Slave ownership is the biggest part of the conflict, but the story deals with honesty and trust and other themes as well, including the general problem of bringing up a teenager, and an added level about the motivation of athletes. Another conflict deals with the idea that the person isn’t the job. A watch officer can be a human as well. The scene where the slave goes to work for the watch officer is a great revelation of an inner conflict that most of us will never experience.

There is perhaps a bit too much explanatory detail about weather and schedules and the like, but generally, the action moves along nicely.

This is a strong, well-written YA novel with clear action sequences, realistic inner struggles of sympathetic characters, and interesting themes.

(5 / 5)