This “heartbreaking and heartfelt” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) star-crossed love story follows two teens in a starkly unequal future world who are struggling to find their places. 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? * A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year * * Kirkus Reviews Best of the Year* * Book Riot Best Books of the Year for Teens* * Poets & Writers Get the Word Out pick* "Gorgeous writing and emotionally impactful character arcs. . . . Heartbreaking and heartfelt." ― Kirkus Reviews , starred review " 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 "A love story, adventure tale, and science fiction work that reflects actions and events in our present world. . . . A unique and heart-pounding novel with an unexpected ending readers won’t soon forget." ― School Library Journal "The fully fleshed-out characters and their distinctly human connections juxtapose the delicately crafted sci-fi world. . . . Yero molds a convincing dystopian society that explores how technological advancements and political corruption can affect future generations." ― Publishers Weekly "Fans of dystopian romance will likely find much to enjoy in Under This Forgetful Sky. . . . [Yero] has built a complex and fascinating world, beautifully rendered. . . [a] gritty yet tender adventure with a conscience." ― Chapter 16 Lauren Yero is a Cuban American writer who was born in Florida and now lives in the mountains of western North Carolina. Her desire to connect more deeply with her Cuban roots led her to study and work throughout the Spanish-speaking world—including Chile, where she drew inspiration for her debut novel, Under This Forgetful Sky . In addition to writing, she works as a teacher and shares a small homestead with her husband, two kids, two pups, ten chickens, five geese, two ducks, and a couple hundred thousand honeybees. Chapter 1: Rumi 1 RUMI I rubbed my eyes against the brightness of the AutoTram station and ran through the doctor’s words again. This is going to be your year. My backpack slumped to the floor between my feet, and I nudged it upright. I straightened my shoulders too. Overhead, pigeons hopped from beam to beam of the station’s arched glass ceiling. Their shadows rippled through streams of late-afternoon light. It’s going to be a shining year, the doctor had said. A coming-out-of-darkness year. My hand slid into my jacket pocket and brushed against the pill bottle that lived there. I tapped one blue pill onto my palm, then another, and tossed them both to the back of my throat. Right, I thought. The world will be fresh and new. The colors bright. My smile honest. But I still have to make it through today. The station was full but not crowded. Corporate commuters mostly, heading home from work. The tidy click of shoes on marble tile. A few other students in the green uniforms of my school sat scattered around the station, but I pretended not to see them. Instead, I watched the pigeons. Watched and waited for a repeat in their code. No matter how long I stared, I couldn’t find any. It was all perfectly random. Perfectly real. Except, of course, for the pigeon crap that had once made them such a nuisance. None of that anywhere. “Are you feeling all right, Mr. Sabzwari?” The voice came through my specs. It was a nurse from the Clinic, the one who always sounded a bit too concerned. I glanced around the station. I didn’t know where the cameras were, but I knew the nurse could see me. Nurses didn’t like it when you sat and stared into space for too long. They assumed you must be thinking bad thoughts. “Fine,” I said. “I’m doing fine. Just heading home for dinner with my family.” “I know, Mr. Sabzwari,” the nurse said. “Rough day?” I nodded toward one of the station’s spec screens, which had been playing archival footage of terror attacks on a loop for the past half hour. The hantavirus victims of New Stockholm. The wildfires in