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Description
Olwen and her companion, Guardian, have lived alone on the remote planet Isis since the death of Olwen's parents. Now, colonists from depleted Earth arrive and conflicts soon arise. Will the colonists learn to respect their new enviroment?
Quick Summary
Monica Hughes creates a beautiful story about what happens when a young girl who has grown up in complete isolation suddenly has to share her world with a group of strangers. Olwen has lived on the planet Isis with only her robot companion Guardian since her parents died, and she thinks of herself as the planet's protector its "keeper." When colonists arrive from Earth, the story really takes off because Olwen's understanding of what it means to belong to a place gets tested in unexpected ways. This would be perfect for kids who love stories about space colonies, robots, or coming-of-age tales about finding your place in the world. There's some genuine tension and a few scary moments when things go wrong between Olwen and the colonists, but it's ultimately a thoughtful, sometimes sad, always thought-provoking read about respecting the world around you. If you've enjoyed books like "The Giver" or other YA sci-fi that make you think about bigger ideas, this one will stick with you long after you finish.