Thomas heads west in search of rumored safety and is picked up by trucker Danica, who claims to be hauling hope—proof that the blitz can be killed—on her truck’s flatbed. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Cassie, who possesses supernatural intuition, travels with a group of refugees whose leader Bones plans to defeat the blitz by stealing and studying one of their eggs. When Cassie and Thomas meet, they discover that their missions and destinies are inexplicably entangled. Separately and together, they must avoid the blitz, deal with human predators, and unravel the mystery behind the myriad other supernatural creatures appearing in the wild. Kirchmeier (The Absence of Sparrows) hits the ground running in this propulsive adventure set in a devastated, near-deserted world stripped of comforts, conveniences, and safety, populated by desperate survivors and strange mythologized creatures. Constant tension permeates the white-cued leads’ intimate-feeling alternating first-person perspectives. Ages 13–up. Agent: Ali Herring, Spencerhill Associates. (Oct.)