The Last Rocketship (Reya & Lux 1) by R.K. Phayre

What worked:

Young readers will relate to Reya’s role as a social media influencer. Her parents are instrumental in evacuating people from Earth, and they leave on one of the first rockets. The Programme helps create Reya’s online persona as a consolation for her parents' leaving, and one of her eyes is replaced with a B’eye’onix implant to broadcast her posts. She’s the most popular influencer on the planet, which makes her famous and rich. Early on, she seems superficial, but readers discover she has a strong sense of right and wrong. Her younger brother Lux is nerdy and the target of bullies, but Reya is very protective of him. Lux’s has advanced hacking skills, which become important as the plot progresses.

The author creates a future world where the world's citizens are forced to work together. There was violence when people first learned the sun was dying, but they now live peacefully, waiting for their chances to leave the planet. The book shares possible future technology, including an elevator into space to more easily transport resources. The most interesting technology is the AI in charge of running the last rocket ship from Earth. It’s brand new and must learn how to interpret new situations before making decisions. The author allows readers into the AI’s “mind” as it tries to understand how to interact with teenagers. The entire ship is manned by the AI, computers, and various droids, and the presence of Reya and Lux creates an unpredictable challenge.

The Programme is created when the world realizes the sun is dying. It controls everything on the planet to ensure people are given the best chance to survive. Resources are diverted to rocket production, but people accept it for a chance to leave before the sun dies.  Reya and Lux are placed in a private school because of their parents’ importance, and they’re treated very well. However, they later learn some people aren’t happy with the Programme and are protesting the unfairness. Reya has power through social media to reveal the Programme’s secrets, but she learns they can also take that power away. This creates a compelling conflict that will change the direction of the story.

What didn’t work as well:

The author creates vocabulary, usually adjectives, like fluencer and lightsome. It’s not a huge deal, but the words stand out when they’re used and take getting used to. Definitions are in a glossary at the end, if readers can’t figure them out from the context. A bigger thing that doesn’t work as well is how the plot doesn’t build to a climax. It doesn’t feel like the story is heading toward a critical moment when everything comes together.

The final verdict:

The interactions between the kids and the AI are the highlight of the book. Much of the time, the AI is trying to figure out how to be a parent, while Lux and Reya test their limits. Overall, it’s a creative concept for a series, and I recommend you check it out for yourself.