The Flooded Earth

The 2019 Green Earth Award-Winning trilogy opener is now available in trade paperback! Forty years after the earth was devastated by massive flooding, four children on one small sailboat must flee corrupt authorities and overcome the dangers of the sea that drowned their world.

Twins Will and Annalie thought the hardest part about this year was going to be their separation when bookish Annalie began life at a prestigious Admiralty-run boarding school and avid sailor Will stayed behind in the flood-damaged slums. But that was before the Admiralty raided their father’s engineering workshop. Before they sent a questioner to threaten Annalie at school. Before their father disappeared, leaving a single coded clue to his destination. Desperate to find their father, the twins set out in the family’s small sailboat. But though they are both experienced sailors, they have no idea what dangers the sea has in store for them.

With The Flooded Earth, Mardi McConnochie opens her middle-grade cli-fi saga at top speed, drawing readers into a race against pirates, authorities, and the sea itself in a not-so-distant future full of new technology and old human failings.

In the vein of dystopian fantasies, Mardi McConnochie tells an adventurous coming-of-age story set in a world full of water...Not only will readers enjoy the twins’ action-packed adventures, they will also be pressed to consider questions about human interaction on a global scale. Questions of valuing human life, responsibly caring for the environment, proactively responding to natural disasters, and thoughtfully considering governmental authority could emerge as a result of reading this book. The inclusion of these advanced themes makes the story richer, and is welcome in a book targeted to a preteen audience. Character development is interesting, leaving the reader room to imagine individual physical appearance while building strong relational ties between four main characters. In a racially charged society, focusing character development on relationships, rather than physical attributes, is mentally refreshing. The first installment in this “cli-fi” series will have readers craving more adventures with Will and Annalie. RECOMMENDED -School Library Connection-January 2019

"This is the first book in a planned trilogy. It was first published in Australia. I have never seen the phrase “cli-fi” (climate change-based science fiction) used before, but it definitely seems to be an emerging genre. I found this book to be well-paced, full of adventure and an exciting read. Current issues explored in this book besides climate change include immigrant issues, poverty, human trafficking and more."- Youth Services Book Review- December 2018