The Art Thieves

Though the world is seemingly out of balance and bizarre, catastrophic weather conditions have become increasingly frequent, high school graduate Stevie Henry, who is Cherokee, continues to build a life for herself and her family, whom she loves, particularly her six-year-old brother Levi, who is deathly allergic to tree nuts. To earn money for college, Stevie works at the Modern Art Museum gift shop in 2052 Texas, where she meets handsome new intern Adam. The two bond over their values regarding art, Native culture, and family, but he often disappears and won’t name his Indigenous affiliation. Mysteries accumulate as the climate worsens, and soon Adam reveals a disturbing truth: he’s from 2201, and he has arrived to save significant art pieces from the upcoming apocalypse. Inspired by Afrofuturism, per an endnote, Cherokee author Rogers (Man Made Monsters) employs smart and empathetic prose to present a realistically rendered science fiction tale that is at once adrenaline-pumping and emotionally moving. In this gripping adventure, Rogers considers the future of Indigenous heritage via an indomitable protagonist who, alongside a plethora of memorably realized characters, navigates tough issues relating to death, familial turmoil, exploitation, and climate collapse. Ages 12–up. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect Agency. (Oct.)