The silver ship and the sea

The Silver Ship and the Sea is a young-adult science-fiction novel by Brenda Cooper, published in 2007. In 2008, it won the Endeavour Award, and also was as one of Booklist's Adult Books for Young Adults Winners.

The book is about six genetically altered children who have been left on this planet (Fremont) after a war. The altered were stronger, faster, with better reflexes and sharper senses than normal humans on Fremont. They were often mistreated because they descended from the altered that fought against the humans.

These six children were Chelo Lee and her brother Joseph, Kayleen, Bryan, Alicia, and Liam. Fremont had a single town, Artistos, where most of the people lived. They had 2 bands: the east band and the west band, which traveled around studying plants and animals. Chelo and Joseph lived with Artistos' leaders while Kayleen and Bryan lived with other families in the town. Liam went to the West Band, while Alicia was sent with the East Band.

The plot starts with Chelo narrating, telling about how her brother Joseph and her friend Kayleen could hold "data streams" and could fix such things. Basically they could sense others in remote places and see if a meteor is crashing. Chelos and Joseph's adoptive parents were out hunting along with others. They were trapped in an earthquake and died. The earthquake reached Artistos too, causing much damage. Joseph, after this experience was weak and shaken, unable to do what he used to. Soon the East and West band met in Artistos. Liam was treated better than anyone else, but Alicia had been accused of murder by the East Band's leader Ruth. Judgment was reserved, and while Liam left with his adoptive father (and band's leader) Akashi, Alicia stayed. Bryan, who possessed enormous strength, was kept in Artistos. Tom, Paloma (2 people in Artistos sympathetic to the altered) took Joseph, Chelo, Kayleen and Alicia out of Artistos in an attempt to heal Joseph. Jenna, an altered that was left on Fremont, showed the four children around the headquarters of the altered in battle. Joseph, with a help of an item, was completely healed and much more powerful than before. Jenna revealed to them their genemods (what they were altered to specialize in). Liam and Akashi soon joined them. After they had been informed by Nava that Brian had been severely hurt in a fight at Artistos, Joseph (who had learned that he could fly a ship) along with Jenna, Alicia, and Bryan (who was returned after alicia threatened the peaple of Artistos with altered weaponry, left on the silver spaceship the New Making while Chelo, Liam and Kayleen couldn't make it so they had to stay behind. Chelo joined Liam in the West Band while Kayleen remained with Paloma in Artistos.

Characters

Chelo Lee: 17-year-old altered girl with genemods as a caretaker, planner, and strategist.

Joseph Lee: 14-year-old altered boy with genemods to hold "data streams" and a spaceship flyer.

Kayleen: 15-year-old altered girl with genemods to hold "data streams". Also an exceptional runner.

Bryan: 15-year-old altered boy with genemods as a warrior/fighter, with enormous strength.

Liam: 16-year-old altered boy with genemods as a leader and strategist, and a quick learner.

Alicia: 16-year-old altered girl with genemods as a risk-taker and (in a way) a fighter.

Akashi: West Band leader, adoptive father of Liam, kind to altered

Paloma: Artistos resident, adoptive mother of Kayleen, kind to altered

Tom: Artistos resident, caretaker of Chelo and Joseph after the Earthquake, kind to altered

Nava: Leader of Artistos after Earthquake, unkind to altered

Ruth: Leader of the East Band, unkind to altered

Jenna: a crippled (but agile and strong) altered left on Fremont that trained the other children.

Notes

References: The Silver Ship and the Sea: 2007 by Brenda Cooper