Nica lives carefree in the ideal waters of the planet Aquan, until the unthinkable splashes down into her oceanic world and changes everything with a mighty cataclysm. In search of her missing sister and more answers, the young heroine must leave her liquid safety and journey onto the recently terraformed land with new beings and machines—but without water. Sophia L. Hansen’s debut Water’s Break anchors this original tale in variegated worlds, flowing language, and delightful alien textures. Likeable heroes dive into themes of innocence, slavery, and the struggles that forced servitude inflicts on both slaves and masters.

Best for: Teen fans and young women who love unique underwater realms.

Discern: Some violence, images of slavery-related brutality, and murder.