Across the Universe (novel series)

Beth Revis, an American author, wrote a trilogy of young adult science fiction romance novels called Across the Universe. The story follows Amy Martin, a teenager who wakes up early from cryogenic sleep aboard a generation ship called Godspeed, which is heading to a distant Earth-like planet. The first book, published by Razorbill in 2011, earned a starred review from Kirkus and landed on the New York Times Bestseller List for Children's Chapter Books.

Plot summary

The plot centers on Amy, who was frozen alongside her parents as part of a group of 100 settlers. After her premature awakening, she discovers a rigid society formed by generations born on the ship. With help from Elder, the ship’s only other teenager and its future leader, she must solve a murder mystery to protect the remaining passengers before time runs out. The original trilogy consists of Across the Universe (2011), A Million Suns (2012), and Shades of Earth (2013), all published by Penguin Books. A fourth book, The Body Electric (2014), is a standalone novel set in the same universe and was self-published by Revis.

Short Fiction in this universe

She also wrote short fiction for this universe, including the novella As They Slip Away, originally released as a free download through Penguin’s website or as part of a promotion, and stories in anthologies: The Other Elder in After (edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling), Love is a Choice in Shards and Ashes (edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong), and Night Swimming in Defy the Dark (edited by Sandra Mitchell). The first book debuted at number seven on the New York Times bestseller list in January 2011, received a starred Kirkus review, was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal, and was chosen as a YALSA Teens Top Ten book for 2012. The sequel, A Million Suns, debuted at number ten on the same list and was named a Best Teen Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews.