Daughter of the Deep

Rick Riordan delivers a thrilling science fiction adventure for middle grade readers, reimagining Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Ana Dakkar, a 15-year-old orphan, finds her world upended when her elite marine academy is destroyed by a rival institution. She soon learns she is a descendant of Captain Nemo and must embrace her leadership potential to protect her friends and uncover the secrets of her heritage, all while navigating a high-stakes underwater war. The book explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the ethical use of advanced technology.

Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Ana's parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family she's got left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. Ana's freshman year culminates with the class's weekend trial at sea, the details of which have been kept secret. She only hopes she has what it'll take to succeed. All her worries are blown out of the water when, on the bus ride to the ship, Ana and her schoolmates witness a terrible tragedy that will change the trajectory of their lives. But wait, there's more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. Now that cold war has been turned up to a full broil, and the freshmen are in danger of becoming fish food. In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time.