Change

by Treesong

Sarah Athraigh, an environmental activist from Southern Illinois, stumbles into the midst of a hidden war between occult factions that are grappling with the root causes and dire consequences of climate change. As she goes on the run, she soon finds herself on a journey of discovery, searching for the unusual allies and innovative ideas that will help her to make a difference for the better in a dangerous world.

Genres: Climate Change

209 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Treesong is a father, husband, author, community organizer, talk radio host, and Real Life Superhero living in Southern Illinois. He writes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, mostly about climate change.

When he's not writing or spending time with his family, Treesong supports social justice, racial justice, and climate justice efforts in his community. He hosts a community radio show called Your Community Spirit with an emphasis on climate change news, unique holidays, and local events. He's also the branch leader of a superhero-themed community service group called Illinois Initiative.

For more information for Treesong's latest writing projects and Real-Life Superhero adventures, visit Treesong's official website at treesong.org.

Reviews

[Treesong Treesong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I also enjoyed writing it!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read! It encompasses so many different themes without being overwhelming and too complicated. If you can't connect to one aspect of the book (Climate Change, Sci Fi, Paganism, etc.), you can connect to another. It's the same with the characters. They are described in great detail, and their personalities really shine throughout the plot. There's action, adventure, geeky computer stuff, weird romance (kind of), and an evil villain. It's got everything, which is hard to pull off so well, but the author did just that! It's a very carefully planned out novel that comes together nicely in just over 200 pages. The cover art is amazing, too! This novel is well worth your time!

[Dana Hutchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the superheroes here on Earth-Prime had actual superpowers like the protagonists of Change preventing the destruction of civilization would be a lot simpler. Or at least it would go quicker and be cooler to watch. I'd rather be killed by a stray plasma bolt than sit on my roof and watch the water rise over the gutters while thinking, "Boy, I wish I had a canoe."
Nobody is incinerated by plasma bolts in Change but there is a mechanical gnome.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautifully written fantasy adventure! It absolutely carried me away on a really enjoyable journey! I loved the ideas & characters in this story! Great, interesting plot & I think this should be used by high schools in their reading curriculum. It would be a wonderful experience for all that read it! Loved how this imaginative book had a moral storyline weaved through the entire thing. I do strongly recommend & will read mor by this writer.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me this book was, above all else, fun. I liked the characters, the settings, and the very cool props. Having lived in or traveled to the principal locations, it was fun getting to connect to the story on that level and it made it feel very real. The author mixes grim reality and dark humor with hopefulness and heroism, and it's great to read such a strong female lead. This is a promising first effort and I look forward to more from Treesong.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read, which I'm calling urban fantasy as normal people develop superpowers. Then we learn that humanity may be evolving, and there are, as usual, people in power who feel threatened by people with telekinesis or healing hands. A young woman in Gorton, Sarah, joins climate change protests, and at first she thinks she's being followed because of her activism - but it's due to her display of superpower. (I had to Google Gorton, there is a town of that name in Pennsylvania.)

I'm not much for superhero stories, but it helps to get the environmental message across to fans of the genre. A male antagonist is called the Preceptor and he claims to be controlling a lot of world events. We are told that use of fossil fuels is warming the planet dangerously, but the powerful people don't want to stop because this would lead to societal chaos. They want to try winding things down on their terms... eventually.
With some scenic travels around cities, the big surprise for me is the minimal time spent in nature. With considerable violence and some strong language, this novella is for adults or mature teen readers.
I read an e-ARC. This is an unbiased review.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! I enjoyed reading something "real" that's also fun. It has elements of like your X-Men, Dr. Strange, Jessica Jones, or other super hero stories, but with some different powers; sci-fi that was unique, and protest scenes that you could really feel. It wasn't all about climate change, either. It was about friendship, and the journeys friendships sometimes take.

[Amoneeta Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and exciting book that kept me turning the pages. Having lived or traveled to the locations in the book, I could picture the places easily. Cool to see Aur Beck from Advanced Energy Solutions as a character in the book who gives the main character pivotal advice.