MADE OF STEAM AND STARDUST

When a comet hurtles toward her planet, sixteen-year-old inventor Gerdie is determined to stop it and use her success to improve the conditions of the factories she works in: she'll build a machine that will save the world.

But as she hunts for the parts to build her creation, she encounters Fell—a mysterious boy with an unsettling connection to the comet. He's being hunted by the ruthless Conqueror Seki, and soon Gerdie is, too.

On the run, the duo uncovers chilling blueprints for a deadly army of automatons. The army is nearly complete, but a final piece is still missing.

If Gerdie doesn't find it before Conqueror Seki does, the comet will be the least of her worries.

Winner of the 2021 ASA Award Mentorship (YA)

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REVIEWS

“I just LOVED the characters, especially tenacious Gerdie and ethereal Fell.
On a forgotten outpost of Earth, Gerdie works in a dangerous factory where she longs for a safer world for herself and her coworkers - and to have the opportunity to pursue her passion of inventing. But the selfish conqueror Seki leads a repressive regime where no one can thrive but him. Can Gerdie and her friends create a better world?
No spoilers - you've got to read it yourself! Wonderful, wonderful book.” - Sasha Wasley, author of the Alice England Mystery books

“I think we can all see a bit of ourselves in these characters, or get some hope from them. Whether it's Gerdie's bravery and intelligence, Fell's determined softness, or Leo's journey of recovering from trauma and finding his agency.” - Poppy Solomon, author and editor

“This was such a heart-warming and whimsical story. I found it to be such a unique blend of scifi, steampunk, and fantasy, and couldn't really think of much to compare it to. I loved the adventure/journey elements, the found family vibes, and the WHIMSY. What a brilliant debut. you can really tell that this story was a labour of love. I adored reading this as an adult reader, but I think it would be absolutely MAGICAL for middle-grade readers curled up in the school library with this book in their hands.
Bright and warm and beautiful, a story written out of stardust. Very well done by Bianca Breen, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.” - Karleah Olson, author of A Wreck of Seabirds

“A sweet, steampunk/gearpunk tale of friendships, self-worth and bravery. This story is jam-packed with lovably flawed characters, intriguing lore, well-foreshadowed twists and a unique fantasy element. In a world on the path to destruction, everyone's a hero in their own way, rising up to fight the chaos. A spectacular debut!” - Michaela Ironwood, author