User:TransButterflyQueen/sandbox
| Author | Olivia A. Cole |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Dystopian, Climate fiction |
| Published | Aug. 15, 2023 |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
Publication date | August 15, 2023 |
Where the Lockwood Grows is a 2023 middle-grade climate-oriented[1] dystopian novel written by Olivia A. Cole. The story follows 12-year-old Erie and her older sister Hurona as they uncover the truth about both their company town, Prine, and their family. [2]
Plot Summary[edit]
12-year-old Erie and her 14-year-old sister Hurona live in the company town of Prine, with their mother, a failed inventor. Prine is surrounded by a genetically-engineered tree-like plant known as the Lockwood. The Lockwood was designed as a solution to the rampant wildfires of the recent past, but grows incredibly fast, and the branches of the canopy must be cut every morning to allow the sunlight through. Due to the incredibly cramped nature of the Lockwood's branches, pre-pubescent children such as Erie and her non-binary friend, Banneker must crawl through the canopy and cut the vines and branches with special hatchets. The resulting waste, particularly the "pods" are bought by FOLROY, the company that provides Prine with the special hatchets, and most of their other supplies.
One night, Erie climbs to the top of Lockwood with Hurona and witnesses a drone, presumably belonging to FOLROY, applying a substance to the Lockwood and causing it to grow. Erie and Hurona watch the drone fly to the nearby city of Petrichor, where FOLROY's headquarters are located. The sisters then hatch a plan to escape to Petrichor, where they intend to tell Dr. Lunata Elemneiri, the inventor of the Lockwood, about the drone and ask for her help.
With the help of Hurona's girlfriend, a FOLROY employee, the two escape in a box truck, but are separated from her after narrowly escaping a cargo search. Hurona and Erie eventually make it to Petrichor via bus, where they have an encounter with a "hamster", a man who chases after them. They run into a girl they met on the bus to Petrichor, Pinnia, who happens to be the daughter of the bus driver. Pinnia takes them to her home, where her mothers give Eire and Hurona a place to stay. Although Hurona had intended to stay with her girlfriend, she feels betrayed due making them exit the truck before the search, and stays with Pinnia's family instead.
The next morning, Hurona and Erie attempt to enter Elemneiri's house through a back entrance. However, they are caught by Carver, Banneker's older brother who previously left Prine, and is working with a delivery company. Dr. Elemneiri, seeing the commotion, brings the two sisters inside. Erie begins to explain the drone over Prine, before the three are joined by Arlo Kylak, Dr. Elemneiri's husband. Hurona reveals Arlo to be her and Erie's father, who Erie thought dead.
Hurona tells Erie that before witnessing the drone, she had already planned to come to Petrichor and talk to Dr. Elemneiri about Arlo. Supposedly, he had discovered that the Lockwood pods contain a valuable mineral for use in electronics, and sold the discovery to FOLROY. In reality, Erie and Hurona's mother had discovered the use of the Lockwood pods, and Arlo had left town and sold it to FOLROY. Dr. Elemneiri tells the girls that she and her husband need to discuss the matter, and promises she will talk to the two of them tomorrow.
That evening, Pinnia's moms have a cookout. Erie and Hurona partake in the festivities, learning more about Pinnia's family and friends. Before the celebration ends, however, Dr. Elemneiri's secretary arrives with Arlo, claiming Lunata wants to talk to them earlier than planned. Hurona and Erie go with them, only to discover that it was a trap; Alro Kylak and the secretary work with FOLROY, and kidnap them, as the secretary overheard them talking to Dr. Elemneiri about the drone. Erie escapes, and using Hurona's phone, contacts her sister's girlfriend. She gives Erie Hurona's location, and Erie heads back to Pinnia's house to ask for help.
Pinnia's older brother, Mento, drives Pinnia and Erie to the location, and large FOLROY greenhouse on the outskirts of town. With help from Hurona's girlfriend, the Erie sneaks inside, and climbs to the top of a large Lockwood plant growing inside the greenhouse. Pinnia and Mento are captured, and put next to Hurona. Erie tries to reach the three of them from above, but halfway there, she is spotted.
Okay plot stuff left:
FOLROY scheme
ending
References[edit]
- ^ "Where the Lockwood Grows by Olivia a Cole". www.publishersweekly.com. Invalid date. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ WHERE THE LOCKWOOD GROWS | Kirkus Reviews.