This is not a direct sequel to [b:Ship Breaker|7095831|Ship Breaker (Ship Breaker, #1)|Paolo Bacigalupi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327874074s/7095831.jpg|7352929], It happens in the same world and deals with the same post fossil fuel post global warming America, but it is not the continuation of the same story line.

I like such indirect sequels.

China has taken the role of the US as peace-keepers and the US has turned into something between Afghanistan and Africa with Warlords recruiting child soldiers.

This is where I start to have problems. There isn't enough imagination in the world building. The Chinese are exactly the US of today there is nothing new or Chinese about their actions and tactics. The militias are strait out of the failed states of Africa.

As opposed to Ship Breaker, I find the child soldier material a bit hard for YA, at least not for early teens. Though I do recommend reading this before joining the military.