The Bookworm says... Yes. The Fog Diver by Joel Ross is an excellent middle reader novel. The fog took over the earth years ago, killing everything trapped inside it. The fog gets anyone that goes down too long- they might get attacked by a fog shark, or they might get fog sickness. Children dive into the fog every day to scavenge for things to sell so they can survive in the slum. Chess is one of these children- a tetherboy. Chess is an excellent tetherboy, maybe the best, and he is a secret that must be kept from Lord Kodoc- the tyrannical ruler. The woman that has been taking care of Chess and his crew of orphans becomes ill with fog sickness, so Chess and his crew set up to find a cure for her, all while keeping Chess hidden from Lord Kodoc.
I generally shy away from JUV books and stick to YAD,but something drew me to The Fog Diver. I'm not sure what it was, but I'm glad it happened- I loved this book. The quest, supernatural, and post-apocalyptic aspects of this story make it perfect for all lovers of The 5th Wave, Harry Potter, and Gone. The Fog Diver is truly a triumphant debut for Joel Ross, and I can't wait to see what the rest of this series brings.
"I'd dived into uncharted fog for three years and seen things nobody else had even imagined, but I'd never seen anything like Hazel"