Across the Universe

Content Ratings

Moderate Romance

Amy and Elder develop a significant romantic connection; the novel also deals with a disturbing revelation about how the ship's population has been controlled through seasonal fertility manipulation, including scenes of sexual coercion during these periods that are handled with appropriate distress.

Moderate Themes

The controlled generation ship society raises questions about reproductive autonomy, the sacrifice of freedom for stability, and what happens to human nature when an entire civilization is sealed into a closed system for generations.

Moderate Violence

Several frozen passengers are murdered; the means of maintaining population control involves disturbing revelations; violence is present and serves the mystery.

Synopsis

Amy is frozen in cryosleep aboard a generation ship headed for a distant star and is unexpectedly revived fifty years before landing, waking to find a controlled, oppressive society governed by a dictatorial leaderâ€”and discovers that someone is murdering the frozen passengers. A YA dystopian mystery set aboard a generation ship, blending romance, thriller pacing, and questions about what a closed society does to human freedom. The first of the Across the Universe trilogy.