A thrilling futuristic adventure set deep undersea, Dark Life follows the settlers of the world's first subsea settlement as they defend their home...
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Dec 03, 2010
Bookwatcher
rated it: 
Marvelous book! My 5 stars and my applause
(no, I'm not a guy... I just like this animated gift
)
Well, without spoil the story I can say some things...
* All the story is Ty's POV. I enjoy this wise choice of the writer. It's so rare to read a YA book with a guy as narrator. I love Ty voice.
* Gemma, the main female character, is so brave! Looking for her brother she affront all her fears without second thoughts! SOOOO BRAVE! Love her!
* T More...
(no, I'm not a guy... I just like this animated gift
)
Well, without spoil the story I can say some things...
* All the story is Ty's POV. I enjoy this wise choice of the writer. It's so rare to read a YA book with a guy as narrator. I love Ty voice.
* Gemma, the main female character, is so brave! Looking for her brother she affront all her fears without second thoughts! SOOOO BRAVE! Love her!
* T More...
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May 18, 2011
Flannery
rated it: 
There is some seriously cool world-building going on up in here. I'm glad I squeezed finishing off this book in between watching Easy A with my family (pretty awesome) and trying NOT to watch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (all music by Burt Bacharach...nuff said). Kat Falls' first novel is set underwater in a future where most of our land is under the ocean and the majority of people live in crowded tenement blocks. Ty, the teenage protagonist, is the first child born in the underwater col
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3 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Mar 27, 2010
Abby
rated it:
In a future America where rising seas have claimed much of the land, leaving Topsiders to pack themselves in tiny stacked apartments, some people have taken to the ocean. These pioneers live on the ocean floor, farming the sea and sending crops to the government in exchange for their homesteads. This is where Ty Townsend has lived all his life. He was the first child to be born in the undersea community of Benthic Territory and he loves it there. But when outlaws threaten the safety of the settl
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Apr 30, 2011
Christian
rated it:
In a world taking place undersea after the oceans rose and earthquakes caused whole regions to fall into the deep, deep path below, humans live packed into stack cities. They barely go outside because sunlight can cause 3rd degree burns all over. As a result, some pioneers staked out a living on the ocean floor. Ty was born and raised in the deep. He was the first to be born in subsea underwater. By the way he’s not pleasant to hear the whole experiment may fail due to a gang of outlaws that h
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(2 people liked it)
May 30, 2011
Mitchel
rated it:
We've all had our fill of dystopia-infused YA literature in the past couple of years. From the trilogy that seemed to have sparked its massive popularity much like the books that sparked the vampire craze, it's been hard to distinguish the rest of the pack from poor imitators. Dark Life, the first novel by college professor Kat Falls, is no imitator: here is a true, original, fun and fascinating dystopic tale fueled with imagination, relatable characters and a beautifully realized undersea setti
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0 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Oct 18, 2011
Matti
rated it: 
"Me tsimmattais, ja gimmat sais
korut koralleista syvyyden
joka boitsu, giltsi olis ihan et voi piltsi
kun hiffaisivat mestan hyvyyden [...]
Niin se on joo, ei kukaan oo
ees tursaan puutarhassa turvassa..."
(Freud, Marx, Engels & Jung: Tursaan puutarhassa)
Kat Fallsin "Veden alla" (Tammi, 2011) on kohtalaisen onnistunut nuorten scifi-romaani, jossa lähitulevaisuuden maailmaa on kohdannut pahemmanlaatuinen ekokatastrofi; jäävuoret ovat More...
korut koralleista syvyyden
joka boitsu, giltsi olis ihan et voi piltsi
kun hiffaisivat mestan hyvyyden [...]
Niin se on joo, ei kukaan oo
ees tursaan puutarhassa turvassa..."
(Freud, Marx, Engels & Jung: Tursaan puutarhassa)
Kat Fallsin "Veden alla" (Tammi, 2011) on kohtalaisen onnistunut nuorten scifi-romaani, jossa lähitulevaisuuden maailmaa on kohdannut pahemmanlaatuinen ekokatastrofi; jäävuoret ovat More...
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Feb 07, 2012
Benjamin
rated it:
I've read a fair number of young adult titles but am ofen disappointed in one way or another. But in "Dark Life", Kat Falls has written a very good one. I won't rehash the plot beacuse others have done that well, but I will tell you that this has all the ingredients that make for a good read, YA or otherwise.
From the very beginning, it's obvious the author has put a great deal of time and thought into creating this unique setting. Living under the ocean can't be very easy More...
From the very beginning, it's obvious the author has put a great deal of time and thought into creating this unique setting. Living under the ocean can't be very easy More...
Apr 09, 2011
Gabriella
rated it: 
Finally! It took Scholastic forever to get this book out to me. Anyway, once I read it I'll quickly write a review for it.
***
Well I've finished the book and now I must write a review.
To be quite frank I thought the book was boring. It takes place sometime in the future, after some terrible natural disaster I believe. The oceans have taken over most of the land, so many people have been forced to live under the sea. That sounds pretty good huh? I thought so! Bu More...
***
Well I've finished the book and now I must write a review.
To be quite frank I thought the book was boring. It takes place sometime in the future, after some terrible natural disaster I believe. The oceans have taken over most of the land, so many people have been forced to live under the sea. That sounds pretty good huh? I thought so! Bu More...
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Jun 03, 2010
Claire
rated it:
Post global warming- the new frontier is under the sea. Pioneering scientists and adventurers are using some amazing technology that makes use of physics and biology to farm fish, some livestock (!) and sea plants.
These farms have been in existence for almost 20 years now and children have been born under the surface and grown up underwater. These kids have extranormal abilities, all different, all wonderful and all a secret, the kids never tell or display their gifts. The oldest among th More...
These farms have been in existence for almost 20 years now and children have been born under the surface and grown up underwater. These kids have extranormal abilities, all different, all wonderful and all a secret, the kids never tell or display their gifts. The oldest among th More...
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(3 people liked it)
Sep 22, 2011
Book Chick City
rated it:
Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. 7/10 on the blog.
This book is worth reading for the fantastically imaginative setting alone. Set in the future when the world has been consumed by the oceans. People live in cramped high rise blocks on the limited land available, lucky to have two rooms per family. But there are some that choose a very different life entirely and decide to live the 'darklife' and make their homes at the bottom of the sea.
Now, if you like me think that li More...
This book is worth reading for the fantastically imaginative setting alone. Set in the future when the world has been consumed by the oceans. People live in cramped high rise blocks on the limited land available, lucky to have two rooms per family. But there are some that choose a very different life entirely and decide to live the 'darklife' and make their homes at the bottom of the sea.
Now, if you like me think that li More...
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(1 person liked it)
May 08, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
This is a book I won on the gieaways!
Would you be willing to live in a world underwater? After earthquakes made the earth less inhabitable, some people chose to live in the deep sea. Tensions increase as community leaders are threatened with witheld supplies unless they find group of outlaws set on destroying the sea frontier. Ty, a 15 year old, and his new friend from "Topside", Gemma (who is looking for her missing brother) confront the dangers of the sea as they discover th More...
Would you be willing to live in a world underwater? After earthquakes made the earth less inhabitable, some people chose to live in the deep sea. Tensions increase as community leaders are threatened with witheld supplies unless they find group of outlaws set on destroying the sea frontier. Ty, a 15 year old, and his new friend from "Topside", Gemma (who is looking for her missing brother) confront the dangers of the sea as they discover th More...
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Nov 29, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
This was a fantastic debut novel. Major parts of the Earth have been flooded, and so land is at a premium. Some brave pioneers have settled onto the ocean floor where land is plentiful, instead of living in extremely crowded cities. But there are rumors that children who grow up under the water develop Dark Gifts, paranormal abilities. Ty was the first child born in the ocean and he has spent the majority of his life underwater. It is more normal to him than being topside. Recently the col
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Feb 06, 2012
Aik Chien
rated it:
I couldn't fathom why I took so long to reach (read) this book - it has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf for so long. I'm so glad I finally read it, because it's superb! Dark Life is set in a futuristic world where the rising sea-levels have sunken most of the lands and scientists and pioneers are starting to test the possibilities of living under the sea. Of course, most people still prefer to live on land, even though they are forced to cramp with each other due to the limited spaces.
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Jan 22, 2012
Dawn
rated it:
If you liked Airborn (Kenneth Oppel), you'll like this. Think Airborn set under the ocean. In a dystopian future the seas have risen, causing much of North America to be under water. All available land is packed with ant-like colonies of people crammed into skyscrapers where space is the most precious commodity. The deep sea has become the frontier. Settlers under the ocean live a challenging life, but they have room to breathe and can establish claims, farms, and homesteads. Children born
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Jan 17, 2012
Review of dark life
Genre: dystopia
Summary: life risking adventure for Gemma and Ty with the help with Jibby Zoe,and Doc
Compelling literary elements: characters 1. they aren’t like ordinary kids 2. different world represent different types of their personality and how they come together 3. what they do to make this story valuable .
Questions and concerns: what does Ty mean when he says he jumped into someone elses world? Why did Zoe show that her talent was More...
Genre: dystopia
Summary: life risking adventure for Gemma and Ty with the help with Jibby Zoe,and Doc
Compelling literary elements: characters 1. they aren’t like ordinary kids 2. different world represent different types of their personality and how they come together 3. what they do to make this story valuable .
Questions and concerns: what does Ty mean when he says he jumped into someone elses world? Why did Zoe show that her talent was More...
Nov 14, 2011
Heather
rated it:
Ty is one of the first kids to settle the last remaining frontier on Earth, the ocean. He lives deep underwater with his scientist parents and spunky kid sister. Humans were driven into the ocean when the land flooded and people were crammed by the thousands into single apartment buildings.
Topsiders are very unsure about life sub surface. They call the settlers The Dark Life. Many are concerned about the children who grow up there becoming mutated physically and mentally by the wate More...
Topsiders are very unsure about life sub surface. They call the settlers The Dark Life. Many are concerned about the children who grow up there becoming mutated physically and mentally by the wate More...
Oct 26, 2011
Olivia
rated it:
Uhhhhhh since I'm taking a 8th grade course during my 7th year. We were required to read two sunshine state books. Why is this a pain? Because I NEVER like any of the sunshine state books or any of the books my middle school chooses. The only ones I like were lawnboy and the strange case of origami Yoda. (isn't that sad?? But then again they were both around 90 pages long ;)
Okay, back to my review of Dark Life. The beginning was okay but I had to skip the middle so I could finish my re More...
Okay, back to my review of Dark Life. The beginning was okay but I had to skip the middle so I could finish my re More...
Oct 25, 2011
Carol
rated it:
Earthquakes have destroyed much of the land on the Earth's surface. Rising water levels have made much of the remainder unable to support human life. To survive people are crammed into ridiculously tall stacked apartment buildings with no personal space whatsoever. A few have become pioneers and moved to the ocean floor, creating farms and raising fish as livestock. Ty was born deep-sea to a pair of scientist pioneers. He and his younger sister are among the only children thriving in the ocean d
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Sep 28, 2011
03brysong
rated it:
What do you do when there is no place left on land to live? Move under the sea of couse. This is what Ty's family does in the book "Rip Tide". This book is by the Author Kat Falls. This book was published last year(2010). It is a great book, and I would recommend it to people aged 10-16. In a meager 314 pages she has a story of mystery, romance, pirates, and a fighting ring with 20 foot crocodiles in them!
Ty lives subsea. His whole family moved there since he was a kid. More...
Ty lives subsea. His whole family moved there since he was a kid. More...
Jul 20, 2011
Wendy
rated it:
After much of the continent became submerged, people started prospecting and farming the only place left to find land: the bottom of the ocean. Ty lives with this family on their 400 acre farm and dreams of the day when he'll own his own land--except the common wealth says no one will get any land, or any supplies until the notorious criminals aboard the Seablite are caught. Ty tries to help Gemma, a girl from topside, find her missing brother amongst the ruff frontier folk while keeping an eye
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Apr 30, 2011
Eden
rated it:
The cover:
The atmosphere of the cover is suitably mysterious, especially with the exquisite detailing of the background. The placement of the jellyfish is maybe a little bit too centred; I'm thinking putting it off to the side or even coming in diagonally would've made for a more visually intriguing picture.
The book:
Ty is the kind of boy character who's recently gone out of style (in my opinion): he's loyal, hardworking, proud and completely unaware of his go More...
The atmosphere of the cover is suitably mysterious, especially with the exquisite detailing of the background. The placement of the jellyfish is maybe a little bit too centred; I'm thinking putting it off to the side or even coming in diagonally would've made for a more visually intriguing picture.
The book:
Ty is the kind of boy character who's recently gone out of style (in my opinion): he's loyal, hardworking, proud and completely unaware of his go More...
Feb 04, 2011
Ann
rated it:
Dark Life by Kat Falls takes place in the distant future. With ocean levels rising, earthquakes caused great areas of land to disappear beneath the ocean's surface. Humans occupy what little land is left by living in high rise buildings in what are called "stack cities". With no open land left for agricultural production, the sea becomes the source of food to sustain life. Fifteen year old Ty lives below the sea's surface with his family. They are among a sturdy group of pioneer
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Jan 20, 2011
Jan
rated it:
I devoured Dark Life. It was sort of like Serenity goes under the ocean! The world building was superb. It is a plot driven novel, full of action and suspense, but the author does spend time developing her characters. The book reminded me a bit of Ship Breaker, as it begins with a terrifying sequence for Ty, who is exploring a deep ocean canyon that is now the tomb of many East Coast cities.
I have booktalked this one by just reading the first page, which really grabs your inter More...
I have booktalked this one by just reading the first page, which really grabs your inter More...
Dec 30, 2010
Deborah
rated it:
Kat Falls’, "Dark Life", is an action packed adventure ride. Grab your diving equipment and come along!
After an earthquake destroys the coast land of the world the only open space are the oceans. It is there that settlements have been established on the ocean floors. Ty, a subsea- born, has lived in the Benthic Territory all his life. The story is told from Ty’s point of view. He meets Gemma, a topsider, who lives in the cramped cities on land; who has come to the sea to l More...
After an earthquake destroys the coast land of the world the only open space are the oceans. It is there that settlements have been established on the ocean floors. Ty, a subsea- born, has lived in the Benthic Territory all his life. The story is told from Ty’s point of view. He meets Gemma, a topsider, who lives in the cramped cities on land; who has come to the sea to l More...
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Dec 29, 2010
Becky
rated it:
In a future globally-warmed society, Ty and his family live in a sub-sea settlement, raising underwater crops and livestock for the Topsiders. While exploring an abandoned sub,Ty discovers Gemma, an orphaned Topsider intent on finding her missing brother. Ty agrees to help her, and along the way, he discovers Shade, the leader of a gang of elusive outlaws. The Commonwealth is eager to stop them, and has threatened to terminate the underwater settlement “experiment” if the settlers don’t catch t
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Nov 30, 2010
BAYA
rated it:
Ty lives on the ocean floor: born and raised to the “dark life.” And he has a secret.
Gemma is an orphan from the Topside who is visiting Ty’s underwater homestead in hopes of finding her missing older brother and carving out a new life for herself.
When a gang of subsea bandits attacks Ty’s neighbors, the two join forces to try to try to preserve the only way of life he has ever known, and learn some of the other dark secrets floating around at the bottom of the ocean.
More...
Gemma is an orphan from the Topside who is visiting Ty’s underwater homestead in hopes of finding her missing older brother and carving out a new life for herself.
When a gang of subsea bandits attacks Ty’s neighbors, the two join forces to try to try to preserve the only way of life he has ever known, and learn some of the other dark secrets floating around at the bottom of the ocean.
More...
Nov 29, 2010
Jane
rated it:
Interesting book set in the future after an apocalypse has caused the U.S. to lose much of its land mass to rising waters. A small group of pioneers has relocated to the ocean floor to set up homesteads and "farm" fish and sea plants for the "topsiders" to eat. The story centers around 15 year old Ty who is very much at home in the sea and is looking forward to getting his own sea homestead when he turns 18. While out exploring the deep ocean, Ty meets Gemma, a very pretty
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Oct 13, 2010
Wesley
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 02, 2010
Connie
rated it:
This is obviously Firefly UNDERWATER, like some sort of deranged cross between SeaQuest DSV crossed with Little House on the Prairie. (Or maybe that one Disney Channel show with the whales? Whatever, I clearly watch too much old TV or something, and it's all beside the point.)
The sea levels have risen, the ozone layer is gone, and some enterprising people have decided to just set up shop underwater. Some of them are good, solid, homesteading types. Others are rough, tough, miners - sam More...
The sea levels have risen, the ozone layer is gone, and some enterprising people have decided to just set up shop underwater. Some of them are good, solid, homesteading types. Others are rough, tough, miners - sam More...
Sep 30, 2010
Cornmaven
rated it:
OK, this book gets great reviews, both professional and from the average reader. Great story, fast action for the most part. But I knocked it down two stars because of the purple prose. Way too many adjectives in it. I felt like I was reading some 6th grader's attempt to use every adjective he knew, somehow, some way. That's what came between me and a great review.
I have read A LOT of dystopian fiction. This would not be in my top 10. But the premise of a world under water and More...
I have read A LOT of dystopian fiction. This would not be in my top 10. But the premise of a world under water and More...
