Salvage

Women in the "crewe" live in fear of sexual violence and take care to avoid vulnerable situations. Ava faces being discarded into space while still alive as punishment for her behavior, and her partner is badly beaten and possibly killed. Another woman who comes to her aid is killed. Perpétue was left badly scarred from an attack by a man she ended up killing. Two characters are among many killed in a natural disaster. Another character recounts killing his oppressive father.

Ava has consensual intercourse once and is severely punished for it. She's deeply ashamed of herself, for her behavior runs counter to the way she was raised. Women in her "crewe" are taught to fear men and to avoid attracting unwanted attention and worse -- they share stories of careless women who have been raped and killed. Several men leer at Ava and make veiled propositions: that she could trade sexual favors for room and board, that she could work as a prostitute, that she could entertain another crewe. Ava kisses another boy twice; once she asks him to stop, and he does, and the second time she's a willing partner. There also are references to menstruation. An adult offers to help Ava get access to birth control.

A few characters swear in frustration or anger: "damn," "hells," and "piss off." Ava refers to herself as a "whore," and another character calls her a "bitch." She learns to use her middle finger as a coarse gesture but doesn't know what it means.

Ava shares a beer with a friend. There are references to people spitting tobacco, drinking rice wine, and being "tar addicts." A drunk man propositions Ava and a relative.

Parents need to know that Salvage is a well-written sci-fi novel that grapples with sexual liberation and misogyny. The heroine struggles with shame and guilt over a consensual sexual act with devastating consequences: Ava's growth requires her to reject the fundamentalist, patriarchal ways of her people. The obvious parallels between Ava's tribal people and present-day religious groups may be problematic for some families, and men generally are portrayed as controlling and threatening, with one important exception. The treatment of sexual violence and intimidation is skillful and thought-provoking. The publisher recommends this for ages 13 and up, but we think it's better suited for a slightly older audience. Young teens might not be quite ready for the sad, real-world truths that underlie the novel. Still, it's a terrific selection for sparking discussions about feminism, gender politics, sexuality, and world events.