"Juno of Taris" by Fleur Beale.

New Zealand Post Book Award finalist: Senior fiction.

Juno of Taris is a science fiction story set on an island in the
Southern Ocean. The plot is fast moving with a good sense of tension. It
Revolves around the strong female character Juno who, as a teenager, is
questioning the validity of the rules and power structures established
to preserve her community during a period of extreme crisis.

Juno¹s quest is for truth. Does the need to survive still justify the
Rules and rituals, that for 200 years, have dominated Taris?
Does Juno have the strength to overcome the mind games, and physical
hardship necessary to find the answer to this questions?

Fleur Beale has created an accessible futuristic plot that encourages
thought, because of its links with today¹s scientific realities.
Students at a secondary level will relate to Juno as a person and will
Find the story an interesting catalyst for discussion around the topics of
genetic engineering and authoritarian structures.

Barbara Smaill.