epic book!!!! suspence, action, and a great read. perfect for a book report! also read riptide, the 2nd book in the series!

Ty has always lived with his family on their ocean floor farm deep beneath the waves. He has always felt safe and happy in the undersea world – until now. A gang of dangerous convicts, escaped from the Seablite Maximum Security Prison, have been attacking homesteads and farms in the underwater settlement where Ty lives. No one feels safe. The convicts are not only very dangerous, but “damaged,” according to “Doc,” who reveals that the inmates were subjected to mind-altering experiments while in prison. They seem ruthlessly intent on driving away the settlers. If they succeed, where will the families go? As the attacks increase and the families band together to defend their homes, Ty begins to suspect that there is more going on than an attempt to drive away the settlers. The convicts also appear to want someone from the settlement. Who? Why? When Ty is captured by the convicts, he overhears a conversation and realizes what they really want. He learns that someone from his own settlement – someone he has known and trusted for years – is far more of a threat to the settlers than the escaped prisoners. He and his sister Zoe are in particular danger because they have special abilities, which the settlers have named “dark gifts.” Now it’s more vital than ever that Ty escape quickly to alert his family about the true danger threatening the community. Kat Falls’ “must-read” story is full of suspense, adventure and intrigue. Readers will be glad to know that a sequel, Rip Tide, has just been published.

Technically a dystopia, the United States has lost 20% of its land mass, forcing the populations into cramped quarters - and to escape this, some settlers have moved to the bottom of the ocean! Ty, the first child ever born under the sea, ends up joining forces with a "topsider" Gemma, and their dual experiences help them in an action packed ride (under the waves) to save Ty's home on the sea floor from being destroyed - whether that's by the government or outlaws! This books has a really great broad range of appeal - give it a try!

This was the best book I have EVER read! an amazingly well thought out plot,a heaping amount of suspense,a few dashes of action,and a sprinkel of romance. LOVE IT!

A great start to Kat Falls' writing career. Can't wait for Riptide!

Pretty awsome. Hope library gets the second one.

Ty is the kind of boy character who's recently gone out of style (in my opinion): he's loyal, hardworking, proud and completely unaware of his good looks. YA literature has (or at least I have) had enough of cocky, self-confident and suave guys who know they're hot. Same with Gemma--the way they regard each other is entirely sweet and very endearing; they're both oblivious of their own looks and all too aware of the other's. That being said, the romance is squeezed in between the healthy helpings of action, and thus the relationship doesn't feel developed enough to have reached the point it did at the novel's end. The epilogue makes up for it-- an unnecessary but pleasant enough epilogue. The plot holds enough twists and surprises to satisfy both the fantasy and the mystery reader. Themes of family and fitting in complement each other and the story well: Ty's parents consider moving back Topside, while Ty very much wants his own land undersea; the Dark Gifts prevent Ty and his other seaborn friends from fitting in completely. Our antagonist becomes unclear after a while in a good way, adding tension through unexpected venues. The Dark Gifts add an extra-fantastical touch to this tale of discovery and acceptance.

great sci fi--under water colonies and pirates--with a little supernatural and a love story thrown in for good measure.

love the suspense!

Looks exciting! Can't wait to read it! The cover looks really cool too. All my friends are talking about it so yay!