In this new novel by debut novelist El Akkad, which takes place in the future, America is experiencing civil war again and young Sarat Chestnut is living in a camp for those who have been uprooted by the conflict. Soon Sarat herself becomes involved in the war. Schluep notes that the story is a dark one. "It's definitely a chilling book...," he says. "All our worst fears come to light." Yet the work is "also about [Sarat's] family...," Schluep says. "There's a personal side to this story, too."