watch the sky
the signs are everywhere.
That’s what Jory’s stepfather, Caleb, says. Red leaves in the springtime. Pages torn from a library book. All the fish in an aquarium facing the same way. A cracked egg with twin yolks. Everywhere and anywhere. And because of them, Jory’s life is far from ordinary. He must follow a very specific set of rules: don’t trust anyone outside the family, have your work boots at the ready just in case, and always, always watch out for the signs.
The end is coming, and they must be prepared.
School is Jory’s only escape from Caleb’s tight grasp, and with the help of new friends, he begins to explore a world beyond his family’s desert ranch. As Jory’s friendships grow, Caleb notifies Jory’s mother and siblings that the time has come for final preparations. They begin an exhausting schedule, digging a shelter where they will live until the disaster is over. But as the hole gets deeper, so does the family’s doubt about whether Caleb’s prophecy is true.
When the stark reality of what it will mean to live underground becomes clear, Jory must choose between living his own life or following behind Caleb, shutting his eyes to the bright world he’s just begun to see.
A companion book to RACE THE NIGHT
Ages 8-13; Disney-Hyperion, 2015 & Little, Brown 2020
isbn: 9781484708804
A Junior Library Guild Selection, 2016
"Strong characters drive the carefully crafted novel. . . Hubbard's sparse, elegant prose captures the rural landscape's desolate beauty as well as its dangers and palpably expresses the family's escalating tensions. . . [An] atmospheric, ultimately hopeful novel."
— School Library Journal, starred review
"The conclusion is a satisfying one. . . Timely."
— VOYA
"Hubbard gets Jory's emotions just right. . . The pacing moves smoothly, balancing the everyday with the impending Crisis, and the ending ties up every loose thread. An excellent choice for discussion."
— Booklist
"Hubbard writes fluently and accessibly. . . An absorbing tale."
— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Haunting, tense, and moving. . . Caleb's efforts to safeguard himself and his family will stay with readers."
— Publishers Weekly