Broken

In a future where the United States is a burned-out backwater and a single fascist government rules humanity and its colonies, Broken, a derelict superheroine who has lost the power to fly, and Michael Forward, a clairvoyant teenager, race to save a boy from those who want to turn him into a tyrant. As they flee government thugs, bloodthirsty separatist soldiers, and Broken’s former lover, a superhero gone bad, Broken and Michael must come to terms with their painful pasts and with choosing between doing what is easy and pleasant and doing what is right. Bigelow’s action-packed, fast-flying debut is buttressed by a believable, detailed world and populated by a cast of unforgettable, deeply realized characters. Her unusual and heartfelt take on superheroes underscores what makes these iconic characters heroic—and what makes them profoundly human. (Nov.)