Edgar lives on a mysterious world in which there are three layers- the Highlands, where the rich and powerful live and control the water supply to the whole world; Tabletop, where the working class lives and supplies the Highlanders with food; and the Flatlands, which are barren. It is forbidden to climb the cliffs which separate the lands, but when Edgar was little he remembers a man who he thinks was his father telling him that something special is hidden for Edgar in the cliffs, so Edgar spends all his extra time secretly climbing the cliffs trying to find this special item.

Spoiler

Edgar finds a book hidden in the cliff wall, but he nor anyone from Tabletop can read, as that is forbidden. Edgar climbs to Highlands to find someone who can read the book. He meets another boy, Samuel, whose father used to be a leader but is now missing, presumed dead (rumored to have fallen off the cliff). The book warns that Highlands and Tabletop will sink and the world will all become one level, which makes the Highlanders afraid that the Tabletoppers will revolt and their cushy high-class life will come to an end, and also scary deathly creatures from Flatland will invade and kill the whole planet.

I liked the story, the characters are likable and just enough "evil nemesis" to keep things interesting but not obnoxious. The book ends on several cliffhangers, so it's not a single book but part one of a three-part long story.

I would actually give this book 3 & 1/2 stars if it were possible. Very close to a 4. I was annoyed at the end to be left with a cliff hanger. It seems like the book was written in its entirety and then conveniently parceled out among the planned series titles. Other than that, this is a good futuristic, dystopic tale of life on a man-made planet that orbits the earth (which is referred to as the "sad planet"). There is lots of food for thought and discussion. What are the benefits/faults of this world? How do the biases and preferences of the world's creator shape the world and its eventual troubles? Fans of Suzanne Collin's "The Hunger Games," or Jeanne DuPrau's "The City of Ember" will likely enjoy this series.

Very amazing idea for a world, but kind of drawn out.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It isn’t very complex and the characters aren’t very well developed. It came to me highly recommended, and I tried to like it...but it just didn’t hook me.

3.5 stars.

I read this to my 13-year old son, who also gives it 3.5 stars. He liked it enough that he requested we read the second one in the series, which is fine with me.

The world of Atherton features three levels, which correspond to its inhabitants social standing. So, the people who live on the uppermost section, the Highlanders, control the water supply and wield all the power. Those in the middle (Tabletop) live to harvest figs for the Highlanders. And the bottom section, well, you'll find out what sort of entity makes that place its home.

The story follows Edgar, a boy who works in the fig grove of Tabletop, and has a knack for climbing. He ventures where others from his area have never been, and starts to learn more and more about his world. All the while the layers of Atherton are changing, in a way that will affect all of its inhabitants.

I liked the book, though I found it a bit slow in places. It possibly fails the Bechdel test, and at the very least could use more love in the female character area. Still, it's a different sort of story, and Carman writes well, so we'll continue the series.

Atherton was created as a refuge from Earth for a select few. There are three levels on Atherton: Highlands (for the privileged), Tabletop (the workers), and the Flatlands (a seemingly barren land with no inhabitants). Eleven-year old Edgar is an orphan who works in a grove of fig trees on Tabletop and is an expert climber. He has one memory of his father: his father tells him to look for a leather bound book. Edgar finds the book, but cannot read it (only inhabitants of the Highlands are taught to read and write). He climbs his way to the Highlands and finds a boy his age willing to read the diary. What Edgar finds are catastrophic events predicted for Atherton.

A compelling read with sweet characters (for the most part). I think this is better than the Elyon series.

Grades 4-6.