About This Book

Ty has lived his whole life on the ocean floor, helping farm his family's sub–sea homestead. But when outlaws' attacks threaten to destroy the underwater territory, Ty finds himself in a fight to stop the outlaws and save the only home he has ever known.

Joined by a girl from the Topside who has come sub–sea to look for her prospector brother, Ty ventures into the frontier's rough underworld and begins to discover some dark secrets to Dark Life.

As Ty gets closer to the truth, he discovers that the outlaws may not be the bloodthirsty criminals the government has portrayed them as. And that the government abandoning the territory might be the best thing for everyone, especially for someone like Ty, someone with a Dark Gift.

From Dark Life

I peered into the deep sea canyon, hoping to spot a toppled skyscraper. Maybe even the Statue of Liberty. But there was no sign of the old east coast, just a sheer drop into darkness.

A ball of light shot past me — a vampire squid, trailing neon blue. The glowing ink swirled around my helmet. Careful not to break it up, I drifted onto my knees, mesmerized. But my trance was cut short my a series of green sparks bursting out of the gorge. I fell back, every muscle in my body tense. Only one fish glittered like an emerald and traveled in a pack: the green lantern shark. Twelve inches long and deadly as piranhas, they could rip apart something twenty times their size. Forget what they could do to a human.

Praise for Dark Life:

"The exotic setting and well-conceived details about undersea living, along with likable characters and a minor surprise at the end, will keep readers turning the pages." — Booklist

"This caper features a slew of Western standards...and a few plot twists keep the tension high. A thrilling conversion of the classics to one of our newer frontiers." — Kirkus Reviews

"There's no denying the nifty premise, solid characterization, and tense moments that contribute to a cinematic reading experience." — Publishers Weekly

"Based on the young ages of the characters, this book will appeal to middle grade readers, who will enjoy the novel's mystery and suspense. It is a definite must-read for SF fans." — Voice of Youth Advocates

"A can't-stop-reading adventure that, hopefully, will have a sequel." — Baltimore's Child

An Al Roker Book Club Selection

About the Authors or Illustrators

Kat Falls

Kat Falls is the author of Dark Life. She lives with her husband and three children in Evanston, Illinois, where she teaches screenwriting at Northwestern University.

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