Alone Out Here

Set in 2072, the story begins as a volcanic eruption looms, threatening to devastate Earth. Governments, scientists, and engineers are racing to build a fleet of starships that could carry humanity away from the planet. Meanwhile, the children of those leaders are taken on a weekend visit aboard the Lazarus, an experimental, high-tech prototype ship. The premise recalls William Golding's Lord of the Flies, transposed to outer space.

When the disaster arrives months ahead of schedule, only First Daughter Leigh Chen and a small group of teenagers from the tour manage to leave Earth. They find themselves aboard a vessel carrying an archive of human artifacts, a frozen collection of animal DNA, and fifty-three frightened survivors.

From the chaos, a council of leaders takes shape under Eli, the pilot's mysterious daughter, who takes the controls as the group searches for a planet that can support life. As confinement wears on, their fragile calm begins to crack, and the fight for control will decide whether they live or are lost entirely. Leigh must choose between the mission and her own sense of what it means to be human.

The novel pairs emotionally raw moments with fast, nerve-racking action, making it a story of extremes that will stay with readers well after they finish it.