River Rats

A paddle wheeler cruises up the Mississippi, delivering mail and hosting an occasional concert. A scene straight out of the nineteenth century? Not quite. This Mississippi is a toxic brown river. And the paddle wheeler is run by the River Rats, a troop of orphans who survived the Flash, a nuclear holocaust. What were once huge cities are now plague-ridden ruins haunted by gangs of savage children. And the concerts the Rats play are post-apocalyptic rock and roll--a music as rough and ragged as the musicians who perform it. When the Rats rescue a stranger from the river, all the troubles of the old world suddenly threaten to end their travels forever.

CAROLINE STEVERMER has written several books for adults and young readers. She coauthored Sorcery and Cecelia and The Grand Tour with Patricia C. Wrede. Ms. Stevermer lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.