book cover

Saving Celeste

by Timothee de Fombelle
Translated by Sarah Ardizzone

Interest age: 10 to 13
Reading age: 10+

Published by Walker Books, 2021

  • Adventure
  • Science fiction
  • Dystopia

About this book

Step into a future where tower blocks rise hundreds of floors up into the sky, where nobody goes outdoors except in their car, and society is run by a giant multinational corporation, ‘!ndustry’. Meanwhile, Earth’s natural habitats have shrunk to tiny fenced-off areas, the air is full of smog and the rivers and seas heavily polluted – yet no one seems to care.

When a teenaged boy’s new friend Celeste falls ill with a mysterious disease that seems to be directly linked to the ailing planet, he is determined to find out what is wrong, and find a way to save her. But that will mean going against the all-powerful !ndustry, who will do anything to keep her illness hidden and maintain their stranglehold on the world.

Writing in a small, damp notebook, with just a handful of pages left and time running out, this boy tells his story, desperate to let the world know about Celeste. Because if people don’t change their ways and mend Earth’s ecosystems, the planet – and Celeste – will surely die.

This beautifully formed novella uses a thought-provoking metaphor as a rallying cry to protect our planet. Hailed as a fable for our times, it is ultimately a story of hope and love.

About the author

Timothée de Fombelle is a French author and playwright. He is perhaps best known for his novels Toby Alone and Vango, and their sequels. His plays, which include Le Phare, Je danse toujours, and Rose Cats, have been translated into many languages.

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