Mysteries of Cove #1: Fires of Invention by J. Scott Savage

Trenton lives in the community of Cove, sealed below the earth's surface, to escape from the death and destruction caused by man's inventions and new technology. Trenton is fascinated by machines, and he has a talent for making them work. However, new ideas are forbidden in Cove, and being called an inventor is about the worst thing anyone can call him. He wonders about a strange piece of metal he found down in the mines, and he meets a girl named Kallista who happens to be the daughter of a crazy inventor. Her father died in an explosion, and the piece of metal is a clue from him. The kids find other pieces and secretly assemble them. They're shocked when they finally realize what they're making, but it's a good thing they did it. They discover the history of Cove is a lie, and danger is waiting to destroy everything they know.

This dystopian novel is the first one in a new series. I've read other books where the government tries to control people's thinking, but this book makes creativity a crime. Trenton's character shows that it's real hard to stop people from thinking and wondering how things could be better. The theme of the book seems to deal with how technology and greed can ruin our planet, and some of that may be true. The actual danger to Cove is something totally different. I wasn't expecting the truth about Cove's history, although I probably should have expected something like it after the kids built their machine.The plot requires readers to think, although the last fourth of it has more action. The book probably won't appeal to all readers, but I enjoyed it.