AMichaelL.PrintzAwardHonorBookCeruleanGeneisfreeeverywhereexceptschool,wherethey’reknownforrepeatedlychallengingauthority.Raisedinafree-spiritedhomebytwolovingparentswhoencourageCeruleantobetheirfullself,they’vegotbigdreamsofmovingcross-countrytoliveoffthegridwiththeirfriendsaftergraduation.Butafightwithateacherspiralsoutofcontrol,andCeruleanimpulsivelydropsouttoavoidthepunishmenttheyfeariscoming.Whywaitforgraduationtoleaveanoppressivecapitalistsystemandlivetheirdreams?Ceruleanistrulybrilliant,buttheirshelteredupbringinghasn’tpreparedthemfortheconsequencesoftheirchoice--especiallynotwhenit’scompoundedbyafamilyemergencythatputsaparentoutofwork.Suddenlythemoneythey’dbeenstackingwiththeirfriendsisaresourcethatthefamilyneedstostayafloat.SalttheWaterisabookaboutdreaminginaworldthathasotherplansforyourtime,youryouth,andyourfuture.Itasks,whatdoesitlooklikewhenabunchofqueerBlackkidsareallowedtodream?Andwhatdoesitlooklikeforthemtoconfrontthepresentcircumstancesofthepeopletheylovewhilestillpursuingawildlydifferentfutureoftheirown?
