Old Earth is failing and two ships were sent to colonize New Earth; the New Horizon and the Empyrean. They are sister ships although the crews have never met. In Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan, the New Horizon attacked the Empyrean, setting the two ships at war. In SPARK, the second of the Sky Chasers novels, Waverly, Kieran, and Seth are still dealing with the aftermath of that first attack and with their new responsibilities in a world without adults.

The desperate attempt to escape the New Horizon has scarred Waverly Marshall in more ways than one. No one trusts her now that she failed to rescue the remaining parents from Ann Mather on the New Horizon. The one person she should be able to trust is her fiancé Kieran Aldan, but in her absence, Kieran has set himself up as the strict and religious ship's Captain of the Empyrean. For Waverly, Kieran's newfound religion strikes too close to the zealous approach of Ann Mather. Kieran is also skirting the rules and punishing those who defy his orders without trial. He's thrown Seth Ardvale into the brig without trial and has no intention of releasing him. When an explosion rocks the ship and Seth escapes, Kieran places the blame squarely on Waverly's shoulders. With Kieran refusing to look for other culprits, Waverly has no choice but to help Seth find out who is really attacking the Empyrean before it is too late.

SPARK by Amy Kathleen Ryan is a YA dystopian that holds its own with the best of them. I was reminded of Ender's Game over and over in Ryan's story. Not because they were similar but because of the depth of this novel. Waverly, Seth, and Kieran are kids against impossible odds. They're doing the jobs of adults and they know they're inadequate in skill and knowledge. Yet, they don't give up. The character development is exceptional. My favorite voice is Seth who in the first Sky Chaser novel didn't exactly show himself to the best of his advantage. Kieran's character becomes more brittle and rigid and there's a vulnerability in Waverly that is new. Their ever evolving personalities swing from courageous to petty to vulnerable to stubborn; exactly like any normal person. These shifts in actions resonate because the characters are capable of admitting their mistakes and changing as the story progresses. Hope is never lost that any of these young characters is too far gone to be saved. All people, whether a teen or adult, should have that hope.

The Sky Chasers novels are an exceptional YA dystopian that delves into the darkest parts of humanity. How far would you go to be the savior of the human race? SPARK by Amy Kathleen Ryan is a fast-paced novel that stays with you long after you turn the final page.