LAUREN YERO
LAUREN YERO is a Cuban American writer living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Born in Florida, she received her BA from Davidson College and her MA in Environmental Literature from the University of Nevada Reno. Her desire to connect more deeply with her Latinx heritage led her to study and work in Spain, Argentina, Cuba, and Chile, where she drew inspiration for her debut novel.
In addition to writing, she teaches at a small farm-and-arts school in the beautiful county she calls home. She shares a small homestead with her husband, two kids, two pups, ten chickens, five geese, two ducks, and a couple hundred thousand honeybees.
UNDER THIS FORGETFUL SKY
Atheneum/S&S, 2023
*A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
*A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
*A Book Riot Best Book of the Year
* A Poets & Writers Get the Word Out Pick
*A Fae Crate Selection for August
*A Kirkus Best Book of July
In the spirit of Paolo Bacigalupi and Laini Taylor, this futuristic star-crossed love story follows two teens in a starkly unequal world struggling to find their place.
Sixteen-year-old Rumi Sabzwari has spent his entire life behind the armored walls of St. Iago, which protect citizens of the Union of Upper Cities from the outside world’s environmental devastation. But when rebels infect his father with a fatal virus, Rumi escapes St. Iago, desperate to find a cure.
In the ruined city of Paraíso, Rumi meets fifteen-year-old Paz, who agrees to guide him on his journey. As they travel together, Rumi finds himself drawn to Paz—and behind her tough exterior, she begins to feel the same way. But Paz knows more about Rumi’s father’s illness than she’s saying and has her own agenda. With the powerful forces at play in their cities putting them at odds, can the two learn to trust in each other—enough to imagine a different world?
“Blending a star-crossed romance and a dystopian world of haves and have-nots, this intricate novel explores the topics of power dynamics, inequality, and revolution with nuance. The gorgeous writing and emotionally impactful character arcs fully deliver on the darkness of the premise….. Heartbreaking and heartfelt. ” — Kirkus, Starred Review
“A love story, adventure tale, and science fiction work that reflects actions and events in our present world, causing readers to reflect inwardly and on the world around.A unique and heart-pounding novel with an unexpected ending readers won’t soon forget, …highly recommended.” — School Library Journal
“Under This Forgetful Sky is an exquisitely crafted debut set in a smartly realized world. Rumi and Paz are characters to cheer for, and their page-turning story is both a heart-rending romance and a nuanced exploration of inequity. Highly recommended.” — Rae Carson, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns series