Annabelle Pepper and the Afterwise Sea — Skylaar Amann

“You’re the captain now.”   Annabelle Pepper never expected to hear those words.   Her mother uttered them just before Annabelle's escape pod plunged beneath the waves of the Afterwise Sea. Suddenly, everyone Annabelle loves has perished with the ship she called home.   Through raging storms and grief, Annabelle fights for survival with nothing but a submarine and an old logbook, searching for life in a world where land disappeared 200 years ago. Soon, she stumbles on tech-whiz Maxwell Malone, a fellow lone sailor in the unforgiving Afterwise Sea, and his real-life bird, Darwinia. With the power of science, friendship, and hope, Annabelle and Maxwell embark on an epic journey in search of life, land, and healing—while uncovering secrets hidden beneath the waves.   But little do they know that ancient legends are stirring. Monstrous Aquabots, programmed to reduce the human population in the wake of climate change, are waking up. Annabelle and Max are approaching something big, something alive, and they may be the only hope left for life on Earth.   Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with pediatric experts. Proceeds from the sale of every book go to benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.