Juno Of Taris — Fleur Beale

What happens when life in a perfect, protected bubble unravels? The heroine of the first novel in an exciting sci-fi / fantasy series for young adult readers is about to find out. This exciting, futuristic novel with a strong heroine and a compelling storyline won Fleur Beale the Esther Glen Award 2009 and was shortlisted for the 2009 NZ Post Children's Book Awards. It explores the struggle of Juno, a young teen on the verge of adulthood, who is torn between her need to fit in and belong in her society, and her growing discomfort and questioning of that society's rules. Your ordinary teen? Not quite! Because Juno lives - in the not-too-distant future - on Taris, a bubble-covered island in the Pacific, to which a select few hundred people were evacuated when Earth's inhabitants took everything just a bit too far and began to self-destruct. On Taris there are many rules governing appearance, behaviour, even procreation . but all are for the good of the community, to ensure the survival of humankind. Or are they? As Taris' protected environment begins to break down and Juno's questioning nature takes hold, she uncovers some startling inconsistencies in many of the 'factual' histories she has grown up with. She also begins to develop some quite startling, almost supernatural, abilities. As Juno faces increasing danger, she finds allies in the most surprising places. Juno of Taris examines many themes: peer pressure, environmental breakdown, the fictionalization of history, societal control and challenging authority. But perhaps most important of all, it is a thoroughly good read from one of New Zealand's very best writers for young adults.