Putting Up Roots

When Josh and his autistic cousin Dawn are sent to the planet Solferino, they join a group of kids already working for an interplanetary conglomerate stationed there. Assured by the bosses that no intelligent life exists on Solferino, Josh and Dawn come to suspect otherwise. Especially when Dawn makes contact with one of the creatures, a creature with whom she shares a mysterious ability to communicate. With the corporation pressuring them, Josh and Dawn are drawn into a battle to save the creatures. And, it turns out, to save themselves.

Charles Sheffield is a mathematician and theoretical physicist by training. His doctoral work was on Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity. Currently Dr. Sheffield works as chief scientist for the Earth Satellite Corporation, a Washington, D.C.–based firm that specializes in the analysis of data gathered from space.

The author of thirty previous science fiction novels, including Cold as Ice and The Ganymede Club from Tor, Sheffield lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife, author Nancy Kress.

"A winner. Sheffield has succeeded admirably, with a fast-paced science fiction novel that has a lot of appeal. Autism, adolescent interactions, romantic interests, peer group pressure, and the struggle for survival on an alien world are all portrayed in a diverting novel that features engaging teen characters who survive by their own quick wits and willingness to work together against a common enemy."-VOYA

"The pacing is brisk. . .and the technical detail is up to the usual high standard." -Publishers Weekly