Piper's world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy the Earth. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.
Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed―a sphere of gods and monsters―and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth―her very identity….
An imaginative melding of mythology and dystopia, *Solstice* is the first YA novel by talented newcomer P. J. Hoover.
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### From Booklist
Is it facile to term a novel about earth inexorably cooking to death an admirable slow-burn of a read? Because that’s what Hoover accomplishes as she nicely balances multiple genres, dovetails classical mythology with contemporary global-warming fears, and generally takes her time tying things together. High-school student Piper knows there’s something her boyfriend, Hades, is keeping from her, and she sets out to explore the Underworld (and near-future Austin) for clues. Gradually, it becomes clear that this is one of those gratifying reading experiences in which few narrative details are wasted: everything means something. Sure, the answer to the central mystery of just who Piper really is may be guessable by those familiar with the Greek pantheon. Yet how Hoover connects such archetypal characters to familiar YA figures, such as the “clingy Mom,” is cleverly insightful. The only problem concerns the need to keep Piper herself in the dark—consequently, she sometimes comes across as more shallow than we know her to be. Still, this is a debut novel that consistently delivers. Grades 9-12. --Peter Gutierrez
### Review
“*Solstice *is one red-hot read--it intrigues, sizzles and satisfies.” ―*Cynthia Leitich Smith, New York Times bestselling author*
“Fans of the mythology in the Percy Jackson books and the romance in the Twilight saga will find something to love in this new dystopian by P. J. Hoover.” ―*Madeline Smoot, Bookseller, BookPeople, Austin TX*
“The best modern retelling of a mythological story that I have ever read. Equal parts of mythology, dystopia, and teen romance come together for an amazing story that is a must read for all YA enthusiasts.” ―*Danny Woodfill, The Book Spot, Round Rock, TX*
“This enticing combination of an all too scary near future and classical mythology is impossible to put down.” ―*Diana Tixier Herald, Librarian, Genrefluent.com*
Description:
Piper's world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy the Earth. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom. Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed―a sphere of gods and monsters―and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth―her very identity…. An imaginative melding of mythology and dystopia, *Solstice* is the first YA novel by talented newcomer P. J. Hoover. ** ### From Booklist Is it facile to term a novel about earth inexorably cooking to death an admirable slow-burn of a read? Because that’s what Hoover accomplishes as she nicely balances multiple genres, dovetails classical mythology with contemporary global-warming fears, and generally takes her time tying things together. High-school student Piper knows there’s something her boyfriend, Hades, is keeping from her, and she sets out to explore the Underworld (and near-future Austin) for clues. Gradually, it becomes clear that this is one of those gratifying reading experiences in which few narrative details are wasted: everything means something. Sure, the answer to the central mystery of just who Piper really is may be guessable by those familiar with the Greek pantheon. Yet how Hoover connects such archetypal characters to familiar YA figures, such as the “clingy Mom,” is cleverly insightful. The only problem concerns the need to keep Piper herself in the dark—consequently, she sometimes comes across as more shallow than we know her to be. Still, this is a debut novel that consistently delivers. Grades 9-12. --Peter Gutierrez ### Review “*Solstice *is one red-hot read--it intrigues, sizzles and satisfies.” ―*Cynthia Leitich Smith, New York Times bestselling author* “Fans of the mythology in the Percy Jackson books and the romance in the Twilight saga will find something to love in this new dystopian by P. J. Hoover.” ―*Madeline Smoot, Bookseller, BookPeople, Austin TX* “The best modern retelling of a mythological story that I have ever read. Equal parts of mythology, dystopia, and teen romance come together for an amazing story that is a must read for all YA enthusiasts.” ―*Danny Woodfill, The Book Spot, Round Rock, TX* “This enticing combination of an all too scary near future and classical mythology is impossible to put down.” ―*Diana Tixier Herald, Librarian, Genrefluent.com*