The Crystal City (think glass tower) was built to withstand an ice age. The ice age is over. Plague has wiped out any adults not in the city, and the children outside want in. Being human, the only way they know to do this is by warfare. In the meantime the 24 children from the Crystal City go out into the Wilderness (yes, with a capitol W) to find Orenllag, their idyllic place of origin. For some reason, none of these 24 children know each other unless they are actually blood relations. We follow three of them as they struggle to survive, and to deal with their changing cultural identity and their distrust of others. 12 of them settle in a compound where the uncivilized children of the outside bring them a fruit that has the effects of marijuana, except it stains their teeth a ghastly, fruit-juice sucking red. (Quick math, only 9 dead or missing? Low casualties for a modern YA dystopia.) Our three know the warmth and safety of the compound is an illusion, and keep following their dreams. I usually like Walter Dean Myers, but this one isn't his best. ( )