About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is navigating the complex feelings of long-term endings, such as graduating from a school or moving away from a childhood home, and needs to see that closure often involves both grief and hope. As the final installment of the Mortal Engines quartet, this story concludes a grand saga of mobile cities and warring factions. It focuses on Tom and his daughter Wren as they search for peace while the volatile Hester Shaw faces a final, world-threatening enemy. The emotional weight of the book centers on legacy and the cyclical nature of history. It is highly appropriate for older middle schoolers and high schoolers who can appreciate moral ambiguity and the idea that heroes are often flawed. Parents will find it a valuable tool for discussing how to let go of the past and how individual choices can break cycles of violence. It is a poignant, high-stakes conclusion that rewards readers who have grown up alongside these characters.
