Review By: Aspyn Landis
Published: 2023
Genres: YA Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Western Mashup
Audience: Grade 12, Adult
Goodreads Link: Dustborn
Content Warnings: Alcohol consumption, Amputation, Death during childbirth, Death of a mother/sister/pet, Murder, Violence, Imprisonment, Kidnapping
Publisher’s Summary
Delta of Dead River sets out to rescue her family from a ruthless dictator rising to power in the Wastes and discovers a secret that will reshape her world in this post-apocalyptic Western mashup for fans of Mad Max and Gunslinger Girl.
Delta has always been told to hide her back, where a map is branded on her skin to a rumored paradise called the Verdant. In a wasteland plagued by dust squalls, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares, many would kill for it—even if no one can read it. When raiders sent by a man known as the General attack her village, Delta suspects he is searching for her. She sets out to rescue her community, but quickly learns that in the Wastes, no one can be trusted—perhaps not even her childhood friend, Asher, who has been missing for nearly a decade. What waits at the Verdant is a long-forgotten secret that will shake the foundation of her entire world.
Review
Centered on seventeen-year-old Delta, this story is a gritty, high-stakes journey through “the Wastes.” The book is akin to The Hunger Games but with a distinct Mad Max flavor. The plot revolves around a central mystery—a cryptic map leading to a rumored paradise—and the internal and external battles Delta must face to save her people from a local dictator.
Major themes that stood out to me were trust vs. betrayal, the ideology of “found family” (those not necessarily related by blood), survival, and hope. Delta is a strong protagonist who is forced to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and confront historical truths that dismantle her society’s foundational myths.
While the cover is eye-catching and the title is an intriguing compound word, this is definitely a book for older Young Adult readers (Grade 12+) or adults due to the intensity of the content and the various triggers. For High School ELA, there are many rich literary elements to explore, and the story lends itself well to “alternate ending” assignments.
