For over 400 years, the world has been a barren wasteland. The few humans that survive scrape together an existence in the cruel city of Pocatel--or go it alone in the wilderness beyond, filled with wandering spirits and wyrms. They don't last long. 13 year-old pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi do what they can to forge a life in Pocatel. The city does not take kindly to Cascabeles like them--the descendants of those who worked the San Joaquin...

Farah Hajjar is just starting sixth grade at the Magnet Academy when something terrible happens--her house burns down. Even worse, the house fire may be Farah's fault. When her family moves to temporary housing, Farah feels the guilt piling up. Luckily Farah finds comfort in writing, and she channels her energy into starting a creative writing club at her new school. But can Farah convince her new science-focused school to support it?