THIS GREAT HEMISPHERE

African Caribbean dialect specialist Emana Rachelle introduces this immersive dystopian novel in a composed, intelligent tone. After 500 years of climate disasters, social unrest, and biological experimentation, an authoritarian society has arisen in the "Northwestern Hemisphere." It's divided between the DPs (dominant population) and a servant class of Invisibles, whose skin is translucent. An up-and-coming Invisible becomes torn between accepting a coveted engineering apprenticeship and searching for her beloved older brother, who has been accused of murder. The voices Rachelle gives the many characters evoke the feeling and rhythm of the American Old South. This ambiance accentuates the themes of racism and classism that are subtly but powerfully at the fore of this speculative thriller. B.P. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]