Daughter of the Deep

September 6, 2021
In this contemporary reimagining of Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island, Riordan (the Percy Jackson series) merges foundational science fiction adventures with a modern sensibility and a variously inclusive cast from across the globe, injecting the adventure with action and generation-spanning intrigue. Ana Dakkar, 14 and of Bundeli Indian ancestry, is excited to undergo the freshman end-of-year trials that will determine her future at the prestigious Harding-Pencroft Academy, which provides a world-class education in all things marine and aquatic. No sooner has her class departed for the event, though, when the academy is attacked and destroyed by the rivaling Land Institute, forcing Ana and her classmates, the only survivors, to seek refuge in a hidden island outpost. Along the way, Ana discovers that she is descended from the infamous Captain Nemo as well as heir to his trove of futuristic technology and legendary submarine, the Nautilus. When the Land Institute seeks to usurp the technology for its own selfish ends, Ana and her classmates must harness Nemo’s legacy to defend themselves. But her parents died years ago while unlocking the Nautilus’s secrets—how can she succeed where they failed? Simultaneously retro and futuristic, this entertaining standalone starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. Ages 10–14. Agent: Nancy Gallt, Gallt & Zacker Literary.