This book had one thing to overcome from the start, and it was not something for which it or the author is at fault. It had been over three years since I had read the first in the series and I could remember virtually nothing of the events in that first book. My main memory was that it was set on a colonisation spaceship returning to Earth and that a plague or disease of some kind had resulted in most of the people on board being teenagers or early twenties at the very eldest.

Well in this volume the ship has returned and is existing in a state of near-warfare with the people remaining in Earth. This time ,though, the action is centred around the people of Earth, rather than the Skyborn, with one or two exiled members of the ships having joined the "family" headed by Sarah.

Her "family" is under threat. For not only do they have to deal with the other tribes and gangs of the Earthborn, but they learn that the Skyborn are attempting to fashion a plan which will eliminate all of the Earthborn. So they decide to undertake the most dangerous of missions and infiltrate the colony ship to thwart their plans.

Well this is a young adult novel, but not one that is in any ways dumbed-down. Okay the plot and action do not consider some of the elements you might find in adult novels, and that the characters are younger but this is by no means a series that will only appeal to teenagers. I'm not going to say it is reaching the heady heights of some of my favourite sf – Dune's place as my favourite novel of all-time is not under threat here (sorry Paul), but as I have book three in my possesion I am looking forward to reading it.

It does not skimp on the topic, we are after all talking about a genocide theme – so obvious Paul Collins believes his teenage readership to be intelligent and mature enough for this tale.

I can imagine if I had read this as a teenager I may well have found it a favourite, but I am an adult and can only report what I feel about the book as an adult. And in that light I would conclude that it is a good read, one that has little that would worry a parent who's teenage offspring might be reading it (I cannot say for sure as I have no children and no understanding of teenagers) and that the book can be enjoyed by older readers also.

Synopsis
Has Welkin uncovered a final solution to the Earthborn problem?

After an aborted mission and the crash of the Skyborn ship Colony, fourteen-year-old crewman Welkin Quinn is left for dead on the harsh, barren, and inhospitable landscape of a postdisaster Earth. Rescued by a gang of teenaged Earthborn refugees, however, Welkin overcomes his Skyborn prejudices of Earthborn "scum", proves his value, and becomes a trusted member of the Family. In time, with luck and hard work, the Family has even begun to thrive.

Existence is still brutal. Still hand to mouth. The ravaged, poisoned landscape is hardly more than a vast windswept wasteland. Dangers from rival bands of murderous mutants -- like Jabbers -- are a daily threat. As is the hulking and ominous presence of Colony itself.

Inside the grounded starship, its Skyborn inhabitants feed on their hatred of the dreaded and despised Earthborn. When, on routine patrol, a Colony scout is captured by the Family, he reveals a startling secret: Authorities onboard Colony have regrouped and mean to launch a final -- and overwhelming -- assault to rid Earth of the "savage" Earthborn once and for all.

Welkin has only one choice: Infiltrate Colony and neutralise the threat. But even Welkin -- armed with his knowledge of Skyborn ways and methods -- could never have been prepared for what he finds.