The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

In the last days of the twenty-first century, sea creatures swim through the ruins of London. Ages 12 up.Hope had abandoned them to the wrath of all the waters. Despite predictable plot points and an insufficiently explained underwater setting, the strong premise and underlying sense of excitement make this a fast-paced, wholly enjoyable adventure. Shah's strong debut, first in a planned duology, is vividly described and emotionally rich. Despite Leyla's insistence that she doesn't need any help, the waters are filled with enemies, including the genetically engineered Anthropoids who prey upon humans, and the authorities who want to prevent Leyla and Ari from discovering the truths hidden in the dark depths of a drowned world. When that hope doesn't pay off, she sets out into the treacherous ocean to find him herself, accompanied by Ari, a mysterious young man sent by her grandfather to protect her. British-Afghan Leyla McQueen, 16, a champion submersible racer, hopes to free her father (jailed for 'aiding and abetting citizen suicides' among sufferers of an underwater malaise called 'the seasickness') by winning the prestigious London Submersible Marathon. In this thrilling postapocalyptic tale set in 2099, after civilization was forced underwater by global flooding, a young Muslim woman searches for her unjustly imprisoned father amid the remnants of Great Britain. And her father will be lost to her forever. If Leyla fails to discover the truths at the heart of her world, or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture-or worse.

Now she must brave unfathomable waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a guarded, hotheaded companion she never asked for in the first place. But the race takes an unexpected turn, forcing Leyla to make an impossible choice. The Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. When sixteen-year-old submersible racer Leyla McQueen is chosen to participate in the city's prestigious annual marathon, she sees an opportunity to save her father, who has been arrested on false charges.

Trapped in the abyss, humankind wavers between hope and fear of what lurks in the depths around them, and hope that they might one day find a way back to the surface. From debut author London Shah, comes a thrilling futuristic Sci-Fi mystery perfect for fans of Illuminae and These Broken Stars.

The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah