Skipshock (Skipshock #1)

Teenage Margo is en route to boarding school in Dublin when her otherwise empty train stops inside a tunnel, triggering a panic attack. When Margo recovers, she notices that the train’s trappings have changed and she’s been joined by passenger Moon, who has never heard of Ireland. Confused and terrified, Margo disembarks with Moon in New Davia—one of several worlds connected by a strictly regulated railroad. Margo learns that each world experiences time differently: as one ventures further north, the days—and the residents’ lifespans—grow shorter. Traveling salesmen like Moon often die of “skipshock” from frequent time-speed shifts. Moon could avoid that entirely and retire early using the money that rebels would pay him for delivering Margo, whose sudden arrival suggests there are alternate, unregulated means of interworld travel. But with authorities investigating Margo’s appearance, such a deal could doom them both. In this dazzling duology opener, O’Donoghue (Every Gift a Curse) deploys inventive worldbuilding that complements an intricate plot advocating social justice and immigration reform. Moon’s first-person narration alternates with third-person chapters following Margo; their witty banter and burgeoning romance buoys the tone amid constant danger and high-stakes action sequences. Characters are racially diverse. Ages 14–up. Agent: Bryony Woods, Diamond Kahn & Woods. (June)