Ghostcloud

Scores of kidnapped children shovel coal into Battersea Power Station’s underground furnaces, powering all of smog-ridden London, in debut author Mann’s splendid escapist adventure. Two years after 12-year-old Luke Smith-Sharma, who’s of Indian descent, arrives at the station, he tries to keep new girl Jess from slowing the shoveling line and jeopardizing his chance at a freedom-granting amber ticket. But an ensuing incident results in foul punishment for both: cleaning the sewers. It’s during this task that Luke rescues a ghostcloud, or water-bonded spirit, called Alma, who recognizes Luke for the half-ghost he is, and reveals his ability to both perceive the uncanny and fly over an alternate London, which is overseen by evil magnate Tabatha Margate. This taste of the outside world sets aspiring detective Luke on the road to escape, accompanied by Alma, plumber hopeful Jess, and goods and information trader Ravi, who prove fully realized characters and co-conspirators. Smartly wrought worldbuilding aptly engages with themes of identity and equity while conjuring an atmospherically gritty London that’s at once singularly inventive and reminiscent of works by Joan Aiken, Charles Dickens, and Philip Pullman. It’s a thoughtful and well-built fantasy that’s also rollicking good fun. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Stephanie Thwaites, Curtis Brown. (Sept.) [/em]