For more than 300 years, the Matilda has been flying away from Earth, its inhabitants fleeing to find a new planet to colonize. During that time, the ship's residents and their descendants have developed a society that unfortunately mimics the antebellum South, with the darker-skinned lower-decks residents serving as slaves to the wealthy white upper-decks residents. Despite being a native of the lower decks, orphan Aster's intelligence has allowed her to become assistant to the ship's surgeon and create opportunities that don't exist for others of her birth. But how will she use those privileges, small though they are? She can, of course, help the sick and wounded, but others around her would rather use those opportunities to light the flames of rebellion.
I knew going into this book that it focused on a woman in a rough situation on a colony ship, and perhaps for that reason, I avoided reading for a really long time. But I really shouldn't have. There is so much wonderful about this amazing book about power, control, identity, and yes, rebellion. It's incredible and I can't wait to discuss it with the Orcs & Aliens next Monday.
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