The Darkness Outside Us, by Eliot Schrefer

Ambrose and Kodiak are trapped aboard a seemingly abandoned but active spaceship with no memory of how they got there.

Title: The Darkness Outside Us

Author: Eliot Schrefer

ISBN: 9780062888280

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication date: 2021

Genre(s): Science fiction, thriller

Available format(s): Print, audio. I reviewed the print version.

Reading level/interest level: Age 13 and up, according to Amazon

Summary: Ambrose Cusk wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of a launch, but he’s told by the AI that controls the ship (which, puzzlingly, sounds like his mother) that he’s been sent to rescue his sister Minerva, the first human sent to colonize Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. And at first, he doesn’t know whether to be relieved or horrified that he isn’t alone, and there’s another passenger on the ship. Kodiak Celius, a rival spacefarer.

Soon enough, though, Ambrose finds himself drawn to Kodiak, despite the latter’s prickly personality (and the fact that he’s from enemy territory). Both young men begin to realize that they need each other for survival as they uncover dark secrets about the ship and try to determine the true nature of their mission.

About the author: Eliot Schrefer is an educator, a science writer, and an award-winning author of fiction for children, teens, AND young adults! He has earned several accolades over the course of his writing career; he was a finalist for the National Book Award twice and also received the Stonewall and Printz Honor titles for his books. Schrefer grew up in several states across the country, but now serves as faculty in MFA programs and lives with his husband in New York City (Schrefer, n.d.).

Critical review: This book is way deeper than it might appear at first glance, pondering how humans define themselves and their values, and what they need in order to trust each other, love each other, and survive when forces are against them. It got existential, but never in an exhaustingly philosophical way; in fact, the way the mystery unfolds in this book reminded me of the twists and turns in Firekeeper’s Daughter; readers who enjoyed the thrilling aspects of that book are likely to enjoy The Darkness Outside Us, too.

Ambrose and Kodiak are fully realized characters and their love is one for the ages; I absolutely adored watching it develop and observing them open up to each other and put their faith in trust in each other when they couldn’t do that elsewhere.

Related programming ideas: This book is basically a mystery/thriller set in space and could totally inspire a “murder mystery” party in the Teen Center.

Brief booktalk: Trapped aboard a seemingly abandoned but active spaceship with no memory of how they got there, Ambrose and Kodiak realize they must work together to figure out what’s really going on. Read The Darkness Outside Us, climb aboard the Coordinated Endeavor with the boys, and you’ll find yourself on a thrilling space adventure.

Potential challenges: Murder, suicide, and suicidal ideation are discussed in the book, which could ring alarm bells for some readers. In addition, the connection between the two lead characters is never labeled but does evolve into a romantic and sexual relationship and does clearly appear queer; consequently, the book could be challenged for its LGBTQIA+ content.

Reason for inclusion: I think every teen collection needs a robust science fiction/fantasy section, because teens love to explore the nature of human emotion, connection, and identity in realms beyond their own (at least I did, at that age). Though “hard” science fiction, fantasy, or dystopian fiction are no longer my common genres of choice in adulthood, knowing that Schrefer is a lauded author, I did not hesitate to read the book or include it in the collection once I had. It’s unforgettable.

Check this out: A conversation between Eliot Schrefer and Trevor Noah, about Eliot's newest book!