Helena Duggan Books

Something strange has happened, and the earth has shifted from its axis. The sun is burned with a blemish and no one knows how it appeared. The people of the world have been told that this will eventually mean the sun will disappear – it would seem the world end is nigh.

This new fragile world is dominated by tech genius and billionaire Howard Hansom. And rather conveniently, he declares he can reverse this disastrous fate for the planet. But of course, this means everyone will need to live in his artificial town, which will tip the balance of the world and put the earth back where it should be.

Grian is a boy growing up with this uncertain future and is an avid fan of Hansom tech, ruled by his smartwatch avatar Bob. Grian has a typical relationship with his older sister Solas, who is on her own agenda in life. But when she goes missing, Grian is sure she has run off to Hansom city to save the world. Grian and his friends set off to find her; not only do they track her down, but they are also faced with a mysterious place with artificial intelligence that fuels a thousand questions. What is Hanson up to?
What is really happening to the sun?

The intriguing prologue to Helena Duggan’s book kept me hooked yet puzzled simultaneously. The book is described as quirky, and I think that is a fitting word. Duggan has an incredible imagination, and the fantasy elements of the story cleverly intertwine with real life elements with which readers can make connections. This story perhaps reminds us of the power of technology and the negative aspects of the dominance of large corporations. There is clearly an environmental message running through, reminding us of how fragile our planet is too.