Raiders' Ransom by Emily Daimand 334 pages

Set in the 23rd century when much of what was once England is now underwater, this relates the piratical adventures of a feisty 13 year old fishergirl, Lily. Returning from a boat trip, she discovers her village in ruins. Her grandmother, her only living relative has been murdered. She concocts a far-fetched plan to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the prime minister from a band of greedy raiders to save her boy friend and her village. She cuts her hair to create a male disguise. Her secret weapon is a talking jewel, a remnant from a past computer age which she hopes to use as ransom for the kidnap victim and a rather resourceful cat. She meets Zeph, the 13 year old son of the leader of the raiders. He wants to prove himself as a competent raider, but hates his brutish, cruel half-brother Roba. This has the swashbuckling tension of a Robert Louis Stevenson novel with science fiction flourishes. There are many plot twists and the ending leaves the door open for a sequel (due out in June).