Praise from Dale E. Basye
author of the Circles of Heck series
"Going Green is a confident, richly conceived and immensely readable debut where unlikely hope grows like grass punching through the cracks of an oppressive system.
Set in a dystopian world where a virus has wiped out much of the world’s crops and therefore much of the population, Going Green follows Calyssa Brentwood—a privileged high school senior in transition—as she undergoes a coveted “enhancement” that quite literally has her turning green. The process will all but guarantee her position amongst the elite of SciCity’s Green Commonwealth, comprised of similarly enhanced individuals who look down upon those who haven’t been enhanced either due to lack of money, lowly status or simply opting to forgo the procedure. Calyssa’s track to popularity and prosperity is complicated by a gifted yet unenhanced boy Gabe Stayton, who opens Calyssa’s eyes to the social injustices lurking beyond her entitled social domain. Ransom has a remarkable way of juggling the political and socioeconomic details of her bleak future with raw, human intimacy. Her world-building is never labored and unfolds gradually as Calyssa’s awareness both deepens and expands. And when pampered city girl Calyssa is forced to endure rural farm life, there are even opportunities for humor. Unfortunately, Ransom’s blend of social strife, scarcity and environmental calamity makes for an all-too-timely tale, yet one with a smart, compassionate heroine steering the story: an entitled teen who has truly earned her transformation. At its heart, Going Green is really an emotionally rich coming-of-age story, with Calyssa grappling with relatable issues of relevance to most any teen despite her sci-fi circumstances. After finishing Going Green, you’ll pine for more adventures with Calyssa as she prepares to unmask the hypocrisy of her world-in-crisis. Ransom is a welcome new voice, one that rings true and clear with impressive scope and unexpected emotion." |