Exit Velocity — Barbara Gregorich

Fast-paced action and conflict, friendship and family, a touch of humor, and an even greater touch of the extraordinary — a parrot from another planet. A parrot on a Duty-to-the-Universe mission. Exit Velocity is a thought-provoking novel set in the heart of Bridgeport, Chicago's historic South Side working class area. There Rowan Pickett is desperate for a job. Rowan's world has gone to hell, her sister murdered in a high school shooting, her mother leaving, and Rowan sitting home and mourning. But Rowan is determined to survive, and getting a job is the first step in that direction. In seeking the job, she unwittingly sends a signal to Deeply, the parrot. This simple action results in injury to Rowan's sworn enemy, neofascist Zeb Snoddy. In a series of twists and turns it raises the suspicions of podcaster Jake Terranova, who jumps to the conclusion that Rowan and the parrot are a political assassination team. When Rowan does get a job, thanks to the help of long-time friend and political leader Titus Longshaw, she starts to rebuild her life while working at Package Nova, a global shipping firm. But Rowan has some surprises in store, not all of them good. In this fast-paced, realistic, and heartening story of a woman fighting back against violence, Rowan's enemies meet resistance they never expected, and working class struggle is brought to life in exciting and powerful ways.