Dirt Town: A Steampunk Fantasy Adventure for Young Adults

Dirt Town: A Steampunk Fantasy Adventure for Young Adults

Magic fuels privilege. Robots enforce oppression. One young doctor will ignite a revolution. Doctor Aldrich Durante has everything—prestige, wealth, and the comfort of Upper Cairnisle. But when he meets Fia, an illegal mage orphan from the slums of Dirt Town, his eyes are opened to the harsh realities of his society. Their chance encounter leads to a risky rescue mission, and Aldrich is faced with a choice—stay in his sheltered world or join forces with Fia to fight against the corrupt Magisters who use magic as a weapon. With injustice fueling their fire, Aldrich and Fia become a beacon of hope in a city on the brink of revolution. But their rebellion comes at a cost—and time is running out. Can they spark a change before it's too late? Experience the magic, intrigue, and heart-pounding adventure of Dirt Town , a thrilling blend of Shadow and Bone and Divergent . From Paula Baker and Aidan Davies, authors of the popular Hawks Trilogy , comes a YA fantasy that will take you on a journey of courage, friendship, and revolution. My son, Aidan Davies, and I pour our hearts into every story we create, and we are beyond excited to share them with you. Whether we're skiing or hiking, our minds are always buzzing with ideas about our characters and their adventures. Our stories draw inspiration from current politics, historical events, beloved books and movies, and our boundless imaginations. Our stories are more than just entertainment—they're a journey of thought and reflection. We believe that a well-crafted tale can both thrill and provoke thought, even in the midst of a grand adventure. Through our storytelling, Aidan and I strive to make sense of the world around us, and we hope that our stories will inspire you to reflect on your own experiences and discoveries. Join us on this adventure. Dive into our stories, and let your imagination soar! Magic fuels privilege. Robots enforce oppression. One young doctor will ignite a revolution. Doctor Aldrich Durante has everything: prestige, wealth, and the comfort of Upper Cairnisle, where robot guards patrol the streets and automatized carriages glide through glittering avenues. But his world unravels when he meets Fia, a daring orphan from the slums of Dirt Town. Their chance encounter forces Aldrich to confront the dark truths of his society—grinding poverty, ruthless rulers, and machines designed to control, not protect. When Fia's life is threatened by a dangerous loan shark, Aldrich steps in, risking his career and status to save her. As injustice ignites a fire in Aldrich's heart, he and Fia join forces against the corrupt Magisters who wield magic like a weapon. In a city teetering on the edge, their bond becomes a beacon of hope. But defying the system comes at a cost, and time is running out. Can Aldrich and Fia spark a revolution before they're silenced forever? Paula Baker and her son, Aidan Davies, wrote the popular middle-grade fantasy trilogy Rebels of Halklyen, The God Sword, and The White Wolf, along with its prequel, Raptor's Call . Their latest release, Dirt Town , is a magic-filled young adult steampunk fantasy.   Baker grew up on a farm in Manitoba where she spent as much time reading everything from Enid Blyton to Charles Dickens as she did building treehouses, playing her trumpet and riding her bike. After earning a Bachelor of Music Education from Brandon University and a Master's in Gifted Education from the University of North Texas, she worked as a band teacher and librarian for thirty-five years.   Born and raised in British Columbia, Davies grew up reading Harry Potter and Percy Jackson ; playing The Legend of Zelda and Assassin's Creed; and building longswords out of wood. He attended the University of British Columbia and earned a degree in mathematics. During the day, he analyzes data while at least part of his brain continues to develop the fantasy worlds where their stories take place.   While jumping on the trampoline on the first day of summer holidays following Davies' grade nine year, they planned Rebels of Halklyen . Over time, they have developed a system where after discussing the story, he outlines the chapters and she writes them. Their partnership works because not only have they hiked the same trails and skied the same mountains, they have read the same books, played the same video games and watched the same movies. They live in British Columbia, Canada.