Waterbound

by Jane Stemp

In a futuristic society sixteen-year-old Gem discovers that a group of handicapped people who call themselves the Waterbound live hidden beneath the City.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Disability Studies

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[Miramira Endevall · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to describe exactly how I feel about this book. I was desperate for something to read one night in Tulsa whilst I was waiting for 5am when I would be allowed to return to the dorm room I was paying $5k/semester to be locked out of. I was wandering around the Wal-Mart across the street from campus, trying to look like I was shopping and desperately avoiding the couple humping and bumping in the plushy-toy aisle. Waterbound was on sale for $0.50, the premise seemed interesting enough to keep my attention at 3am, so I bought it.

The ending disappoints, but the premise is still interesting enough for 3am and it's a better dystopia story than either The Giver or Ember. I hope it makes you think, or at least scratch your head.

[Kimberley Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deserves to be better known! Even if the leading character is able-bodied, this book is the best attempt I've seen thus far to explain a disabled point of view so that an able-bodied reader has a chance to "get it". Portrayals of disabled people as fully-rounded characters in a community, rather than as sidekicks or the lead in a "message" book are rare. More of this, please!

[liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this in 2021, I was glad to find a fantasy story where disability featured so much, but also sad that the only future for disabled children this novel created was one of utter marginalisation and erasure. It told us about a future where disabled children are systematically disposed of, but offers no systematic solutions or change, favouring a ridiculous romantic escapist ending rather than advocating social justice. Writers of the future; do better. Imagine futures where disabled children can thrive.

[Rainbow Unicorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot count how many tines I've read this book! Its brilliant.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked this. Set in a future world. She says she began this after losing her temper with someone else's book - I wonder whose. The future world has fewer people and fewer resources, but lots of rules. History has been rewritten by Admin. But Gem discovers through her friend Jay who is ay ear older than her (she is 16) that heaps of people live under the city, in the waterways, those who the Admin decided long ago they didn't want to waste their resources on - all those less than perfect, ie blind, deaf, disabled, in a wheelchair. The city must be pretty small because most of the major characters have a sibling down there. Jay's is his one year older brother, Jon, who he nicknamed J2, who was born with only one arm. The Admin always tells the parents the kids have died; a person at the hospital ferrets them down to the underground. Anyway, the book is really just about them trying to be heard, which they eventually are, as with enough people knowing, the Admin has to accept them. There were a few things I would have liked to see more detail about. eg. One wonders whether people grow old and become deaf, or have accidents and lose an arm in this city? Are they just labelled dead as well?

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminds me of Westerfeld's Uglies series. It's the future, and people are confined to a couple of cities, so they don't mess up the environment. At some point, it's decided that resources shouldn't be wasted on people who aren't physically able. But rather than those kids being killed, some of them are saved in an underground fashion, both metaphorically and literally.

The deaf character was a minor role, so that was a bit disappointing. The main character is an able-bodied girl.

Interesting future world and not a bad story.

[han · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was like 12 and liked it enough. This summer I re-read it in probably a day and totally understood it. The messages it sends are so interesting and it really gets you thinking about what the future could be like and how your life would be if you lived in that society. I totally recommend it, but maybe for people a little older than 12, it was just too much for me to wrap my head around back then.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a 90's book! It's a bit like The Giver with a touch of Captain Planet or Magic School Bus, a dystopian sci-fi that's very much pro-environmentalism and pro-equality. It's interesting at times, but at times it's so 90's it hurts. Decent overall, but very predictable with some parts that are unintentionably laughable. Also, it has one of those awkward 'off into the unknown' type of endings.

[Nat Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like a lot of young adult authors underestimate the ability of their readers to get behind complex plots. The story really needed to be flushed out with politics and thought processes by the characters. A great premise that could have been told better, but a nice quick read and a book i would give to my progeny, but probably at an earlier age than is recommended.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book in the way I think I was supposed to like The Giver. The ending was abrupt and confusing, though.